replied the younger of the two , in a lively kind of way , notwithstanding his weariness and trouble . `` This is quite another greeting than we have met with yonder , in the village . Pray , why do you live in such a bad neighborhood ? '' `` Ah ! '' observed old Philemon , with a quiet and benign smile , `` Providence put me here , I hope , among other reasons , in order that I may make you what amends I can for the inhospitality of my neighbors . '' `` Well said , old father ! '' cried the traveller , laughing ; `` and , if the truth must be told , my companion and myself need some amends . Those children -LRB- the little rascals ! -RRB- have bespattered us finely with their mud-ball ; and one of the curs has torn my cloak , which was ragged enough already . But I took him across the muzzle with my staff ; and I think you may have heard him yelp , even thus far off . '' Philemon was glad to see him in such good spirits ; nor , indeed , would you have fancied , by the traveller 's look and manner , that he was weary with a long day 's journey , besides being disheartened by rough treatment at the end of it . He was dressed in rather an odd way , with a sort of cap on his head , the brim of which stuck out over both ears . Though it was a summer evening , he wore a cloak , which he kept wrapt closely about him , perhaps because his under garments were shabby . Philemen perceived , too , that he had on a singular pair of shoes ; but , as it was now growing dusk , and as the old man 's eyesight was none the sharpest , he could not precisely tell in what the strangeness consisted . One thing , certainly , seemed queer . The traveller was so wonderfully light and active , that it appeared as if his feet sometimes rose from the ground of their own accord , or could only be kept down by an effort . `` I used to be light-footed , in my youth , '' said Philemen to the traveller . `` But I always found my feet grow heavier towards nightfall . '' `` There is nothing like a good staff to help one along , '' answered the stranger ; `` and I happen to have an excellent one , as you see . '' This staff , in fact , was the oddest-looking staff that Philemon had ever beheld .
It was made XXXXX olive-wood , and had something like a little pair of wings near the top .
along among as by in notwithstanding of to towards under