The story is quite simple. Long time ago, an old couple lived a poor life in a village. One day, they wanted to exchange their only horse for something more useful for them. With the only desire to give his wife a happy surprise, the old man exchanged the horse for a cow in the market, then exchanged the cow for a sheep, then for a goose, then for a hen and finally, ended with a sack of rotting apples. With the “precious” sack he stopped at a bar for a break, where he met two Englishmen. After hearing about his experience, the English men roared with laughter. They tried to convince the old man of his stupidity, and doubtlessly a coming hard time from his wife. When the old man firmly denied such a surmise, the English men bid a parcel of gold coins if they were wrong. They followed the old man home. When the old woman saw her husband, she immediately brought him water and towel for a wash. Then she marveled pleasantly at each transaction her husband told—“What a good idea, now we have milk,” “Excellent, sheep milk is also good,” “Goose feathers are pretty,” “We have eggs to eat!” At the end of his story, when she heard of the sack of rotting apples the old man had brought home, instead of being upset, she held the old man and gave him an affectionate kiss.

Needless to say, the English men lost their bid.

My first impression of the story had been a satire by the writer of the old man’s stupidity, or propaganda of “wife being her husband’s echo”. Years later, I began to see Andersen’s moral—attitude towards marriage. Respect, tolerance, trust and sincerity lay a solid foundation for a happy marital life.

(CIIC 03/28/2001)