any one would have thought that the heavy load would have weighed her to the ground, but she always brought it safely home. if any one met her, she greeted him quite courteously. "good day, dear countryman, it is a fine day. ah! you wonder that i should drag grass about, but every one must take his burthen on his back." nevertheless, people did not like to meet her if they could help it, and took by preference a round-about way, and when a father with his boys passed her, he whispered to them, "beware of the old woman. she has claws beneath her gloves; she is a witch." one morning, a handsome young man was going through the forest. the sun shone bright, the birds sang, a cool breeze crept through the leaves, and he was full of joy and gladness. he had as yet met no one, when he suddenly perceived the old witch kneeling on the ground cutting grass with a sickle. she had already thrust a whole load into her cloth, and near it stood two baskets, which were filled with wild apples and pears. "but, good little mother," said he, "how canst thou carry all that away?" "i must carry it, dear sir," answered she, "rich folk’s children have no need to do such things, but with the peasant folk the saying goes, don’t look behind you, you will only see how crooked your back is!"