What the Old Man Does Is Always Right

by Hans Christian Andersen（1861）

　　I WILL tell you a story that was told me when I was a little boy. Every time I thought of this story， it seemed to me more and more charming； for it is with stories as it is with many people—they become better as they grow older.

　　I have no doubt that you have been in the country， and seen a very old farmhouse， with a thatched roof， and mosses and small plants growing wild upon it. There is a stork's nest on the ridge of the gable， for we cannot do without the stork. The walls of the house are sloping， and the windows are low， and only one of the latter is made to open. The baking-oven sticks out of the wall like a GREat knob. An elder-tree hangs over the palings； and beneath its branches， at the foot of the paling， is a pool of water， in which a few ducks are disporting themselves. There is a yard-dog too， who barks at all corners. Just such a farmhouse as this stood in a country lane； and in it dwelt an old couple， a peasant and his wife. Small as their possessions were， they had one article they could not do without， and that was a horse， which contrived to live upon the grass which it found by the side of the high road. The old peasant rode into the town upon this horse， and his neighbors often borrowed it of him， and paid for the loan of it by rendering some service to the old couple. After a time they thought it would be as well to sell the horse， or exchange it for something which might be more useful to them. But what might this something be？

　　“You'll know best， old man，” said the wife. “It is fair-day to-day； so ride into town， and get rid of the horse for money， or make a good exchange； whichever you do will be right to me， so ride to the fair.”

　　And she fastened his neckerchief for him； for she could do that better than he could， and she could also tie it very prettily in a double bow. She also smoothed his hat round and round with the palm of her hand， and gave him a kiss. Then he rode away upon the horse that was to be sold or bartered for something else. Yes， the old man knew what he was about. The sun shone with GREat heat， and not a cloud was to be seen in the sky. The road was very dusty； for a number of people， all going to the fair， were driving， riding， or walking upon it. There was no shelter anywhere from the hot sunshine. Among the rest a man came trudging along， and driving a cow to the fair. The cow was as beautiful a creature as any cow could be.

　　“She gives good milk， I am certain，” said the peasant to himself. “That would be a very good exchange： the cow for the horse. Hallo there！ you with the cow，” he said. “I tell you what； I dare say a horse is of more value than a cow； but I don't care for that，—a cow will be more useful to me； so， if you like， we'll exchange.”

　　“To be sure I will，” said the man.

　　Accordingly the exchange was made； and as the matter was settled， the peasant might have turned back； for he had done the business he came to do. But， having made up his mind to go to the fair， he determined to do so， if only to have a look at it； so on he went to the town with his cow. Leading the animal， he strode on sturdily， and， after a short time， overtook a man who was driving a sheep. It was a good fat sheep， with a fine fleece on its back.

　　“I should like to have that fellow，” said the peasant to himself. “There is plenty of grass for him by our palings， and in the winter we could keep him in the room with us. Perhaps it would be more profitable to have a sheep than a cow. Shall I exchange？”

　　the man with the sheep was quite ready， and the bargain was quickly made. And then our peasant continued his way on the high-road with his sheep. Soon after this， he overtook another man， who had come into the road from a field， and was carrying a large goose under his arm.

　　“What a heavy creature you have there！” said the peasant； “it has plenty of feathers and plenty of fat， and would look well tied to a string， or paddling in the water at our place. That would be very useful to my old woman； she could make all sorts of profits out of it. How often she has said， 'If now we only had a goose！' Now here is an opportunity， and， if possible， I will get it for her. Shall we exchange？ I will give you my sheep for your goose， and thanks into the bargain.”

　　the other had not the least objection， and accordingly the exchange was made， and our peasant became possessor of the goose. By this time he had arrived very near the town. The crowd on the high road had been gradually increasing， and there was quite a rush of men and cattle. The cattle walked on the path and by the palings， and at the turnpike-gate they even walked into the toll-keeper's potato-field， where one fowl was strutting about with a string tied to its leg， for fear it should take fright at the crowd， and run away and get lost. The tail-feathers of the fowl were very short， and it winked with both its eyes， and looked very cunning， as it said “Cluck， cluck.” What were the thoughts of the fowl as it said this I cannot tell you； but directly our good man saw it， he thought， “Why that's the finest fowl I ever saw in my life； it's finer than our parson's brood hen， upon my word. I should like to have that fowl. Fowls can always pick up a few grains that lie about， and almost keep themselves. I think it would be a good exchange if I could get it for my goose. Shall we exchange？” he asked the toll-keeper.

　　“Exchange，” repeated the man； “well， it would not be a bad thing.”

