When the student had said good night he suddenly stood still , reading the sheet of paper in which the cheese had been wrapped . It was a leaf torn out of an old book -- a book of poetry ` There 's more of that over there ! ' said the grocer ' I gave an old woman some coffee for the book . If you like to give me twopence you can have the rest . ' ` Yes , ' said the student , ` give me the book instead of the cheese . I can eat my bread without cheese . It would be a shame to leave the book to be torn up . You are a clever and practical man , but about poetry you understand as much as that old tub over there ! ' And that sounded rude as far as the tub was concerned , but the grocer laughed , and so did the student . It was only said in fun . But the Goblin was angry that anyone should dare to say such a thing to a grocer who owned the house and sold the best butter . When it was night and the shop was shut , and everyone was in bed except the student , the Goblin went upstairs and took the grocer 's wife 's tongue . She did not use it when she was asleep , and on whatever object in the room he put it that thing began to speak , and spoke out its thoughts and feelings just as well as the lady to whom it belonged . But only one thing at a time could use it , and that was a good thing , or they would have all spoken together . The Goblin laid the tongue on the tub in which were the old newspapers . ` Is it true , ' he asked , ' that you know nothing about poetry ? ' ` Certainly not ! ' answered the tub . ` Poetry is something that is in the papers , and that is frequently cut out . I have a great deal more in me than the student has , and yet I am only a small tub in the grocer 's shop . '
And the Goblin put the tongue XXXXX the coffee-mill , and how it began to grind !
If about as for in of on over than without