one day the firewood gave out in his kitchen, so, as his wife wanted some at once, the old man took his ax and set out for the woods up among the hills not very far from his home. it was a fine day in the early autumn, and the old man enjoyed the fresh air and was in no hurry to get home. so the whole afternoon passed quickly while he was chopping wood, and he had collected a goodly pile to take back to his wife. when the day began to draw to a close, he turned his face homewards.