The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-10-28
THE YOUNG FOLKS.
The Poor MlIIer's Son and the
INT

The P0Or MIXERS Son and the
Cat.
Once upon time there lived in a
mill an old Miller who had neither wife
nor children, but three apprentices in
stead; and after they had been with
him several years, he said to them one
day, 81 am old and shall retire from
business soon; do you all go out, and
whichever Of you brings me home the
best horse, to him will l give the mill,
and, moreover, he shall attend me in
my last Illness"
The third of the apprentices was
small lad despised by the others and so
much 80, that they did not intend that
he should ever have the mill, even fter
them. But all three went out together,
and as soon as they got away from the
village the two eldest brothers said to
the stupid Hans, "You may as well re-
main here; in all your lifetime you will
never find horse" Nevertheless Hans
went with them, and when night night
came on they arrived at hollow where
they lay down to sleep. The two clev-
er brothers waited till Hans was fast
asleep, and then they got up and walk
ed off, leaving Hans snoring. Now they
thought they had done a very clever
thing, but we shall see how they Jared.
By.and-by the sun arose and awoke
Hans, who, when he found himself ly-
ing in a deep hollow, peeped all around
him, and exclaimed, "Oh, Heavens !!
where have got to ?" He soon got up
and scrambled out of the hollow into
the forest, thinking to himself, "Here
am all alone, what shall 1 do to get
at horse ?" While he ruminated, a
little tortoiseshell Cat came up, and ask
ed in most friendly manner, "Where
are you going, Hans ?" "Ah! you can
help me-" said Hans. "Yes, l know
very well what you wish," replied the
Cat "you want fine horse: come with
me, and for seven years be my faithful
servant, and then I will give you a
handsomer steed than you ever saw"
"Well," thought Hans to himself,
"this is a wonderful Cat ! but still 1
may as well see If this will be true"
So the Cat took him into its enchanted
castle, where there were many Cats who
waited upon it, jumping quickly up
and down the steps, and bustling about
in first-rate style. In theevening when
they sat down to table three cats had to
play music; one played the violincello,
ha h ir1 n
trumpet so loudly that its cheeks SEEM
ed as if they would burst. When they
had finished dinner the table was drawn
away, and the Cat said, "Now, Hans,
come and dance with me-" "No, no."
replied he, ~ cannot dance with Cat
1 never learned how!''
"Then take him to bed," cried the
Cat to its attendants and they lighted
him at once to his sleeping apartment,
whore one drew off his shoes, another
his stockings, while third blew out
the light. The following morning the
servant.cats made their appearance
again, and helped him out of bed: one
drew on his stockings, another buckled
on his garters, third fetched his shoes,
a fourth washed his face, and fifth
wiped it with her tail. "That was done
we'll and gently" said Hans to the last.
But all day long Hans had to cut wood
for the Cat, and for that purpose he re-
ceived an axe of silver and wedges and
saws of the same metal, while the NAL
let was made of copper
Here Hans remained making himself
useful. Every day he had good eating
and drinking, but he saw. nobody ex-
cept the tortoiseshell Cat and her atten-
dants. One day the Cat said to him,
$50 and NOW my meadow and dry the
grass well 5" and she gave him scythe
made of silver and milestone of gold,
which she bade him brings back safe.
Hans went off and did what he was
told and, when it was finished, he took
home the scy the, milestone, and hay,
and asked the Cat if she would not give
him reward? mo" said the Cat,
"you must first do several things for
me. Here are beams of silver, binding
clamps, joists, and all that is necessary,
all of silver, and of these you must first
build me small house." Hans built
it, and when it was done he reminded
the Cat he had still no horse, although
his seven years had passed like half the
time. The Cat asked him whether he
wished to see her horses? "Yes," said
Hans. So they went out Of the house,
and as they opened the door there stood
twelve horses, very proud creatures,
paving the ground impatiently. Hans
was glad enough to see them, but as
soon as he looked at them for minute
the Cat gave him his dinner, and said
| "GO home / shall not give You You]