The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-28

BV Hans Christian Andersen.


There came a Soldier marching along the
high road-one, two one, two! He had his
knapSack on his back and a saber by his
side, for he had been in the wars, and now
he wanted to go home And on the way
he met with an old Witch; she was very
hdeous, and her underlip hung down upon
her breast. She said, Good evening, Sol
der. What a fine sword you have, and
what big knapsack! You're a proper SOL
der! Now you shall have as much money
as you Ike to nave
Il thank you, you old Nitch!' said the
soldier
"Do you see that great tree"' uuotn the
witch; and she pointed to a tree which
stood beside them. IT'S quite hollow in
side. You must climb to the top, and then
you'll see a hole, through which you can
let yourself down and get deep into the
tree. I'll tie rope round your body, so
that can pull you up again when you call
me-
What am to do down in the tree"' ask
ed the soldier.
Get money! replied the Witch. Listen
to me. When you come down to the earth
under the tree, you will find yourself n
great hall; it is quite light, for above three
hundred lamps are burning there Then
you will see three doors; these you can
open, for the keys are hanging there 1t
you go into the first chamber you'll see a
great chest in the middle of the floor; on
this chest sits a dog, and he's got a pair
of eyes as big as two teacups. But you
need not care for that. I'll give you my
blue-checked apron, and you can spread 1t
out on the floor; then go up quickly and
take the dog, and set him on my apron:
then open the chest, and take as MANY
shillings as you Ike. They are of conner:
if you prefer silver, you must 60 into the
second chamber. But there sits a dog with
a pair of eyes big as mill wheels R11t
DO not care for that. Set him upon my
md "a kn Of
II you want gold, you can have that, too
In fact, as much you can carry-if Won
60 into the third chamber. But the dog
that sits on the money-chest there has
two eyes as big as round towers He Is a
fierce dog, you may be sure but YOU needn't
be afraid, for all that. Only set MIN on my
out of the chest as much gold as you ike:
18th. "Thats not so bad" said the Soldier
witch? for you will not do it for nothing.
me an old Undertook which my grandmotheI
forgot when she was down there last"
Then tie the rope round my body" cried
the Soldier.
Here ,1 it is" said the Witch, land here's
Then the Solder climbed up into the
tree let himself slip down into the hole
and stood, as the Witch had said in the
were burning.
Now he opened the first door Ugh there
SAT the uOS with eyes as Dig tGaCuDS.
staring at him. You're q nice fellow,' ex-
claimed the Soldier; and he set him on the
Witch's apron, and took as many copper
shllings as his pockets would hold and
then locked the chest, set the dog on it
again, and went into the second chamber.
Aha! there sat the dog with eyes as big as
mill wheels.
You should not stare so hard at me,'
said the Soldier; you might strain your
eyes" And he set the dog upon the Witchs
apron. And when he saw the silver money
in the { nest, he threw away all the copper
money he had, and filled his pockets and
his knapsack with silver only Then he
went. into the third chamber. Q, but that
was horrid! The dog there really had eyes
as big as. towers. and they turned round
and FOUND in mis- head like wheels.
Good EVENING" said the Soldier; and he
touched his cap, for he h.. never seen
such dog that before. When he had
Looked at r him little more clesely, h
down to the floor and opened the chest.
Mercy! what quantity of gold there!
He could buy with it the whole town, and
the sugar sucking pigs of the cake woman,
and all the tin soldiers. whips, and rock
ing horses in the whole world. Yes that
was quantity. of money! Now the Soldier
threw away all the silver coin with which