Tales of Laughter — The Fair Catherine and Pif-Paf Poltrie
_The Fair Catherine and Pif-Paf Poltrie_ “Good Day, Father Hollenthe.
How do you do?
” “Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.
” “May I marry your daughter?
” “Oh, yes!
if the mother Malcho (_Milk-Cow_), the brother Hohenstolz (_High and Mighty_), the sister Kâsetraut (_Cheese-maker_), and the fair Catherine are willing, it may be so.
” “Where is, then, the mother Malcho?
” “In the stable, milking the cow.
” “Good day, mother Malcho.
How do you do?
” “Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.
” “May I marry your daughter?
” “Oh, yes!
if the father Hollenthe, the brother Hohenstolz, the sister Kâsetraut, and the fair Catherine are willing, it may be so.
” “Where is, then, the brother Hohenstolz?
” “In the yard, chopping up the wood.
” “Good day, brother Hohenstolz.
How are you?
” “Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.
” “May I marry your sister?
” “Oh, yes!
if the father Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the sister Kâsetraut, and the fair Catherine are willing, it may be so.
” “Where is, then, the sister Kâsetraut?
” “In the garden, cutting the cabbages.
” “Good day, sister Kâsetraut.
How do you do?
” “Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.
” “May I marry your sister?
” “Oh, yes!
if the father Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the fair Catherine are willing, it may be so.
” “Where is, then, the fair Catherine?
” “In her chamber, counting out her pennies.
” “Good day, fair Catherine.
How do you do?
” “Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.
” “Will you be my bride?
” “Oh, yes!
if the father Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the sister Kâsetraut are willing, so am I. ” “How much money have you, fair Catherine?
” “Fourteen pennies in bare money, two and a half farthings owing to me, half a pound of dried apples, a handful of prunes, and a handful of roots; and don’t you call that a capital dowry?
Pif-paf Poltrie, what trade are you?
Are you a tailor?
” “Better than that.
” “A shoemaker?
” “Better still!
” “A plowman?
” “Better still!
” “A joiner?
” “Better still!
” “A smith?
” “Better still!
” “A miller?
” “Better still!
” “Perhaps a broom-binder?
” “Yes, so I am; now, is not that a pretty trade?
”
