Going Out A-Traveling

Once upon a time there was a poor Woman who had a Son so very fond of travelling that his mother used to say to him, “Where can you ride, when you have no money to take with you?” “I can help myself well,” said the Son; “and all day long I will say, ‘Not much, not much, not much!’ ”

So he travelled a whole day and kept saying, “Not much, not much, not much!” By-and-by he came to a Fisherman, to whom he said, “God help you, not much!” “How say you, fellow?” cried the Fisherman, “not much!” When he drew out the net there were very few fish, and taking up a stick he beat the Youth, saying, “Have you never seen me thrash?” “What shall I say, then?” asked the Youth. “A good catch, a good catch, a good catch!”

Thereupon the Youth walked a whole day long, crying, “A good catch!” till he came to a gallows, where they were about to hang up a poor Criminal. “Good morning!” said the Youth, “a good catch, a good catch!” “What do you say, fellow?” said the Criminal; “shall there not be a bad man in the world? is one not enough?” So saying he went up the ladder. “What shall I say, then?” asked the Youth. “You should say, ‘God comfort a poor soul!’ ”

The next day accordingly the Youth walked all day long, repeating, “God comfort a poor soul!” Presently he came to a grave, whereby stood a Knacker about to kill an old horse. “Good morning! God comfort the poor soul!” said the Youth. “What do you say, you silly fellow?” said the Knacker, giving the Youth a blow on the ear, so that he could scarce see out of his eyes. “What shall I say, then?” “You should say, ‘There lies a carcass in its grave!’ ”

So all the next day the Youth went on, saying, “There lies a carcass in its grave!” Presently he met a wagon full of people. “Good morning! there lies a carcass in its grave!” said the Youth. As he spoke the wagon fell into the grave, and the driver, jumping off, gave the Youth a cut with his whip, and drove him home to his Mother.

And all his life long afterwards he never went out a travelling.