There was once a rich squire who owned a big manor , and he had silver stored in his chest, and money lent out at interest. But something was wanting, for he was a widower. One day, the daughter from the neighboring farm was there working for him. The Squire had taken quite a liking to her, and, as she was the child of poor folk, he thought that if he but hinted at matrimony she would jump at the change. So he said to her that he had hit upon the idea of marrying again.
"Yes, yes, one can hit upon so many things," said the girl, standing there tittering. She thought the ugly old fellow could have hit upon something which suited him better than getting married. "Yes, but the idea is that you should be my wife!" said the Squire. She said: "No! Many thanks just the same!" and thought, that day will never come. But the Squire wasn't used to hearing "No!", and the less she wanted him, the more he was bent on getting her. When he could make no headway with the girl, he sent for her father and told him that if he could fix it so he got her, he would forget about the money he had lent him. And he would throw in that piece of land which lay alongside his meadows into the bargain.
Yes, he would soon straighten his daughter out, thought the father. She was only a child and didn't know what was for her own good, he said. But for all his talking to the daughter, both soft and sharp, it helped not one bit. She wouldn't have the Squire if he sat in powdered gold up to his ears, she said. The Squire waited day after day, but at last he grew angry and impatient, and so he said to the girl's father that, if he was going to stand by his promise, he had better strike a blow for the cause right away, for he would not wait any longer. The man knew of no other way, he said, than for the Squire to get everything ready for the wedding. And, when the parson and the wedding guest had come, he was to send for the girl as though there was some work for her to do. And when she came, she must be wedded in a trice before she had time to collect her wits.
This , thought the Squire, was good and well, so he had his servants brew and bake and prepare for the wedding with a vengeance. When the wedding guests had come, the Squire shouted to one of his boys and said he was to run down to the neighbor south of the farm, and have him send up what he had promised. "But if you're not back in the twinkling of an eye," he said, shaking his fist, "I'll - " More he didn't said, for the boy was off as though he had been burned. "I', to greet you from the Master and ask for what you've promised," said the boy to the man south of the farm. "But is has to be this very minute, for he's hopping mad today!" The boy was off. When he came down to the meadow, the daughter was there raking. "I'm to fetch what your father's promised the master," said the boy. "Aha! They can't fool me that way", she thought. "Oh, is that so?" she said aloud. "It's the little white mare, isn't it? You'll have to go over and take her. She's tethered on the other side of the pea patch," said the girl. The boy threw himself onto the little mare's back, and rode home at full gallop.
"Did you bring her with you?" said the Squire. "She's standing out by the door," said the boy. "Well, lead her up to mother's old room, then!" aside the Squire. "Dear me,! How is that to be done?" said the boy "You just do as I say!" said the Squire. "If you can't manage her by yourself, you'll have to get folk to help," he said. He thought the girl might get out of hand. When the boy saw the Squire's face, he realized there was no use arguing out in the yard. So he went down, and took with him all the servants who were there. Some hauled on the front half, and some shoved on the back, and at last they got the mare up the stairs and into the chamber. There lay the bridal outfit ready and waiting. "Now I've done that too, Master," said the boy. "But it was an awful job - the worst I've had here at the farm." "Well! Well! You won't have done it for nothing," said the Squire. "Now send the womenfolk up to dress her." "But dear me! - After all! Said the boy. "Don't talk back! They're to dress her up, and they're to forget neither wreath not crown!" said the Master. The boy went down in the kitchen. "Now listen, girls; you're to get upstairs and dress that little mare as a bride. The Master, no doubt, wants to give the guest a laugh!"
Well, the girls put the bridal outfit on the little mare, and then the boy went down and said she was ready, and wearing both wretch and crown. "Well done," said the Squire. "bring her down and I'll receive her at the door myself!"
There was a tremendous clattering on the stairs, for she didn't come down in
silken shoes, that bride. But when the doors opened, and the Squire's Bride
came into the great hall, all the wedding guests burst out laughing. And the
Squire was so well pleased with the bride, that they say he has never been out
courting since!