The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-06-15

lake elves were dancing; yonder, small fairie
were seated around little table, eating dimuni
tive seR.snals. which were most deciOusly pre-
pared. Another set were amusing themselves by
playing at feather ball with ball no bigger than
a pea, aud adorned with the most beautiful plumcI
Of the humming bird Seppi would gladly hay,
'Joned this play, but wherever he stepped, bC
drove the little people away for he might have
buried ten Of them beneath his foot And ther
his figure cast such large shadow that the com
pany always sat in the dark when be approached
within a few steps Of them, and they begged the
fairy to protect them from that fearful giant 0i
whose laundering voice they were so much afraid
Now Seppi was very much annoyed that he
could not play and gambol with the silly little
foiks, and that he should appear such fright to
them. The fairy, who observed that he WIS an.
noyed, conducted him 10 sofa in the corner, and
by wink commanded her servants TO bring all
sorts Of ,efeshments to her guest. And in large
crystal bowls they brought sweet watermelons
and all sorts of beautifully prepared fishes and
crabs; IN short, everything they had handy-and
Sepp did full justice TO the excellent fare, for he
had eaten nothing all day. His master, moreover
was avery close and stingy man, and did not give
his servants enough to eat But although Seppi
was very hungry, aud had never enjoyed so splen.
dld1nt0hle before yet there was something want
hi1 was no bread beneath the water
and gh all the vands were excellent, they
did nbt taste right to Seppi, since he had not the
staff Of life" to which he bad always been used
Now you see" said the beautiful fairy. sadly,
that you will miss many things below bere, to
which you were accustomed in the world above,
and which with all my power, cannot provide
for you Why, why, would you stay here with
me, when you like it so well among Elankind, and
in your pure Alpine ART"
But Sepp consolcd her, and said that be would
willingly miss all terrestrial enoyments to be al.
lowed to remain with her, and even now he would
again leave his home 10 follow her ii she were TO
bring him back to the upper world Then her
face beamed with joy and happiness. She now
showed the boy her beautiful garden There, on
high eSpaliers grew rare flowers, Of wonderful
color and fruits so large and beautiful, as Seppi
had never seen them before. lie asked the fliry
whether she would permit him to pluck some Of
these beautiful things and she replied that every.
thing in her whole Kingdom was his as well n. her
own. Then Scppi wanted to pull beautiful
rose, which hong heavy uron the stem but when
he took 1t into hi- hand. be found that il was only
a wurl. of art, cut from red jewel end tha. the
green leaves were made uf chrysnprase It was
the same case with the fruits; the great pluus
which invited Sepp were made Of sapphire, and
the apples Of 'ubies, the pears Of agate and enc
raid, IN short n! were made of jewels; but though
they were beautiful and looked inviting Seppi
could not eat them. Thcn shade of d!s unicrt
pissed over lis face. f,r there he had seen happy
children at play, and could not join them or share
their ioys. lie found tic rare,t fruits but could
not eat them; and, with the exception Of the fairy
no uuc understood hi- language, or would reply 10
him. True. shc WAS always near him. As Seppi
Had desired, anu studied constantly 10 make him
h@Tpy but size could not succeed in IL nay. Sep
p even began 10 be afraid Of the wonderful things
Ec saw everywhere around him, and the mystefI.
Gus power Of the fairy filed linn with awe
Il prIy yau,' Ire said une d3y to her, conduct
me from the artificial garden, and from the spleu.
did saloon, to some green meadow, where plain
simple grass il growing such Us my goats eat
there will again sin: al my songs to you, al!
thu-e you love 50 weli.'
Then the fairy sighed, f,r her Kingdom consist.
ed only of the great magic garden, and the beau,
tIful saloon, ami she could easily perceive that
these two places did not suit her fivori'c. For
not once since had Lc sung 50 i vpily as at the
tint when he sat last ly the >, e uf the lake
and when hr now. ut the requesi Cf the fIlry.
,any one Of hi oil melodies il had no longer the
lappy, merry sound ~ Il Nrrc, for SrpPis heart
was 10 more happy; on the contrary he WAS sad
md ,ungui,ug And yet now he was So much
better Oft than at the time when he was hut a
porr goatlcrd, and had 10 siarve in the employ
Of the avmitiuu. seuuer What ,hcn aIled him
a. he had wished he was always lily and hour.
" hy the beautiful fairy who nursel and ,hcri,h-
ci him like n child He dincd every dav Of five
courses, and from golden dishes slept on q srft.
luxurious bed and brDeath sllkel cover And
here, in the realms Of fiiry.and, regned nm ever.
l. Loo
the flowers and fruits were only ntifclal, and tie
light was not that Of the sun. hut Of thousands q.
Mmp, which hung upon the ceiling Of the saloon
and against the crystal walls, aud burned always
In the world above no one bad cared for pOol
Seppi, who had no parent. or relatives, and h4
goats at the utmost used AZ times to lick his
hands with their small lpA Nov, the beautiful
fairy kissed his forehead PLAYED with lnt locks
AMI brought him new and beautiful presents every
day. And with nll this Scppi became more sor.
rowfu, day after day, and his merry cyes looked
dim and sud; he would have Hlmust given his life
TO pass nnuther hour by the pond. where the fury
had met linn, and he was constantly thinking OF
the clear bright sun, the blue ether md the high
grass that grew So mCrily upon earth, and 50 last
that he used 10 see, each morning the progress il
had made during the night. IN the f,irvs empire
everything was beautiful beyond description, bu,
he never could iccl at home lac wanted so many
things that he had been used TO IN the world a.
ahoye--his brown bread, the berries he used ,c
pluck in the forest, even his goats, which were
wont To come Mt his call.
"Ireally wi-h," ho said TO himself "tho firy
would leave the alone for moment would
lust fos fun see WI ether could find tho crystal
stairs by which came down here. Only for CO.,
riUsity-l would not asceni--for am very well
here, and the fairy is so kind to NE, and loves ms
80 much"
Aud Just MS Il the fairy could read lis thoughts
she said ON the following morning. "Seppi, Unjust
leave you for few hours! Try and pass your
time as best you can. When come back | rN
pee, to give sou joyful surprise" It was hei
intention tO swim ns nearly rs possible to the sur
face Of the water, and scu whether no child np
preached its neighboihood; then she would coal
II 20 the edge uf the lake, md quickly draw \
down with her, 20 that her dear Sepp nnght hsv,
human being near him Ia cheer him up again.
Whilst she was thus waiting aud hiding hersel
beneath the watcrlics and large leaves that tlont
rd upou the pond so that no rays Of the sun roulC
reach her, Seppi was walking ubout, torn yr,st
lessness md discomfort. He wanted to know
whether that staircase was still standing. and So
Crrtly, like an evil conscience, he stole from th
snlonn And behold. he found tho crystal steps
which he had descended with the fairy about
mon,l,ago as hv thought aud his heart beatw j
joy,