The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-12-10
LITTLE MR.. THIMBLEFlNGER.
Second Visit of the Chdren-hee
Thunder Lives.

o,;r, listened and wondered what the Thun-
der was and where it went to. IL WASH
long before the Thunder came rumDlihs
alCng again, making a noise ike TOUR
horse wagon running away on Il coNe'eu
bridge.
"WbiIe the little girl was standing there
wondering and listening an old man with
bundle on his back nj stout stan IN ms
hand came along the road. He bowed anu
smiled wher he saw the little GIRL put as
she didn't return the bow or the Srhlie'
being too much interested in listening Tor
the Thunder, he paused and asheu hei
what the trouble was.
81 hone YOU are not lost? he said.
"'Oh no, sir she replied. 4 was listen
ing for the Thunder and wondering where
it goes
"'W ell, as you seem to be a very good
little girl the old man said, 1 don't mlhd
telling you. The Thunder lives on top OF
ycnder mountain. 1t is not so far away.
oh, 1 Should like ever so much 10 20
there" exclaimed the little girl
why not? said the old man. tine
mountain is on my road and if you say tho
word, Wen so together
1.-The little girl took the old mans hand
and they journeyed toward the mountain
where the Thunder had his home. The way
was long, but somehow they seemed 10 go
very fast The old man took long strlden
forward, and he was strong enough to lift
the lt>le girl at every step, so that when
they reached the foot of the mountain she
was not very tired.
But, as the mountain was very steep
and high, the two travellers stopped TO rest
themselves before they began to climb II.
Its sides seemed to be rough and dark, but
far up on the t0pmost peak the clouds had
gathered, and from these the Lightning
flashed necessarily. The little girl saw the
flashes and asked what they meant
Wherever the Thunder lives replied
the old man. there the Lightning builds its
nest. No doubt the wind has blown the
clouds about and torn them apart and scat
tered them. The Lightning is piling them
together again and fixing a warm, soft place
to sleep tonight
when they had rested for awhile the old
man said it time TO be going, aAd then
he made the little girl climb on his back.
At first she didn't want the old man to car
ry her. but he declared that she would do
him great favor by climbing on his back
ard holding his bundle in place. So she sat
upon the bundles, and in this way they
went up the high mountain, going almost as
rapidly as the little girl could run on level
ground. She enjoyed it very much. for,
although the old man went swiftly, he
went smoothly, and the little girl felt as
safe and as comfortable as IL she had been
citing in rocking chair.
When they had come nearly to the top
of the mountain the old man stopped and
lifted the little girl from his back. L can
go farther, he said. The rest of the
way you will have to go alone. There is
nothing to fear. Up the mountain yonder
you can see the gable of the Thunder s
house. Go to the door, knock, and do not
he alarmed at any noise you hear. When
the time comes for you to go you will find
me awaiting you here
The little girl hesitated, but she had
come so far to see where the Thunder lived
that she would not turn back now. So
she went forward and soon came to the
door of MIR. Thunder's house. It was a
very big door to very big house. The
llnocker was so heavy that the little girl
could hardly lift it, and when she let it
fall against the panel the noise it made
Jared the building and sent a loud echo
rolling and tumbling down the mountain.
The little girl thought, What have l
done? il the Thunder is taking u nap
before Ginner he'll be very angry
'She waited a little while, not feeling
very comfortable. Presently she heard
heavy footsteps coming down the wide hall
to the door.
81 thought heard some one knocking,
said a hoarse, gruf voice. Then the big
door flew open and there, standing before
her the little girl saw a huge figure that
lowered almost to the top of the high
door. 1t wore heavy boots a big overcoat
and under its long, thick beard there was