The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-12
THE GRATEFUL GOBLIN.

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 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.
II have worked very hard" he muttered
to himself as he stopped before beauti-
full young oak tree ready to take Oft his
jacket and start operations. Il have
worked very hard" he said again, land
think ought to be pensioned off soon
But | don't think there is much chance.
Where should l 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 fifth anniversary in
the wood chopping line. Providence has
stood by me so long, and don't think l
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 its 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: ibid l
not hear noise somewhere like the
whining of 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 Quit Get me outl"
"Who is it that calls there?" Nick
asked, who was not in the least afraid.
''It is l, the goblin Of Blinkingdale!'
thin voice replied.
But where are you to be found?'
Il am in the oak you have been hew-
ing at, and hallooed out because I was
afraid you might kill me-"
'Well, tell me where 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 the
ground. But be very careful or you will
hurt me-
Nick now took his knife and he began
cutting the bark. Piece by piece few out,
until at last he got to a hollow space,
when the voice in the tree let out shrek
that was so loud and terrible all the trees
in the wood seemed to be shaken by it.
"Now you have cut my beard. you old
villain of woodchopper," cried the
goblin. ooh, will kill you if you are
not careful"
Poor Nick trembled with fear, because
he had often heard of COLLINS and their
cruelty to people. But he soon realized
that he was yet master of the situation,
and he need not be afraid of the goblin.
Look here, Mr.. Goblin" said Nick,
"if you mean to kill me when you get
out, think l will leave you where you
are and 60 home. Good-by."
For gracious sake, don't do that, my
good man, SO hallooed the goblin; II did
not mean what said then, but you did
hurt me, and no mistake But be care
full of my beard; it is very long, and it
hurts very much if you pull only one of
the hairs out. Now will tell you some
thing else. If you get me out without
doing me any more harm will give you
great reward, and make you the rich
est man in the world"
"How did you get into that treeY'
asked Nick of the goblin.
''To tell you that would be very long
story to relate. Be it sufficient for you
to know that / have been in that. tree
tweutyAnve years TO-DAY. You nave got
me out of my long imprisonment. and I
will give you reward when the time
comes"
With the last word the goblin had
vanished.
''Well, but where is my reward?' cried
Nick. 'It is all very well to say shall
have it when the time comes, but when
will that be? Oh, you mean little scamp
of goblin. to get me first to extricate
you from an oak tree, where you were
buried for twenty-five years, and then to
run away from me because you are too
CTR fn a IL
an ungrateful, cruel world. Just when
/ thought that was to be made rich,
too. All, well! never mind; let me con-
tinue at my work of wood chopping, but
will be careful not to have any more to
do with goblins."
Nick now worked away with his ak in
a mad humOr. He struck the trunk of
the oak with terrific force It seemed to
satisfy his anger. because he imagined
every time the AK hit the tree he was
hurting the little goblin. In few mo-
nAents the roots of the tree lay bare, and
behold! what did Nick find? At the very
base Of the oak he saw a little black
ebony box. He picked it up and he no.
ticed there was no lock to it.
On the top was written the two words;
"Open mer' But the words were spelled
backward, and when Nick looked at them
it read in his mind: fem nepOw Nick
never had been very sharp in book learn
ing, and it never struck him to try and
make some sense out Of the words lem
nepO." He saw that he did not know
what it meant and he did not trouble any
more. When he went home he took the
box along with him, thinking it would
make toy for one of his children.