CLEVER ELSIE
There was once a man who had a daughter who was called Clever Elsie. And when she had grown up her father said, “We will get her married.”
“Yes,” said the mother, “if only any one would come who would have her.”
At length a man came from a distance, and wooed her, who was called Hans. But he made one condition, that Clever Elsie should be really wise.
“Oh,” said the father, “she’s sharp enough.”
And the mother said, “Oh, she can see the wind coming up the street, and hear the flies coughing.”
“Well,” said Hans, “if she is not really wise, I won’t have her.”