manner he might ſet on foot his trade again. Among other things, his wife’s goats came acroſs his imagination; but ſhe loved them almoſt as well as her children, and by fair means he knew there was no poſſibility of inducing her to part with them: after mature deliberation, he therefore fixed upon the following piece of knavery—not to give any intimation of his misfortune at home, not even to return thither by day, but to ſteal about midnight into the houſe, drive the goats to Smiedberg market, and lay out the money they would fetch in freſh glaſs ware; and on his return to call his wife to a ſtrict account, and feign vehement anger for her negligence, in ſuffering the cattle to be ſtolen while he was away.
With this well-concerted ſcheme, the unfortunate collector of fragments concealed himſelf in a copſe near the village, in longing expectation of the hour of midnight, that he might rob himſelf. When it ſtruck twelve he ſet out on his thief’s er-
rand,
