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home in your dirty boat; but I can tell you that if you were down in my country, neither of you would be thought fit to keep me company.’

“Sour and Civil were terribly astonished to hear the fish speak. The first could not think of a cross word to say, but Civil made answer in his accustomed manner.

“‘Indeed, my lord, we beg your pardon, but our boat is too light to carry such a fish as you.’

“‘You do well to call me lord,’ said the fish ‘for so I am, though it was hard to expect you could have known my quality in this dress. However, help me off the rock, for I must go home; and for your civility I will give you my daughter in marriage, if you will come and see me this day twelvemonth.’

“Civil helped the great fish off the rock as respectfully as his fear would allow him. Sour was so terrified at the whole transaction, that he said not a word till they got safe home; but from that day forward, when he wanted to put Civil down, it was his custom to tell him and his mother that he would get no wife but the ugly fish’s daughter.

“Old Dame Sour heard this story from her son, and told it over the whole village. Some people wondered, but the most part laughed at it as a