Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-20
IkdAptsd from the German for the Methodist.
"A Gsery for the Little Folks.


.A9lRQ "a " ~
RUREzAHL's VISIT.
TIE mountain sprite, RubezahI, came
one day-it was q little before sunset
to q poor, miserable little hut that lay
deep in the forest, and belonged to q
poor woodman. The forest was 30 full
Of wild and winding paths that q stran-
ger could hardly fail of losing himself
there, and therefore many q one found
their way tn Che hut hsforethey dreamed
that any such shelter was at hand. -
Knocking 9hnmbly at the door, the
sprite begged for nights lodging and
q mouthful of food be surel to be
sursT exclaimed the true,hearted house
master, sscoms right inf If the larder
In meaRre, at least there's enough to.
sRtiBfy hunger, and the good woman
will make little place for q comforta
BILE nights rest; SO come in and have no
farther care" So saying, the good man
led his guest into the little room with
look of kindness and welcome--and
"God loveth the cheerful giver call
ing ont at the same time to his wife:
"Comey dear old womanl let the spindle
rest for while, and see what you can
find for the guest that bring here, !,
in the mean time, will run to the spring
and get jug Of cool water, that-if he
isn't too dainty-will taste right good.
I think the dear Gods blessed gift of
pure, fresh water, Ia as good as wine, of
which, to speak truly, mine guest, /
have nothing in my cellar but the empty
hottles;,a and 80 Joking and laughing,
be took up stone jug that stood upon
q bench in the corner, ran out with it to
O clear spring that bubbled up in the
foreat, and brought. it back, filed with
the sparklink fluid, from which the
sttapger took hearty drink and seem-
ed to fna It very nice.
When the evening meal Was ready and
on the table, the woodman said heartily:
Now sit, good Herr, and take with q
welcome part of our fare. Here ia an
English sauaageP and again he laughed
heartily, for the supper was OF long po-
tatoes-with plenty of fresh sweet but
ter. e 81 = .
They all sat together end ate with ex-
cellent appetite, especially the guest,
wholseemed as though he would never
get enough; while the worthy woodman
appeared 70 enjoy seeing him eat, and
seasoned the food with many pleasant
stories, especially about the mountain
sprite that lived in his neighborhood.
"To be sure, / have never seen him."
said the worthy man; ebut yet, must
confess, / have for him the greatest re-
spect and regard, and if he should hap.
pom once TO- lose himself here in the
forest-though, to be sure, it 10 all nom
sense to think of q sprite's losing him.
self here in his own domains--but if he
should, ! meant to say, and should come
hare to my hut would make him as
welcoms az would thee, mine Herr,
and give him the very best that had
English sausage, with the very best Of
huttef--and treat him 90 well as poor
fellow like me could +" 1891
"That l believe, with all my heart"
replied the guest, ~ If he meant it, too;
but now, suppose the rich, and, as peo-
pie say, knowing mountain sprite should
come along and try thy hospitality as
have done, what would's thou want from
him In return7"
"Ohl what would want in returni"
exclaimed the woodmgn Indignantly;
"must all be done for the sake of q re-
t1rn, end nothing for the love Of our
blasaed Lord3 want no return2. The
good he does shows that he H. no servant
of the evil one, and the little could do
though il would not be worth the
speaking about would do with glad
ness for the sake of what the good Ko-
bold himself does for others. "Yes,
yes, understand" said the stranger;
"but suppose the Kobold himself should
insist upon knowing, what then would at
like from inland thou know'st then,
il would never do to refuse to say, for il
might anger him, and he would take re-
venge upon thee, for they say be is east
~ offended = supPosing this, what
Wonidst thou ask of him Z" -
"Well, traly," replied the woodman,
do not know what should say.
E&iches, money, and goods-I shouldn't
know what to do with them here in the
forest; and out Of the forest, where ia
summer the birds awaken me with their
songs, and in winter l am so snuely
hidden away from the frost and snow
that J. am warm and comfortable in the
coolest weather--out of the forest 4
meyer desire to 90. Here my little
substance 10 safe from thieves; I have
my daily bread, enough for myself, and
plenty once for any poor wayfarer thai
may get lost, ard sometimes q spare
penny to give him when he goes away
with the penny, however, to say the truth,
am not always provided; the little
purse 10 sometimes empty, and then il
does grieve me to send away poor
guest without the triAe that will buy him
another crust, if be should fail to meet
those who were able or willing to give il
to him. Unprovided, cannot bear to
turn sway any, and yet sometimes, if
should cry tears of blood, could NOT
get it; but this 10 not the case TO.
daY, ebay there is little in the purse
and can give thee, good friend, wher
thop departest in the morning, a tribe
to help thee on thy farther way-thankl
be to The merciful All-Father--andt thou
shalt be welcome to it, tool So SGT Ia,
mind nc ease; thou art provided for fol
a time, and after that, doubt not tina
the dear God viii send more"
The stranger arose and shook th,
worthy man heartily by the hand
GTruiy," said he, if Rubezahl were q
fail in gratifying 80 simple and unselfisI
a wish as that, would not deserve III,
name he has. / will be his securitl
that he would give thee that, and NOR
too" And then he asked where he wal
going to sleep.
"There, in the corner behind tn
stove, nay wife has made thee bed o
soft mats, with q warm woollen covering
end thou wilt, no doubt, rest comforta
bly,. God Ia with theeR And with thi
kindly way of saying good night" tn
good man vent with his wife into thei