Year: 1864


cutter should stand and hack up on a hill.
side"


Still, I'd like to see what it is, after ALI
said Jack; and up he went.


Oh. If you re such child, twill do you
good to take lesson, bawled out his broth.
ers after him.


But Jack did mt care for what they said;
he climbed up the steep hill side towards
whence the noise come, and when he
reached the place, what DO you think he
saw! why an axe that stood there hacking
and hewing all of itself at the trunk of
fir.


Good day. said Jack so you stand
here all alone and hew, 90 you?'
Yes, here I've stood and hewed and
hacked long time, waiting for you,' re
Piled the axe.


We'll, here l am at last, said Jack as
he t ok the axe, pulled it off its shaft, aud
stuffed both head and shaft into his wal
let


So when he got down again to his broth
ers, they began to jeer and laugh at him.
And now, what fnnny thing was it you
saw on the hill side?' they said


ooh, it was only an axe We heard said
Jack.


So when they had gone bit further
they came under steep spur Of rock, and
up there they heard something digging
aud shoveling


Il wonder now said Jack. what it is
digging aud shoveIing up yonder there at
the top of the rock


'Ah, you're always so clever with your
wonderlngs, said Peter and John again, 'as
ii you'd never heard woodpecker pecklug
at hollow tree


We'll, we'll sail Jack, 1T would be fun
just to see what it reilly is


And SO off he set to climb the rock
while the others laughed and made fun OF
him But he didn't care for that; up he
climbed, and when he got near top
what Go you think he saw! Why. spade
that stool there digging and delvlng.


Good day said Jack 80 you stand
alone and dig and delve?'


Yes, that's what do, said the spade.
'anc that's what I've done this many
long day, waiting for you


We'll, here am. said Jack again, as he
took the spade and knocked il off the han
die and put it into the wallet, aAd then
went down again to bis brokers


We'll, what was it, SO rare aud strange
said Peter and Paul, that you saw there at
the rockT


'Oh, said Jack, nothing more than
spade; that was what we heard


80 they went on again good bit, till
they came to brook They We're thirsty
all three after their long walk, and So they
lay down besides the brook to have drink


1 wonder now, said Jack, where all
this water comes fromH


| wonder if you're right in your head.
said Peter and Paul. in one breath. If
you're not mad already, you'll go mad very
soon, with yorr wondering. Where the
brook comes from, indeed Have you
never heard how water rises from spring
in the earthY


Yes ! but still I've fancy to see where
this brook comes from said Jack.


So up alongside the brook he went in
spite of all that his brothers bawled after
him. Nothing could stop him On he
went So as he went up and up, the brook
got smaller and smaller, and at last, liz
tie way farther on, what do you think he
saw" why great walnut, and out of that
the water trcklcd.


Good day! said Jack again So you
lie here, and trickle down all alone?'


Yes | do said the walnut and here
have | trickled and run this many long
was, waiting for you


well, here | am,' said Jack. as he took
up lump of moss, and plugged up the
hole that the water might night run out
Then he pu the walnut into his wallet and
went down to his brothers.


We'll now, said Peter and Paul, 'have
you found out where the water comes from!
A rare sight it must have becnr


'Oh, after all, it was only hole it ran
out OF, said Jack, and so the others laugh
ed and made game Of him again, but Jack
didn't mind that lit


SAlier all, had the fun of seeing it,
said he


So when they had gone bit further
they c1me to the Kings palace; but as
every one in the Kingdom had heard
how they might win the Princess anl half
the realm, if they could tell the big oak !
and dig the Kings well, SO many hal |
cou'e to try their luck ct the oak that as
now twice IS large and stout as it had he, n |
ut first, for two chips grew for every o, e .
they hewed out with their axes. as | dare /
say You all bear in mind So the King I
had now laid it down as a punishment, +
that if any one tried aud couldn't fell tx I
ok, he should be put an barren island,
AID both his ears were to he clipped off |
Bat the two brothers didn't allow them
selves to be scared by that; they were quite
sure they could tell the oak, aud Peter. as
he was the eldest, was to try his land 6rsf;
k.nt II Nth hin !. LII G.,...z-