The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-16

d. more and more. cooking dinners and sup
pers, so that he had not minutes rest; and
one day, when she bad Deen requiring more
than usual. he turned round and told her that
she left him hardly time 10 sleep, and that her
appetite was frightful.
CouId YOU have seen her face, YOU wouId
have been as frightened as Willie was.
"Little wretch" screamed she. 81 have
bali mind to snap you up as [ would the
wing of chicken; and, remember from This
moment, II my dinner is short of what I
want, ! VIII eat you to make up for what
you have left undone"
Then shall leave YOU" said Willie.
mage MADE the face of the ogress glow like
a furnace, and she made a pounce at Door
WINE tor his angry speech; and she would
nave caught him in her grip, had be net dodg-
e. around large bundle of vegetables, which
luckily lay on the floor. Round and round
she Went after him, until he felt that he must
be caught; when very large hand srasped
her round the waist, and hurried her yelling,
out OF the kitchen, Willie following, returning
thanks for his escape. They came to large
window, which opeued to the sea the hand
thrust the ogress out, and right above the
rolling waves it held her, while the seabirds
flew round about with shril cries in terror, at
a sight so strange.
Mercy, mercy" the ogress cried out, as
she looked upon the awful depth beneath
her.
The hand let go its hold; and the ogress,
with a dreadful scream, whirled over and
over, and fell with such a plump into the
sea, that the spray few over the highest
tower, and the fishes swan away in terror.
Willie ran out of the front door, and when
| he got to the margin OF the sea, he saw the
good hands following him; they plunged into
the sea close at his feet; he jumped into the
| palm of one, and seated himself.
Between the finger aud the thumb of each
hand was one OF his cooking forks, stuck
| through two of the ogress' best handkerchieis,
which made very capital sails, catching the
WIND and waiting HIM along over the sea, Just
as well as the last invention IN boats.
AS the moon rose, it found him safely
| landed and snug nnder the root Of good far
mer, who had promised him work-ay, even
as much as he could do; but the farmer did
| not know what a treasure he had in Willie,
| for the next morning he was working in his
shrt-slaeves in the corn-feld, reaping and
| shearrg and doing as much work as two
stout men could do. But there, under the
shelter OF the high corn, were the friendly
hands working miracles; gathering up the
corn and putting it into sheaves in manner
that could not be done by mortal hands.
Willie Whistled and cut away, caring moth
ing for the burning heat of the sun: his
sweeps, that do believe it was as wonderful
as the hands themselves.
The longest day will, however, have an
end; and so did this: it had been a long dav
OF hard work, lasting from The rise of the sun
ill twilight, but when WillIe's first day wan.
ed, then came out the farmer, bringing with
him his daughter to enjoy walk in the cool
Of the day. The farmer stared when he look
ed upon the golden rows of heavy corn, stand
ing for his admiration III the we'll tied
sheaves He looked from the little man to
the fruits OF his labor, and promised to him
self to do his best to keep so good a servant:
his daughter, also, beautiful girl, glanced an
admiring look at the glowing face of Willie,
rs he stood with sickle in one hand and can
in another.
sob, oh p said the farmer, eff he can reap
so well, perhaps he can plow;" so the next
morning found Willie as a plowman. But
how could he know how to do it? any one
would say. Why the hands guided the plow
and the land was plowed in burrows.
Willie became quite head-man, for it was
found that he could be Trusted with anything.
One day when he was out on the mountain
where he had gone to ga her the focks for
be shearine, heavy storms came on, and the
floods deluged The valley, sweeping away in
their headl0ug course the flocks and herds of
| other farmers.
Willie wisely kept his masters flock upon
| the mountain side until the rain was nearly
| over, but when he came down into the valley
| he was alarmed to find that, in many place
theprooks had swollen into rlvers,to wide and
deep for his sheep to pass over.
In moment the giant hands spread them
selves over the tulbid waters, forming a most
perfect bridge.
lie drove the sheep across without fear
ana reached his masters house in satty much
to the joy OF all, who had given him up for
lost.
Willie lay down that night full of gratitude.
lie was rearly asleep when a shout of Fire"
reused him. He ran down the stairs, rushed
into the tarm-yard; there be saw his master
with his servants running about frantic with
fright; no wafer handy, nc fire engines, ev-
erybody shouting. The flames made their
way from room TO room, and reached the
chamber OF the farmers DAUGHTER. What can
be done now? when suddenly the giant
hands appeared, and, placing themselves
up which Willie sprang quickly.
In few moments ne reached the window,
and, folding the girl in his arms, rushed down
the friendly hands, and placed her safe and
sound in the embrace of her weeping father
heavily laden wagon creaks along the
winding road, covered with a tilt white as
snow; but what has it inside? You can peep
ana see; beautiful tables and chairs, ahdESideS
OF bacon. and geese and chickens, and lair
round cheeses, and rolls of golden butter, with
white eggs peeping through the bars of the
wicker baskets. Where is the wagon going !?
10 market. perhaps; ask the youth who is
trudging by its side, with a smiling happy
face, ruddy with health and the warm tinoe
of the sun.
At last the cottage path is reached. His
mother is standing at the gate Willie shouts
such hearty shout! His mother looks up
on him, but cannot speak, he is soon In her
arms.
That night they sat late beside their blaz-
ing hearth. Amidst the smoke might now be
seen large well filledpot bubbling with some
thing more than water in it.
How much Willie had TO tell his mother of
his labor, and what he owed to the wonder
full giant hands, for saving him from harm in
every danger, and for helping him whenever
he needed help.
Willie stayed now with his mother, and he
two managed nice little farm, which be-
came in Jew years large one. He then
went to see the good farmer and to see the
farmers daughter, too, who had admired him
when he was reapng, and whom he saved
from the fire.
Soon alter, Willie and Nelly, for that was
her name, were married and they lived many
happy years.
Willie became rich farmer, and taught
bis neighbors chow 70 farm profitably;" and
the way was this:
BE honest, and industrious, and kind, and