Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-02-14
FOR THE CHILDREN
Greta and Her Ten Ser
wants,

sun. WHICH WIS Gneu SeItiu&, pecpeu
forth from cloud and spread a crimson /
softly and little bent old woman stuck |
in her hand.
ssCome in, auntv," said the little girl,
pleasantly.
ssI am tired; may sit on your little
stool?'' asked the old woman. "Will you
give me something to drink, for am so
thirsty ?''
The child took her little bowl of milk
and gave it to the old woman. That
was TO have been her evening meal; but
she was such good little girl. When
seemed to become more beautiful and
friendly; the sun shone on her siver
hair and made her cheeks red. She sang
softly to herself
Why you weep, little Greta.''
ssWhy." said the little girl, ssI am so
lonesome and have no one to play with
ssThe watch dog is so old and sensible
and the hens have their chickens to at
tend to. Nobody teaches me anything;
| can DO nothing for uucle's comfort; he
goes to the aie-house. and when he
comes home l am afraid of him; / may
well weep. Often l am hungry. Fam
poor and have nothing"
"You have much that you are not
aware Of" said the old woman. 'sWill
yon believe my words? You have ten
servants"
Greta made big eyes. She looked
around her.
"See here !" said the old woman, TAX
ing her hand and pointing to the little
| fingers. "They are called Tummetott,
| Siickepott, Langeman, Gullebrand and
Liliepvt; have you heard anything
new.?''
Greta looked at her hand, and--was
she dazzlcd by the sunlight, or how was
| it? 1t seemed to her that every one of
her fingers was a little person with
little face. Tummetott was short and
| thick, looking meditative and wise; his
neighbor had a pert and conspicuous ap-
| pearance; and solemn I4angeman was
adorned by the old woman with little
silver hemlet, and Gullebrand at his
side was allowed to wear little gold
ring as belt around the waist, anc a
silver shield. Lillepyt looked like a
boy, and bowed, laughing.
| ''Can you say now that you have 40
| servants, skilful and good. if you will
only allow them to learn something
Only try"
Greta clapped her hands. The fingers
now looked as usual, but the little thim-
BILE and sewing-ring still remained. The
old woman kissed little Greta and went
away.
The little girl ate dry bread and drank
water; but when she looked at her hands
she laughed at her small servants.
'Now you shall help me make uncle's
bed !" cried she gladly, and they all
fastened to lift the pillows and turn the
coverlid, and Lillepyt also did what he
could.
The next morning when Greta awoke
she told Tummetot and all his four COM
panions to come and dress her and comb
her hair. They had never done it so
well before. Her hair shone like the
cats when he has just washed himself,
and her shoe-strings were carefully tied.
After she had said her morning prayer,
she ran out to meet her uncle. 1t was
showing terribly, and the wind rustled
the trees so that it looked as if they
shook their heads at all who went by.
''Do not go to the village to-day, un-
cle," said Greta. s'Stay at home with
me. have ten little servants who will
get dinner for you."
"What is the child talking about?''
said uncle Lars, a little testify. But he
sat down to split kindling wood, and
then began to work on a fish-net, which
had long laid in the corner. But Greta
ran to the hen and said, 'Have you laid
4 nAS CEEos <Aaid tAC uCu CAdChCu COu>
: tentedlv. There lay a snow-white egg
in the nest. Tummetott and Slickepott
carried it Immediately into the house,
broke iG into the bowl, where the milk
had been, and then Greta ran out and
commanded her small servants to bind
together little whip. The tiny Great
ures worked so hard that they became
red and warm, and beat the egg to a
froth; and then Greta took little flour
and stirred it in. and some milk which
she had got at neighbors. Now the
frying pan stood on the fire, which
blazed merrily; little bit of butter was
dropped in it SO that it sizzled. Yes,
: Tummetott, Slickepott, Langemsn, Gull
lebrand, were all good cooks, and Lille
PVT served as sculllon. What a hurry
, they were in. And how much they
could do if they only tried.
There stood the dinner table, spread
with coarse, but clean table-cloth,
smoking potatoes and large herring,
warm milk and the magnificent pam
cakes. Uncle was astonished at Greta.
He ate right heartily, to her great salts
faction, and while she was clearing away
the things she tried to think how she
should be able to keep him at home, far
from the wicked ale-house.
When it grew dark uncle took his cap,
and Greta knew where he meant to GO
) She found his tobacco-pipe, filled It,
lighted it, and then asked him coaxing.
ly to stay until he had smoked it, Then
: she kindled fire. seated herself on q
stool at his feet and began to tell stories
At first he paid no attention; but soon
he was amused and forgot himself for q
while in order to listen to the "si ly
talk" When he again made motion
to go she asked him to crack some nuts
which she had got; she took down the
: old violin from the corner and begged
} him to play little. He tuned up,
, king! king! until he himself was IN
good tune, and Greta saw with wondei
: how his Eangeman and Gallebrand, and
; all their comrades, leaped about the
strings and made such rapid motions tc
i draw forth tones. Greta herself now
began to dance, and kept asking foI
, more music until it became too late.
) 'sIt is scarcely worth while to go now, >
) said he, half vexed, and laid down the
, violin. But 1t seemed right comforta.
, Bile for him to sit at home in the quie
: cottage, when the storm ragged outside
: Oh. what hurry the little fingers wer,
I now in to get supper ready, fondle hel
: uncle, and make his bed. How GLAD
+ little Greta was over her conquest ant
r her ten tiny servants.
4 Greta became large, and her littl,
0anUS cOuIu .uO more ana more. Sllt
t sewed and knit, she spun and wove st
: diligently. Such bright secured tin'
e had no Que else; such white ta5le ant
e floor were not to be found in any Other
Q cottage. Her uncle had long sine,
G broken himself from going to the ale
house. He thrived in his neat COZ,
house, where the industrious little gir
hustled about so gladly.
3 SHOW can you keep things SO nice
r Greta, you who have no servant :" asket
d: a rich peasants daughter.
:, "Ah, have ten!" said Greta roguish
d ly. ''They weave and spin, scrub an,
: scour; they arc never idle"
Il By-and-by smart young peasan
), eourted Greta, and then Gullebrand ha,
g q gold ring to wear. The same day til
o wedding was to take place, the old wo
n man came again, aud had with her
d thimble and sewing-ring of pures
II gold; and thus equipped, Langemal
e and Gullebrand moved still more handi
e ly. Greta thanked the old woman 70
s- her words about the little servants, an
It showed her all the blessings they ha
Is brought TO the house. She said TO a
y poor httle girls that they must not olro
| thate hanAa hnt trx- ~ Saa u.hat ,ha