The following day she sent Fred to market to buy a pig. He purchased a nice, fat pig, put it in a little bucket and started home. The pig objected to such close quarters, kicked the lid off the bucket and ran away. He told his mother he did just as she told him, but the silly pig ran away.
“My son,” said his mother, “you should have tied one foot with a strong rope and led him home.”
She sent Fred to the Intelligence Office to hire a servant girl. Seeing a strong Irish girl, he stepped up behind her, took a rope from his pocket and tied it around her ankle, thus trying to lead her home with him. The girl indignantly jerked the rope away, boxed his ears soundly, and went away.
“Mother,” said Fred, “I did just as you told me.”
“My son,” said his mother, “you should not have done so. You should have raised your cap, spoken to her kindly, placed some money in her hand, and she would have come with you gladly.”
The following day she sent Fred to buy a cow. He selected a cow, raised his hat, spoke to her kindly, and stooping down tried to place some money in her right hoof. The angry cow lowered her head, and lifting Fred upon her horns tossed him so high that he only stopped when he reached the moon.