　　And so they made an exchange，—the toll-keeper at the turnpike-gate kept the goose， and the peasant carried off the fowl. Now he had really done a GREat deal of business on his way to the fair， and he was hot and tired. He wanted something to eat， and a glass of ale to refresh himself； so he turned his steps to an inn. He was just about to enter when the ostler came out， and they met at the door. The ostler was carrying a sack. “What have you in that sack？” asked the peasant.

　　“Rotten apples，” answered the ostler； “a whole sackful of them. They will do to feed the pigs with.”

　　“Why that will be terrible waste，” he replied； “I should like to take them home to my old woman. Last year the old apple-tree by the grass-plot only bore one apple， and we kept it in the cupboard till it was quite withered and rotten. It was always property， my old woman said； and here she would see a GREat deal of property—a whole sackful； I should like to show them to her.”

　　“What will you give me for the sackful？” asked the ostler.

　　“What will I give？ Well， I will give you my fowl in exchange.”

　　So he gave up the fowl， and received the apples， which he carried into the inn parlor. He leaned the sack carefully against the stove， and then went to the table. But the stove was hot， and he had not thought of that. Many guests were present—horse dealers， cattle drovers， and two Englishmen. The Englishmen were so rich that their pockets quite bulged out and seemed ready to burst； and they could bet too， as you shall hear. “Hiss-s-s， hiss-s-s.” What could that be by the stove？ The apples were beginning to roast. “What is that？” asked one.

　　“Why， do you know”—said our peasant. And then he told them the whole story of the horse， which he had exchanged for a cow， and all the rest of it， down to the apples.

　　“Well， your old woman will give it you well when you get home，” said one of the Englishmen. “Won't there be a noise？”

　　“What！ Give me what？” said the peasant. “Why， she will kiss me， and say， 'what the old man does is always right.'”

　　“Let us lay a wager on it，” said the Englishmen. “We'll wager you a ton of coined gold， a hundred pounds to the hundred-weight.”

　　“No； a bushel will be enough，” replied the peasant. “I can only set a bushel of apples against it， and I'll throw myself and my old woman into the bargain； that will pile up the measure， I fancy.”

　　“Done！ taken！” and so the bet was made.

　　then the landlord's coach came to the door， and the two Englishmen and the peasant got in， and away they drove， and soon arrived and stopped at the peasant's hut. “Good evening， old woman.” “Good evening， old man.” “I've made the exchange.”

　　“Ah， well， you understand what you're about，” said the woman. Then she embraced him， and paid no attention to the strangers， nor did she notice the sack.

　　“I got a cow in exchange for the horse.”

　　“Thank Heaven，” said she. “Now we shall have plenty of milk， and butter， and cheese on the table. That was a capital exchange.”

　　“Yes， but I changed the cow for a sheep.”

　　“Ah， better still！” cried the wife. “You always think of everything； we have just enough pasture for a sheep. Ewe's milk and cheese， woollen jackets and stockings！ The cow could not give all these， and her hair only falls off. How you think of everything！”

　　“But I changed away the sheep for a goose.”

　　“then we shall have roast goose to eat this year. You dear old man， you are always thinking of something to please me. This is delightful. We can let the goose walk about with a string tied to her leg， so she will be fatter still before we roast her.”

　　“But I gave away the goose for a fowl.”

　　“A fowl！ Well， that was a good exchange，” replied the woman. “The fowl will lay eggs and hatch them， and we shall have chickens； we shall soon have a poultry-yard. Oh， this is just what I was wishing for.”

　　“Yes， but I exchanged the fowl for a sack of shrivelled apples.”

　　“What！ I really must give you a kiss for that！” exclaimed the wife. “My dear， good husband， now I'll tell you something. Do you know， almost as soon as you left me this morning， I began to think of what I could give you nice for supper this evening， and then I thought of fried eggs and bacon， with sweet herbs； I had eggs and bacon， but I wanted the herbs； so I went over to the schoolmaster's： I knew they had plenty of herbs， but the schoolmistress is very mean， although she can smile so sweetly. I begged her to lend me a handful of herbs. 'Lend！' she exclaimed， 'I have nothing to lend； nothing at all grows in our garden， not even a shrivelled apple； I could not even lend you a shrivelled apple， my dear woman.' But now I can lend her ten， or a whole sackful， which I'm very glad of； it makes me laugh to think about it；” and then she gave him a hearty kiss.

　　“Well， I like all this，” said both the Englishmen； “always going down the hill， and yet always merry； it's worth the money to see it.” So they paid a hundred-weight of gold to the peasant， who， whatever he did， was not scolded but kissed.

　　Yes， it always pays best when the wife sees and maintains that her husband knows best， and whatever he does is right.

　　That is a story which I heard when I was a child； and now you have heard it too， and know that “What the old man does is always right.”

