butyoumustspeakveryloud,forshecannothearwell."

"yes,certainlyiwill,"repliedthelandlord;and,pouringoutaglassofmead,hecarrieditouttothedeadgrandmother,whosatuprightinthecart."hereisaglassofmeadfromyourgrandson,"saidthelandlord.thedeadwomandidnotansweraword,butsatquitestill."doyounothear?"criedthelandlordasloudashecould;"hereisaglassofmeadfromyourgrandson."

againandagainhebawleditout,butasshedidnotstirheflewintoapassion,andthrewtheglassofmeadinherface;itstruckheronthenose,andshefellbackwardsoutofthecart,forshewasonlyseatedthere,nottiedin.

hallo!"criedlittleclaus,rushingoutofthedoor,andseizingholdofthelandlordbythethroat;"youhavekilledmygrandmother;see,hereisagreatholeinherforehead."

"oh,howunfortunate,"saidthelandlord,wringinghishands."thisallcomesofmyfierytemper.dearlittleclaus,iwillgiveyouabushelofmoney;iwillburyyourgrandmotherasifsheweremyown;onlykeepsilent,orelsetheywillcutoffmyhead,andthatwouldbedisagreeable."

soithappenedthatlittleclausreceivedanotherbushelofmoney,andthelandlordburiedhisoldgrandmotherasifshehadbeenhisown.whenlittleclausreachedhomeagain,heimmediatelysentaboytogreatclaus,requestinghimtolendhimabushelmeasure."howisthis?"thoughtgreatclaus;"didinotkillhim?imustgoandseeformyself."sohewenttolittleclaus,andtookthebushelmeasurewithhim."howdidyougetallthismoney?"askedgreatclaus,staringwithwideopeneyesathisneighbor'streasures.

"youkilledmygrandmotherinsteadofme,"saidlittleclaus;"soihavesoldherforabushelofmoney."

"thatisagoodpriceatallevents,"saidgreatclaus.sohewenthome,tookahatchet,andkilledhisoldgrandmotherwithoneheplacedheronacart,anddroveintothetowntotheapothecary,andaskedhimifhewouldbuyadeadbody.

"whoseisit,andwheredidyougetit?"askedtheapothecary.

"itismygrandmother,"hereplied;"ikilledherwithablow,thatimightgetabushelofmoneyforher."

"heavenpreserveus!"criedtheapothecary,"youareoutofyourmind.don'tsaysuchthings,oryouwillloseyourhead."andthenhetalkedtohimseriouslyaboutthewickeddeedhehaddone,andtoldhimthatsuchawickedmanwouldsurelybepunished.greatclausgotsofrightenedthatherushedoutofthesurgery,jumpedintothecart,whippeduphishorses,anddrovehomequickly.theapothecaryandallthepeoplethoughthimmad,andlethimdrivewhereheliked.

"youshallpayforthis,"saidgreatclaus,assoonashegotintothehighroad,"thatyoushall,littleclaus."soassoonashereachedhomehetookthelargestsackhecouldfindandwentovertolittleclaus."youhaveplayedmeanothertrick,"saidhe."first,ikilledallmyhorses,andthenmyoldgrandmother,anditisallyourfault;butyoushallnotmakeafoolofmeanymore."sohelaidholdoflittleclausroundthebody,andpushedhimintothesack,whichhetookonhisshoulders,saying,"nowi'mgoingtodrownyouintheriver.

hehadalongwaytogobeforehereachedtheriver,andlittleclauswasnotaverylightweighttocarry.theroadledbythechurch,andastheypassedhecouldheartheorganplayingandthepeoplesingingbeautifully.greatclausputdownthesackclosetothechurch-door,andthoughthemightaswellgoinandhearapsalmbeforehewentanyfarther.littleclauscouldnotpossiblygetoutofthesack,andallthepeoplewereinchurch;soinhewent.

"ohdear,ohdear,"sighedlittleclausinthesack,asheturnedandtwistedabout;buthefoundhecouldnotloosenthestringwithwhichitwastied.presentlyanoldcattledriver,withsnowyhair,passedby,carryingalargestaffinhishand,withwhichhedrovealargeherdofcowsandoxenbeforehim.theystumbledagainstthesackinwhichlaylittleclaus,andturneditover."ohdear,"sighedlittleclaus,"iamveryyoung,yetiamsoongoingtoheaven."

"andi,poorfellow,"saidthedrover,"iwhoamsooldalready,cannotgetthere."

"openthesack,"criedlittleclaus;"creepintoitinsteadofme,andyouwillsoonbethere."

"withallmyheart,"repliedthedrover,openingthesack,fromwhichsprunglittleclausasquicklyaspossible."willyoutakecareofmycattle?"