Norwegian fairy tale from
Asbjørnsen and Moe's collections. The original
("En frierhistorie") was found at
Project Gutenberg and translated to English
by
me for E2 noders' enjoyment.
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There was once a boy who went out to propose. Among other
places he also visited a farm where the people sat in poverty; but when the
boy came, they wanted to seem well off, as you can understand. The man had just
got a new sleeve for his shirt. "Sit down!" he asked the suitor. "But it's so
dusty here everywhere!" and then he walked around dusting and rubbing benches
and tables with his new sleeve; the other arm he held behind his back.
The wife had a new shoe. With that, she walked around kicking things, chairs
and stools; "There's so much in the way, it's so untidy here!" she said.
Then they called for the daughter to come and tidy. She had just got a new
hat; therefore, she poked her head through the door and nodded here and
there. "I can't be everywhere, you know!" she said.
Oh, it was a rich family the suitor had found.
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More fairy tales here!