The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-14
The Presents OF the Little Folks.

The Presents of the Little Folks.
A tailor and goldsmith were once
wandering in company, and one even
ing, when the sun had sunk behind the
hills, they heard the sound OF distant
music, which became clearer and clear
er. The tones were uncommon, but SO
inspiriting, that, forgetting their weari.
ness the two walked on. The moon had
risen, when they arrived at a hillock, on
which they perceived number OF little
men and women, who had joined hands
and were whirling round in a dance,
with great spirit and delight, and sing
ing thereto in the sweetest manner pos
sible, and so making the music which
the travellers had heard.
In the middle sat an old man, taller
than the others, who wore parti-colored
coat and an iron-gray beard, so long
that it reached down to his waist. The
two stopped, full of wonder and looked
on at the dancers, when the Old man
bcckoned to them to join in, while the
circle opened to receive them.
The Tailor, who was deformed, and
like all other hunchbacks, quick
enough, stepped in but the Gold
smith, feeling Shy at first, held back,
till, seeing how merry the circle was, he
took heart and joined in too. The
circle closed again directly, and the lit
tie folks began to sing and dance IN the
widest manner, while the Old Man
taking a broad. bladed knife, which
hung at his girdle, sharpened it, and
when it was fit, looked round at the
strangers.
They became frightened; but they
had no time to consider, for the old
man, seized the goldsmith, and then
the tailor, shaved off both their heads
of hair with the quickest dispatch.
Their terror, however, disappeared
when the old man, having completed
this work, tapped them both on the
shoulders in friendly manner, as much
as to say they had acted well in endur-
ing his sport without resistance. Then
he pointed with his finger towards a
heap of Goals, which stood on one side,
and showed them by signs that they
should fill their pockets with them.
Both obeyed, though neither could see
of what service the Goals would be to
them and then they journeyed on in
quest nights lodging Just as they
came to the next valley, the clock in a
neighboring church struck twelve, and
at the same moment the singing ceased,
all disappeared, and the hill lay solitary
| in the moOnshine.
The two wanderers found shelter,
and making straw couch, each OF
them covered himself with his coat, but
forgot, through WEAKNESS, to take the
Goals out of their pockets. A heavy
weight pressed upon their limbs more
than usual, and when they awoke in the
morning, and emptied their pockets,
they could not trust their eyes, when
they saw that they were not filled with
Goals, but pure gold. Their hair and
beard, too, had grown during the night
to their original length. They were
now become quite rich, but the tailor
was half as high again as the goldsmith
because, impelled by his coveteous
nature, he had filled his pockets much
fuller.
Now, a misery man, the more he
possesses, desires yet an increase and
so it happened that the tailor, after the
lapse of day or two, made a PROPOSE
ton to the goldsmith to 90 and obtain
more gold from the Old Man of the
Mountain. The goldsmith refused, say
ing, -" have enough, and am satisfied
now am master tradesman, and will
marry my sweetheart and be happy
man." So in the evening the tailor
swung across his shoulder couple o.
bags to hold the Goals, and set out or
his road to the hillock.
He found the little folks singing an d
dancing, as on the previous night and
the Old Man, looking at him with a
smile, treated him as before, and point
ed to the heap of Goals afterward. The
tailor delayed no longer than was
necessary to fill the bags, and then re-
turned in high glee to where the gold
smith was waiting for him, and went tc
sleep, covered with his coat, although
the gold does weigh heavily" said he tc
himself, II will bear it patiently" ano
so he went to sleep with the sweet
belief of awaking in the morning very
wealthy man.
Judge, therefore, what was his sur
prise, on awaking and rising he search
ed in his pockets and drew out only
black Goals, and nothing beside. He
consoled himself, however, by rejecting
that he still had the gold which he hao
taken the first night, but what was hi
rage when he discovered that that also
become coal again He beat his fore.
head with his coal-begrimmed. hands,
and then found out that his whole heao
was bald and smooth as his chin. Hi:
mishaps were not yet ended, for he per
ceived that during the night similar
lump to that on his back had made it:
appearance on his breast.
lie began to weep bitterly at thi
sight, for he recognized in it the punish
ment of his covetousness. The gooc
goldsmith, who awoke at the sound o
his weeping, comforted the unhapp!
man as well as he could, and told hin
that since he had been his companion
in good fortune, and had fallen int
trouble, he should share his treasure
and remain with him.
The goldsmith kept his word, but tn
poor tailor had to carry all his lifetime
Il, Io1