The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-06-09

dict and cried out all at once "IIast thou
any wish? What desires: thou? Wilt thou
have riches or beauty? Thou mayst expires.
one wish, We will fulfil it,"
care you in earnest? asked Benedict, sur
prised.
"Sober earnest. Wish. WISH
"Now, then, said Benedict, lust look here
have hump which II like none of the best
and 1t does not seem to please my wife any
better ; could you help me Oft with it."
"Never fear that Come here"
They seized Benedict, and began to toss
him like ball from one to the other, till be
had made the round of the whole circle.
Its all over with thee now" thought Bene.
dict, as he flew briskly through the air, ''the
dwarfs have betrayed thee" But when he
came back to the first dwarf, he placed him
quietly On his feet again, and Benedict
hump was gone. lie had become so trim
and handsome that his own mother would not
have known him.
AT first his wife would not receive him in
to the house at any rate. Benedict had to
tell how many shirts he had lying in his
chest, and how many spots there were on his
worklng-cOat at last she believed him, and
allowed him to tell her how he had become
so changed. She scolded him somewhat.
though, because he had risked himself among
the wicked dwarf>, but her JOY at seeing him
so beautiful was plainly enough to he read in
her face. ,,,
to his nei.hbor, a tailor, who wa. very
spruce little man, and very rich, but he was
extremely avaricious, and suffered little
The tailor had been dunning Benedict for his
house rent for several days, and when he ob
served the change which he had undergone
he became envious of his good luck, for a
covetous person cannot help feeling pain
whenever anything good happens to another,
let the thing he ever so trii!:n. or innocent
lie thought it must have been brought abou,
in some very unusual way, and he dctermin-
ell to sift the matter to the bottom,
SO he went to Benedict, demanded the
house rent again, and threatened to turn him
out Of the house if he did not paw linn on
the spot Benedict begged him to wait a
couple of days till he received his wages, and
then he should be able to discharge the debt
But the srasping tailor would give no par
don. At last, after long entrea'v, he said
We'll, will wait three days, if YOU will tell
me how YOU got rI Of your hump"
Benedict told him the whole story. and
also impaired to him the secret o.. the sic
kle
Beauty and riches ~ thought the tailor,
that Will not be difficult choice. and one
can wish according to his fancy"
AS soon as the moon was in the Skv he
went to the heath, and there he found the
dwarfs. They were singing their verse with
the addition that Benedict had mad. to it,,
and they danced merriIy in a circle. The
tailor danced with them, and after he had
gore round in the ring some TINE, he s.oppe,.
and called out that he would like to adj a
line also.
The dwarfs stool still IN their delight.
Monday. Tuesday. Wc-,e>-ia,.
Thursday, Friday, Ike" ;-c say.
''SinS. sing" cried they
Stammerin" BEGAN the tailor:
'S&- Sal Saturday.
"tio on go on ~ cried The dwarf>.
81 Sa- SATURDAY .hcrc.,''
The tailor could get no farther, the Swca,
stood in big drops on his forehead, and hi,
heart thumped like a hammer.
The dwarfs ran about wildly. and seemed!
to be angry with the tailor 4, last they
ranged themselves around him and sal:
Since YOU have changed our yrr>, some
what, you shall have your wish. Choose be
tween beauty and riches"
The tailor recovered fresh courage
"IIcar :" sail he, "I'cnc,lict has CLOSER
beauty; that YOU NAV not have TO Grant III,
same thing twice, will take what I,cncdic
did not wish for"
The dwarfs instantly seized him. am: llunc
him from one hand to the other thron"! III,
circle. When he had reached the last, hi.
wish was fulfilled, but not in the sense tina
he meant, that he should obtain money an,
possessions, but the hump which Brnc,lic
did not wish for sat between his shoulcr>.-
With Insult ana abn>e the dwarf, drove hin
from the heath The tailor WAS rayinr ovc1
this disaster, and like most people who ar.
always ready to shift the blame OF the mi,
Chief they have brought upon themselves
upon others. he cried cat that benedict ha-
misled him, and he swore to be rcvcncct
upon him. lie shut himself up two Who'll,
days, and on the evening of the second ia,
he sent word to Benedict, that, if he iii,
not pay the rent the next morning, he wonl,
have him expelled from the house, and h,
would sell al; that was in it.
Benedict had expected that the tailo
would wait one day longer. When he rrcciv
I'd this message and heard the people in III,
village whispering to each other that the tai
lor now carried Bcnciir,'s hump, then h,
lost all hope. In great distress he took In,
sickle and went to the heath.
The dwarfs were again singing their song
monday, Tuesday. "Wednesday,
, Thursday. Friday, likewise say.
SaSa Saturday. thereto.
Sad as Benedict was. he could not he'll
laughing. THAT does not jingle we'll at ALL
: said hc
'Ah: there is our Benedict, Yes, YES
that is poor rhyme"
'Well, let's see. perhaps the thing NIGH
be im?rove4,' said Benedict, and he bcca,
TO sing
Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday,,
. Thursday, Friday. likewise say.
Add the Saturday thereto.
sunday VIC have nouaht to do