The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-15
Seleet .Storp.
J fFrom "Dasent's Tales of the Morse. ~
Boots and his Brothers.

Once on time tnere was man VINO
had three sons, Peter, Paul and John.
John was Boots of course, because he
was the youngest. 1 can't say the man
had anything more than these three sons,
for he hadn't one penny to rub against
another; and told his sons over and over
again they must 60 out into the world and
try and earn their bread, for there at
home there was nothing to look for bat
starving to death.
Now, bit off the mans cottage was
the kings palace, and you must know,
just against the kings windows great
oak had sprung up, which was 50 stout
and big that it took away all the light
from the kings palace. The king had
ssid be would give many, many dollars to
the man who could fell the oak, but no
one Was man enough for that, for as soon
as ever one chip Of the oaks trunk few
of, two grew in it's stead. A well, too,
the-king had dug, which was to hold water
the whole year; for all his neighbors had
wells, but he hadn't any, and that he
thought shame. So the king said he
would give any one who could dig him
such well es would hold water for q
whole year round, both money and goods;
but no enc could do it, for the kings pal.
ace lay high, high upon the hill, and they
hal dug but few inches before they came
upon the living rock.
But as the king had set his heart on
having these two things done, he had il
given out far and wide, in all the churchei
of his kingdom, that he who could fell the
big, oak in the kings courtyard, and gel
him well that would hold water the yea
round, should have The Princess and hal
the king iom. Well, you may easily know
there was many man who came to tr,
his lack; but for all their hacking ant
hewing, and all their digging and delving
it wasno good. The oak got bigger ant
stouter at every stroke, anc the rock didn'
get softer either, So one day these thre
h.others thought they'd set off and tr.
too, and their father hadn't a word agains
it; for even if they didn't get the Princes
and half the kingdom, it might happel
they might get place somewhere with
good master; and that was all he wanted
So when the brothers said they thought o
going to the palace, their father said yes
at once. So Peter, Paul and Jack wen
off from their home.
Welt they hadn't gone far before the,
came to,a fir wood, and up along one sid
of it rose Q steep hillside, and as the
went, they heard something hewirg an,
hacking away up on the hill among tn
kaI wonder now what it is that is hewinl
away up yonder?" said Jack.
you're always. so clever with you
wonderings.' said Peter and Paul both a
oacss9 what wonder is it, pray, that
woodochopper should stand and hack u]
on hill side?'
st"StiH, I'd like to see what it is afte
s1l,p said Jack; aud up he went.
-.."Oh, if you're such child, twill d
you good togo and take lesson, bswls
out his brothers after him.
4 But Jack didn't care for what the
said. he climbed the steep hillside t.
wards where the noise came, and when b
reached the place what do you think b
sav?. Why, an axe that stood there hacl
ing and .hewing, all of itself, at the trun
of5asfr.o
ni"Good dayl" said Jack. $50 20
sta1nd here all alone and hew. do you?"
Eyes: here I've stood and hewed an
hscked long, long time, waiting for you.
Said the axe.
-ss"Wen, here I am at last" said Jacl
as he took the axe, pulled it off its hat
and stuffed both head and hsft into b
wallet.
So when he got down again to b