The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-01-09
TIE TEN SERVANTS.
"a storv for Childran

IaOor opened SOityy ana uGtle, Dent
old woman stuck in her head.
Come in, Aunty," said the little
girl, pleasantly.
81 am tired, may I sit on your lit
tile stOol?' asked the old woman.
"W1l you give me something to
drink, for l 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 a good little
! girl. When the old woman had drank
the milk she seemed 30 become more
beautiful and friendly; the sun shone
on her silver hair and made her
cheeks red. She sang softly to her
self:
''ButI would like to know
Why you weep, little eretal''
"Why," said the little girl, 81 am
so lonesome and have no one to play
with. The watch dog is 30 old and
sensible, and the hens have their
chickens to attend to. Nobody
teaches me anything; 1 can do roth
ing for uncle's comfort; he goes to
the ale house, and when he comes
home am afraid of him; I may well
weep. Often / am hungry. 1 am
poor and have nothing.
"You have mnch that you are not
aware of" said the old woman. "WiII
you believe my words? You have ten
servants"
Grsta made big eyes. She looked
around her.
"See herep said the old woman,
taking her hand and pointing to the
little fingers. "TheY are called Tum-
metott, Slickepott, Langeman, Guile
brands and Lillepyt, Have you
heard anything new?'
Greta looked at her hand, and
was she dazzled by the sun, or how
was it2 It seemed to her that every
one of her fingers was little person
with a little face. Tummetott was
short and thick, looked meditative
and wise; his neighbor had a more
pert and conspicuous appearance;
the solemn Lsngeman adorned by
the old woman with q little silver
helmet, and Gullebrand, at his side
was allowed to wear a little gold
ring as a belt round the waist, and q
silver shield. LiIlepyt looked like a
boy, and bowed laughing.
"Csn you say now that you have
no servants, skilful and good, if you
will only allow them to earn some
thing. Only try"
Greta clapped her hands. The
fingers now looked as usual, but the
thimble and sewing ring still remain
ed. The old woman kissed little
Greta and went her way.
The little girl eat dry bread and
drank water; but when she looked
at her hands she laughed at her
small servants.
"NoW you shall help me to make
unele's bedp' cried she gladly, and
they all hastened to lift the pillows
and turn the eoverlid, and Lillepyt
did what he could.
The next morning when Greta
aWoke, she told Tummetott and all
his four companions to come and
dress her ann comb her hair. They
had never done it so well before.
Her hair shone like the eats when
be has just washed himself, and her
shoe strings were carefully tied. At
ter she had said her morning prayer,
she ran out to meet her uncle. 1t
showed terribly, and the wind rus
tied 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,
uncle" said Greta. "Stay at home
with me. I have ten little servants
who will get dinner for you"
"What is the child talking about?'
said Uncle Lars, little testy. But
he sat down to split kindling wood,
and then began to work a fshnet,
which had long lain in the corner.
But Greta ran to him and said. Have
lyou laid any eggs? and the hen
lclucked Gontentedly. There lay a
lsnow white egg in the nest. Tum-
lmetott and Slickepott carried it i'm
Imediately into the house, broke il
into the bowl, where the milk had
been, and then Greta ran out and
lcommanded her small servants tC
bind together little whip. The
ltiny creatures worked so hard that
Ithey became red and warm, and beat
an egg to a froth; and then Grets
took little -four and stirred it in
some milk which she had got at g
lneighbor's. All! now the frying par
stood on the fire, which blazed mer-
? IriIy; bit of butter was dropped il
lit so that it sizzled. Yes, Tumme
tott, Slickepott, Langeman, Guile
brand were all good cooks, and Lii
Ileypt served as sculliQn. What 8
hurry they were in! And now mueE
they could do if they only tried!
There stood the dinner table
f spread with coarse, but clean table
cloth, smoking potatoes and large
herring, warm milk and the magni
! fcent pancakes. Uncle was aston
! ished at Greta. He ate right hartil,
to her great satisfaction, and Will
she was clearing away the thing
! she tried to think how able to kee-
him at home, far from the wickeI
, ale-house.
!, When it grew dark, uncle took hi
cap, and Greta knew where he mean
. Ito go. She found his tobacco pipe
? filed it, lighted it, and then sske'
him cosxingly to stay until he ha'
smoked it. Then she kindled fire
It seated herself on q stool at his teei
7. land began to tell stories. At first D
n paid no attention, but soon he wa
e amused, and forgot himself for
while in order 70 listen to the "sill