Lean Lisa

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

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Lean Lisa was of a very different way of thinking from lazy Harry andfat Trina, who never let anything disturb their peace. She scouredeverything with ashes, from morning till evening, and burdened herhusband, Long Laurence, with so much work that he had heavier weights tocarry than an ass with three sacks. It was, however, all to no purpose,they had nothing and came to nothing. One night as she lay in bed,and could hardly move one limb for weariness, she still did not allowher thoughts to go to sleep. She thrust her elbows into her husband'sside, and said, "Listen, Lenz, to what I have been thinking: if I wereto find one florin and one was given to me, I would borrow another toput to them, and thou too shouldst give me another, and then as soonas I had got the four florins together, I would buy a young cow." Thispleased the husband right well. "It is true," said he, "that I do notknow where I am to get the florin which thou wantest as a gift from me;but, if thou canst get the money together, and canst buy a cow with it,thou wilt do well to carry out thy project. I shall be glad," he added,"if the cow has a calf, and then I shall often get a drink of milk torefresh me." "The milk is not for thee," said the woman, "we must letthe calf suck that it may become big and fat, and we may be able tosell it well." "Certainly," replied the man, "but still we will takea little milk; that will do no harm." "Who has taught thee to managecows?" said the woman; "Whether it does harm or not, I will not allowit, and even if thou wert to stand on thy head for it, thou shouldst nothave a drop of the milk! Dost thou think, because there is no satisfyingthee, Long Laurence, that thou art to eat up what I earn with so muchdifficulty?" "Wife," said the man, "be quiet, or I will give thee a blowon thy mouth!" "What!" cried she, "thou threatenest me, thou glutton,thou rascal, thou lazy Harry!" She was just laying hold of his hair, butlong Laurence got up, seized both Lean Lisa's withered arms in one hand,and with the other he pressed down her head into the pillow, let herscold, and held her until she fell asleep for very weariness. Whethershe continued to wrangle when she awoke next morning, or whether shewent out to look for the florin which she wanted to find, that I know not.

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