Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-28
EVENING STAR.
7 II E TTLE.IMP
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striking himself against tree and stone in th,
gloom, and hearing at every step the fasks
jingling in his pocket. Day break found him
in an open plain, and he continued his wan
derings. He would not return to tho camp;
his one object now was to find a coin under q
farthing's worth; but the search was vain
He would demand nothing more of the goblin
and so he begged his way through the land OF
Italy. But looking so wild and troubled, he
was everywhere regared as crazy, and was
soon known, far and wide, by the name Of the
mad Half-farthinger.
Many months had passed thus, when one
day he found himself in the midst of wild
mountains, and sat, still and sorrowful, be
side a little rill, which, trickling down through
Wild growth of bushes, appeared compass
sonately Offering itself for his refre shment
Then there rang-loud and s,-ong-over the
rocky ground, the sound Of horses hoofs, and
on large, black wild looking horse there
came very tall man of hideous visage, in a
| gorgeous b!o)d.:ed dress, up to the spot where
Richard sat. Why SO gloomy, fellow?' said
| he to the youth, whose breast sank with a
strange foreboaing. 81 should guess you 70
be merchant Have you bought anything
| too dear?"
"Ah, no-rather too cheap answered
Richard in low, trembling voice.
80 1t appears to me, my good merchant ~
| cried the hOrseman, with a frightful laugh
And have you, perchance, such thing to sell
as bottle imp! Or am mistaken in taking
you for the mad Half farthinger?
Scarcely could the pale lips of the poor youth
utter low ''Yes-I am he" under the mo-
mentary expectation that tho horseman's
mantle would turn to blood dripping wings,
that black spectral pinions, blazing with
hell-fiTe, would spout forth on his horse and
carry him away TO the abodes of eternal tor.
ture; but the tall stranger addressed him in
rather milder voice, and with less frightful
gestures.
81 see for whom you take me-" said he ::
but be comforted; am not he. Perhaps /
may even deliver you from him, for I have
been many days seeking you to buy this bot
tle-lmp. TO be sure, you gave terribly little
for it, and myself don't know how to get at
smaller coin. But listen On the other side
OF the mountain dwells prince wild young
fellow To morrow, L will contriye 10 allure
him away from his hunting train, and set
hideOus wild beast upon him Do you STAY
here till midnight, and then 90, just when the
moon stands over that jagged rock, shining
through the dark cleft 10 the left Go at a
moderate pace; linger not, hurry not, and
you will come to the spot just when the mon.
ster will have the prince under his claws
Seize it fearlessly, and it must yield to YOU,
and to make it escape, plunge down the steep
bank into the sea Then beg of the grateful
prince that he will have couple of half-farth-
ings struck for you; will give you change
tor them, and then for one the bOttle-imp will
be mine"
So spoke the horseman, and without waiting
for an answer, rode slowly back into the wood
q" But where shall find you when 1 have
the half farthings?" cried Richa ard after him
&c AT the Black Fountain" answered the
horseman any old woman here can tell you
where it lies" and with slow but long strides
the hldeous horse bore away his hideous rider.
,rhn hod
ed to put his advice into execution
The night fell; the moon rose and hung
with lurid red light over the indicated point
OF rock. Then the pale wanderer arose trem-
bling, and stepped into the dark ravine Joy-
less enough, and gloomy it looked, with only
rare mOonbeem here and there, looking in
over its lofty walls; there was, too, in that
closed IN place, damp earthly exhalation, as
of charnel vault; but nothing else unpleas-
ant was to be discerned. As it was, Richard
did not feel himself tempted to linger, but
was rather inclined to hurry on. This too,
however he refrained from, faithful to the
horseman's directions; and after some hours
the faint red light Of morning glimmered on
| his dark path, and fresh cheering breeze
played on his face. Bat just as he stepped
out Of the deep ravine, and sought to enjoy
the fresh forest scenery and the blue glitter
| OF the sea which lay spread not far from him.
| he was disturbed by q wild cry he looked
round and saw a frigh;ful beast, under whose
claws on the ground lay young man in rich
| hunting attire Richards first impulse was
| to run and help; but when he looked full at
| the beast and saw that it resembled mon
strous ape, with formidable pair of stag's
| horns, all courage left him, and, in spite of
the PROSTATE mans miserable cry for help, he
| was about to creep back into his chasm but
| the next instant he suddenly recalled what
| the horseman had told him, and urged by his
| own especial danger, he ran up with his club
stick to the monster, which, rolling the hunts.
man in its claws, seemed about to toss him up,
| and then catch him on its horns But as
| Richard advanced, it let its prey drop, and
| with hideous howliDgs ran away. Richard,
| grown bold, pursued it till it plunged from the
lofty cliffs, still grinniug at him with its abom-
Unable visage, and vanished under the waves
And now the young man went back trium-
| phantly to the rescued buntsman, who, ac-
| cording to his expectation, announced himself
as the reigning prince of the country, and
| pronouncipg eulogium upon his delivery as
| q true hero, prayed him to demand some re-
| compense, the highest he could pay him.
"Aye," said Richard, hopefully, "aro you
| in earnest? Then. all 1 request is, in God 9
name, that you will have q couple Of half
farthings struck in good coin for me. ask for
| only couple
The prince gazed on him with astonishment,
1 tlli sOIuo VI Cdmc up, duU Ou near
| ing from him what had happened, one of them
recognized in Richard the crazy Half farth-
| niger whom he had once seen The prince
began to laugh, and poor Richard embraced
his knees in anguish, vowing that without the
| half.farthings he should be undone.
The prince, still laughing, answered:
"Stand up then, fellow you have my
princely word; and if you insist on it, will
| have ss many half-farthngs struck as you
wish for. But if the third Of farthing will
do as we'll, no new coins will be wanted, for
my border neighbors maintain my farthings
to be SO light that three of them 60 into one of
theirs %
"If that be SO - said Richard doubt.
fully.
Faith" said the prince, "you will be the
first to whom they seem too good. But If that
makes any difficulty, herewith give YOU nv
most solemn word to have still worse on.
struck for you-provided that be possible ("
Thereupon be bade whole bag of farthings
| to be given to Richard, who imme ediate,y ran,
as if ne were pursued, to the frontier, and
was happier man than he had been for
long time, when in the first tavern of the