The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-03
The Little Old Man in the Forest.

The Little Old Man in the Forest.
The New-Year's story am about to
all of whom go tripping through fairy
land in the golden days of childhood. 1t
was written by good German Baron,
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-
hghtful old Baron. 1t is quite romance
in the original, but we have reduced it
to a very brief and simple story.
The nobleman who wrote it, and who
owes good people and children, almost
as much as Hans Christian Andersen
loved them, declares that this is 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 fIom city to city. In Ger
many there are long, dark forests,
through which he often journeyed.
One evening be 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 a man
walking in the footpath before him. He
called to him, saying:
Who are you? ?"
81 am collier. live with my fam
lily apart from the world in this forest
"Can you give q stranger who has lost
his way nights lodging?'
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 a 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 were just joining in merry
roundelay, when n sudden and loud
knocking was heard at the door. The
children stopped singing, and the collier
said firmly: "In the name OF God,
come in y
Upon this the door slowly opened, and
a little old man, of gentle appearance
IL
greeting the family courteousIy, 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
aim with feeling of great curiosity and
surprise, but said nothing. He once
met his eye; there was something in ii
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
sands, and, turning to the collier, said
g 1t is the hour Of prayer"
The collier at once began to sing
Now all the woods are sleeping" in
which the whole family joined, filling
house with such delightful music
that the merchant listened Ike one en-
.hanted.
Presently voice rose above the rest.
1t startled Berthold, and made the cot
tage tremble. 1t was the little old
mans.
The family knelt down and the collier
prayed. Then they all rose up with low
ing words, and the little old man glided
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 APP
peared. He threw look of fearful
wildness upon Berthold, then disap-
peared, the door closing after him with
violence.
He is a little touched in mind" said
the merchant, nervously.
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 a door that does not shut
very tightly /; he comes into it in the
night, but do not fear him; if you do
not think any evil thought or DO eny
evil act, he will go out of his own ac-
cord
Berthold's heart was now far from
tranquil. He pressed his portmanteau
of treasures close to his side as the col
her lighted him up the narrow stairway
to his room.
He lay down, placing his portmanteau
and weapons beside him on the bed, but
he could not sleep. He remembered
what the collier had said about the
little old man, that the safeguard
against him was the absence OF
all evil thoughts and acts. In this re-
spect the Golfers family seemed secure !;
but the merchant knew how great was his
own greed for gain; how it made him
hard and uncharitable, and he tried to
put away all evil thoughts and to think
of the hymn. Now the woods are all
reposing,' lest the little old man should
appear.
A little past midnight he fell into a
troubled sleep, and his mind began to
wander over his schemes for gain. He
was dreaming of the good bargain he
had made, or expected to make.
when he was startled by a noise
close by. He raised himself in
bed, and saw the little old man in the
moonlight, moving about the room. The
merchant at first looked upon him with
feeling of curiosity rather than alarm