So he walked on till he came to the drain near by, with just a pickle of
water and a foot of mud in it.

"Here's muck," said the fool, much pleased, and he got in and rolled in
it spluttering. "Hi, yi!" said he--for he had his mouth full--"I've got
a coat o' clay now to be sure. I'll go home and tell my mother I'm a
wise man and not a fool any longer." And he went on home.

Presently he came to a cottage with a lass at the door.

"Morning, fool," said she; "hast thou been ducked in the horse-pond?"

"Fool yourself," said he, "the wise woman says I'll know more 'n she
when I get a coat o' clay, and here it is. Shall I marry thee, lass?"

"Ay," said she, for she thought she'd like a fool for a husband, "when
shall it be?"

"I'll come and fetch thee when I've told my mother," said the fool, and
he gave her his lucky penny and went on.

When he got home his mother was on the doorstep.

"Mother, I 've got a coat o' clay," said he.

"Coat o' muck," said she; "and what of that?"

"Wise woman said I'd know more than she when I got a coat o' clay," said
he, "so I down in the drain and got one, and I'm not a fool any longer."