They were all by this time heartily sick of Rooshkulum, especially the old lady, who had never left her bed; and one morning, feeling something better, she called the farmer to her bedside, and addressed him thus:--“You know, my son, that your agreement with that rascal will terminate when you both shall hear the cuckoo. Now, in my youth I could imitate the cuckoo so well that I have had them flying round me. Put me up, therefore, in the big holly bush; take him along with you to cut a tree near; I will then cry ‘cuckoo!’ ‘cuckoo!’ and the agreement will be broken!” said she, chuckling to herself. This seemed a capital idea; so the farmer lifted his mother out of bed, and put her up into the holly bush, calling Rooshkulum to bring the big axe, for that he intended to fell a tree. Rooshkulum did as he was desired, and commenced cutting down a certain tree, which the farmer pointed out. And not long had he been thus engaged when the old lady in the holly bush cried out “cuckoo!” “cuckoo!” “Hah! what’s that?” said the farmer; “that sounds like the cuckoo!” “O, that cannot be,” said Rooshkulum, “for this is winter!” But now the cuckoo was heard, beyond a doubt. “Well,” said Rooshkulum, “before I’ve done with you, I’ll go and see this cuckoo.” “Why, you stupid fool!” said the farmer, “no man ever saw the cuckoo.” “Never mind!” said Rooshkulum, “it can be no harm to look. Wouldn’t you think, now, that the cuckoo was speaking out of the holly bush?” “O, not at all!--perhaps she is five miles away. Come away at once and give up your place. Did not we both hear her?” “Stop!” said Rooshkulum; “stay back! don’t make a noise! There! did not you see something moving? Ay! THAT must be the cuckoo!” So saying, he hurled the axe up into the holly bush with his whole force, cutting away the branches, scattering the leaves and berries, and with one blow severing the head from the shoulders of the farmer’s mother! “O!” said the farmer, “my poor old mother! O! what have you done, you villain! You have murdered my mother!” “And,” said Rooshkulum (seemingly surprised), “_I suppose you BLAME me for this, do you?_” And _now_ was the farmer taken by surprise, and in the heat of his passion answered, “How dare you, you black-hearted villain, ask me such a question? Of course I do! Have you not murdered my mother? Alas! my poor old mother.” “O, very well!” said Rooshkulum, as the farmer continued looking at his mother, and lamenting, “perhaps you also remember our own little agreement. I have but too good reason to think that you and your accursed old mother, by your schemes, caused the death of my two fine brothers. But now for the fulfilment of my share of the bargain!”