The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

1.-THE world is all foolishness am bored
! to death. Give me my old heart again"
The Hollander Michel laughed grimly.
"When you are dead, not before. Do
something, Peter. Build house, marry,
make money. You need occupation. That
| is ALL
Soon everybody in the Black Forest
learned that Peter had returned richer
than ever He began to deal in grain and
money. Before long half the district owed
| him money, and he lent nothing at less
than 10 per cent He was close friends
with the Chief Magistrate, who sold
! Peters debtors out of house and home
| as soon as they defaulted in their in
! terest.
AT first this used to bother Peter, be-
cause the homeless people came to his
/ door and begged. But after he bought
/ some great hounds the poor soon learned
| to avoid his door.
| His greatest annoyance after that came
| from an old woman. She was no less a
| person than his mother. Old and feeble,
| she came occasionally to his door, limp
| ing with cane. She did not dare enter,
| for he had driven her away once. So she
| merely held out her withered hand hum
| bly, at the gate and took the piece of
! coin that a servant brought her. Peter
| 8,
| he heard her cough as she crept from his
| door, but his cold heart did not stir.
One day he heard that certain poor
| woodchopper had daughter who was
| the most beautiful and virtuous girl In
| the whole Black Forest. He rode to the
| hut and decided that he would marry
/ her The father of the beautiful Lisbeth
| was overpowered by the good fortune that
| had come to him. and the good girl
| obeyed him without demur when he or
| dered her to accept rich Master Peter.
| 1t was sad life that the poor child
| entered. She could do nothing to satisfy
| her hard master, and at last. when he
I caught her giving aims, he said furiously
| that he would let her feel the weight of
his hand If she did it again.
| After that, whenever the beautiful Lis
| beth sat at her door and saw a beggar
| she shut her eyes and cllnched her fist
| in helpless pity. Thus it came that very
soon the whole Black Forest said that
| she was even stingier than Peter.
| One day an old, old man came by the
| house. gasping under a heavy burden.
] Lisbeth looked at him and could not bear
! it, Hastily she filled goblet with wine
+. and called to the old man to rest and
| refresh himself.
"Whati" cried a terrible voice. Are
you giving my wine to beggars? Take
| thatv' and Peter Munk beat his wife over
1
whip. She fell into the arms of the old
man..
''You have crushed the loveliest blossom
| in the Black Forest. Coalpeter," said he.
| AS he spoke he grew and expanded until
| ne became enormous Peter Munks stone
! heart did not save his limbs from giving
| way with terror The Glass Man seized
! him with eagles talons, and threw him
! heavily to the ground
| "Wretched earthworm!" cried he in a
voice like rending thunders. you have
| offended against the Lord of the Forest.
T, will give you eight days of grace. If
/ YOU do not turn from your evil ways then
| | shall destroy you In your sins!"
| Late that night some passersby found
| Peter lying insensible and carried him
| into his house. AS soon as he became con-
| scious he asked about his wife, but none
| had seen her That night. while he lay in
terror and bitterness, it seemed to him
as If he heard sweet voice that cried