The snipe, as is well known, is a bird which inhabits low, marshy
meadows, and which, in flight, makes a noise with its wings not unlike
the neighing of a horse.
A farmer, who himself never looked after his property, had in his
employ a lazy and negligent servant. One dry summer the man rode his
master’s horse, many days in succession, to a pasture where there was
no water, without first giving it drink, as he had been instructed. So
the poor animal was thus left to suffer through the long dry period.
It happened one day that the farmer would go to the city, and commanded
the servant to fetch the horse from the pasture. The man went, but
search where he would, no horse could be found. The servant not
returning in season, his master set out after him, but neither could he
find the animal. It had disappeared from the pasture completely, and
was not found again.
Some days later, when the farmer was again out, continuing the search,
to his surprise he heard a neighing in the air. Soon after he observed
his horse, as he supposed, standing and drinking in an adjoining
meadow. “Are you there, Grålle?” cried the farmer, and hastened to
catch the horse. His shout was answered with a neigh.
“Grålle, Grålle, my boy!” continued the farmer, in persuasive tones and
was about to grasp the halter, when the horse was transformed into a
bird, which, with another neigh, flew into the air.
From that day the farmer took care of his own horses, and before all
else he saw to it that they did not want for water when they went to
pasture.