The Banner-Democrat., 1900-06-16

In startled surprise the woodcutter
stared around him, peering every
where.
Then he heard the same voice again
-"Ha, ha, ha!' it laughed; and right
in front of him Hans saw a little
dwarf with long flowing beard, scar
let breeches and blue cap. He had
a band around his waist that glistened
like gold.
Hnas continued to stare until the
dwarf lifted his tiny cap and with
mock bow said:
Good morning, Hans"
"Good, good morning." stammered
Hans, "who are your
"Me," the dwarf asked, II am king
of the forest dwarfs. l have watched
you, how you work day after day
whistllng and singing merrily instead
of grumbling and murmuring ABOUT
your hard lot. Now l intend to re-
ward you," and taking the golden belt
from about his waist the dwarf said:
whenever you hold this belt In your
hands and wish, you will receive what
ever you want, but beware OF letting
anyone else use 1t.
With these words the dwarf disap-
peared.
Hans thought that he would test
the qualities Of the wishing belt at
once, so he wished for a dinner,
Immediately there was spread in
front of him a bountiful feast, with
fruit. meats and wine. After eating
all he desired. Hans ordered the ta'
BILE to disappear, which it Immediately
did.
Hans then picked up his Ak and
putting the belt away carefully In his
pocket, he started homeward. His
good wife was astonished at seeing
him home so early, but on being ac
quainted with their good fortune heI
| joy knew no bounds.
They decided to quit their old cabin
and going outside, they ordered 1t te
appear and a grand mansion to take
| its place, which Immediately occurred
They went inside Of 1t, believing
themselves in a dream. They found
the rooms handsomely furnished anC
servants in superb livery in each
room.
Then. for the first time, they real
lied that their own clothes were ex
ceedingly shabby. Again consulting
the wishing belt, they were clothed II
magnificent attire.
They continued to live in this wist
for many years and were beginning t.
get old, when they wished for beau
tiful daughter. As Of old their wisf
was granted.
As the child grew up the flowers
bowed to her, the son hid his face II
admiration and her parents almos
idolized her. But, for all this. she wa:
SO innocent and lovely that even birds
seemed to love her.
She had noticed that whenever she
wanted anything her father always
took the belt in his hand and wished
for it; so one day she watched where
he put 1t, and climbing up on chair
she took it from the shelf and running
quickly out to the beautiful grounds
she went directly to the clear. lovely
pond and wishing to see 1t covered
with beautiful swans she held the bel
in her hand and made her wish.
Instead of swans there appeared
huge monster who seized her and flew
over rivers, forests and mountains, un
til he came to cave; grufiy ordering
her to stay there until he came back
Looking around her Anetta saw tha
the cave was bleak and bare, and sh'
gave a shudder of fear, but she triet
to wait as patiently as she could fol
deliverance.
Meanwhile. she had been missed IL
her fathers home and he going out ii
the garden saw her footsteps as the!
led to the pond. He followed then
and at the edge of the pond saw th'
marks of claws upon the soft ground
Looking in the pond he saw the wish
ing belt glistening at the bottom.
Reaching into the clear water h
drew it out, and holding 1t in his hand
he wished for his daughter.
Immediately there appeared q tin.
man, almost like the King Of the For
est Dwarfs, only he had no golden bel
around his waist.
"Your daughter Is held a prisione
by the mountain monster" he said
land il you will give her to me as m,
wife l will rescue her for you."
In his agony the father promises
anything IL only he might see his chill
once more.
| The dwarf bowed and quickly dis
appeared.
He presently reappeared, bringin
Anetta with him. Touching her wit
his wand he transformed her into
woman, beautiful and radiant, an
touching himself, he became hand
some. tall, young prince.
1--WE are band of princes" said HI
who after making ourselves dwarfi
watch over the poorer peoples intel
ests."
He then asked Anetta to marry hir
and she blushingly consented.
The marriage feast was unstinted.
After the marriage the bride wer
to reside with her devoted husban
in magnificent palace near her fail
er's houses She had several beautif,
children, who were the dying comfol
of Hans and his good wife. and wh
were never tired Of standing by th
side of their beautiful mother and III
tening to the tale of Hans and tt
Wishing Beit.-Phiiadelphia Press.
The Boer and the Sea.
Few Beers in the pioneer days ha
/ ar~~ onnrnn ahad coas. fln 600 or