It was only said in fun. But the Goblin was angry that anyone should dare to say such a thing to a grocer who owned the. house and sold the best butter. When it was night and the shop was shut, and everyone was in bed except the student, the Goblin went upstairs and took the grocer's wife's tongue. She did not use it when she was asleep, and on whatever object in the room he put it that thing began to speak, and spoke out its thoughts and feelings just as well as the lady to whom it belonged. The Goblin laid the tongue on the tub in which were the old newspapers.
Poetry is something that is in the papers, and that is frequently cut out.
I have a great deal more in me than the student has, and yet I am only a small tub in the grocer's shop. There was a light burning, and the Goblin peeped through the key-hole and saw that he was reading the torn book that he had bought in the shop. Out of the book shot a streak of light which grew into a large tree and spread its branches far above the student. Every leaf was alive, and every flower was a beautiful girl's head, some with dark and shining eyes, others with wonderful blue ones. Every fruit was a glittering star, and there was a marvellous music in the student's room.