The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-02

The boys wanted to look sout. but the
grandfather said sterniy, who secs
out tonight will not return. The Hol-
lander Michel issfelling . new raft Tor
himself"
Peter Munk was eager TO learn more
rThe Holiandsr Michel 10 the bad
spirit of this forest" said the OLD man.
1T win tell you what I know.
"A hundred years and more ago q
rich lumberman lived here. One even
ing came to the door . man such as he
had never seen. His costume was that
Of the Black Forest lumbermen. but ne
was a full head taller than the tallest.
His name was Michel. and he was such
lumberman az his master never had
had before. He could chop down more
trees than any three men. IL tree
was 90 huge that six men were needed
to lift one END. he could lift the other
alone.
AFTER. some months he asked per-
mission to take q raft down the Rhine.
The raft was huge; but Michel brought
eight immense logs, the greatest that
any mans eyes had ever heheld In the
Black Forest. No one knows TO this
day where he felled them. He said;
These are to float me. ] cannot use
your little shavings.'
His master wanted to give him
boots, but he brought out pair which
made everybody stare. My grandfath-
er has assured me that they were five
feet long.
The raft departed; and IL Michel had
surprised the woodchoppers before. now
he surprised the raftsmen. Instead Of
being retarded by the mighty logs, the
raft sped like an arrow. When. they
reached bend in the river Michel
would leap into the water and push
the entire raft to right or to Left to
keep II In the channel. when they
reached deep place he drove his enor-
nous pole down to the bottom and
showed the raft SO that land and trees
seemed to shoot past.
Thus in half the usual time they
reached Cologne on the Rhine. where
they generally sold their lumber. MI
ehel. however, proposed that they take
the raft to Holland, where they could
get more money. We can keep the
difference said he.
THE others agreed. Michel guided
the raft and brought 1t quickly TO Rot
terdam. There they got four times the
ordinary price, and the vast logs owned
BY Michel himself brought an espeeiaI-
" large sum. The msn OF the Black
Forest could hardly contain themselves
for JOY when they saw all this money.
Michel divided the geld; one part for
the owner at home. and the other three
parts among the men. Then they all
went TO the taverns and spent the
money in drink and gambling.
from that time Holland became the
paradise Of the Black Forests young
men and Michel was their king. For D
long while the lumber masters did not
know about II; but money, drunken
ness, gambling and wickedness came
from Holland up the Rhine.
When the truth finally came out, the
Hollander Mtchsl disappeared; but he is
net dead. He shengits this fprest and
ne has helped many 70 become rich, but
only Tor the price OF their poor souls,
y dare not say more; but this is GER
tain--on stormy nights he selects the
nnest pines on the TannenbuhI where
enc should not cut. With these he
drives down the river to Holland. Were
! master in Holland, I would IRE on
him with shrapnel. for every ship that
mas even one Of Hollander Michei's logs
in Il must sink.
T want nothing from him. No
wealth would tempt me to be In ths
sKin or the Fat Ezekiel, the Lons
ccniurker ana the Dance King"
next day Peter started homeward. He
asa 70 cross the Tannenbuhl again. yust
as ne reached it's green darkness a ris
sAhtic craftsman stepped toward him
N ms shoulder he carried a pike mole
.. o. 2 whole tree. Peter Mank
"s apas sank to his knees with fright.
eter Munk, said the giant. Il saw
you trying to beg of the little one TFa
g miser. ! am sorry for Won. How
many hundred dollars do you need for
beginnfng?" t0r
ne ratified money in his pockets. Pc.
ters heart leaped spasmodicaIIv Ha
ran away at top speed, crying: .srhanL
80 : know you, ! want nothing
Though he was running with Al, hi.
Mlsn1 tne giant walked with enormous
.s,1 py nis SIDE and muttered: you
VIII regret 1T. Listen to one word
ahead 20 just
When Peter heard this he saw a
small altcn and made desperate lean
over Il, The giant hurled his hu1s
pole. It splintered in the air ss
against an Invisible wall. A LONG
piece fell near him.
He picked It up. Instantly il began
70 move. and. to his horror. he ss "
tnat mad changed to a big snake.
u struck at him. The next moment a
great forest cock swooped down ssi--
Cd the snake and carried il away. Wills
the Holiander Michel reared and ra wed.
Most terribly frightened, Peter con-
unued his way, until he found him.
self again in front Of the rreat ninA
He bowed and said,
Lord OF the Forests treasury.
Thou has seen many a century:
Thine Is all land where pine trees be.
A Sunday child petitions thee.
You haven't quite hit IT," said a thin
voice; but since 1t is you win let Il
suflce."
Peter saw an old man In black coat
and red stockings. with a great hat Re
smoked a pipe Of blue hrass AS Pc.
ter approached he saw that clothing.
shoes and hat were all made az the
same material. but quite pliable. al IL
It were still hot.
$50 you met that Puffian. the f4nllau-
der Michel" said the little man. ever.
have taken his trick pole away. at
any rate. Now, Peter. I know what
you want. II you will work honestly
l Will help you. You may have three
wishes. Two ! will grant whatever
II it is foolish"
''Hurrah!" said Peter. "Then for NV
first wish wish that I could dance
better even than the Dance King and
that might always have as much
money in my pocket as the Fat Ego
KEEL"
"Foolr" cried the nanikin. see TO
1t that you wish more wisely for YOUR
secopd wish!"
Peter scratched his head and said: SCI
wish I had the best and biggest glass
factory in, the whole forest. with all the
money necessary to run it,"
every we'll" said the little man.
"aere are two thousand dollars. Do
not come for more. If you do I shall
hang you to the highest tree" he
stuffed his pine with Apiiie cones ana