The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-01-15


the trembling people could hear the
rustic Of something moving about out
side. No man dared even look out OF
a widow to see what strange creature
it might De. but all had an idea it
I was a goblin.
There were voOdcutters among the
/ peasants, and they had to go into the
woods every day, but they did It with
fear for their lives. They would be
working away when they would hear
suddenly a great snarllng and growl-
ing from the nearest brush heap, or
perhaps they would be resting for a
moment when a terrible cry would
send a chill over them. It got so at
last that no one dared enter the forest,
and as soon as the sun went down
every door and wiz low vas made
fast In their fear Of the goblin the
people sent word to the king and ask
cd him for 80 soldiers to hunt dowl
and destroy the thing.
This is a pretty state CT affairs"
replied the king, when he had receiv-
ed ;he message. The goblin may be
very fierce, but my soldiers will soon
rout him out Of the forest. Let 80 Of
my own bcdyguard march at once"
The soldiers marched away that
same day, and by night they had come
TO the forest. The peasants welcomed
them with shouts of glainess. and
It was believed that the goblin at once
would take to flight. This was not
the case, however. Before midnight
came there was such a roaring in the
thickcts that the soldiers ran away
in panic, and most Of the people ran
with them. The king was wroth when
this news came to him.
Arc my soldiers children and COW.
ards TO run from a strange noise in
the torest?" he demanded. who saw
this goblin, and what is the thing
l.ke?"
1T was a great beast with six legs
and with teeth a foot long" replied
one Of the soldiers.
1T was big bird with a long beak
and eyes as big as saucers," added a
second.
Well" said the king, 81 will send a
hundred soldiers this time, and no
matter whether this goblin is a beast
or bird you must capture It. If you
do not every one of you shall be
hogged and put into jail"
The hundred soldiers marched away,
but il was the same as before. AS
soon as night came on there was such
a roaring in the forest that the BRAY.
est man became afraid and ran away.
The king didn't keep to his word to
punish them, as he began to have
fear himself, and he was about TO
send out 500 men this time when ne
was told that little girl desired au.
dience with him.
He ordered her TO be brought into
his presence, and when she stood be.
fore him he asked:
We'll, child, what do you want of
your king?"
IF you please, sir, came about
the goblin in the Black forest" she
replied.
"But what do you know of it? You
are but a little girl"
Il am Fan-Fan, the fairy, sir. and
| can do what your soldiers have
failed to do. If there is a goblin in
the forest can capture him"
What NONSENSE" laughed the
king. When a hundred men run
away from, surely you could do moth.
ing"
But I should like to try. oh. king"
said Fan-Fan. Let me go to the for
est alone before you send out any
more soldiers"
The king did not believe that she
could accomplish anything, but he
granted her request, and promised
that If she captured the goblin he
would make a princess of her. The
news had gone abroad, and when Fan.
Fan started for the forest she was
chocred and applauded. and everybody
hoped she would earn the remard. She
reached the forest before dark, and
entered it, and the people who waited
about to see what would happen to her
heard the same noises as before. and
were terrified.
They were saying that the fairy had
been destroyed, when she came out
Of the woods leading an animal by tbe
ear.
It was nothing like lion. tiger or
bear-+nothing like bird. It was a
donkey who had escaped from his
mester and been wandering around.
How brave of my hundred soldiers
to run from A donltavtD sho,,4,.s ~,