"'A she wolf with seven cubs; that was all I met,' said Matt.
"'Ay! ay! You are like yourself,' said his mother. 'So it was, and so it will ever be. Why in the world did you say "God's Peace" to a wolf. You should have clapped your hands and said—"Huf! huf! you jade of a she-wolf!" That's what you ought to have said.'
"'Well! well! be still, mother,' he said. 'I'll be sure to say so another time;' and with that he strode off from the farm, and when he had gone a bit on the way, he met a bridal train. So he stood still when he had got well up to the bride and bridegroom, and clapped his hands and said: 'Huf! huf! you jade of a she-wolf!' After that he went home to his mother and said—
"'I did as you bade me mother; but I got a good thrashing for it, that I did.'
"'What was it you did?' she asked.
"'Oh! I clapped my hands and called out, "Huf! huf! you jade of a she-wolf!"'
"'And what was it you met?'
"'I met a bridal train.'
"'Ah! you are a fool, and always will be a fool,' said his mother. 'Why should you say such things to a bridal train. You should have said, "Ride happily, bride and bridegroom."'
"'Well! well! See if I don't say so next time,' said the lad, and off he went again.