The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-05
THE WOODEN cUP-A Fairy Tale.
By NINA CLAUS.

It was almost midnight; the full
moon looked down on the German hills,
covered with vineyards, ON the broad
fields of corn, on the little village just
at the out skirts of the Black Forest,
and the old well-the haunted well,
just within its shadows.
The old we'll had once been the viii
lage well; but it had long been dry,
and had become, SO 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 distinguished from the other
gnomes and fairies, so abundant in Ger
many, and were known by the name of
spirits of the Well. They were kind
and obliging. fla poor manlost his
money, he need but go near the well,
and he would find lying there, per-
haps not exactly what he lost, but
something that would in in some way
compensate him for it +; and if any one
missed mis- way in the forest by night
he had only to look straight down be
fore his feet, to see little hopping crea-
ture, hardly distinguishable in the dark
ness, but which if follwed, would
guide him Alright.
1t was almost midnight, as said,
when Crispus, and his brother, and his
sister Nellie-three golden-haired, blue
eyed 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 chill
dren safe asleep III theirs. They reached
the well, and looked down.
"Wel must wait till the moon rises
higher and shines down there" said
Crispus 'then we will see the gnomes,
and hear them sing, perhaps"
As he spoke, the moonlight began
slowly to creep down the sides of the
stone walls, lower and lower, until it
glimmered far down in their depths.
As the children gazed, they were star
tied by a laugh behind them. They
looked round there stood an old-look-
ing little brown man, no more than a
foot high.
"Yon are bold children" said he,
" but you are good. know you. You
never tease the dog or the cat you like
to give carrots to the horse and have
seen you carry water to the poor thirs-
ty COW. Such tenderness men some
times laugh at but the day will come
when these hard-hearted men, who scru-
pie not to inhict pain even on the poor
dumb brutes, will cease their laughing
and laugh no more forever!"
His eyes kindled like fire when he
spoke; but he smiled again benignantly,
and proceeded in a soft tone:
eff you will get into the bucket, and
come down the we'll with me, l and my
brother gnomes will DO our best to en-
terrain you; and, moreover, make you
a present of whatever you choose"
so, yes" cried Crispus eagerly, for
the benevolent face of the gnome, added
to his own curiosity, banished fear.
" Yes, let us 60"
His brother and sister hesitated mo-
ment but, assured by his fearlessness,
they nodded their heads in assent.
"But the bucket will not hold us
all" said Crispns; "and the chain is
old and rusty; it might break"
"Never tearr' 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 but in an
other instant they were dazzled with a
burst of light like noonday-the little
brown man had opened door in the
side OF well, and led his companions
into a magnificent hall. The ceilings
arched upward higher than the tallest
forest trees, the walls seemed made of
gold and precious stones, and it was
filled with thousands of little men and
women, all busy at work.
In one place they were making gol-
den hair. They would take lump of
the pure ore, and beat it on their tiny
FORCES, and then draw it out into long
fine, bright curls. "This will be char
ming for 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 hor-
ses to it. "The king wants new
COACH" said they. We 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
a poor boy in danger of shipwreck to-
night" said one of them; +" his mother
sits crying; we must fly over the seas,
and when the ship goes down, we will
seize him by his brown curls, and bring
him safe ashore
So there was no end to the variety of
occupations there. The three children
were bewilered, but not frightened (;
for as they passed along, each gnome
turned and smiled kindly on them and
babe them welcome.
After while, he who brought them
there, said: cit 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"
Crispus's brother spoke first: II see
yonder great castle, with woods and
parks; l would like that, OF one like it. ]"
6. w. ,b,11 bovo - - ,.ool,l ~ !.