Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-12-25

water, and tried again; but it was all
the same.
"Hel he he I" Uttered somebody
near him and looking up, there was
the old gray goblin hanging in the chin
ney by his heels, and watching all his
proceedings. ....... can
"You can't make it, said the goblin,
"unless you have my silver bowl -
pulling it out of his pocket as he spoke.
"Is that itG" said Walter "hand it
here then, quick. The king is dying,
and unless I save him they will cut off
my head"
"Oh," said the goblin, :" fair and
softly if you please what will you give
me if / lend you my bowl9"
"I have nothing to give," answered
Walter, "but the sixpence here in my
pocket"
"Well," said the goblin, "in that
case promise me that when you become
prince you will receive me, no matter
how I come, as if I were your father,
and that you will do the first thing that
I ask you to do, no matter how much
you may dislike what 1 say"
"I shall be a prince" said Walter,
laughing, "when oaks grow out of Gu
cumber seeds but am willing enough
to promise what you ask, and to do it,
too"
At that the goblin tossed Walter the
bowl, and turned somersault up the
chimney and 10 the bowl was brim-
ming over with something as white as
snow, soft as foam, and that tasted like
strawberries and cream. Away ran
Walter pell-mell up the stairs and burst
into the kings room with the bowl in
his hand. The kings eyes were closed ;
but the moment the wonderful substance
touched his lips he sat up, and by the
time he had eaten the contents of the
bowl he could walk about as well as
ever. On being so wonderfully restored
to life, the king kissed Walter, and said
that he should be his son. So Walter
was everywhere proclaimed as prince,
and all the people were pleased, because
he had kind heart and pleasant word
for them all. But Walter quite forgot
his promise to the goblin.
At last there came to court the most
beautiful princess that ever was seen;
and Walter fell in love with her, and en-
tertained her in magnificent manner
every day, till one day, just as they were
standing up to dance before the whole
court, there came in an old man, very
ragged and dirty, with a great peddler's
pack on his back, at whom Walter had
not looked twice before he saw that it
was the old gray goblin. Instantly he
remembered his promise to receive him
as father, and began to be very much
ashamed at the notion of presenting
such an old beggar as his father to the
king and all his splendid court, but
Walters mother had taught him never
to break his word, and always to dc
what he thought was right, no matter
how disagreeable. Accordinglyhe drop
ped the princess beautiful white hand,
and going up to the dusty, dirty old COB
lin, kissed and embraced him, brought
him golden chair to sit on, and taking
the pack from his back, carried it away
himself, and laid it in corner.
The courtiers stared, and nudged eacl
other. .-....
Who is this wretched old beggar
Prince Walter ?" asked the beautifu
princess, tossing her head scornfullY.
You must come with me now," sale
the goblin to Walter, taking no notice O.
what was said around him. ''I have
need Of you.
" But. my father,' said Walter, "]
was just about to dance with this prin
cess, and she will be offended to be lef
standing on the floor. Let me frs
dance with her, and then / will go will
you" -.
"No," said the goblin, "you ar
bound by your promise to do the frs
thing that / should ask of you. Go ant
excuse yourself to the lady and com
with me-"
Then Walter went up to the princess
and looking sorrowfully at her said
low: "Dear madam, do not be angr
with me. have promised to go wit,
this old man, but 1 will return as 500
as possible"
, "But do you imagine" returned th
Z princess, angrily, "that will see q beg
gar preferred ome9 If you go wit
that man never speak to me again. :"
"Alas!" said Walter, "I must go, fc
/ have promised"
" No" said the princess, "you sha
: not go, unless you wish never to see m
, again. I will not stay here an instar
longer if you go with that man,"
! "Come," cried the goblin, 81 ha1
waited long enough"
Walter, who never dreamed of breal
3 ing his word, turned about and left I'll
u princess standing on the floor; but
;, that she set up dreadful cry, on
y spreading out two great wings, sale
3 out of the window and away over IL
. plains towards the sea, Tapping h
Ii wings, and screaming dismally as 81
went. . ...
9 Then said the goblin " My son, tn
u was the wicked enchantress who