The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-09-21

moon did not shine that night, the
gray rock had grown luminous, while
the water of the spring, sometimes
blue and sometimes rose color, seemed
to sparkle with sapphires and rubies.
Lohier remembered that the old men
Of the country called this 1.-The fairies
rock" because, they said, those mys-
terious beings held council there. An
idea suddenly entered his mind, and
he cried out with loud voice:
Fairy of the briars, have pity on a
morrow the six hares and the twelve
partridges which will permit me to
keep my home"
crystal mingling with the murmur of
the spring, and repeated softly:
"Six hares and twelve partridges?"
eyes, yes; nothing but that" he an
swered. II shall own you more than
life itself!''
A beautiful fame, brilliant as a dia-
mond, escaped from the summit Of the
rock, which became dark and gray
once more
1T is the fairy who has gone away"
turned over and slept again.
The next day when the sun had
arisen, he was afraid he had simply
dreamed. But scarcely had he loaded
his rife to begin the hunt when from
every point of the moorland there
came toward him in crowds rabbits,
partridges, pheasants, quail and snipe.
Soon the little open space, in the midst
Of which the gray rock rose, was so
filled that LOhier had scarcely room
to stand.
Crazy with joy, he began firing into
this crowd of animals. Every one of
his shots brought down five or six
pieces of game. But Lohier, who had
never seen such luck, shot without
tiring himself until Pataud was the
only living being near him. He left
the brave dog to guard his treasure
and ran home out of breath.
1--WE are saved!' he cried to Paulette.
"Glve me our donkey, with our big
geSt panniers."
The morning was hardly long enough
for him to carry away his booty, al
though the poor donkey went back and
forth each time with a heavier load.
When William and his friends came
into the yard, Lohier was finishing the
unloading Of the last pannier. At the
sight OF this great heap of game, the
mischievous smiles which had been on
their lips changed to open-mouthed as
tonishment. They stood there, their
arms hanging down, looking at each
other, and not knowing what to say.
Lohier, beside himself with Joy, rub
bed his hands and laughed with all his
heart. He felt himself happier than a
king, when his friends, recovering
from their astonishment, gave him
their warmest compliments. The hares
were so fine! partridges so fat! The
pheasants and small game in such
state! They all began feeling of the
game with their hands.
On, what a surprise! The little
dWellers of the moorland all jumped
to their feet at once. The hares began
to run, the partridges and the other
birds to fly in every direction and in
such confusion that the witnesses of
the scene knew not what had become
of them. At last the game had all dis
appeared, and the voice of crystal,
which Lohier had already heard, pro-
nOunced these words:
"E'rlend LOhier, remember that by
the gray rock you asked me only for
six hares and twelve partridges You
have killed without mercy all these
poor guests Of my moorland. I gave
them back their life and leave YOU a
counsel-yOu must not abuse your op-
portunities.' A light, rosy cloud, fol-
lowed by a bright flame, showed the
departure of the fairy
1t was now the turn of William and
his companions to laugh long and loud.
But finally, seeing the pitiful air of
poor Lohier, Will came forward with
outstretched hand.
"Cousin,'' he said, 'swe give YOU back
your word. Our bet was only a Joke.
None of us would take his PROPERTY
away from a brave fellow like you.
But let me add counsel to the one YOU
have already received: You must never
promise to do what is above your
strength"
''Thanks, William, to yourself and
to all Of you, my friends" answered
Lohier. II have been imprudent and
vain man. 1 shall probably be all
my life long the clumsiest hunter Of
the country. But 1 now know wav
of getting good from it, From TO-DAY
you may hunt freely on my ground, I
shall be as pleased with your luck as
II 1t were my own"
Strange to say, from the dav when
Lohier showed himself so generous
and simple in acknowledging where
he was wrong, he had good luck in
hunting. He seldom went through the
moorland In the company of his
friends without bringing back a we'll
filled ebag.-Philadelphia Press