The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-02-19

for the little dwarf, and said: "Where
did you find these costly stones p "Hi,
hi" said the little man OF the noun
tains; "men question fools thus" How
ever, the man began to entreat him, and
spoke so we'll that the dwarf said; "If
you have sufficient courage for the e1-
pedition, you can 60 with me to-day"
While the crystal-seeker was consider.
ing a moment TO see il he dared, the
dwarf cried out scornfully: "Now you
can see how little courage a tall man
has; he does not dare TO go with me once
on searchl" The crystal seeker, who,
it must be admitted, felt very uneasy in
the presence OF the mountain dwarf, de-
family gathered his courage together
and cried: "What you dare, 1 can also
dare |" Then both wandered deeper in
among the mountains, and at last the
dwarf came 10 stand before a cave and
lit his little lamp. "This is the way to
go in," he cried, and at once he was
through the hollow. The large man
was obliged TO stoop and creep after him
on his bands and knees, and the dwarf
derided him for this and called out:
"That comes from your size; were you
small like myself it would be easier for
you; but come on now, we are almost at
the end" Still wider and wider grew
the cave, and at last it spread itself out
into an immense grotto. The dwarf
held the lamp up against the walls and
cried OUT "See, only see |" The man
stood still with astonishment, for the
wonderful rocky structure was before
him, and wherever the little man OF the
mountains allowed the Light to fall, it
frightened and sparkled with all the
colors OF the rainbow, as though all the
crystals in the world we're gathered to-
gether there. The crystal-seeker drew
his fingers feverishly over them, then
convulsively seized his hammer in order
to fill his leather pocket on the spot,
when the dwarf called out imperatively:
zone alone, and no more, and this one
only that you may not think in the
morning that you have been dreaming"
The man did not appear topay any at
tention to what be said, but the dwarf
continued, threateningly: eff you do
not obey 1 will put out the light, and
you will see how you can get out of the
mountains"
The man looked anxiously at the
light, and began to entreat, but the
dwarf adhered to his first command:
zone, and no more" "Then light me-"
begged the crystal-seeker, "that at least
may seek for the finest one." This
request was granted him, but long
time elapsed before the man could de-
eide upon choice. At last yes, this
was surely the largest and finest crystal.
A short stroke with the hammer, and
the stone sprsng off with a ringing
sound. "Now you have your share,
said the man OF the mountains; "wewill
90 on our way back" After saying
these words he wandered on ahead With
the lamp in his hand, and the crystal.
seeker crept painfully after into the
open air. "Listen; I know many of such
caverns," said the pigmy, "and I know
also of caves in which quite different
stones abound" Then no felt leisurely
in his pocket and held up before the
astonished crystal-seeker a handful of
sparkling precious stones, and said,
winking cunningly with his eye: "Shall
I take you under my instruction" Then
the poor crystal.seeker laughed in his
heart and said: "Yes, you are the mas
ter; let me be the scholar" "You are
quite large enough for that, laughed
the dwarf; "but what will you pay me
for tuition ?" "Ah |" answered he,
laughing, 81 am only poor man. but l
will serve you whole year for nothing"
"It is needless" Uttered the dwarf,
"your service would be of little use to
me; have workmen enough; that we
may be even, you must give me your
youngest little daughter for wife. She
will have a good time wit me, for you
must know am king of the mountain
dwarfs; deep among the mountains
stands my castle. You shall seeit. All
the windows are made Of precious stones,
and every year hundred thousand will
'o.the-wispS are burned out as lamps.
There shall your daughter live and be
queen p The crystal-seeker shook his
head sadly and said; "No, I will never
do that. The youngest one is my fa-
vorite, and what would my poor wife
sayY Gas you wish" said the dwarf,
"but you will soon think better OF it, II
you will give me your little girl for my
aueen-wife, come with her to the noun
tain that you saw over yonder, and knock
with your hammer. And that you may
not 20 home empty-handed, I will give
you present for my little lady love y
With these words the little man felt in
his pocket and drew out chain, a
beautiful golden chain, and said; "That
will suit your little daughter nicely; and
now farewell, and do not continue rs
stupid as you long have been." Hardly
had the little man said this than he dis
appeared, and the crystal-seeker stood
in the midst OF thick cloud and with
o.ooI l;paorIty found his vav homo -