The Washington times., 1913-07-24
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
IVAN AND THE DWARF.

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give you a taste of the lash, :"
called out a burly Russian to q
small boy who was busy herding
some sheep in a pen. ... .s...
But the animals would not mind, and
the poor lad was, obliged to take SO
long TO get them together that when
he came hack. to the cottage his, uncle
gave him a whipping. Ivan was an, or
phan. Three years before his father
had died and left the boy in his uncle's
care, but II had been a sad home. For
they made him sleep on a pallet Of
straw in the garret, rise at dawn to
milk the cows and eat what was left
when the rest of the family had hn-
fshed. - -,
So the lad was very miserable. In
this state Of mind he determined to run
away. Getting up at midnight. he crept
downstairs and was soon on his way
alone through the forest, with nothing
but a bit of black bread in sack on
his back. Presently he met blind man
cofnink through the woods trying 20
drive a FEW lean cattle. But the cows
would stray soff, and the man was hav-
ing a hardt time to keep them with him.
''I will drive your herd for you, sir,
said Ivan. (which way do you wish
to go?"
.I am going to the meadow about
mile from here; it is the only spot 10
which +. know, the way" replied the
blind man. ''1f you will care for my
cows today, as l am sick. 1 will share
nv home with you tonight. But, re-
laN hn
fool you as he did me. II you 90 ne
will steal your eyes, as he did mine.
One day as L sat watching my cows
RIsck Dwarf came and asked II ne
might share my bread. 1 gave 1t TO
him hut as l reached 1t out he grabbed
me nv the shoulder and took out both
my eyes"
what can he want with your eyes%
asked Ivan, feeling very sorry for the
man. s.
1.-The dwarf is a wicked little creature
and he keeps my eyes in his green bag
which Is always hanging in his cave.
replied the man. i did not know his
tricks then as | do now. Nothing but
branch of red briar will hurt him, Out
since I am blind. / cannot find It. II l
could il would be possible to recover
my eyes"
"wbere does the red briar bush
grow?" asked Ivan.
ION the very top of the old castle
ruins, and IL must be plucked by the
light of the moon,' replied the man,
..Rut 1 would try to climb, blind as l
am il there were any chance of my
getting 1t.
"r will get it for yOu.' said brave
Ivan. 81 have sorrows in my own lie
and can understand how much you SUI
fer"
So the blind man went home and
Ivan tended the cows all day at the
meadow, driving them home at night
but he saw nothing Of the Dwarf.
When Ivan reached the place where
the blind man lived ne found 1t had
once been a fine castle, but had now
fallen into ruins. But he and the blind
man went into corner of the place
which was still comfortable. Ivan
cooked some supper, brought water. ana
when the man was asleep stole out into
the moonlight and climbed the shaky
stones TO the very tlp-top.
The height made him feel faint. but
he kept on, and at last grdsped in his
nand q long branch of the red brIar
bush. Then he went down -caTefilly
and stole into bed. The next morning
he told the man he would take the
cattle out and that in the evening he
would return to get supper.
b, At noon when he was eating his
lunch, he saw the Black Dwarf coming
out to greet him. so he hid the branch
of the red briar bush behind him. When
the Dwarf asked for a bit OF bread Ivan
offered II 10 him, but as the tiny man
put out his hand Ivan Jerked out the
branch of briar and struck the Dwarf
hard, with IT,
"Oh. what have you done? What have
you done?" screamed the Black Dwarf.
81 will give you anything you wish il
you will only set me Free" for he had
fallen to the ground and could not rise
as long as the branch touched him.
Il want the blind mans eyes" replied
Ivan. - I'll
II will go and get them," wept the
Black Dwarf. "I will go with YOU. for
you. cannot be trusted" returned Ivan.
So they set out together er and soon got
TO the Black Dwarfs cave. II was full
of bags Of gold he had stolen. The
Dwarf gave the eyes back to Ivan In a