The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-12-21
The Little Old Man in the Forest.

The New Years story am about to
tell is well-known to German children,
all of whom go tripping through fairy
land in the golden days of childhood. 1t
was written by good German Baron,
Fredric de la Fouque, who wrote the
beautiful fairy story "Undine," about
which all of our readers have heard. 1t
does not appear, however, i'll the popu-
lar TRANSACTIONS of the works of the de-
hghtful 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, and who
loves good people and children, almost
as much as Hans Christian Andersen
loved them, declares that this is q story
that ought to be told. He does not say
why; he leaves his readers, young and
old, to guess that by their own fire.
sides. So, you see, the story is some
thing of riddle-one must live in a
particular way to find it out.
Berthold was German merchant. He
travelled much from city to city. In Ger
many there are long, dark forests,
through which he often journeyed.
One evening he became bewildered 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 was startled to find he
had ridden out of his way. He carried
great treasure in his saddle-bags2je Jewels,
ready money and bills of exchange.
In the recesses of the forests there were
robbers.
AS he was proceeding along lone de-
file, after nightfall, he espied a man
walking in the footpath before him. He
called to him, saying:
"Who are you ?"
CT am collier. / live with my FAM
lily apart from the world in this forest. u
"Can you give stranger who has lost
his way a nights lodgingp"
CT have no right to refuse hospitality
to 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 lamp, and
happy family of children greeted the
Golfers return.
The evening passed pleasantly. The
merchant told stories of his journeys
and soon felt at home among the chill
dren gathered lovingly around him.
At last it was proposed that the,
should sing. The sweet voices of til,
children were just joining in merr,
roundelay, when a sudden and lou(
knocking was heard at the door. TIL,
children stopped singing, and the collie
said firmly: "In the name of God
come in -
Upon this the door slowly opened, ant
little old man, of gentle appearance
and manners, came stealing In
greeting the family courteously, an,
taking the lowest place at the table. Hi
garments were of some ancient pattern
he seemed wan and woe-begone, as thougl
reduced by disease. Berthold gazed a
him with feeling of great curiosity an
surprise, but said nothing. He one
met his eye: there was something in
80 deeply mysterious that he felt chi
creeping over him, and he began to b
restless and i'll at ease.
At last the little old man folded hi
hands, and, turning to the collier, said
SIT is the hour of prayer"
The collier ut once began to sin
"Now all the woods are sleeping" i
which the whole family joined, film
the house with such delightful mus
that the merchant listened like one Ell
chanted.
Presently a voice rose above the res
1t startled Berthold, and made the co
tage tremble. 1t was the little oil
mans.
The family knelt down and the COLI,
prayed. Then they all rose up with To-
ing words, and the little old man glide
out of the door, bowling as humbly
when he came in.
But presently the door opened agaii
and the little old man once more a,
peared. He threw a look of fearf
wildness upon Berthold, then disa
peared, the door closing after him wi
violence.