The younger , indeed , was extremely loquacious , and made such shrewd and witty remarks , that the good old man continually burst out a-laughing , and pronounced him the merriest fellow whom he had seen for many a day . `` Pray , my young friend , '' said he , as they grew familiar together , `` what may I call your name ? '' `` Why , I am very nimble , as you see , '' answered the traveller . `` So , if you call me Quicksilver , the name will fit tolerably well . '' `` Quicksilver ? Quicksilver ? '' repeated Philemon , looking in the traveller 's face , to see if he were making fun of him . `` It is a very odd name ! And your companion there ? Has he as strange a one ? '' `` You must ask the thunder to tell it you ! '' replied Quicksilver , putting on a mysterious look . `` No other voice is loud enough . '' This remark , whether it were serious or in jest , might have caused Philemon to conceive a very great awe of the elder stranger , if , on venturing to gaze at him , he had not beheld so much beneficence in his visage ; But , undoubtedly , here was the grandest figure that ever sat so humbly beside a cottage-door . When the stranger conversed , it was with gravity , and in such a way that Philemon felt irresistibly moved to tell him everything which he had most at heart . This is always the feeling that people have , when they meet with any one wise enough to comprehend all their good and evil , and to despise not a tittle of it . But Philemon , simple and kind-hearted old man that he was , had not many secrets to disclose . He talked , however , quite garrulously , about the events of his past life , in the whole course of which he had never been a score of miles from this very spot . His wife Baucis and himself had dwelt in the cottage from their youth upward , earning their bread by honest labor , always poor , but still contented . He told what excellent butter and cheese Baucis made , and how nice were the vegetables which he raised in his garden .
He said , too , XXXXX , because they loved one another so very much , it was the wish of both that death might not separate them , but that they should die , as they had lived , together .
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