But when he reached the miller 's house everything happened as the boy had said . While he was looking at the guests and thinking how much handsomer and stronger he was than any of them , a rope was suddenly flung over his head , and he was thrown down and a bit thrust between his teeth . Then , in spite of his struggles , he was dragged to a stable , and shut up for several days without any food , till his spirit was broken and his coat had lost its gloss . After that he was harnessed to a plough , and had plenty of time to remember all he had lost through not listening to the counsel of the boy . When the horse had turned a deaf ear to his words the boy wandered idly along , sometimes gathering wild strawberries from a bank , and sometimes plucking wild cherries from a tree , till he reached a clearing in the middle of the forest . Crossing this open space was a beautiful milk-white cow with a wreath of flowers round her neck . ` Good-morning , ' she said pleasantly , as she came up to the place where the boy was standing . ` Good-morning , ' he returned . ` Where are you going in such a hurry ? ' ` To the miller 's wedding ; I am rather late already , for the wreath took such a long time to make , so I ca n't stop . ' ` Do n't go , ' said the boy earnestly ; ' when once they have tasted your milk they will never let you leave them , and you will have to serve them all the days of your life . ' ` Oh , nonsense ; what do you know about it ? ' answered the cow , who always thought she was wiser than other people . ` Why , I can run twice as fast as any of them ! I should like to see anybody try to keep me against my will . ' And , without even a polite bow , she went on her way , feeling very much offended . But everything turned out just as the boy had said . The company had all heard of the fame of the cow 's milk , and persuaded her to give them some , and then her doom was sealed . A crowd gathered round her , and held her horns so that she could not use them , and , like the horse , she was shut in the stable , and only let out in the mornings , when a long rope was tied round her head , and she was fastened to a stake in a grassy meadow . And so it happened to the goat and to the sheep .
Last of all came the reindeer , looking XXXXX he always did , as if some serious business was on hand .
To While about as at between from of over without