Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1889-06-27
THE GRATEFUL GOBLIN.
Nick Nickson was woodchopper.

NICK Nickson was woodchopper.
He had lived close to the forest for
many years with his wife and children.
1t was seldom Nick went to town or any
where else, because he had great deal
OF work to do to keep his family alive.
Wood hewing never was much Of a pay
ing business, and Nick found it no better.
But he never complained. He did the
best he could in the best manner, and
for the rest he trusted to kind Provi-
dence to assist him and his wife and
children.
Nick had now been going into the
woods for twenty-five years, and as he
was walking along this morning he was
thinking of that fact more than once.
81 have worked very hard" he muttered
to himself as he stopped before beauti-
full young oak tree ready to take off his
Jacket and start operations. 81 have
worked very hard" he said again, land
l think ought to be pensioned Off soon
But l don't think there is much chance.
Where should ] get the money to keep
my folks at home without work? But
there, it is no use growing now on the
day of my twenty-ffth anniversary In
the wood chopping line. Providence has
stood by me so long, and l don't think
shall be forgotten in the future. Do
your duty with all your might, with all
your strength, with all your ability, and
with an unwearying spirit of energy and
perseverance; that is my motto, and sue
cess is bound to follow some time OF
other"
By this time Nick had taken his top
coat off and laid it and his hat down in
the long grass. Then he took his AK in
his hands, and after looking at the tree
from it's base to it's crown he gave the
first blow. Thick splinters flew in all
directions, and Nick dropped his AK and
jumped back from the tree.
'What is the natter he said: ''did l
not hear noise somewhere like the
whining of a child?'
He stood and listened for few mo-
ments but all seemed to be quiet. Then
he resumed his task But he had only
made one more blow at the tree when he
was stopped again. This time he heard
these words: "Get me out! Get me outv'
"Who is it that calls there?" Nick
asked, who was not in the least afraid.
sit is |, the goblin of Blinkingdalel" a
thin voice replied.
But where are you to be foundT'
Il am in the oak you have been hew-
ing at, and hallooed out because was
afraid you might kill me"
"Well, tell me where I ought to strike
in order to extricate you without doing
YOU any bodily harm" replied Nick
Nickson.
''The ak is too big and too sharp alto
gether," now said the voice from the
tree; take your pocket knife and start
cutting the bark about two feet from tht
ground. But be very careful or you viii
hurt me-
Nick now took his knife and he begal
cutting the bark. Piece by piece flew out
until at last he got to hollow space
when the voice in the tree let out shriel
that was so loud and terrible all the tree
in the wood seemed to be shaken by it.
s'Now YOU have cut my beard. you oil
villain of woodchopper, cried tn
goblin. ooh, will kill you if you ar
not careful"
Poor Nick trembled with fear, becaus
he had often heard of COLLINS and thei
cruelty to people. But he soon realize
that he was yet master Of the situation
and he need not be afraid of the goblin.
s'Look here, Mr.. Goblin" said Nicl
ssif you mean to kill me when you g
out. think ] will leave you where 20
are and go home. Good-by."
'sFor gracious sake, don't do that, N
good man, so hallooed the goblin; II di
not mean what l said then, but you dl
hurt me, and no mistake. But be car
full of my beard; it is very long, and
hurts very much if you pull only one
the hairs out. Now will tell you som
thing else If you get me out witho
doing me any more harm will give "
a great reward, and make you the ric
est man in the world"
elbow did you get into that tree
asked Nick of the goblin.
'To tell you that would be very lol
story to relate Be it sufficient for y
to know that I have been in that Il
twenty-five years today. You. have G
me out of my long imprisonment, ant
will give you a reward when the til
comes"
With the last word the goblin b
vanished.
"Well, but where Is my reWard! CT
Nick. cit is all very well to say sh
have it when the time comes, but WI
will that be? Oh, you mean little seal
of goblin, to get me first to extric
YOU from an oak tree, where you W
buried for twenty five years, and then
run away from me because you are
stingy to thank me for it. All! thi
an ungrateful, cruel world. Just wi
I thought that was to be made II
too. All, well! never mind; let me
tinue at my work of wood chopp'ng,
will be careful not to have any NOR
do with COLLINS"
Nick now worked away with his a.
a mad humor. He struck the trunk
the oak with terrific force. 1t SCENE
satisfy his anger, because he imagl
every time the ak hit the tree he
Goblin m q few