Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 2).djvu/126

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122
LEGENDS CONCERNING

her apron as it would hold. But the burden ſoon became too heavy for her again; ſhe was obliged to empty it once more: all this much ſurpriſed the good woman, for ſhe was ſtrong, and had been uſed to carry huge burdens of fodder, without feeling any ſuch difficulty. Nevertheleſs ſhe arranged every thing at home, jaded as ſhe was; ſhe put the leaves before the goat and the young kids, gave the children their ſupper, laid them to ſleep, ſaid her evening prayers, and went to reſt with a light and contented heart.

The dawn of day, and the wakeful ſuckling, who impatiently demanded his breakfaſt, rouſed the induſtrious houſewife out of a ſound nap, to her daily labours. She firſt went, as uſual, to the goat-houſe with her milking-pail. But what a ſhocking ſight! the poor old milch goat lay along ſtiff, and ſtretched out at all-fours. On examination it appeared that ſhe was ſtone dead. The kids rolled their eyes frightfully in their ſockets;

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