Hans remained standing, and watched him; at length he spoke to him, and said:
"You must be doing well since you are so merry over your grinding."
"Yes," said the scissors-grinder; "the work has gold at the bottom of it. A proper scissors-grinder is the sort of man who, whenever he puts his hand in his pocket, finds money there. But where have you bought that fine goose?"
"I did not buy it, but exchanged it for my pig."
"And the pig?"
"I obtained him for a cow."
"And the cow?"
"I had her for a horse."
"And the horse?"