Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1848-12-26
indianapolis, December 26, 1851


when he saw 7rho he had lost it for. and from
that moment the deep love he didn't know
was in him burst up in blaze i'll his heart,
and the thought of his crooked back, us he
looked on the beautiful girl at his feet, made
him SILVER as if palsy had fallen upon his
hopes.
"She thanked, she blessed him, in tones
that might have made him know she loved
him; bat despair had blasted him, and when
he left her at her fathers house the big tears
burst from his eyes and saved his heart from
breaking.
ats an altered man he was from that day;
he summed all his friends, his looks were
haggard, and his ewes cleaned like burning
Goals; and morning. noon and night, it's away
in the woods he was huntin' for the l.eprc-
hawn. Well, darlint, shurc fine day
he hard the ''tap, tap, tap" of the little ham
mer o how his blood tingled and he held
his breath till he nearly choked himself, as
he stole along to the place; the smallest noise,
made by the Taste dry twig that snapped under
his fut, sounded to his ears like a clap of thun-
der. and he'd stop and listen as ifhis life de-
pended on the next tap! He hard it again,
and O! think of his Joy and fear, whin, within
"A yard of him. wild his back facing him, he
saw the Leprchawn, hard at work. Wild the
spring of "A wildcat and the laugh of a mad
man. he grasped the little crature by the
waist
- have YOU at last SEE Paudeen.
".First or last, you needn't squeeze SO
tight says the Leprchawn; what do you
want p seq he is it money ?! seq he.
1t is SEE Paudcen that and good
looks.
".Faith you're in need O. them, my fine
fellow, at any rate, SCI the I.eprchawn.
...Don't be jokin, Paudeen.
"si'm in airncst. SCI the little brogue-
make. What do you want them for ?
"sTo win Acens heart seq Paudeen.
"sYou'rc fool. seq the i-cprchawn.
...Bettcr manners, seq the hunchback. Il
have YOU tight
".Truc for YOU, you have, more tight than
pleasant-do'nt be breaking the ribs aft nv
mc-shure You'll get nothing by that.
Don't YOU be impidcnt. thin SEE Paudccn,
.for you'll get nothing by thai, 50 give me what
want.
81 will, seq the little thing after pause.
Il will. for | like you. knew you were
comin.or you wouldn't have caught me.
There's me purse, don't be doubling me,
lis the right onc--you can pour the bright
gould out of il like runnn' water, and there,
SCI be. touching Paudeen wild his queer little
hammer.' now you're changed min-but
mind me, if Alcen likes YOU now. she Is as
false as a snow drift or shitin' sand. iii see
YOU here tomorrow, and if you wish, Ill
change you back
s.Paudeen had no time to thank the crature,
before he was out o. sight. He rushed into
the sunshine and saw by the shadow his form
was changed, and his hump was gone. With
a wild hurrt he bounded off to the lake.
and almost fell when he saw reflected III the
sly's own lookin' glass the handsome face
and strong built form he had upon him. Did
he walk. or did be flv--or was it lightnin
carried him to his darlins roof! She was
alone; he pored the gould at her feet; she
started he knelt to her; n faint scream escaped
her lips; he talked of love, and took her hand;
she dashed him from her i'll scorn! There
was Il curl on her lip, cloud upon her brow,
and quivering in her voice, as she called
him coward thus to press his suit She rushed
from the cabin and threw herself down at the
foot OF the tree where Paudccn saved her
life, weeping the big tears. that are born in
the depths of the heart.
.'Paudecn felt as if the good peoples curse
was on MN; ne SlOic I'D the pia'c s'lc udu run
to, and there heard her, in spite of her sobs,
whisper her his name. 1t was cnough The
truth flashed upon him like the lightning's
blaze in Il black night. He the I.cprc-
hawn again There was merry smile on
the little broguc-maker's face. as he asked
"sPaudeen, darlin', will you stay as you
arcl
".Changc me. in mercy change me back!'
"'lt's done says the little sprite. You
loved truly and you've got what YOU Deserve
He stopped smilin as he added wild something
like sorrow. sPaudccn, there is no gilt the good
people can bestow equal to what mortal
may possess aron1a,ls honest toUe. You've
won it, be content; to her your blemshes are
beauties. She sees you with the fond eyes of
her trusting soul. She will share but two
spots on earth and those will be your honle
while living, and you grace when dcadr
THE little Lepfehawn vanished from the
boys sight. A few weeks after the hunch-
back. Paudeen, was the husband of Alecn,
and from that hour, darlin', he ceased re-
pining; he put his trust in the good God that
had made him. and when he died he told his
story, and left it to be told rs lesson for his
chidrcn-that honesty of heart is
better than handsomcncss- and content be-
yant the price Of gould with which moral,
dear friend | end this trning sketch.
STesEr