Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-06-20

awakened with start He was stupa-
fed at the sight before him. In the
midst Of deep darkness, for the moon
did not shine that night, the gray rock
had grown luminous. while the water
of the spring, sometimes blue and some-
times rose color. seemed TO sparkle with
sapphires and rubies. Lohier remember
ed chat the old men Of the country call
ed this ''the fairies rock" because,
they said. those mysterious beings held
council there. An idea suddenly enter
ed his mind, and he cried oat with q
loud voice:
"Fairy Of the briers, have pity on o
wretched mani Help me to kill tomor-
row the six hares and the 12 partridges
which will permit me to keep my home"
1t seemed to him that voice of crys-
tal mingled with the murmur of the
spring and repeated softly:
"Six hares and IL partridges?'"
i'Yes. yes; nothing but that" he an
swered. 81 shall owe you more than life
| itselfp'
A beautiful fame. brilliant as dia-
mond, escaped from the summit Of the
rock, which became dark and gray once
more.
''It is the fairy who has gone away"
thought Lohier. full of hope. and he
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 filed 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 firing 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.
"We are saved, he cried to Paulette
"Give me our donkey, with our biggest
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 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,
rubbed his hands and laughed with all
his heart. He felt himself happier than
q king, when his friends, recovering
from their astonishment, gave him theil
warmest compliments. The hares were
SO flne The partridges SO fati The
pheasants and small game in such good
state! They all began feeling Of the
game with their hands.
Oh, what surprised The little dwell
ers of the moorland all jumped to theil
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 las
the game had all disappeared, and thu
voice Of crystal, which Lohier had al
ready heard, pronounced these words:
Friend Lohier, remember that b.
the gray rock you asked me only for sil
hares and IL partridgos. You hav'
, killed without mercy all these poo
guests of my moorland. / give then
| back their life and leave you oounse
you must not abuse your opportuni
ties" A light, rosy cloud, followed b,
q bright fame, showed the departure O
. the fairy.
, It was now the turn Of William ant
his companions to laugh long and loud
But finally, seeing the pitiful air o
, poor Lohier, William came forwart
? with outstretched hand
: Cousin" he said, ''we give yo'
back your word. Our bet was only
a lOk0. NOu0 VI US WOulu Jdko A1s pIOpoI
ty away from brave fellow like you
' But let me add counsel to the one yol
have already received: You must neve
0 promise to do what is above you
I strength.
"Thanks, William, to yourself ant
, to all of you, my friends. " answers
s Lohier. "Ihave been an imprudent an
vain man. shall probably be all m
Q life long the clumsiest hunter of tn
I country. But now know way of get
2 ting good from it. From today you ma
t hunt freely on my ground shall be a
= pleased with your luck as il it were m
: own"
Strange to say, from the day whe
Q Lohier showed himself SO generous an
0 simple in acknowledging where he wa
+ wrong, he had good luck in hunting
{ He seldom went through the moorlan
in the company Of his friends withou
q bringing back well filed gamebag. :
= Philadelphia Press