The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-09-21

newly acquired poWeD "
little brownie to provide u supper. Inc
dwarf was forced 10 obey, Tor his power
had gone from him with his cap OF inyisi
bilily. III.
The cock new crowed for the third time
and the young ligh, s,reaked the east when
"away awayw sounded through The pusn'
es, and The stalks, and the flowers ano
the mountain opened, and all sank below
in silver cis,ern. Hans was asioni'hed
a, the majestic glitter Of the walls; meY
were as tit laid with pearls and diamonds
such was their exceeding brilliance; while
beneath, in the distance, ,s'he heard lhe
sweetest music, lha, stole upon his senses
like May odOrs, and a, length wrapped him
in gentle slumber. What time had pass;
ed he knew not, but when he awoke, his
little bro wnie was by his side, ready 10 DO
him services andhe found himself in q
chamber ,ha, was brilliant beyond the splen-
dor OF the earth. The tables were Of spot.
less marble, the walls Of emerald and the
frames OF the mirrors were covered with
diamonds. No sun shone in this subierra-
mean kingdom, bu, the precious stones shed
around perpetual light, that was iairer
and clearer than the faires, and clearesi
nigh, Of earth. They were the stars and
the moons Of this country, bu. their splen-
dor was borrowed from no sun, and eclipsed
BY no clouds. .......
II wa, midday when bell rang, and
the brownie said, 'iMaster, will you dine
alone, or in the great assembly, "1n,he
great assembly, replied Hans, whittier he
was on the instant conducted by his servant
Here he saw an infinite crowd Of little men
and women already collected, while other.
poured into the hall from every side; in
many places the ground opened, and table:
arose, covered with the mos, costly vessels
and the most delicious meats, and wine ,ha
sparkled ia the goblels like water beneath
the sunbeams. The chiefs Of the little peo
pie invited Hans 10 their table, and placed
him between their fairest maidens. Tht
feas, began, and soon the mirih waxed loud
for the dwarfs are lively race, whose
spirits are light and brilliant as the wine
that bubbles in their glasses. Birds Of iht
riches, plumage were ever on the wing
above them, pouring forth their songs il
harmony with a strange music that hOatec
through the air, so sol, SO sweet, SO wild
that /, drew from lis throne the anxious ant
delighted soul, 10 leave il quiyering on ,h'
lips.
Crowds Of servants waited round III,
tables Some bore about the golden cups ant
crystal fruit baskets; some s,rewed tn
ground with flowers, that must have growl
in gardens near the sun, such were ihei
exceeding beauty, a beauty that was evel
undimmed by the lusire Of The diamond
others scattered odors SO sweet, that the
senses ached with pleasure. These ser.
wants were The children Of men who hat
fallen into the power Of the dwaris. A
first, Hans was inclined 10 pity their estate
but when he observed their rich clothes
and their rosy cheeks, and the sprighlines
Of their steps, he thought 10 himself "afte
all, they are not so bad of as | was in run.
ming after cows and oxen; and, moreover
a time will come when they may be fre,
again." And he though, no more Of them
but sported with his little companions, hap
pier than any earthly king upon his throne
They had sat thus for two hours, whel
the principal rang little bell in a ,ric,
sank the seats and the tables, and the com
pany were again upon the foot. He rang
second time, and where the tables had been
there arose orange trees, and palms an,
myrtles. rich with fruit and blossom, an,
upon the branches sang the sweetest birds
but though their numbers were many a
the sands in the desert, yet al! their voice
united in perfec, harmony. Hans, how
ever, soon found out the cause in nich,
within the roof sat an aged man, who CAV
the note, TO which they were compelled I,
sing. He was silent as hoary time, ant
spoke no mortal word, while the res, wer,
often won, 10 talk TOO much.
The old man above now sounded to the
dance, and the birds all echoed back tn,
old mans tune. In an instant the whirl be
gan, and the little maidens that had sa, b,
Hans, caught HIM by the arms, and sprang
abou, with him in the dance for two hours
long, and yet neither his breath was shor
nor his feet weary. The more they danced
the wilder rose their spirits, till every sou
was bathed ecs,acy. Often in the time o
his old age was Hans accustomed 10 say
when he described this scene, ",here MAJ
be, aud no doubt are, greater joys in heaveI
but earthly imagination is TOO weak 10 pic
ture ,hsm."
Hans had lived thus many months, wheI
at last he resolved 10 visi, the schools, an,
become student with the servanisl; 70
the dwaris make rule OF ins,ruc,ing all tn
children Of earth who fall into their power
as far as they may be capable Of receiving
their lessons. But the little people hav,
apprehensions infinitely finer than any hu
man beings, and are well acquainted wit
all the mysteries Of nature. They arc be
sides exceedingly industrious and work ,h
metals with minuieness that can be onl
equalled by the texture Of the blossom o.
the flower.
Among all his companions in the school
the one he loved best, was little fair.com
plexioned maiden called Eliza, who cam,
from his own village, and was tho pastor
daughter. With her he passed his child
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