"
And so on through the whole rigmarole; wind and weather, and the state of
the roads; wife and children getting on as usual; season and crops;
river's fallen so much the last week; butchers' prices; hard times
nowadays, etc. Then they begin trying the leather, pinching and feeling
and bending it about and talking it over. And when at last a strip is cut
off and weighed, the mannikin finds it a marvel, sure, that ever it could
weigh so much! Reckon it at a round figure, those little bits of weights
aren't worth counting! And the two of them argue and split over this for a
good solid while, as is right and proper. When at last it comes to paying
for the goods, a fantastic leather purse is brought to light, a thing out
of a fairy tale. Slowly and cautiously the heavy fist draws forth the
coins, one _skilling_ after another; both parties count the money
over again and again, then the mannikin closes his purse with an anxious
movement; that is all he has!
"Why, you've coin and paper too; I saw a note in there.
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