The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-14
MISCELLANY.
Prom the German of Hans Andersen.
The Jumper.

The Jumper.
Once on time the flea, the grasshopper,
and the wild goat, wished to see which Of them
could jump highest, and they invited all the
world, aud anybody else who wished to come
TO see the show; and there were three proper
Jumpers who met in the room.
Indeed, will give my daughter to him
who jumps highest" said the king, "for it
were truly pity If these personages should
jump for nothing
The flea came forth first; he had elegant
manners, and bowed on all sides, for he had
the blood of young lady in his veins, and
was accustomed to associate only with men,
ana that makes great difference
Then came the grasshopper, who was in
deed noticeably larger, but he had a fine fig
ure, and wore green Uniform which he had
inherited; people said of him that he belonged
to . very old family in the land of Egypt,
which had great reputation there; he was just
taken rom the field, and had been placed in a
card house, which was built three stories high,
all out OF figured cards with the painted sides
turned inwards; and there were doors and
windows cut in the very body of the queen of
hearts. II sing So" said he, "that is crickets
who have whistled from their childhood, and
yet have obtained no card house, became, from
vexation, thinner than they were before, when
they heard me-
AObh ttiC iCa duu tue STdscLOppeT pTOppTly
made known who they were, and that they
thought themselves able to marry the prin-
cess.
The wild goat said nothing, but people said
OF him that he thought so much the more
when the watch dog only smelt of him; it was
certain that the wild goat was Of good family.
The old senator, who by his silence had OBJ
tanned three orders, assured them that the wild
goat was gifted with prop lecy; for one could
toll tr-ls
mild or severe, and that one could never tell
by the coats of those who make almanacs.-
indeed say nothing" said the old king
but go on and think my own thoughts"
Now was the jump To be made. The flea
jumped so high tina. nobody could see him, so
they declared he had not jumped at all; and
that was very wicked of them.
The grasshopper jumped only half so high,
but he sprang right into the face of the king,
and the king said that was very unpleasant
The wild goat stood still long time and
thought, so that, at last, people believed he
could not jump at all.
Il hope he has not become sickn said the
Watchdog and then he smelt of him again
All! then he jumped little sideways, jun, ed
right into the lap of the princess, who was
sitting on low, golden cricket.
Then said the king, "The highest spring is
that which springs up to my daughter, for
sAsei ou 40 suoeiett out VIII Is required Tor That,
and the wild goat has shown that he has wit.
He has brains in his head'
And then he received the princess.
Il jumped highest" said the flea. "But II
is all the same! Let them have the goose
backed fellow, and bad luck to them jump
ed highest, but in this world body is neces-
sary in order that one may seem"
And then the flea entered into military SER
vice, and there people say he was killed.
tI.x1sx Il. a.
thought how matters go in this world, and he
also said, body is necessary! body is nee
essary! and then he sung very sorrowfu
song, from which we have learned this story
which we would gladly have invented, had il
been needful.