The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-02-08

jealous Oh me-tney Whuttu W NO III TIE
talking themselves-and they began to
plot against me. There was General
Topics. and Old Politics (he's atefuD,
and Literary Notes, and host OF others
and, one night when wasn't suspect
ing 'em, they got after me-they nearly
killed mel thought at first was dead
and buried, but it seems was only
slowed away in the shaft of the wheel.
Now I'm out again, and won't they
catch itl' fer a ~
"Why, what are you going to do 2"
asked the wise man, rather anxiously.
Hal ha u laughed the little elf.
you'll see." Then, raising his hand to
his head, he gave defiant nod and van
ished from sight.
Now all this happened only the day
before the ushering in of the new year,
1876. Always a busy time, then it was
doubly so, and when our wise man had
finished his round of duties, and was at
liberty to sit down and think over his
adventures, the day was far spent. In
all his life, nothing like this had hap
pened before, and the longer he thought
about it the more puzzled he grew.
Then, to add to his confusion, his head
began to feel queerly, and he saw such
strange sights; the chairs in the room
got up and courtesied to the table, the
one that he was sitting on giving such
violent lurch that it sent mis- head down
with jerk, and he fell back, unable to
rise.
suppose there are those who would
say that he went to sleep, but firmly
l<1, tln 81 AL ~,
When the bells struck II that night,
they made such q noise as has seldom
been heard. In the midst of the clangor,
the charm was dissolved, and the wise
man, opening his eyes, sat bolt upright,
trying to remember what had taken
place. Then, to satisfy himself that it
was all foolish dream, he thought best
to go the rounds once more.
"Of course, shall find everything all
right" he said, as he turned into the
narrow passage that led to the great
room where the little wheel was; but the
words were scarcely out of his mouth be-
fore bump, bump, down he went over
great piles of something that filled the
passage. They felt like newspapers,
and so, reaching out his hand for the
hight, that fortunately was still burning,
lie began to examine them. Yes, they
were copies of his own beloved paper;
but what was the matter with them p
how odd they looked. The heading of
the first page was all right, but under
meath, in place of the current items of
the day, were stories for children, enig-
mas, refuses, charades, etc. They filed
the second page, the third and fourth,
and 30 on through the whole paper; not
line of anything else could he find.
Horrors" he groaned, q am a
ruined man. Who could have done this
wicked deed ?" then, gathering himself
up, he moved wrathfully toward the
great room.
Once there, what sight met his as
tonished gaze The room was all aglow
with light, and busy at work close be-
side the great printing press stood
giant, whose head nearly touched the
ceiling.
Why-who are your" at last he
found voice to gasp out.
L am the Prince of Story-Tellers,
your Honor" said the giant, with low
bow; "don't you remember how you
helped me out of the wheels shaft, only
few hours ago ?" And then, as the
wise man did not speak, but only stood
staring wildly at him, he went on:
told you I'd fix 'em, didn't L? and
/ have; you won't see anything of Gen.
Topics or Old Politics or any of the
rest of them about this paper again.
I'm going to run it myself, now. I've a
few thousand copies out already-per-
haps you saw them as you came in ?"
Yee.s-I saw them, answered the
wise man, absently, for he was trying to
think what he could do to prevent further
mischief. Fortunately, he was not only
a wise man but the son of wise parents,
and as he stood there the remembrance
OF one of the famous stories they used
to read to him came back.
"I'll try that old trick myself" be
said. Then, stepping nearer the giant,
he pointed toward the little wheel.
"You don't mean to say that you came
out of that ?"
"To be sure I did," answered the
giant. "Why, you saw me do it."
Impossible p exclaimed the wise
man, "I can't believe it..
"Just wait a moment and I'll show
you about it, said the giant, and he be-
gan to roll himself up. 1t would have
made you open your eyes to see the way
in which he disappeared, growing smaller
and smaller until presently all you could
see was a tiny black roll perched upon
the wheels shaft.
"Now are you satisfed?" piped out a
shrill voice from the roll.
Wonderful Wonderful y exclaimed
the wise man, "but still think you are
rather too large to be slowed away in the
shaft"
Undo it and see."
With eager fingers the wise man
forced it open, and down dropped the
little black roll then, quick as flash, he
had secured the fastenings, and the giant
was once more a prisoner.
Let me out, let me out" he cried,
struggling within.
"Neverp' answered the wise man.
you've made me trouble enough al
ready, and, now that have you safely
stored away, you'll never see daylight
again."
Then how the poor fellow begged and
Mead with the wise man for his liberty