The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-12-24

hands, and, turning 10 the collier, said
at is the hour OF prayer"
The collier at once began to sin,
Now slI the woods are sleeping" u
which the whole family joined, 6llinj
TIE house with such delightful musi,
that the merchant listened like one en-
chanted. .a. 81
Presently a voice rose above the rest
II startled Berthold, and made the cot
tage tremble. II was the little old
mans.
The family kmlt down, and the col.
lier prayed. Then they all rose up with
loNng words, and'th little old man
glided out Of the door, bowing rs humbly
~ when he came in.
But presently the door. oper ed again,
and the little old man once more ap.
pesred. lie threw look Of fearful wild,
ness upon Berthold thep disappeared,
the door closing after him with violence.
He isa little touched in mind" said
the merchant, neryously.
He Is perfectly harmless" said the
collier. 81 have not seen any evil % him
fofa long time. But" he added. "tbe
only chamber L can give you for the
night has door that does not shut very
tightly; 10 comes into IL in.the night,
but do not fear him; II you do not
think any evil thought or do any evil
act he will go out Of his own accord"
Berthofd's heart was now far from
tranquil.s He pressed his portmantesu
Of treasures close to his side as the collier
lighted him up the narrow stairway TO
his room.
He lay down, placing his portmanteau
and weapons beside him on the bed, but
he could not sleep. He remembered
what the collier fhd said about the little
old man. that the safeguard against him
was the absence Of all evil thoughts and
acts In this respect the collier's family
seemed sesnrs but the merchant knew
how great}was his own greed for gain
how Il made him hard and uncharitable,
and. he tried : TO put away all evil
thoughts and to think Of the hymn
" Now the woods are all reposing," lest
the little old man should appear.
A little mast midnight he fell into A
troubled sleep. and his mind began TO
wander over his schemes for u,in He
wa, dreaming of the good bargain he had
made or expected to make, when he wa..
startled by a noise close by. He raised
himself ia bed. and saw the little old
man in the moonlight moving about the
room The merchant at first looked
upon 6im with n fceliny of curiosity
rather than alarm or danger and while
he did 40 all was we'll But he at last
became irritable under the disturbance.
and when the little old man M last an
p.oacbed the bod Rsr,bolds irr;tab;litv
sindled into anger and wicked thoughts
beyan 10 fll his mind and he found IL
hard sto restrain hi, lips from wicked
vord,
Al last the little old man ,ouched the
,ortmanteau containing the merchants
treasures This was too ,npcb The mer.
chants canton forsook him and he was
6l,ed with rsge
oBaekl Won vile ,obber, hack from
nv bagsaeep' he exclaimed. seizing his
pistols The hn.s old man started hack.
as In terror He s.eesred IN he in an
agony Of praver. ASchan.e seemed
coming over him. He app4ared cck.cious
of IL. and going toward the door. d..
peared.
Berthold gazed after him and then re.
membered the collier's admonition in
regard to the danger of evil thoughts.
He wished that he had acted differently,
for be wished to bring no evil on the
family.
There was a sound at he latch, the
door ope ned, and an evil-looking giant,
wearing a red mantle, appeared. He
laughed wildly, and said 81 begin to
be free again. You have made me
groww
Berthold saw that the giant was no
other than the little old man.
The merchant leaped from his bed and
his pistol. The giant van
q quished, growing taller and more fearful
as be disappeared.
In a moment the collier hurried up the
stairs.
"ln the name Of God" said he rushing