As they went out the sea lay around them as white as now , and the spray was dashing right over the fisher-hut . In all his life Matte had never remembered such a night . To launch the boat and put to sea to rescue the net was a thing not to be thought of . The fisherman and his wife stood aghast on the doorstep , holding on fast by the doorpost , while the foam splashed over their faces . ` Did I not tell thee that there is no luck in Sunday fishing ? ' said Matte sulkily ; and his wife was so frightened that she never even once thought of Ahti 's cows . As there was nothing to be done , they went in . Their eyes were heavy for lack of slumber , and they slept as soundly as if there had not been such a thing as an angry sea roaring furiously around their lonely dwelling . When they awoke , the sun was high in the heavens , the tempest had cased , and only the swell of the sea rose in silvery heavings against the red rock . ` What can that be ? ' said the old woman , as she peeped out of the door . ` It looks like a big seal , ' said Matte . ` As sure as I live , it 's a cow ! ' exclaimed Maie . And certainly it was a cow , a fine red cow , fat and flourishing , and looking as if it had been fed all its days on spinach . It wandered peacefully up and down the shore , and never so much as even looked at the poor little tufts of grass , as if it despised such fare . Matte could not believe his eyes . But a cow she seemed , and a cow she was found to be ; and when the old woman began to milk her , every pitcher and pan , even to the baler , was soon filled with the most delicious milk . The old man troubled his head in vain as to how she came there , and sallied forth to seek for his lost net . He had not proceeded far when he found it cast up on the shore , and so full of fish that not a mesh was visible .
` It is all very fine to possess a cow , ' said XXXXX , as he cleaned the fish ; ` but what are we going to feed her on ? '
Ahti Maie Matte baler days doorpost fisher-hut heavings night right