The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-10-25
WOODEN CUP-A FAIRY TALE.
BY NINA claus.

BY NINA Claus.
1.
It was almost midnight; the full moor
looked down on the German hills, covered witt
Vineyards on the broad fields of corn, on the
little village lust at the outskirts of the Black
Forest, and the old well-the haunted we'll
just within its shadows.
The old well had once been the village well
but it had long been dry, and had become, sc
said the villagers, the pathway through which
the gnomes who dwelt beneath the earth went
to and from their abode This particular race
who frequented the well came at last to be dis
tinguished from the other gnomes and fairies
so abundant in Germany, and were known by
the name of Spirits of the Well They were
kind and obligng. If poor man lost his mon
ey, he need but go near the well, and he would
find lying there, perhaps not exactly what he
lost, but something that would in some way
compensate him for it; and if any one missed
his way in the forest by night, he had only to
look straight down before his feet, to see a lit
tie hopping creature, hardly distinguishable in
the darkness, but which, If followed, would
guide him Alright.
1t was almost midnight, as said when Girls
pus and his brother, and his sister Nellie-three
golden haired, blue eyed adventurous children
came creeping across the field toward the
well. They had stolen out of their fathers
house, after he had shut up his shop, and
packed away his boots and shoes and avis, and
gone to his bed, believing the children safe
asleep in theirs. They reached the well and
looked down
''We must wait till the moon rises higher and
shines down there, said Crispus, ''then we will
see the gnomes, and hear them sing, perhaps"
he spoke, the moonlight began to creep
=. y down the sides of the stone well, lower
apd lower, until it gIimmered far down in their
depths. As the children gazed they were start
led by a laugh behind them. They lookd round;
there stood an odd-looking little brown man,
no more than foot high.
''You are bold children" said he, "but you
are good. | know you. You never tease the
dog or the cat you like to feed carrots to the
horse and have seen you carry water to the
poor, Thirsty COW. Such tenderness men some
times laugh at, but the day will come. when
these hard-hearted men, who scruple not to in
flict pain, even on the poor, dumb brutes, will
cease their laughing, and will laugh no more,
forever -
His eyes kindled like fire when he spoke !;
but he smiled again benignantly, and proceed
81 in q softer tone:
'If you will get into the bucket, and come
down the well with me, / and my brother
&. snomes will do our best to entertain you and
moreover make yon present OF whatever you
fhoose."
90, yes" cried Crispus, eagerly, for the be-
violent face of the gnome added to his own
curiosity, banished fear. Eyes, let us 60"
His brother and sister hesitated a moment :;
but, assured by his fearlesness they nodded
their heads in assent.
'eBut the bucket will not hold us ALL said
sCrlSpuS 'anu inc CHILL Is Olu anu rusty III
might break"
FTNever fear" answered the gnome, and he
laughed heartily. "Only get in you would be
safe with me, were you held up by nothing but
a spiders thread" So they climbed into the
tall iron bound bucket, and down they went.
1t was quite dark when they stopped, with
Jog, at the bottom, and the gnome helped them
all out hut in another instant tn y were daz-
zled with a burst of light like noonday-the
little brown man had opened door in the
l,.1I int
magnificent hall. The ceilings arched upward
higher than the forest trees, the walls seemed
,elade of gold and precious stones, and 1t was
'Hled with thousands of little men and women,
HI busy at work.
e. In one place they were making golden hair
= hey would take lump of the pure ore, and
Eseat it on their tiny FORCES, and then draw it
out into long, fine, bright curls. This will be
charming for a pretty maiden to wear" said
one ''when she goes to see her lover in his
dreams"
In another place they were making coach,
and Harvesting snow white horses to it. The
king wants new coach" said they. I'VE are
going to take this one and show it to his coach
maker, when he is asleep tonight, and it will
be his model
In another corner party were fixing wings
on their shoulders. '"There is poor boy in
danger of shipwreck to night, said one Of Them
CHS mother sits crying we must fly over the
seas, and when the ship goes down, we will
sieze him by his brown curls, and bring him
safe ashore.
SO there was no end to the variety of occu-
patton there. The three children were bewild-
cred but not frightened; for as they passed
along, each gnome turned and smiled kindly
on them and babe them welcome.
After awhile, he who had brought them
there said: "It is time for you to go home ;
but first | will redeem my promise choose
each of you what you WILL and it shall be
yours" ,r
a great castle with wood and parks; would
like that, or one like it"
''You shall have it, - replied the gnome. The
sister spoke next 81 would like that diamond
necklace and that coach and hOrses.',
''You shall have them, answered the gnome.
Lastly Crispus spoke: Good gnome you
are wiser than |, give me whatever Is best for
me. whatever will make me happiest."
'FYou are a sensible boy" quoth the gnome;
and with great ceremony he presented to Girls
pus little wooden cup.
''Not empty" said voice; look within" "
And behold Crispus saw a drop like water at
the bottom ''Drink that" said the gnome.-
And when he had done so, he said: 81 am con-
tented with my present it is the best or you
would not have given it to me-"
Once more now they were put into the buck
ct. and whirled up into the moonlight. Then
the little man took them all on his back, and
scampered across the fields to their fathers
house, and climbed in a window, and put them
safely into their beds. They were very tired,
first thing Crispus did was to look at his cup.
"My brother and sister had grand things
nromised to them,n thought he 81 wonder
what | am to do with a wretched wooden cup!
I will put it in the kitchen, tits no better than
other cups"
But as he looked, he saw, as on the previous
night, a single clear drop in the bottom, and
as before he drank 1t.
II am well satisfied with my cup" eXclaim-
ed he; s'there is some magic in it-time will
show
Many a long talk did the three children have
about their adventure at the well and IN van
did the other two try to drink from the myste
rious cup. They might hold it upside down al a.
long as they pleased, the drop clung to tht
bottom; they might try to touch it, it disap
peared without wetting their fingers. Only
Crispus could enjoy it and the moment ht
slipped it out, another one filled its place a;
bright as ever.
They made several expeditions to the well
but they saw only the moonlight streaming
down into the darkness, and heard only the
night breeze stirring the long grass. So at last
they gave up going there, and in time ceased