Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1876-01-20
Miscellaneous
The Little Old Man In the
Forest.
BI HKZEEIAH BUTTERwORTH.
fSt. Nicholas.)

The New Years story am abou
to tell is well known to German
children, all of whom 90 tripping
through fairy-land in the golden day
of childhood It was written by ,
good German baron. Frederic de ]:
Motte Fouque, who wrote the beauti
full fairy-story "Undine," about which
all of our readers have heard. L
does not appear, however, in the pop
ular trsnslations of the works OF The
delightful old baron. 1t is quite
romance in the original, but We have
reduced it to very brief and simple
story.
The nobleman who wrote it, ant
who loves good people and children
almost as much as Hans Christian
Anderson loved them, declares thai
this is story that ought to be told
He does not say why; he leaves hi
readers, young and old, to guess that
by their own firesides. SO, you, See
Inc story is something Of riddle
one must live in n particular way tc
find il out.
Berthold was n German merchant
He Travelled much from city to city.
In German there are long. dark for,
ests, through which he often jour
neyed.
One evening he became bewilder
ed in one of these forests. He Was
riding on horseback, and just as the
far sunset Was flaming over the tall
tops Of the trees above him. he wa:
startled to find he had ridden out OF
his way. he carried great treasure
in his saddle-bags-jewels, ready
money and bills OF exchange In
the recess of the forest there were
robbers.
As he was proceeding along lone
defile, after nightfall. he espied a
man walking in the foot-path before
him. He cried tn him, saying:
"Who are YOU"
'I am collier. live with my fam
ily apart from the world, in the for
est"
"Can you give a stranger who has
lost his way nights lodging?'
II have no right to refuse hospi
tally to a stranger. In Gods name
YOU are welcome"
Berthold followed the man till they
came to little cottage. The good
wife met them at the door with n
lamp, and happy family Of chill
dren greeted the collisrs return.
The evening passed pleasantly
The merchant told stories of his
journeys, and soon felt at home
among them, the children gathered
lovingly around him.
At last it was proposed that they
should sing. The sweet voices of
the children were just joining IN a
merry roundelay when Il sudden and
loud knocking was heard at the door.
The children stopped singing, and
the collier said firmly: ain the
name of God, come in !"
Upon this, the door slowl y opened,
and little old man, of gentle ap-
pearance and manners, came stealing
in, greeting the family courteously
and taking the lowest place at the
table. His garments were of some
ancient pattern; he seemed wan and
woe-begonc, as though reduced BY
disease. Berlholl gazed at him with
a feeling of curiosity and surprise,
but said nothing. lie once met his
eye; there was something in it so
deeply mysterious that he felt chill
creeping over him, and he began to
be restless and i'll at ease.
At last the little old man folded
his bands, and turning to the collier,
said J.:
1T il the hour of PRAYER
The collier at once began to sing
"Now all the woods are sleeping" in
which the whole family joined, fill
my the house with such delightful
music that the merchan, listened like
one enthanted.
Presently voice rose above the
rest. 1t startled Berthold, and made
The cottage trtmble. 1t WAS the lit
tie old mans.
The family knel. down, and the
collier prayed. Then they all ruse
up with loving words, and the little
old man glidcd out OF the door, bow
ing a. humbly As when he came in.
but presently the door opened
again, and the little old man cnce
more appeared. lie threw a look Of
fearful wildness upon Berthold, then
disappeared, the door closing after
him with violence.
He is little touched in mind. "
said the merchant, nervously y.
He is perfectly harmless, said
the collier. IL have not seen any
evil in him for long time. But
he added, the only chamber | can
give you for the night has q door
that does not shut very tightly; ne
comes into it in the night, but do not
fear him if you do hot think Of any
evil thought or DO any evil act he
will 90 out of his own accord.
Berlhold heart was now far from
tranquil. He pressed his portman,
teau of treasures close to his side II:
tba collier lirhted him TN the narrow