第 一百五十七 章 · Lean Lisa

. Lean Lisa

Lean Lisa was of a very different way of thinking from lazy Harry and

fat Trina, who never let anything disturb their peace. She scoured

everything with ashes, from morning till evening, and burdened her

husband, Long Laurence, with so much work that he had heavier weights

to carry than an ass with three sacks. It was, however, all to no

purpose, they had nothing and came to nothing. One night as she lay in

bed, and could hardly move one limb for weariness, she still did not

allow her thoughts to go to sleep. She thrust her elbows into her

husband’s side, and said, “Listen, Lenz, to what I have been thinking:

if I were to find one florin and one was given to me, I would borrow

another to put to them, and thou too shouldst give me another, and then

as soon as I had got the four florins together, I would buy a young

cow.” This pleased the husband right well. “It is true,” said he, “that

I do not know where I am to get the florin which thou wantest as a gift

from me; but, if thou canst get the money together, and canst buy a cow

with it, thou wilt do well to carry out thy project. I shall be glad,”

he added, “if the cow has a calf, and then I shall often get a drink of

milk to refresh me.” “The milk is not for thee,” said the woman, “we

must let the calf suck that it may become big and fat, and we may be

able to sell it well.” “Certainly,” replied the man, “but still we will

take a little milk; that will do no harm.” “Who has taught thee to

manage cows?” said the woman; “Whether it does harm or not, I will not

allow it, and even if thou wert to stand on thy head for it, thou

shouldst not have a drop of the milk! Dost thou think, because there is

no satisfying thee, Long Laurence, that thou art to eat up what I earn

with so much difficulty?” “Wife,” said the man, “be quiet, or I will

give thee a blow on thy mouth!” “What!” cried she, “thou threatenest

me, thou glutton, thou rascal, thou lazy Harry!” She was just laying

hold of his hair, but long Laurence got up, seized both Lean Lisa’s

withered arms in one hand, and with the other he pressed down her head

into the pillow, let her scold, and held her until she fell asleep for

very weariness. Whether she continued to wrangle when she awoke next

morning, or whether she went out to look for the florin which she

wanted to find, that I know not.