The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-16
SELECTED STORY.
The GIANT HANDS,
Or, The Reward of Industry.
A FAIRY STORY.

NOil'u DcaI. ne WIS hungry anu .IiCu, ~ -
copld scarcely fud any wood, SO covered was
every piece by the fallen leaves. He had also
giedt sorrow at his heart, fer his tather ra,
di d 4 few months before, leaving his hio,ncl
Il work hard tor the money to support H0i'
sci and him. ,- ~
He threw tue wood upon the cln6els on the
1e9rh, and soon made up goou nlI' mn' W
threw out a cheerful blaZs, III which ne
warmed n $ paked, sWoli. u feet, and watched
fhe smoke curling up the wide chimney, and
,bont the raflers OF the low roof. He b. cath
CJ a deem sign: for he saw no pot on the fire
lubblipg up with their frugal dinner Alas !
tbcv hid none for his poor mother was weak.
md could not walk fast to sell the things she
made.
-'Inis must not be any longer" thought he,
"f0 1 am getting big and strong, and have a
/ air Of hands that ought not to be idle. As
my mother gets weaker, must work for her;
and as | grow to be man, she should not
work any more, but sit by the fire, and get the
dinner leady, which | Snail then be able 10
buy for her and me-"
Willie was an industrious boy, and did not
like to sit Idle when bis strength-iittle as it
was might be used to help his dear mother
lie had not to wait long before his mother
came in, and threw herself into a chair, with
tears of fatigue and illness.
Are you not tired, mother, dear?"
"Ies, | am, my dear Willie" said she and
you must be tired, too, laddie; your feet seem
quite sore"
~ AIN little" said he, "but want to tell
you what | have on NV mind"
He threw his little arms around her neck.
and kissed her in return, and said:
Il intend TO start out into the world and
find something to do, that may no longer be
a burden to you. III work hard and get
MONEY, and you shall have a nice little cot
tage."
cayl- tla "a
other means to save thcEI from being starved
for she was getting weaker every day, and
knew not what to do. They talked about this
new plan tor some hours, until the fire went
out, and then they retired to rest.
The morning arose bright and cheerful.
The old locker was opened,a his only shoes,
taken care of for high days and holidays,
were brought out, and brushed up, as was al
so his best suit. which was indeed very little
better than the wewon suit that he wore
every day. He, however, thought himself
very fine, and felt sure that every one would
look at him, and treat him well.
they sat down to breakfast, but little did
they eat, for there was griet in their hearts,
and their eyes were moist with tears, which
would now and then drop down without
their noticing them.
After some time poor Willie rose and said ::
''Well, dear mother, Unjust be starting"
1t was hard work TO say this but he aid do
1t at last, although it was after many strug-
giles 10 keep down the beatings of his heart.
His mother heard him with look of sur
PRISE and sadness, as if she had not known
this before; and her grief burst forth with
wild violence as she threw her arms round
ms neck with an agony only known to fond
pother
nllie wept, too but more quietly, and did
his best to comfort her, and tried to speak in
hearty, cheerful way. Then he put on his
Lat VITO a thump, seized his stick and wallet,
lifted the latch of the door, opened it wide,
took deep breath of the cool air, and out lie
went.
The sweet, fresh air of sunrise cooled his
throbbin9 brow. and his teas ceased TO flow
but his little breast heaved now and then
with sobs, as the storm of grief subsidized. His
footsteps grew quicker the further he eft his
home behind; Tor before him lay the land of
promise, and his little brain was full of dreams
OF success, and of the joy that would be at his
heart when he trod those fields on ais return,
lap.
