The herald., 1893-12-07
NORTH WINDS GIFT.

babe in it's cradle, he may bewitch all
living things with the tones Of his Tyre,
or he may burst with the might Of an
all powerful giant upon the world Of
, men. That was mischievous prank
!. he played in days of yore on boy In
/ Norseland and whom we will call Olaf.
4 Pay heed and you shall learn about 1t.
Olaf was the only son of widow,
! and she was both feeble and poor. She
4 had taught the boy to wait on her, and
this made him kind and thoughtful
One day she sent him for some -four
to the storehouse. This was q frame
building, raised from the ground on
/ wooden props, and had to be reached
by flight of stairs. Olaf ran lightly
up the steps, got the flour and was turn
ing to hasten down again when North
Wind came putting and painting that
way, caught up the -four and bore it off
through the air ~
Olaf went back for more -four, but
the moment he set foot ON the stairs
North Wind snorted and shifted about
him, and, pips! away went the -four. If
you'll believe me, the same thing hap
pened third time, and now Olaf was
positively angry, for it seemed quite
(ytoo provoking that North Wind should
act in such senseless fashion. So Olaf
,inade up his mind that he would 90 in
! search of the thief and demand back
the -four.
He set out at once, but he walked
many long, weary mile before ne
came at last to North Winds home.
North Wind had quieted down and
was in most gracious mood when Olaf
presented himself before him.
Good day." said Olaf. "I hope you
are we'll. Mr.. North Wind"
/. 1.-THE same to yourself, my boy" said
! North Wind. and his voice was gruff,
but not unkind. "What brings you
(here, if I may ask?''
1--we come" said Olaf, "to see If
you'll be so kind as to give me back the
Hour you took from me on the store
house stairs. Mother and 1 are poor,
and il we lose the little we have we'll
starve to DEATH
II haven't your -four" said North
Wind, "but since you re SO badly off
here's a tablecloth for you. 1t will sup
ply You with all you want to eat and
drink il you but say, Ny cloth, spread
yourself and serve up all sorts of good
things -
Thanking North Wind with all his
heart. Olaf took the cloth and started
Cor home. AS the way was SO long, he
couldn't hope toget back to his mother
that night, SO he stopped at a wayside
inn to rest until morning.
When the people at the inn began to
kyprepare the evening meal, Olaf thought
de would surprise them. So he threw
his cloth on table in the corner, say
ing:
My cloth. spread yourself and serve
up all sorts of good things"
Scarcely had he spoken before the
cloth did as it was bid. and every one
in tho room was filled with wonder.
There was no one better pleased than
the landlady, for she thought how much
hard work and trouble 1t would save
Der if she had such cloth.
She spoke with her husband about
If, and in the middle of the night he
stole into Olaf's chamber and changed
the cloth for one his wife had given
him that looked like it.
When Olaf woke the next morning,
rested and refreshed, he set out at once
for home, taking with him the wrong
cloth. He got there safely the same
day and ran to his mother, crying:
'"Well, I've been to see North Wind,
and he's not so bad, after all. Here is
., tablecloth he gave me, and it is Of
the kind that if l just say the word it
will furnish us with all we need to eat
snd drink.
"I'll have to see that with my own
eyes before can believe it, "said his
mother
Olaf laid the cloth on table, and
with the air of one who knew what he
was about said:
MY cloth, spread yourself and serve
up all sorts of good things"
But never so much as crumb Of dry
bread did the cloth serve. ~
"'There's no help for it," said Olaf.
"I'll have to go back to North Wind and
ask him the meaning Of this"
Away he went so fast that he reached
North Winds home that same after
h0on;
"'Good evening, Mr.. North Wind"
uaid Olaf.
,''Good evening, my boy, said North
Wind. What now?''
II want my rights for the -four you
took. That tableloth is good for moth
tng."
.'Well, here is ram," said North
Wind, that will furnish you with all
th( I'D coins you want All you have
r. Is to say, My ram, make money. >"
Olaf thought this was pretty nice,
and he went off feeling we'll content.
II he had gone straight home, he would
have had no further trouble, but feel
Ing tired he stopped at the wayside inn
10 rest for the night. Before he gave his
orders he thought he would try his
Fap. and sure enough he soon had
handful Of pure gold coins.
The landlord saw this and thought
bs,would like to own so valuable a
beast. When Olaf was fast asleep, he
hook another ram into the boys room
~ left it there IN the place OF the one
o coveted.
North Wind is pretty good fell
BIZ, /" sRid Olaf when he got home to
is mother. Here's ram he has Civ
me that will make all the money we