The National tribune., 1881-11-19
SfMELI.MOUNTAIN,


the one rich and the other poor The rich
man, however, gave nothing to the poor one.
who earned miserable living by trading in
corn and sometimes he was so badly off that
he had no bread for his wife or children Once
he was trundling his barrow through the forest,
and suddenly he perceived on one side of the
road great mountain. naked and uncultivated
and, because he had never observed it before,
he stopped in establishment AS he stood thus,
twelve great wild men came up, and, thinking they
were robbers, he Eushed his barrow among the
brushwood, and eli nbed up tree to watch
their proceedings The twelve men went up to
the mountain and exclaimed, "Semsi- Mountain,
Sems-Mountain, open!" Immediately the hill
parted in two, and, the twelve men entering it,
closed again as soon as they had done so. In a
little while the mountain opened and the men
came out carrying heavy sacks on their shout
ders, and as soon as they had all emerged into
daylight they said, Sems- Mountain Semsi-
Mountain, shut yourself up!" Then the hill
closed directly, and there was no opening to be
seen, and the twelve men went away. When
they were out Of sight the poor man descended
from the tree, feeling curious to know what
was hidden in the mountain. So he went up
and said, "SemsMountain, Semsi- Mountain,
open" 1t opened directly, and stepping in he
found the hill was hollow and filled with gold
and silver, and in the further part of it heaps
of pearls and precious stones were accumu-
lated like corn. The poor man did not know
what to take, for there were so many treasures
to choose from at length he filled his pockets
with gold and silver, and let alone the pearls
and precious stones. AS soon he got outside
again he said the words "semsi- Mountain, close
up!" and Immediately all appeared as if there
were no opening to be made He went home
with his barrow, and had no cares to trouble
him. for with his gold he could buy bread and
wine for his wife and children and could afford
to live freely and literally, besides giving to the
poor and doing good to everybody. But when
his money came to an end he went to his
brother and borrowed measure, with which he
fetched mere money, but touched none of the
precious stones. A third time he borrowed this
measure; but this time his brothers cupidity
was excited, for the rich man had for a long
while been dissatisfied with his property and
his already beautiful house, and he could not
conceive where his brother got so well paid or
what he did with the measure. SO he bethought
himself of stratagem, and spread the bottom
of the measure with pitch; and. when his
brother returned it to him, he found a gold piece
sticking in it. ThereupOn he went to his
brother and asked him what he had measured
with the measure. Corn and beans" said the
other. Then the rich man showed the gold
piece, and threatened his brother if he did not
tell the truth to take him before the sheriff
The poor brother therefore related all that hap
pened, and the rich man, Harvesting his horses
to his carriage, went away, determined to profit
by the circumstance, and bring home greater
treasures. AS soon he came to the noun
tain he called out, "Sensi-Mountain, Semsi-
Mountain, open." The hill opened immedi-
atey, and he went in. There lay all the treasures
before him, and for long while he stood con-
sidering what he should take. At length he
seized the precious stones and took as much as
he could carry; but when he wanted to leave
the mountain he had forgotten it's name, for
his heart and mind were full of the treasures
which he had seen. STRAIGHTFORWARD, Smell
Mountain, open.' he cried; but that was not
the right name, and the mountain moved not,
but remained closed. Soon he became terrified,
but the longer he thought the more bewildered
he became, and all his treasures availed nothing.
In the evening, however the mountain opened,
and the twelve robbers came in, and as soon
as they saw the rich man they laughed and
exclaimed "Ah. have we caught you at last,
my bird? Did you think we had not remarked
your two previous visits, when we could not
catch you? But this time you will not go out
again"
1T was not me- but my brother" cried the
rich man But his protestations were of no use,
and beg as he might for his life, they had no
mercy, but cut off his head.