　　现在我要给你们讲一个我小时候听过的故事。从那以后，每次想到这个故事，我都觉得它比以前更加美丽了。因为故事和许多人一个样，随着年龄增长，会变得越来越美丽动人，这真是很好的事情！

　　你一定到过乡下的！你见过顶子用谷草铺成的真正的农舍：藓苔和杂草自然而然地生长着。屋脊上有一个鹳巢，鹳，人是离不开的。墙有些斜，窗子开得很低，是啊，而且只有一扇窗子打得开。烤麵包的灶突出来像个大肚子。接骨木丛斜在篱笆上，篱前一颗长着节疤的柳树下有一个小小的水潭，有一只鸭子或者几只鸭子在里面游着。哦，还有一只看家狗，它不管见了谁或者甚么东西，都要叫一阵。

　　我要讲的正是乡下的这样一所房子，里面住着两个人，农夫和农妇。他们家中的东西少得可怜，可是，他们依旧可以再少一点的。我要说的是一匹马，这匹马在大道旁的沟里找草吃。老头子骑着它进城，邻家来借它去使唤，他靠它给别人干活挣得点钱。然而卖掉它或者把它换成甚么对他们更有用的东西，挣的钱定然会更多一些。但是换甚么呢。“老爹，这种事你最在行了！”妻子说道，“现在城里正在赶集，骑上马去吧，把马卖掉得点钱回来，或是换点甚么东西回来！你做的事情总是对的。骑上马赶集去吧！”

　　於是她替他系好围裙，因为这类事她毕竟比他在行些；她给他打的是双结，看上去很帅。於是他用手板擦了擦帽子，她在他的温暖的嘴唇上亲了亲，他便骑着要卖掉或是要换掉的马上路了。可不是，老爹清楚。

　　太阳很辣，天上一点儿云也没有！路上尘土飞扬。赶集的人多极了，有乘车的，有骑马的，有步行的。太阳火辣辣的，路上连个遮荫的地方都没有。

　　有一个人赶着一头母牛，那头母牛非常好，就像一头母牛能够做到的一样好。“这牛一定能下很好的奶！”农夫想道，“把它换过来一定不会吃亏。”“听着，牵牛的！”他说道，“咱们两人谈谈怎么样！你瞧见没有，一匹马，我想肯定比一头牛值钱，不过那没有甚么！我更用得着一头母牛。我们换换好不好？”“好吧，当然！”牵牛的人说道，於是他们就交换了。换完以后，农夫本可以转身回去了，他不是把要办的事办完了吗。可是他既然想起要去赶集，那么便要去集上走走，光是看看。於是他牵着他的母牛，朝集市走去。他走得很快，母牛也走得很快，他赶过了一个牵着一只羊的人，那只羊很不错，毛色很好。“我要是有这么一只羊就好了！”农民想道。“我们大路沟边不缺它吃的草，到冬天可以把它牵进屋里和我们在一起。从根本上说，我们保留只羊比保留只牛还更正确一些。我们换换好吗？”

　　好啊，那个有羊的人当然愿意啦。於是他们作了交换，农夫牵着他的羊顺着大道走。在一道篱边的踏阶那里，他看见一个人用胳臂夹着一只鹅。“你这只鹅倒是很壮实的！”农夫说道，“毛很丰满，又很肥！拿根绳子拴着它，把它养在我们的水塘里会很不错的。让老婆子弄些果皮及菜叶子给它吃多好！她常说，”我们要有只鹅多好！“这一回她可有只鹅了——该让她得到这只鹅！你愿换吗？我拿羊换你的鹅，多谢你！”

