The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-20
The Little Old Man in the Forest.

The New-Year's story I am about to
tell is well-known to German children.
all of whom go tripping through fairy
land in the golden days of childhood. It
was written by a good German Baron,
Fredric de la Fouque, who wrote the
beautiful fairy story "Undine," about
which all Of our readers have heard. It
does not appear, however, in the popu-
lar TRANSACTIONS Of the works of the de-
dghtful old Baron. It is quite romance
IN the original, but we have reduced it
to q 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 a 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 a 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 bags-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 man
walking in the footpath before him. He
called to him, saying:
"Who are you ?"
CT am collier. live with nv fam
lily apart from the world in this forest. %
"Can you give stranger who has lost
his way nights lodging?"
" l have no right to refuse hospitality
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 lamp, and
a 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 they
should sing. The sweet voices of the
children we're just joining in a merry
roundelay, when sudden and loud
knocking was heard at the door. The
children stopped singing, and the collie,
said firmly: Gin the name of God,
come in p
Upon this the door slowly opened, and
little old man, of gentle appearance
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-begone, as though
reduced by disease. Berthold gazed at
him with feeling of great curiosity and
surprise, but said nothing. He once
met his eye; there was something in it
so deeply mysterious that he felt a chill
creeping over him, and he began to be
restless and i'll at ease.
At last the little old man folded his
hands, and, turning to the collier, said:
cit is the hour of prayer"
-hSw OO1IACL dU OuCO O0Sdu W silly
Now all the woods are sleeping" in
which the whole family joined, filling
the house with such delightful music
that the merchant listened like one en-
chanted.
Presently a voice rose above the rest.
1t startled Berthold, and made the cot
tage tremble. It was the little ole
mans.
The family knelt down and the collier
prayed. Then they all rose up with low
ing words, and the little old man glideo
out OF the door, bowling as humbly as
when he came in.
But presently the door opened again
and the little old man once more ap
peared. He threw look of fearful
wildness upon Berthold. then disap
peared, the door closing after him will
violence.