The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-01-12

OutCu 14tC1Cl 10 4OAo vi t1AC 1O@ - y"
Hundreds OF. years ago there lived a
rich lumberman who had thriving
paying business. One evening a gi-
gantic fellow came to him and asked
service. With this the master was
well enough pleased and soon Michel
showed himself to be the best OF work
men. Still. after a half year, be
thought he had chopped enough wood
he wanted now TO see where the
logs weut to-. And unwilling as the
Master was, still he had at last to LET
him glide down the river on a ratt
towards Holland, The raft went, this
time, most uncommon quick, and as
they came to Cologne, Michel said:
g You are stupid people, you RATS
men, the Cologners buy the wood OF
you for mere song, and then sell it
twice as dear in Holland We will
do. that ourselves The others were
contented. Then they really went on
to Holland, where they were paid a
quadruple price. Michel divided 1t.
One part to the lumber master, the
rest they kept themselves, and then
they went on such spree as was
enough to make one blind and deaf.
The lumber masters found ont nothing
of the transaction for long time; at
last, however the story got out, but
the Dutch Michel had disappeared.
To this day he carries on his orgies in
the pine hills, and every ship that has
one of Dutch Michel's logs in it must
90 to the bottom. This much, how
ever, Is certain, the stout Ezekiel, the
long SchIurker, and the King of the
Dancing Floor have sold themselves
to him. This tale made mischief in
the head of the Charcoal Peter; he
could scarcely sleep. And as morning
daWned he was about to go away. dis
tressed again, when q couple of tray-
elers passed by the cottage singing,
and these were the rhymes of their
song
-.sI stood on the hill where the pine trees grow.
And glanced down into the glen. I5 g.
Where saw the fafrest that Sun can show,
But never have seen it again. Is -
& Thus the rhyme was. found grow
show. He went into the cottage, bade
farewell to the good people and took
the back track towards the pine hill
Meditating, he strobe forwards, and
when at last it was quite dark in the
forest, he had found his verse. He
sprang into the air.. when sudden
.ly a gigantic man in the clothes of
raftsman, stepped out from behind
the trees and asked IN gruff voice !:
q Peter Munk, what dost thou here ?D
" was going back home, answered
he, hesitatingly. But thy way leads
not through the thicket. Speak the
truth. Did / not see. thee begging OF
the little one? Luckily thod didst
not know the charm. / pity thee, for
thou leadest miserable life True
it is miserable life" said Peter sadly.
]" Well, / have helped many an one
already; how much dost thou require
to start with, speak," Then his eyes
opened and he thought that must,
without doubt, be the Dutch Michel
and with the cry :. Many thanks, but
with you, will have nothing to do, !"
and he ran away. as fast as he could.
And as he reached a little hillock, and
tried to pick up a little stick to throw
between the legs: Of the Dutch Michels
it was turned into snake, at sight of
which, the giant stood as if bewitched.
He could not take another step. Worn
out and painting, Peter went his way.
Soon he again reached the place, and
bowling low, he said:
Treasurer in greenwoods of pine,
Many. hundred years are thine,
Thine ali lands where pine trees grow,
Thy face to Sunday children only wilt thou
show
"To be sure, it is not exactly right,
but it will do," said gentle voice, and
the old Manikin stepped forth again.
all his clothes made of glass and smek
ing "a glass pipe. " What brings thee
to me 2" 81 am poor charcoal burn
er, and can make no money while SO
many others like Ezekiel and the King
of the Dancing floor have such easy
times" - - ~
8" Peter cried the dwarf /" do not,
speak to me of. them. What do they
gain, if, for a. few years they are mer-
ry, and afterwards so miserable p
You men are curious fellows, always
wanting to be something else than you
are but if thou promisest me to work
diligently, 1 will help thee to some
thidg better. i give three wishes to
each Sundays child the first two are
free, the third can refuse to grant.
G Well then ] wish that could dance
very much better than the King of the
Dancing floor, and also that may al
ways have as much money in my
pocket as the stout Ezekiel Thou
fool. what ridiculous wishes are
thesei Nov one more!" Oh. the
finest and richest glass works IN the
Black Fouast." Nothing else, ?"-
z MOI: .eNot iust.a little wisdom p
Very well, a good glass works pro-
yides Cor a man.. Go into the lower
forest, there the great glass works will
be erected tomorrow. Thou wilt re-
ceive it. But this much say to thee,
guard .thyself against tavern loafing,
Il has never done good for long to any
one" At which the Maniken lighted
his pipe, shook hands with Peter, and
vanished. lrs1 1s - ais
Peters mother was in great distress.
when he came home; but when she
heard that he could command SO much
money, all her sorrow was forgotten.
The next day he took possession of
the glass works, and that sort of work
pleased him quite we'll at first. The
overseeing entertained him. Still lit-
tie by little it lost its relish. He went
into the tavern, and finding there the
stout Ezekiel and the King of the
floor, he mixed in among the 4
dancers at once, and danced so that it
was enough to make the lockers on
blind and deaf. And then it came TO
and much as he lost, he still
had his pocket always full again
When Peter saw how all this helped
to make him looked up to, he was be-
side himself with joy. On that very
day the people dubbed him Emperor
of the dancing floor. But the bliss
did not last long. The glass works
went to ruin, for he didn't trouble
himself about the work, and bankrupt
cy stood before the doors.
One evening as he was again going
home from the tavern, some one came
behind bin and 10 it was the Glass
Ma1ikin. The he burst out in scorn
and rage and swore that the dwarf
was to blame for all his i'll luck. Vio-
lenfly he seized the dwarf and shout
ed !" Have | thee now, treasurer in
green woods of pine ?, Now thou
shalt trtt,,f mo tho third xuscIs I'm