The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-12
Tint with solid silver flows.

the oak had intended this for Nick.
mick is fool" the man said to himself.
Il am going to lift the treasure. Why
did he not keep the box for hinselfT
He accordingly went into the forest.
He found the little nook. just us he Was
told. beside the silver maple tree. Elk
aiming the ground, he noticed tiny
keyhole. He had already put the key
into the hole; he turned it around, and
he saw the shining silver in the nook,
when his hand was suddenly arrested by
the goblin.
"You are not the man who liberated
me from the oak tree!" said the little
man.
The thief then had to confess that he
got hold of the box because his neighbor
Nick could not read backward.
"Well, you had no business to be
thief, and you certainly had no right to
take that box which did not belong to
you"
81 am sorry" replied the man; "if
you will forgive me l will go home and
tell Nickson all about this silver treas
ure. and he can come and get it himself"
mo, there is no necessity for that.
Anyhow, do not believe you would
keep your word. But now that you have
found this silver treasure, take it and
carry it to your home; it shall be yours"
Then the goblin vanished.
The man at once began to fill his pock-
cts with silver. When they were filled
he took his cap, then his handkerchief,
then he took off his coat and used it as
bag. But when all were filled he could
not carry the load; it was too heavy. So
he had to leave some behind. He hurried
home and gave the silver to his wife,
then he took wheelbarrow and return
ed to the work by the brook. He loaded
the wheelbarrow to it's utmost capacity
before he left for home. On his way to
his cottage, however, he had to cross a
small bridge which led over stream,
and when he was in the center of this
bridge the boards broke under him, and
the wheelbarrow. the silver and the man
fell down into the deep. The load had
been too heavy. The man was too
greedy; he wanted too much, and now
he was drowned and he had nothing at
all. 1t was fortunate for his wife and
children that he had brought some of
the treasure home, and they were saved
from starvation.
Now we will return to Nick Nickson,
the woodchopper. He never missed the
little black box at all. Next morning he
returned to the forest and worked away
at chopping down trees as hard as ever.
Sometimes he would think about the
goblin, and then Nick would murmur:
1.-THE world is very ungrateful. The next
goblin find in tree has to stay there
for all l care"
After he had chopped down one tree
he was astonished to find again a little
black be3 At the roots. He picked it w
s9a.,s, '4~aro,INe Top 1nese wu,us coU,@
be read again: "Open me-" But TIN:
time the writing was straight, and not
backwards: so Nick read it at once, and.
of course, understood.
"Open yur! All right, that is easily
DONE" He put the box on the ground,
took his AK, hit it one stroke and the box
was smashed. Inside Nick found piece
of paper wound around a beautiful
golden key of the finest workmanship.
Nick took the paper and, looking at it
close, he saw that it contained the fol.
lowing verse:
At tho castle on the mount
Is golden treasure,
Where golden rod is often found
Waiting for your measure.
The slip of paper was signed: 'The
Grateful Goblin" Nick looked at the
writing long and intently "Well," he
said, at last, 81 will at once 60 and find
out whether that goblin has PLAYED an
other trick on me. l might as well be
fooled twice as once"
He Immediately ran toward the noun.
tain, which stood not far into the forest.
Arrived there he climbed up the steep
ascent, and when he got to the walls of
the castle he walked all around until he
found the yellow golden rod growing
everywhere. Then he examined the
wall. In moment he noticed small
hole in the wall, which seemed to have
been made for his golden key. Putting
it in the hole and turning round was
done in second. Nick already beheld
the glittering mass of shining gold before
him when the goblin appeared.
$50 here you are, them" he said TO
Nick; $50 you did not give the box away
this time Why did you not keep the
other2"
Nick explained to the goblin that he
did not know what the box contained.
'Why did you not open it,"
81 don't know"
swell. your neighbor did, though, and
he got a silver treasure. But | punished
him before he was able to enjoy it, and
he is now dead in the stream. Now.
look here, Nick, you fancied that did
not mean to give you your reward as
promised"
"Well. it looked like it, did it not?"
Looked like it has nothing to do with
it. You should have trusted me. and
have little patience. However. Won
are pretty good fellow. Nick, and now
mere Is your treasure. Enjoy it with
your wife and children, live long and be
happy; good-by, and remember some.
times the Grateful Goblin"
Nick was now alone with his treasure.
he took good lot home with him, ar..
he and his dear ones lived in the futura
as happy as happy can be- - -
IL Ezekiel E. Smith, OF Fayetteville, N. c..
should be confirmed by the senate as minister
ana consul general to Liberia. the diplomatic
ana consular service of this country would at |
length have Smith upon its list. mama |
winch does not appear thereon at present.
Money" Miller, the recently deceased |
Australian millionaire, had one fancy. anart |
from the main one of money making. which !
absorbed his life. This was for Scott;s novels
which he is believed to have read throngb |