The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-09-10
4 Fiddler I'm the Fairy Ring

fIef sur VINO udO 10 great ioi III III hAa',
aud no great good either. lie always meant
we'll, bat he had poor spi.i. aud was too
fond Of Idle company.
Ono day his father seat him tc market
with sonIe sheep to sell, and when busInes,
vas over for the day the rest Of the country
fox made ready to 20 home, and more than
ole Of them offered the lad lift in his
cart.
Thank you kindly, all the same" said
lie, "but I'm going back across the downs
with Limping Tim"
Noy, Limring Tim was an idle, grace
less sort cffellow, who fIdled TO- his I.veli-
hood, and what else he did for the money
be 90. 10 ore knew.
More than one steady old farmer nov
babe tie lad come home with the Who'll
party, and BY the high road, which, i:
.tanea 20 reason, it is better to 20 BY, after
sunset, than over the downs. which is no
such very short cut and :.as large fair;
ring Oh IT just as You turn the hin.
But the farmers son would 60 bis own
vay, and that was with Limping Tim and
across the downs. So they started, and
the fiddler had his fiddle in his hand and q
bundle Of narketings sadep bis arm, and
he sang snetches ef strange songs, the like
81 which tie lad had never heard before
And the moon drew out their shadows over
the short grass till they were as long as the
great stones Of Stonehenge.
a last they turned the bill, ard the
fairy rirg looked dark under the moon, and
the farmers son blessed himself that they
were passing it quietly, when Limping Tim
suddenly pulled his cloak from his back
and handing it to bis companion cried:
Hold this awhile, viii you, I'm wanted
They're calling for me-"
Il hear nothing" said the farmers son.
But before he bad got the words well out
of his mouth, the fiddler had completely
disappeared.
lie shouted aloud, but in vain, and was
even thinking, Of proceeding on his way,
when the fddler's voice cried, "CatcIl!' aad
there came flying at him from the dissection
Of the fairy ring the beEdle of marketings
which the fiddler had been carrying.
It's in my way he then heard tie
fiddler cry. CAB! this is dancing! Come
il, my lal, come in!'
But the farmers con was not totally
without prudence, and he took good care to
keep at a safe distance from the fairy ring.
Alter calling for some little time longer
70 no purpose, he again heard the fiddlers
voice, crying aloud:
Look out, Take care oft for me. The
money darcss out Of my pocket"
And herewith the fddler's pxse vas
hurled at his feet, where it fell with a heavy
thinking o gold within.
He picked it up, and renewed his warn
ings and entreaties to the fiddler to come
away. But it was all in vain; ard after
waiting for long time, he made the best
OF his way home alone, hoping that the
id1ler would follow and come to reclaim
his property.
But the fiddler never came. And when,
at last, there was a fuss about his disap.
pearance, the farneFs son, who had but
poor spirit, began Il, b s.saiI to tell .he
truth Of the matter.
"Who knows but they mag accuse me
of thefti" So he Lid the cloab and the
bundle and the money bag in me garden.
But when .hree months passed, and the
Gddlcr never returned, it was whispered
that the farmers son had been his last COM
panion. and the place was searched, and
they found the cloak and the bundle and
the money bag, and the I'D was taken to
prison.
Now, when it was too late, he piucked
up spirit, and told the truth; but no one
believed him, and it was said that he had
murdered tho fiddler for the sake of his
money and goods; and he was taken before
the judge, found guilty, and sentenced to
death.
But his old mother was wise woman,
and when she beard that he was condemned,
she said:
"Ouly follow my Directions, and we may
save you yet; for | guess how it Is.
So she went to the Judge, and begged
for her son three favors before his death.
Il will grant tbem," said the Judge, eff
you Go not ask for his life
"The first" said the old woman, "is, that
he may choose the place where the gallows |
shall be erecsed the second, that he may
choose tho hour Of his execution;. and the
third is, that you will not fail to te pres.
cnt.
Il grant them all three" said the Judge.
Tut when he learned that the criminal had I
chosen certain hill on the downs for the
place Of execution, and an hour before mid
night for tie time, ha sens to beg the Sheriff
to bear him company ON this important oc
casi0n.
] Re Sheriff placed himself at the Judges !
disposal, but be cua,rsandsd the attendance
If the jaicr as some SORT OF protection; but
the iailer, for his part begged his reverence
The chaplain 20 be one Of. the party, as the
I'LL was not 10 good spiritual repute. So,
hen the time came, the four started to-
gether, and the hansman and the farmers
sen went before them to the foe. Of the
gaiiows.
When the rope was just being prepared,
The farmers son called to the Judge, and
said:
IF your honor will walk twerty PAGES
levin the bill, where you will see bit of
paper, you viii learn where 10 find the
fiddler"
"ThaLis, no. doubt, copy OF the poor
mans last confession though TIE Judge, !,
rs he ran hastily to pick j. up.
But tie farmers son had dropped it as ,
he came along, by his mothers dires .aon, :
in such place that the Judge ccaid not $
pick it up without putting his foot on the t
aJge of the fs:.y ring. No sooner had be b
lone so than be perceived an innumerable $
iompany Of little people dressed in green $
Ioaks and hoods, who were danc;Dg round l