　　当然，那人当然愿意。於是他们作了交换，农夫得到了鹅。他很快便要进城了。这时路上往来的人越来越多，人畜都挤在一起。大家在大道上走，挤在沟里，一直挤到路旁收税人堆土豆的地方。那里收税人用绳子系着他的母鸡，不让它吓得跑丢了。那是只秃尾巴鸡，一只眼睛眨着，很好看。母鸡在“咯、咯”叫着；母鸡这么叫在想甚么，谁也不知道。不过农夫看见它的时候，心中想道：这只母鸡可是我这一辈子见过的最漂亮的母鸡，它比牧师的那只抱窝鸡还要好看，我真想要它！母鸡找点谷子吃总是不成问题的，它自己就能照料自己！要是我得到这只鸡，这种交换是合算的。“我们交换好吗？”他问道。“交换！”另外那个人说道，“这个主意倒不太离谱！”於是他们作了交换。收税人得了鹅，农夫得了母鸡。这趟进城，一路上他干成的事真不少。天气很热，他也累了。他很需要喝杯酒和吃点麵包。这时他走到了小酒店，想进去。可是酒店小伙子正想走出来，他在店门口遇到了他。他背着一个口袋，里面装些甚么。“袋里装的是甚么？”农夫问道。“烂苹果！”小伙子回答道，“满满一袋给猪吃。”“这可真够多的！真该让老妈妈看看。我们去年炭棚子旁的那棵老苹果树，只结了一个苹果，把它搁到柜子上放着一直到它开裂。怎么说也是一笔财产！我们老婆子这么说。这下子她可以看到一大笔财产了！是的，我要让她看看。”“好吧！你拿甚么换？”小伙子问道。“拿甚么？我拿我的母鸡换！”於是他拿他的母鸡作了交换，得了苹果，走进了屋子，一直走到卖酒的台子前。他把他的一口袋苹果放了靠在火炉上，火炉里有火，他可是一点儿没有想到。屋子里有许多外来人。有贩马的，有买卖牛的，还有两个英国人，他们非常有钱，兜里的金币满满的。他们打起赌来。事情是这样的，听着！“滋！滋！”火炉那里是甚么声音？苹果烤熟了。“里面是甚么？”是啊，老爹把甚么都说了。於是他们很快便知道了一切！关於那匹马的，怎么把它换成牛一直到这袋烂苹果。“是嘛！等你回到家，老婆子该叫你够受的了！”两个英国人说道，“你会挨揍的！”“我会得到亲吻，而不是挨揍！”农夫说道，“我那老婆子会说：老爹做的事总是对的！”“打个赌好不好！”他们说道，“满桶的金币！一百镑赌一斗金币。”“满满一斗不成问题！”农夫说道，“我只拿得出苹果，连我和我家老婆子一起凑上一斗。不过那不仅只是平平的一满斗，而是尖尖的一满斗！”“赌定了，不许悔！”他们说道。於是这场赌便算打定了。旅店老闆的车子驶出来，英国人上了车，农夫上了车，烂苹果也上了车。於是他们来到了农夫的家里。“晚上好，老婆子！”“多谢你，老爹爹！”“换东西的事办完了！”“是啊，你真在行的！”妻子说道，搂住了他的腰，忘记了口袋也忘记了生人。“我用马换了一头母牛！”“真是多谢上帝，我们有牛奶了！”妻子说道，“这下子我们有奶品吃了，桌上有黄油、乾酪啦。换得太好了！”“是的，不过我又用母牛换了一只羊！”“这肯定就更加好了！”妻子说道，“你总是考虑得很周到；我们的草足够一头羊吃的。这下子我们可以喝羊奶，有羊奶酪，有羊毛袜子，是啊，还有羊毛睡衣！母牛是拿不出这些来的！它的毛都要脱掉的！你真是一个考虑问题周到的丈夫！”“不过我又拿羊换了一头鹅！”“这么说今年我们有马丁节烤鹅1吃了；老爹！你总是想着让我高兴！你这个想法真是个好想法！可以把鹅拴起来，到马丁节的时候，就可以把它养得更加肥一点！”“不过我把鹅又换了一只母鸡！”男人说道。“母鸡换得太好了，”妻子说道，“母鸡会下蛋，孵出来我们便有小鸡了，我们有了鸡场！这正是我一心一意盼着的。”“是的，不过母鸡让我换成一口袋烂苹果了！”“我真要吻你一下了！”妻子说道。“多谢你，我的好男人！现在让我告诉你点事。你走了以后，我就想着给你做一顿好晚餐；葱花鸡蛋糕。鸡蛋我自己有，就是没有葱。於是我便去找学校校长，他们有葱，我知道。可是他老婆小气得要死，那乖婆娘！我求她借点给我——！借？她说道，我们园子里甚么也没有长，连个烂苹果也没有！连个烂苹果我也无法借给你。现在可好了，我可以借给她十个烂苹果，是啊，借给她满满一口袋！真叫人好笑，老爹！”於是她便正正地在他嘴上亲了一口。“我真喜欢这个！”两位英国人说道。“总是走下坡路，可是总是那么乐观！这是很值钱的！”於是他们付给他，这位得到了一个吻，而不是挨一顿揍的农夫一桶金币。

　　是的，一位妻子看出，能说明老爹是最聪明不过的，他做的事总是对的，那么这肯定是会得到好报的。

　　瞧，这是一个故事！我小时候听到的。现在你也听到了，知道了老爹做的事总是对的。

　　1指11月11日，为罗马潘诺尼亚（今匈牙利的圣马丁斯堡）的神父及主教“图尔来的马丁”（316或317-397或400）而定的节日。马丁节前夕晚餐有吃烤鹅的风俗。马丁生於法国的图尔，所以人们都叫他为“图尔来的马丁”。