The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-30
THE FAIRIES OF THE WENGERN
MOUNTAIN.

THE FAIRIES OF THE WENGERN
MOUNTAIN.
Whatever you may think, there are
still fairies in the Wengern Mountains
Hans and Gretel knew it quite we'll. and
SO did Nils the cobbler. You might
have said Nils was unfortunate, for he
was lame and crooked, and though he
was not IN old fellow, yet there wal not
n of his kin to say "God bless thee"
So, as nobody cared for him, he took to
caring for all the world; for the old men
at the almshouse; for the stray dogs that
skunk about the alleys; but especially for
Hans and Gretel, who must have been
cold and hungry but for him. No doubt
Nils himself was sometimes hungry, since
the loaf that would have made one very
comfortable was hardly enough for three,
but then the children had a claim upon
Nils; he had taken them for debt, and so
in a way they belonged to him. Their
father was Peter Larsen, who had been a
clock-maker when there were any to buy
clocks at Brunden, but who lay dying
morning between dusk and daylight
with no n to sit by him but Nils the
cobbler.
"Ah, Mis-" said Peter, 81 am going
without ever paying You the money l
owe you."
cit does not matter" said Nils. cheer
fully, II will take the tools for the debt.
Some man may like to buy them"
"But the tools are pledged to the
miller; he takes them away this even
ing"
$50! Then I will take the COW, and the
children can still have their milk"
1T is the butcher who has the COW
he drove her off on a Friday.
$50! Then I should like the clock. It
is a famous thing to have a clock like
that in ones house to cry the hour when
one lies awake.'
"The clock is pledged TO the doctor
and the bed to Hanne Petersen" said the
sick man, growing blue and pinched as
he spoke. "E%verything is pledged but
the children, and they must starve."
"Why, them" said Nils, smiling his
hands together, II will even take the
children. Look you, Peter, I will take
them for the debt"
He put his hands on Gretel and Hans,
who stood very still and frightened on
either side of him, and at that, moment
the sun rose. It shone into the mans face
and filed the room with a strange wonder.
full light. No one spoke, neither Nils OF
Peter; they only looked at each other.
By and by Gretel went to the window
and drew the curtain.
"The sun blinds my father" she said,
she does not see it; he is in greater
light" said Nils.
Then he took the children by the hand
and led them away, but at the door he
turned back and went to the bedside.
"Wherever you have gone," he said to
the dead man, "you may know that
have taken the children. I will answer
for them at the Judgment"
Afterwards the miller took away the
tools, and Hanne Petersen came for the
bed, and the great clock licked in the
doctors hall, and nothing was left to the
dead man but the box in which he was
carried away to burial; but he looked Sc
peaceful l think he did not mind. Hans
and Gretsl wept, but there is an end to
every thing, whether joy or sorrow, and
they were o comforted. They had
almost forgotten that they were orphans
when one day the pastor stopped to say
to Nils:
"These children should not eat your
bread. They should be cared for at the
aims house."
Nils bowed very respectfully.
II have taken them for debt" he said
Gin these times one takes what he car
get"
The pastor shook his head, and rode
on laughing.
"Do we eat thy bread. Mis-" asked
little Gretel, coming to his knee.
''Thou art my blessing" said Nils
s*roking her yellow hair; "The pastor is
a good man, but he studies much. Il
is bad for the wits to read much ii
books"
It was about this time that Nils bought
for Hans and Gretel some picture books
won 4erful picture books, such as they
sell nowhere but at the fair at Konigs
burg. There wa a long table with row.
upon rows of them, not shut up, but sci
open, SO that n could see the gay pic
lures and even read a little of the stories
Nils stood looking at them when tn
pastor came by. -... ,...
"See," he said to his companion, "thi
is the fellow who takes two poor children
in payment of debt and starves himsel
to feed them"
He drew a silver coin from his pocket
"There," said he, "buy the youngling
some picture hooks.".
So Nils bought two books, and fin
ones they were I promise you, with sucl
stories of knights and fairies as make on
dream dreams in the day times.
Hans and Gretel read them sittin.
under the great tree with their head
close together and their eyes wide opel
| with establishment.
"Dost think they, are trues" asked
Gretel.
"Not now," said Hans; ''There were
nce fairies many years ago; it mus
have been rare to live m those days."
But Nils said he was not sure. If one
we're good and innocent and loved every
living creature he might see and hear 8
great deal that could not we'll be told
As for the FAIRIES, it might be and il
might not be; stranger things were hap.
pening every day; men had seen angels
o-o md %ol11oI With khoxo M ,h- -ot