"I met a proud fool on the way," said the old man with a laugh. "I swapped horses with him, and he gave me this to boot."
"Well, well! But you're too old to go about with so much money," said the landlord.
"Oh, I think no one would harm a silly old man like me," said the farmer, as he rode away.
The old man went home by a narrow lane, and there he spied Tib tied to a tree.
"The stranger did not like his trade, I fear," said he. "So I think I'll take Tib home."
The old man went home much richer than when he left. When she heard the story, the wife danced and sang for glee. "'Tis hard to fool my old man," said she.
—ENGLISH BALLAD (Adapted).
[THE ROCK-A-BY LADY]
