` Nonsense , indeed , ' broke in his wife . ' A kettle full of gold and silver , do you call that nonsense ? ' ` You are not in your right mind , dear wife . Sir , I beg your pardon . Ask her how it all happened , and if she convinces you I 'll pay for it with my life . ' ` This is how it all happened , Mr. Secretary , ' cried the wife . ` We were driving through the forest , and we saw a pike up in the top of a tree -- ' ` What , a PIKE ? ' shouted the secretary . ` Do you think you may joke with me , pray ? ' ` Indeed , I 'm not joking , Mr. Secretary ! I 'm speaking the bare truth . ' ` Now you see , gentlemen , ' said her husband , ` how far you can trust her , when she chatters like this . ' ` Chatter , indeed ? I !! Perhaps you have forgotten , too , how we found a live hare in the river ? ' Everyone roared with laughter ; even the secretary smiled and stroked his beard , and the man said : ` Come , come , wife , everyone is laughing at you . You see for yourself , gentlemen , how far you can believe her . ' ` Yes , indeed , ' said the village elders , ` it is certainly the first time we have heard that hares thrive in the water or fish among the tree tops . ' The secretary could make nothing of it all , and drove back to the town . The old woman was so laughed at that she had to hold her tongue and obey her husband ever after , and the man bought wares with part of the treasure and moved into the town , where he opened a shop , and prospered , and spent the rest of his days in peace .
TWO IN A SACK What a XXXXX that poor man led with his wife , to be sure !
PIKE gold life mind nonsense pardon tongue town truth woman