a fine night to-night ! ' But the goldsmith 's wife said nothing . The man then repeated his words louder ; but still there was no reply . A third time he shouted : ` Good-evening , friend ! are you deaf ? ' but the figure never replied . Then the stranger , being angry at what he thought very rude behaviour , picked up a big stone and threw it at Mrs. Goldsmith , crying : ` Let that teach you manners ! ' Instantly poor Mrs. Goldsmith tumbled over ; and the stranger , horrified at seeing what he had done , was immediately seized by the goldsmith , who ran out screaming : ` Wretch ! you have killed my wife ! Oh , miserable one ; we will have justice done to thee ! ' With many protestations and reproaches they wrangled together , the stranger entreating the goldsmith to say nothing and he would pay him handsomely to atone for the sad accident . At last the goldsmith quieted down , and agreed to accept one thousand gold pieces from the stranger , who immediately helped him to bury his poor wife , and then rushed off to the guest house , packed up his things and was off by daylight , lest the goldsmith should repent and accuse him as the murderer of his wife . Now it very soon appeared that the goldsmith had a lot of extra money , so that people began to ask questions , and finally demanded of him the reason for his sudden wealth . ` Oh , ' said he , ` my wife died , and I sold her . ' ` You sold your dead wife ? ' cried the people . ` Yes , ' said the goldsmith . ` For how much ? ' ' A thousand gold pieces , ' replied the goldsmith . Instantly the villagers went away and each caught hold of his own wife and throttled her , and the next day they all went off to sell their dead wives .
Many a weary mile did they tramp , but got nothing but hard words or laughter , or directions XXXXX the nearest cemetery , from people to whom they offered dead wives for sale .
For With as at by from of over that to