Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25

for other people without ,pay?, But hand me
THE Selfish Cobbler dragged the great shoes
over to the giant, who took them up and tired
to put them on. But they would not ht'
They were too small
"'You stupid cobblerp cried the giant, in
fury. Don't you know your trade any PEI. pet.
ter than this? Come and measure my foot
again and make me pair of shoes the right
size
Trembling the cobbler obeyed, and the
giant, after throwing the other shoes at hlm,
left commanding him to have the new PAR
finished by morning
$50 the cobbler worked all night as before;
but the next morning, his shoes fitted no bet
ter than the others had done, and the giant
was furiously angry. So it went on for many
days. The cobbler made many shoes, but
either the giants feet grew over night, or else
the cobbler did not take the right measure
ment, for the shoes never fitted.
"The cobbler worked on in despair, for he
could hardly find time to eat or Sleep.
Gone day, as he sat groaning over his uln-
happy lot, boy passed, singing these words:
"'Who will not do kindly deed
May, some day, find himself in need;
Then how shall he for helpers call
Who ne'er did good to great or small =
"Cobbler Rupert looked up, and recognized
the boy he had driven out of his shop, to walk
through the snow with bare feet:
Have you come here to triumph over
me% asked the cobbler. Is it not enough
that I must always be made to work for this
dreadful giant, and must you come here, toor
"T have not come to trouble you, Cobbler
Rupert said the boy. Have you learned any
thing since you came here?
Indeed have sighed the cobbler.
"Would you be more unselfish if allowed
to go back to your shop?
"T would, truly said the cobbler, but
there is small chance of that The dreadful
giant would not let me-
"We shall see,, replied the boy. so you
promise to help Others, and be unselfish, if
will help you to get home?
"Yes, most surely I will!' declared the
cobbler.
aVery well! shut your eyes and come,
then,' said the boy.
"And he caught hold of the cobbler's hand.
Rupert obeyed, and felt himself lifted by
sudden gust of wind and borne along high
in the air.
" Remember your promise admonished the
aAnd then the cobbler felt him let 90 his
hand. Rupert opened his eyes, and found
himself standing once more at the door of his
old shop.
"Great was the wonder of the villagers to
see the Selfish. Cobbler back again. Greater
still their wonder when they heard Of his ad-
ventures, but greatest Of all was their amaze
ment at his changed behavior.
''There was not poor barefoot child in the
village that did not receive a pair of winter
shoes from him, and SO kind and ready was he
to oblige his neighbors that no one ever after
called him the Selfish Cobbler, but he was
known % as the kind Father Rupert.
Nevertheless, it was noticed that he had
one song that he often hummed over to him
self, and the words of which he taught to the
children. 1t was this:
Blessed is he who does all he can
For the happiness Of his brother man.
But selfish soul will never thrive
He's the most unhappy man alive"
"Is that all?" asked Karl, as the Brownie
ceased speaking,
"Yes," replied the Brownie, ''that is all.
Remember the moral Of the story. Good
And before Karl could speak, the little man
in the peaked hat had vanished, and the win
dow-ledge was empty.