The Union and journal., 1860-01-20
the thieves and squeezing them till they roar

at shall be done as you desire and woe
10 him who shall venture within the grasp
of the branches. And now for the last
WISH"
"F would like to live fifty years more,"
said Carl.
The wizard nodded, and, with q great clap
of thunder, disappeared through the floor,
to attend to some little business in China.
There are many quaint and entertaining
legends current in the village of Friedcnsch-
laf (where the events happened, precisely as
they are related herc) about the wonderful
TREE and marvellous CHAIR, the choicest of
which would fill many of these stately coll
umns. But, leaving these stories for the
amusement of the good villagers, we, by the
power in us invested, take grand leap Off
ty years, and accompany tho present history
in it's majestic course.
The Fifty Years rolled around, and found
our Carl as hale and hearty an old man as
you would encounter in days journey.
The last day of the last year had come. 1t
was winter. Never was seen before such a
comfortable room, such roaring fire, such
jug of punch singing mellow glees on the
hob, or such a fine old gentleman, enjoying
all these good things, as were within the
walls Of Carl TOdschalk's house on that Bit
ter December day. AS Carl lifted the jug
from the fire, and poured some of the rich,
bubbling liquid into shss, knock at the
door caused him to pause for an instant.
"Dear me-" he said, pouring the punch
from one glass to another to cool it, "who
on earth pays me visit on such day as
this?"
A tall form, envelopcd in long black
mantle, stood in the doorway. In his right
hand he held keen, glittering sword. In
his left was an hour, glass, in the top of which,
Carl noticed, but few sands remained.
"My name," said the gloomy stranger,
is-DEATH."
You-you-co come very suddenly"
stammered Carl.
"Many men have told me that; doubtless
many more will repeat it," his visitor an
swered, seating himself in the Chair.
Yes" said Carl, into whose mind pc
cular thought had suddenly flashed. 81
will be ready in moment" he added, and
then began heaping wood on the fire.
Why do you do that?" asked the strang-
or. at is already too hot"
alt will be hotter presently, | promise
you," replied Carl, pitchingon log after log,
till the fire snapped and snarled, and roared,
ms though it were pack of hungry wolves
pursuing some wretched traveller.
"The fire is scorching me- Let me up.
Ha what is this"
DEATH WAS PRISONER IN THE EN-
CIIANTED CHAIR.
"I'll serve you for this" cried Death,
after fruitless attempt to release himself?
Will you?" quoth Carl. Wen sec.
Here, Aennchcn, bring up every stick OF
wood from the cellar, and let Wilhelm help
you. Quick ~
"Stop, STOP" roared the prisoner in the
chair. Z" would you roast me like goose?"
"Not if you talk in reasonable way
But, If you threaten any more, i Will make
the fire still hotter. have small request,
and if you grant it, you shall instantly be
set at liberty"
eyes, yes-but draw the chair back a lit
tie. Oh how hot"
Carl approached, and drew the chair back a
fewIinchcs. This very cautiously, lest Death
might catch him and throw him into the
fire, or do him other bodily harm.
Z" You must know" said Carl, that
though have lived a long while, still wish
to spend few more years in this cottage
Now, it wouldn't make any sort of difference
to you to let me of foS-well, say ten
years"
a. do DECLARE" cried his listener, in q
great rage (" that this is the most audacious
demand ever heard Of, and, before | will
submit -
"Master," said Acnnchcn, outside, 4" here
is some of the wood"
"Pest!" said he, in tho chair, " supposd
must accedc. Ten years you may-and
then-and tben-wc shall see."
"Well, Carl set him free, not without
some inward trembling. But people in old
en- times kept their promises much better
than people do now, and Carl was unharm-
cd. One exhibition of temper Death did
make. No sooner was he free, than, taking
his sword, he hacked the chair to pieces, and
threw them on the fire. This done, he de-
parted, and left Carl once more alone.
When he comes again." thought Carl
to himself, as he slipped his punch. :" l shall
have my affairs in order, and will follow him
contentedly."
These ten years granted to Carl under the
FOREGOING circumstances, do not seem to hav3
been very eventful ones, for the legend passes
them over in a single paragraph, to the effect
that during this period Carl grew very fat.
On n certain autumn day, Carl wassittng
in his garden taking his ease. The TREE was
in full bearing; and such pears Largo,
ripe. rolden-hued-there were dozens and
dozens of them, not one of which need be
ashamed to stand before king. Carl look
al at them. and his heart was glad within
him. They were his-to give away, to sell,
to eat, to keep if he chose; and then his
eyes wandered from the Tree, over the garden,
to his snug cottagc-yes, all his own; no
fell into rcyeric, rcveric pleasantly broken
at intervals by the hum Offices, the sighing
of tho wind on the tree tops, and the sweet
child-song which Nina, Accnnchen Tochter-
lem sang Mt her wheel.
"Carl :" said voice behind him.
Though il was long since Carl had heard
that voice, hc had not forgotten il. His
heart sank no escape this time, hethought.
{" Has the time really come?' no asked.
"Thc ten years agreed upon expired months
ago; bat, being very busy, granted you a
little respite" said Degth, for it was no less
personagc. =,
Here was return for Carl's shabby treat
mcnt of him on his former visit Carl was
quite overcome by this kindness.
Indecd-indeed, You arc too good
Would that it lay in my power todo anything
TO show you that am not ungrateful."
As fate would have it, ut this moment, q
large pear dropped at Carl's feet, Takingit
up, he offered il to his companion. The lat
ter waved him of at first butthe rich, spicy
saa- az tho frnit reached his nlfactories and,