Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-25
THE SHRATT.

tramp, of whom it was said he could suck
the cows dry, call down hail on the crops
and bring disease on men. Thanks TO his
reputation, he was never sent away empty
handed when he came begging.
Good day, farmer" said he as he came
mp.
"Good luck TO you" was the answer.
whats the matter with your asked the
old man. You look miserable"
"Yes, things are going ill with me. But
at least | am glad to meet you. Folks say
you can do lot of mischief, but that you
are a clever man. Perhaps you can help
meS"
Folks think am bad because they are
bad themselves" replied the old man.
"But what has happened to you"
The farmer told him all his misfortunes,
and then the old man said;
Would you like to escape from your
present poverty and become rich man at
oncep
II wish with all my heart could" cried
the farmer.
Then old Michael laughed and said
"If were as young and strong as you; if
Iwere brave and not afraid of the dark,
and if knew how to hold my tongue
well, | know what I'd do"
Tell me what you mean. I'll do any
thing to get rich, for, as things are, my life
Is a burden to me-"
Then the old man looked cautiously round
about him and said softly, do you know
what shratt isi"
The farmer answered in horror, II don't
know, but | have heard dreadful things"
"I'll tell you then. 1t is a creature that
any man can make for himself, but it must
be done so secretly that no human being
sees him. Its body is a broomstick, its head
broken jug, its nose piece of glass and
its arms two distaffs with which woman
100 years old has spun All these things
are easily got.
"On three Thursday evenings you must
go all alone to a crossroad, set your goblin
upright and say the words / will teach you.
On the third Thursday the goblin will come
to life"
Heaven deliver us from evilr' cried the
farmer.
"Oh, you're afraid Then Pve said too
much already"
"No, Pm not afraid. Go on"
"This goblin is, then, the servant Of hin.
who has brought it to life at the cyOssroad.
1t lives in his house, in the garnet, and
must do whatever be bids it. No one can
see it but its master. 1t brings him money,
corn and hay as often as he likes, but not
more at once than a man can carry"
But if you know all that why have you
never made one of these admirable treasure
bringers for yourself, instead of remaining
poor man all your lifei"
II have made up my mind to do II hun.
bred times, and I've begun to do it hun
dred times, but my courage always failed
"a friend Of mine who had one used often
to talk to me about it, but was too timid
to follow his example. My friend died, and
his masterless goblin lived a long time in
the village here and played the people many
trick.
"Once he tore woman's yarn all 10
pieces. and when they found it out and
were going to throw the yarn away, behold
there lay heap Of gold under it. After
that the goblin disappeared.
AT that time there was nothing wished
so much as to have goblin Of my own, but
now am old and gray and don't think Of
such things"
al have courage enough" said the farm
or: but wouldn't it be better to talk it ovei
with the minister first"
"You fool You mustn't talk it ovel
with any one, but least of all with the min
ister. for when you call the goblin TO life
you make over your soul to the devil"
The farmer started back in horror.
Don't be so frightened" said the old
man. ITO make up for it you will have
long life and everything heart could wish
And when you feel that your last hour i
near you may still escape from the claws o
satan IL you are clever enough to get rid
your goblin"
"How can do that"
"If you set him a task he can't perform
you are quit of him. But you must Sc
Tor tn
the better of him.
1.-THE man told you Of wanted to get Ri
Of his goblin, so he set him TO fill a casl
with water carried in a sieve. But the got
lin carried water and carried water, am
never stopped till he had filed the casl
with the drops that chung to the sieve"
"Then he died without getting rid of tn
goblinp
"Well, why was he so stupidp But on
thing | must tell you-you must feed you
goblin well to keep him in good humor.
farmer once put plate Of broth in the al
tic for his goblin, as he had always been a.
customed to do. servant noticed it, at
the broth and put sand in the plate.
"That night the goblin beat the farme
cruelty; so he did every night till the farm
er found out the cause and carried up
fresh plate of broth. Then he let him slon'
And now you know all about It,"
The farmer was silent. BY and by he b
gan:
"There is a good deal about it that
don't like, Michael"
"You asked my advice and I've given it,
said the old man Choose for yoursel
Poverty and want have come upon yo'
This is the only way to escape them and b
come rich man, and II you use your vii
vouli he able Ia cheat the devil of yOI
soul besides"
After that Sunday the farmer was new
30 be seen in the village. He neglected b
field work, and his crop, such as IL was, WI
spoiled. His house looked desolate and 70
saken.
Meantime the farmer sat in his smol
room, with the door bolted and the windo
curtains drawn, working diligently ds
aud niaht nt hia .rnhlin hu tho nnhl of