The Russellville Democrat., 1881-12-01
aRANpMA,s FIRST PRESIDE STORY.

all began teasing old grsndma to tell them story
 Grandma came to this country from Norway some twenty years ago, but she still remembered all those weird old fire side legends which her grandma had re- \ peated to her when she was child, and which had been handed down from one generation to another ever since the } time of Odin. The marvellous legends of the Pagan faith had survived the destruc- lion of that faith itself Ddin and Thor and Balder were forgotten, bat their marvellous deeds were shaped into stories which remain this day to delight the winter freside of the peasantry in Nor wavfand furnish amusement for the nur- series in all Northern Europe. The Val. kvries the yalas and Trollquinder have become princesses and sorceresses, with wonderful powers of magic and means of transporting themselves from place to place through the air. It is more than thousand years since these poetic and imaginative compositions were created, but they still exist with revived and i'm mortal youth wherever the Morse tongue is spoken
 Grandma knew them all, and nothing could give her more pleasure than an 4 opportunity to tell them, and not only this, but she actually believed them to be true She would grow exceedingly angry if any one ventured to call in question the truthfulness of any. of her stories, hence she preferred to tell them to children, who had not yet been drawn into the current of modern seepticism, as she expressed herself
 Well what shall I tell you?" said grandma, when they were all cozily seat. s,s %hn fro, ,NIo Shall i tell you the story about Kari with the wooden jacket, about the cock and the hen in the nut.wood, about Peter, the rich peddler, or what?"
 Tell Ns about the master thief" said one of the boys, For about the inquisi- tive woman" added one of the girls. No, tell us about Peter and Paul and the lad in the ashes" exclaimed several of the others.
 "Itfs difficult to decide which story is the best" replied the grandmother" but as there seems to be the most voices in favor of the one about Peter and Paul and the lad in the ashes, will tell that tonight. But now you must all be quiet and listen attentiyely.'
 Grandma then began in her, usual way:
 3Onee upon atime there lived a man in Norway--I do not now remember in what part of the country had three sons, Peter, Paul and Esben, the'lad in the ashes------"4
 "Why was Esben called the lad in the ashes?'' interrupted one of the boys
 Because he. was the youngest and and was fond sitting amongst the ashes," answered grandma. But might as well explain, once for all, that in all these stories the youngest son is generally de- spised by his older brothers, who have no idea that he can possibly come into competition with them In the begin ming of the story he also appears inert and stupid, but when the crisis of action comes he steps forward SO full of wit, daring and accomplishments, that we wonder where all these fine qualities and aequirements come from. And now, to go on with my story Anything but ' these three sons had the man not, for he was so poor that he scarcely owned the clothes on his back; and so he frequently said to the boys that they had better go out in the world and try to earn living .--at nome they would get nothing but starvation.
 "Many miles off was the kings palace, and, outside the kings window there had grown up an oak, which was so large that it shut the light out from the palace. The king had promised large sum of money to any one who could cut down the oak But none was able to do it, be- cause for every chip cut from the stem of the oak there grew two instead. Then the king wanted a well dug that would hold water the whole year rodnd. for all his neighbors had wells but he had none, and that the king thought was shame. To the one who could dig for him a well that would hold water during the whole year the king promised both money and other things, but there was none who could do it, for the palace was built upon very high hill. As soon as they had dug a few inches they encountered the solid rock. But as the king had got if into his head that he wanted these works done, he had it published at all the churches in his kingdom that he who could fell the large oak outside his palace, and dig him g well that would hold water all the year round, should get as reward the princess and half the kingdem You can easily imagine that there were many enough who wished to try their luck; but all their hacking and chopping, and all their roofing and digging. did sno. good. The oak grew thicker and thicker for every blow ol the axe, and the rock did not grow any softer. After-a while the three brothers wanted to try their luck too, and their father had-n no objection, for if they did not win the princess and half the king dom, it might still happen that some good man would give them employment thought the father; beyond that he had no expectations. And when the broth, CTS therefore intimated that they would like to go to the kings palace, the father immediately gave his consent; and SC Peter, and Paul, and Esben, the lad IT the ashes, started oil.
 When they had gone a short distance they came to forest, and close by wal steep hill. Then they heard some thing that kept chopping on the hill. wonder what it is that chops up there or the hill? said E,sben. You always wonder so wisely said Peter and Paul T would llke to see, anyhow said Es ben, and off he went. Well, if you art such child then you certainly need t( learn how to walk, too,' the brother cried after him; but Esben cared nothing for sheir reproaehes. He ran up thu hill to where he heard the ehoppingyanC when ne had found it he eaw an ax' which stood ebopping away at the sten of pine tree Good dayp said Esben do yop stand here choppingP Yes here have been standing chopping to many years, waiting for you, replied tn