The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-10
The Old Gray Goblin.


with nothing but hope and siypence in
his pocket, he came on gray old goblin
trying to make fire but every time he
tried the fire went out, because he did
not lay the sticks close enough together.
"See here" said Walter, +" that is not
the way-let me show YOU" And, lay
ing the wood together, he had At fine
roaring fire in no time.
Good !" said the goblin. "Now go
and fetch me some water from the brook,
for my legs are old and stiff while you
are young enough to dance all day."
So Walter, who had a good mother
who had always taught him that it was
the duty OF Young people to be polite
and respectful to old people, went down
TO a brook close by and brought some
water with such n pleasant, smiling face
that the old goblin was pleased, and said
to him " L see you are a fine fellow,
and that you will one day make your
way in the world. Stay with me to-
night, and will give you the best sup
per that you ever tasted in your life. ;"
Walter was willing enough to do that,
as he had only a sixpence in his pocket.
Then the goblin brought out one egg,
and breaking it into quart of water,
put it over the fire i'll silver bowl,
turned it about three times, and 10 ! there
was n great platter filed with something
that looked as white as snow and rs soft
as foam, and tasted like strawberries and
cream. Walter and the goblin ate heart
lily, and Walter thought he had never
eaten anything SO good in his life. After
that they both went to bed on the grass;
but when Walter awoke in the morning
the goblin was gone; little of last
nights supper stood near him, however,
and, making hearty breakfast on that,
he trudged on cheerfully till he came to
Il magnificent city, with walls of marble
aud towers of gold, which was in such a
tumult that every one seemed distracted.
"You must be just come to town,
young man," said the people. eve
have the best King in the world, and he
has been poisoned by wicked enchant-
ress, who hated him because he was
good; and the wise men say there is
nothing can cure him except dish made
out of an egg and quart of brook water,
which shall be as white as snow, as soft
as foam, and taste like strawberries and
cause every one here has tried, and
there is no one who can make anything
of the sort.
Eyes, but L can," said Walter. 81
made my supper and breakfast on that
very same dish.
So the people took him to the palace,
and the Lord High Fiddlestick came out
and said, "What are you shouting
about the gates for, when the King is
dying
But all the people answered, "We have
found the young man who says that he
can make the dish that can cure the
King, and that he had his breakfast on
1t this morning.
At that they took Walter to the royal
kitchens and put on him tall cap and
white apron, and babe him go to work
as fast as possible. Then Walter ordered
everybody to leave the kitchen, and get
ting a silver bowl, broke an egg into it,
poured on a quart of brook water, and
setting it on the fire, turned it about
three times; but how was he dismayed
on seeing there nothing but water, with
the yelk and white of an egg swimming
about in it. He thought then that some
thing was the matter with the fire, and
poked and stirred it, and brought
kindling-wood and PIT on the covers
and took off the covers, and then he fan
cied that the egg was not fresh enough,
and tried another and another, until he
had used dozen. By this time the
Kings people were getting inpatient,
and came knocking and pounding at the
door, crying out, SIS the dish ready
YETI The King is getting worse, and if
you don't save him we will cut your head
off; so make haste.
" les, yes" said Walter " present
ly but his heart would have gone
down into his shoes if it could have got
ten there, for he began to be afraid that
he could not make the wonderful dish,
after all. He took another egg, and an
other bowl, and another quart of brook
water, and tried again but it was all the
same.
"He! he ! he !" Uttered somebody |
near him and looking up, there was the |
old gray goblin hanging in the chimney,
by his heels, and watching all his pro
,eedings.
"You can't make il" said the goblin,
' unless you have my silver bowl -
pulling it out of his pocket as he spoke.
I" Is that it 2" said Walter "hand it
lere then, quick. The King is dying,
md unless | save him they will cut off
ny head"
"Oh," said the goblin, fair and
'oftly if You please what will you give
ne If / lend you my bowl2"
+" have nothing TO give," answered
Walter, &C but the sixpence 1 have in my
pocket"
"Well, said the goblin, "in that case
promise me that when you become
Prince you will receive me, no matter
low L come, as if L were your father,
nd that you will do the first thing that
ask you to do, no matter how much
Iou may dislike what say"
" L shall be Prince" said Walter.
aughing, when oaks grow out of cucum,
'er seeds but l am willing enough to
promise what you ask, and to do it, too"
AT that the goblin tossed Walter the
'owl, and turned somersault up the ,
Kinney and 10 the bowl was brim-
ming over with something white as snow,
oft as foam, and that tasted like straw