He got out of bed and made haste to dress himself . ` Ay , ' said the peasant , ` now I can see how clever our clerk is . He has done well by you , for now you look just like a human being . If one did n't know it , one would never think that it was you we got from the red cow ; will you come home with me now ? ' ` No , ' said the merchant , ' I ca n't find time just now . I have a big business to look after . ' ` You could have the farm at once , you know , ' said the peasant , ` and we old people would retire . But if you would rather stay in business , of course you may do so . Are you in want of anything ? ' ` Oh , yes , ' said the merchant ; ' I want nothing so much as money . A merchant has always a use for that . ' ' I can well believe that , ' said the peasant , ` for you had nothing at all to start with . I have brought some with me for that very end . ' With that he emptied his bag of money out upon the table , so that it was all covered with bright dollars . When the merchant saw what kind of man he had before him he began to speak him fair , and invited him to stay with him for some days , so that they might have some more talk together . ` Very well , ' said the peasant , ` but you must call me `` Father . '' ' ' I have neither father nor mother alive , ' said Peter Bull . ' I know that , ' said the man ; ` your real father was sold at Hamburg last Michaelmas , and your real mother died while calving in spring ; but my wife and I have adopted you as our own , and you are our only heir , so you must call me `` Father . '' ' Peter Bull was quite willing to do so , and it was settled that he should keep the money , while the peasant made his will and left to him all that he had , before he went home to his wife , and told her the whole story . She was delighted to hear that it was true enough about Peter Bull -- that he was no other than their own bull-calf .
` You must go at once and tell the clerk , ' said she , ` and pay him the hundred dollars XXXXX his own money that he spent upon our son .
If as at before for from in of to with