Just as he was starting, a curious white
cloud appeared across his path, from which
came out TWO enormous hands, He started
and well he might, Tor ne saw nobody belong
Ing 10 them no. there they were, only hands
There was no fear of them, for they were
spread open upon the grass before him, as il
kindly inviting him to come and meet them
As he stood gazing with wonder upon them
voice nom the cloud SAID:
Don't be afraid, Willie. [ know the good
errand that you are OH, and | come to be your
friend. PeIseyere in your wish to work, aud
VIII be ever ready to assist YOU. No ewes
but yours will be able to see me, and when
you need help you shall have it. Come on ,
then, and fear not; the road TO success is omen
to you, as 1t always is to those vino do their
dut,."
Thank you, good hands" said Willie; 81
am sure you mean me good for am too little
for you to wish me harm"
The hands vanished, and Willie went on
his way.
AL his grief went at once; he saw quite
plainly the way to cess, shouted some huz-
zas, jumped from the path into the road. and
from the road into the path again; then set
off running and leaping, wild with joy.
Nothing can stop me now," said he; "hur-
rah!"
However, as the day grew on, he went
along more steadily, for he was net used to so
much walking and running, and therefore be-
gan to get tired; but he went on until he
came TO the edge OF precipice, and saw a
grand and awful rush of foamlng waters
which threw themselves headlong down be-
tween the rocks with 6eafeninr roar.
de looked from right to left and he could
not see any way of crossing. Thinking all
hope gone, he sat himself down and wept.
lie had not been many minutes in his
grief, when he felt himself gently lifted from
the ground by gigantic hand, which PASSED
him in safety upon the opposite bank. As the
hand put HIM on his feet il became so much
like cloud that he could scarcely see il; but
before it had quite vanished, Willie took off
his hat, and bowIng, said: THANK you, kind
~ good hand; you have kept your promise
we'll"
Certain now that the fairy hands were not
a dream, which he had really begun to think
them, bis courage and hope became strong
again, and his heart was light and gay, for he
knew there was strong power watching over
him, and ready to help him.
Weared with bis journey, he sat down
under tree, thinking he would rest for the
night; and pulling out his wallet began to
eat some OF the bread and cheese that his kind
mother had put in it, He had scarcely eaten
any all day, for his mind had been so full of
thoughts about the wonderful appearance of
the good hands, that he had quite forgotten
to baVe his dinner.
Alter finishing his meal, which he did with
very great relish, he began to turn over in his
mind how be was to make up bis bed IN his
very large bedchambeI, for 1t appeared as if
ne had got the great for, all to himself
, When he bad got together enough dried
nrenareJ ~ MS resting place softer, he
raI,1,nt lie down, when, to his very great
= w. he beheld the gigantic hands spread
themselves over him. with the fingers entwin
ed, making for him the most perfect little tent
in the world.
Thank you again, good hands," said he,
"for your kind care of me; but before | say
nv prayers, cannot YOU, since you are so pow
erful, tell me something of my dear mother
wbethcr she is more happy, and whether she
has food to eatY
"Good Willie" replied voice, "your mother
knows that you will be protected, as all good
chldlen are; and she has food, for she is in
dllstrious; her bands were given her from my
kingdom, in which no idle hands are ever
maze, as you shall know from me hereafter.
Sleep, then, in peace, that you may rise pre-
pared for labor on the coming morn" SO
Willie slept
Willie vas early afoot; for he believed what
the voice had told him, that the day was to
be day of labor, with some good luck at the
end OF it. De soon got through the woods,
and left it behind him, and saw huge castle
little way of.
"Here, surely, is something to be done,"
thought he, so he leapt up the steps, and tried
to raise the knocker, but it was too heavy for
his strength. In an instant the hands APP
peared and erasped the knocker, and gave
such rat-tat-tat that it sounded like thun-
der.
The door opened with sudden Jerk, and
VI Tue porch stood the mistress of the man.
sion, scowling like a bear. rhe moment vii
ne sa" her he went backward down the stems
for she was an ogress, and in voice ike
very hOarse raven, she cried: 'A'
How dared you knock like that at M,
door, you little varlet? You have put me ali
In a twlt.ef."