Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-12-20
chant with them.

As the collier was praying, the uooT
slowly opened, and the fresh air famed
the fire. The merchant looked up
what was at the door? What, indeedl
A little dwarf stood there, in red
mantle. He seemed withered and
pinched up, and his eyes were like
Goals of fire. He cast an evil look at
the merchant, and slowly closed the
door. The merchant wondered.
Now" said the collier, rising 81
will show you to your chamber. But
listen If anything enters your room
in the night, think holy thoughts, and
no harm will come. Do not be angry;
do not utter any evil words. If you
do not obey me, you will bring trouble
upon me"
"And we would have to liveall those
years over again" said the woman
with a look of distress. Think holy
thoughts, whatever may happen =
The merchant went up to his cham
Der, and, placing his portmanteau on
his bed, laid himself down to rest. He
was nigh asleep, when the door of his
chamber flew open, and the little dwarf
with the red mantle and fiery eyes en-
tered. The merchant started. The
dwarf approached the bed, his eyes
cleaning in the darkness. He stood
for time looking at the merchant,
then laid his hands on the portman-
teau. The merchants anger klndled,
and he uttered fearful oath.
The dwarf began to grow
The merchant babe him go, with
more profane words.
The dwarf grew at every evil word
taller and taller, more dreadful in form
and feature.
Help" shrieked the merchant
His voice awoke the house.
The dwarf, now giant, rushed down
the stairs.
The collier and his wife appeared.
"What have you done to our house
spirit?" cried the collier. "You have
not been thinkingholy thoughts. You
have made him grow to the demon he
was of old We have lived him down
by righteous lives, and he had become
smaller and smaller, and we hoped to
see him disappear.
"And now," cried the collier's wife
bursting into tears, eve will have tc
live all those years over again!
The moon was now shining in still
sky, and the merchant took his port
manteau and hurried away.
Ten years passed, when night over
took the merchant Berthold, in th'
same forest again. 1t was a pleasan
night, and the merchant bethough
himself of the collier. He saw llgh
in the same house, and went to th'
door and knocked.
Come, in Gods name, and wei
come, said voice.
He entered. The family had tuned
the musical glasses, and were kneehni
down to pray.
The merchant knelt with them
Then he listened for the door to open
But the room was still. And, instea'
of the dwarf, there came as 1t were
beautiful light into the room, Th
merchant looked up. There was
glorious face forming in the shadows
and as the collier prayed on, it grey
more and more distinct, and came an
hovered over them, with golden cir
, Gle above the head and with glistenin
wings. 1t was the face of an angel
The merchant told the family VIII
he was.
"Stay with US, We pray you, sal
the Golfers wife. There is nothin
to fear we have lived him down, an
now, praised be the Lord, there is a
angel in the house. Did you know
one may live so as to change an eYj
spirit into an angelo"
MY friend" said the German au
thor, after pause, "no story ha
helped my own life more than thi'
And now what is the most beautifr
tale in the world p
l still was not sure. So ask tn
question again, of you, my Christina
readers. And I ask you to tell b
your Christmas fires the story that ha
helped you most-that to you Is tn
most beautiful story in all the worlC
Little Men and Women.
my dear" said old Skinfint to h
wife, 1--WE ought TO do something fc