The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-15
brothers they began to jeer and laugh at

"And now. what funny thing was it
you saw up yonder on the hill-side?" they
said.
"Oh, it was only an axe we heard"
said Jack.
So when they had gone a bit farther,
they came under . steep spur Of rock, and
there they heard something digging and
shoveling.
~ wonder now" said Jack, what it is
digging and shoveling up yonder at the
top of the rock.'
"Ah, you're always so clever with your
wonderings," said Peter and Paul again
"as if you'd never heard ood-pecker
hacking and pecking at a hollow tree"
-"Well, WE'LL" said Jack, i think it
would be a piece of fun just to see what it
really is."
And 80 off he set to climb the rock,
while the others laughed and made game
of him. But he didn't care bit for that;
up he clumb, and when he got near the
top, what do you think he saw? Why. a
spade that stood there digging and delv.
Ii ing.
"Good dayl" said Jack. so you
stand here all alone, and dig and delve?'
Yes that's what do,' said the Spade,
and that's what I've done this many q
long day, waiting for you.'
We'll, here I am said Jack again, as
he took the spade and knocked it off its
handle. and put it into his wallet, and
then went down again to his brothers.
well, what was it, so rare and strange
said Peter and Paul. that you saw up
there at the top of the rock?'
Oh said Jack, nothing more than q
spade; that what we heard
So they went on again good bit, till
they came to brook. They were thirsty
all three, after their long walk, and so
they lay beside the brook to have a
drink. e--
Il wonder now,' said Jack, where all
this water comes FROM
L wonder if you're right in your head,
said Peter and Paul. in one breath. IF
you're not mad already, you'll 60 mad
very seon, with your wonderings. Where
the brook comes from, indeed! Have you
never heard how water rises from spring
in the earth?'
Yes! but still I've a great fancy to
see where this brook comes FROM said
Jack. .--''. -.-...'.-. .....---
So up alongside the brook he went, in
spite of all that his brothers bawled af.
ter him. Nothing could stop him On
he went, So, as he went up and up, the
brook got smaller, and at last, little
way further on, what do you think he
saw? Why, great walnut, and out o
that the water trinkled.
Good day!' said Jack. so you lii
here, and trickle and run down all alone?
!. Yes, / do,' said the walnut; and her.
have trincled and run this many q Ion;
day, waiting for you.'
WELL here sm,' said Jack, as he tool
!, up lump of moss and plugged up tn
hole, that the water mightn't run out
Then he put the walnut in his wallet, AM
run down to his brothers.
We'll, now,' said Peter and Paul, 'hav
, you found out where the water come
/ from2 A rare sight it must have been!
oh, after all, it was only hole it "a
f out Of said Jack; and SO the other
y laughed and made game of him agaiI
' but j .ck didn't miad that bit.
After all I had the fun of seeing it
said he.
i So when they had gone bit farther
I they came to the kings palace; but g
every one ia the kingdom had heard no
they might win the Princess and half th
I realm, if they could only fell the big oa
and dig the kings well, SO many ha
\ come to try their luck that the oak we
. now twice as stout and big as it had bee
at first, for two chips grew for every on
f they hewed out with their axes, as da1
!, say you all bear in mind. So the kin
had now laid it down as a punishmen
that if any ore tried and couldn't fell th
oak, he should be put on barren ISLAM
3 and both his ears were to be clipped OF
y But the two brothers didn't let then
/ selves be scared by that; they were qui,
g sure they could fell the eak, and Peter
he was the Oldest was to try his han
o first; but it went with him as with all Il
rest who had hewn at the oak; for evel
r chip he cut out, two grew in its plac
+ So the kings men seized him, and clippe
off both his ears, and put him out on tt
n island.
Now Paul, he said was to try his luc
n but he Jared just the same, when he hi
hewn two or three strokes, they began
o see the oak grow, and SO the kings mi
d seized him, too, and clipped his ears, al
put him out on the island; and his ca
y they clipped closer, because they said
). ought to have taken lesson from b
"a brother.
,e So now Jack was to try.
=. If you will look like q marked shoe
k we're quite ready to clip your ears
once, and then you'll save yourself SOC
IA bother said the king. for he vas ang
with him for his brothers sake.
d We'll, I'd like just to try irst.' sa
)" Jack, and so he got leave. Then he to,
his axe out of his wallet and fitted it