For a long while he travelled on and on , and nobody seemed to want him ; but one day he met an old man , and being a polite youth , he took off his hat and said : ` Good morning , ' in a pleasant voice . ` Good morning , ' answered the old man ; ` and where are you going ? ' ' I am wandering through the country trying to get work , ' replied Peter . ` Then stay with me , for I can give you plenty , ' said the old man , and Peter stayed . His work did not seem hard , for he had only two horses and a cow to see after , and though he had been hired for a year , the year consisted of but three days , so that it was not long before he received his wages . In payment the old man gave him a nut , and offered to keep him for another year ; but Peter was home-sick ; and , besides , he would rather have been paid ever so small a piece of money than a nut ; for , thought he , nuts grow on every tree , and I can gather as many as I like . However , he did not say this to the old man , who had been kind to him , but just bade him farewell . The nearer Peter drew to his father 's house the more ashamed he felt at having brought back such poor wages . What could one nut do for him ? Why , it would not buy even a slice of bacon . It was no use taking it home , he might as well eat it . So he sat down on a stone and cracked it with his teeth , and then took it out of his mouth to break off the shell . But who could ever guess what came out of that nut ? Why , horses and oxen and sheep stepped out in such numbers that they seemed as if they would stretch to the world 's end ! The sight gave Peter such a shock that he wrung his hands in dismay . What was he to do with all these creatures , where was he to put them ? He stood and gazed in terror , and at this moment Eisenkopf came by . ` What is the matter , young man ? ' asked he . ` Oh , my friend , there is plenty the matter , ' answered Peter . '
I have gained a nut as my wages , and when I cracked it this crowd of beasts came out , and I do n't know what to do XXXXX them all ! '
For at besides in on that through to while with