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 of olive-wood , and had something like a little pair of wings near the top . Two snakes , carved in the wood , were represented as twining themselves about the staff , and were so very skilfully executed that old Philemon -LRB- whose eyes , you know , were getting rather dim -RRB- almost thought them alive , and that he could see them wriggling and twisting . `` A curious piece of work , sure enough ! '' said he . `` A staff with wings ! It would be an excellent kind of stick for a little boy to ride astride of ! '' By this time , Philemon and his two guests had reached the cottage-door . `` Friends , '' said the old man , `` sit down and rest yourselves here on this bench . My good wife Baucis has gone to see what you can have for supper . We are poor folks ; but you shall be welcome to whatever we have in the cupboard . '' The younger stranger threw himself carelessly on the bench , letting his staff fall , as he did so . And here happened something rather marvellous , though trifling enough , too .
The staff seemed XXXXX get up from the ground of its own accord , and , spreading its little pair of wings , it half hopt , half flew , and leaned itself against the wall of the cottage .
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