The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-22
NORTH WINDS GIFT.

He may be as gentle as a slumbering
babe in its 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 a mischievous prank
he played in days of yore on a boy in
Norseland and whom we will call Olaf.
Pay heed and you shall learn about it.
Olaf was the only son of a widow.
and she was both feeble and poor. She
had taught the boy to wait on her, and
this made him kind and thoughtful.
One day she sent him for some flour
to the s~torehouse. This was a frame
building, raised from the ground on
wooden props, and had to be reached
by a 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 pore it off
through the air.
Olaf went back for more flour, but
the moment he set foot on the stairs
North Wind snorted and shifted about
him, and, pips! away went the flour. If
you'll believe me, the same thing hap
pened a third time. and now Olaf was
positively angry, for it seemed quite
too provoking that North Wind should
act in such a senseless fashion. So Olaf
made up his mind that he would go in
search of the thief and demand back
the flour.
He set out at once, but he walked
many a long, weary mile before be
came at last to North Winds home.
North Wind had quieted down and
was in a most gracious mood when Olaf
presented himself before him.
Good day" said Olaf. II hope you
are well. NJ. North Wind"
THE same to yourself. my boy" said
North Wind. and his voice was Grutl,
but not unkind. What brings you
here, if l may ask?"
i've come" said Olaf, "'to see if
you'll be Sc kind as to give me back the
flour you took from me on the store
house stairs. Mother and l are poor,
and if we lose the little we have We'll
starve to DEATH"
Il haven't your -four" said North
Wind, but slice you're SO badly off
here's a tablecloth for you. 1t will sup
ply you with all you want to eas and
drink if you but say, My cloth, spread
yourself and serve up all sorts of good
things
Thanking North Wind with all his
heart. Olaf took the cloth and started
for home. AS the way was so long,
couldn't hope to get 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
prepare the evening meal, Olaf thought
he would surprise them. So he threw
his cloth on a 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 the room was filled with wonder.
There was no one better pleased than
the landlady, for she thought how much
hard work and trouble it would save
her if she had such a cloth.
She spoke with her husband about
it, 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 mex 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 raj to his mother, crying:
well, I've been to see North Wind.
and he's not sc bad, after all. Here is
a 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
and drink"
"I'll have to see that with my own
eyes before l can believe it" said his
mother.
Olaf laid the cloth on a table, and
was about said:
MY cloth, spread yourself and serve
up all sorts of good things"
But never so much as a crumb of dry
bread did the cloth serve.
"There's no help for it," said Olaf.
"Ill 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
noon.
GOOD evening, Mr.. North Wind"
said Olaf.
Good evening, my boy, said North
Wind. What now?"
Il want my rights for the flour you
took. That tableloth is good for moth
ing"
well, here is a RAM" said North
Wind, that will furnish you with all
the gold coins you want. All you have
to do is to say, Ny ram, make money"
Olaf thought this was pretty nice,
and he went off feeling we'll content.
If he had gone straight home, he would
have had no further trouble, but feel
inn fira1 ba cfonpoI ~ fbo 1-oxJo 49,,