| Show THE MAGIC BOOT Gretchen had gono gone into inlo the tile woods to gather wild flowers for or the little I village chapel and an while hila she was there she site grew so hun hungry ry that she I sat down own on a stone stono to eat her lunch A nice lunch it was of oC sweet bread with raspberry Jelly for Gretchen's grandmother though poor was kind to the orphan Today as the girl ate the slices of or food she sho thought of how much she slie would woul love to be able ablo to help her good old grandmother and make her comfortable for tor the rest of at her r life lite She Slie Is not strong enough now to work as hard as she does and I 1 cannot cannot can can- not do tho Ule work either said the child I would give anything to be beable beable beable able to lot her rest easy about her money matters for the rest of at her life Ute You would 1 asked a voice at her feet and Gretchen who had not realized realized real real- that she was talking aloud started If ulf you are arc willing to help me said saida a tiny gnome in green coming in ill front of the girl I will repay you enough to keep your grandmother In comfort com corn fort the rest of at her clays days Back in the cavern is a big goblin not as largo as you but much greater I in size than I am If It you yon will go in and work for him today he be will pay you But be sure to make a L bargain beforehand and that must be that th he will give you enough enough- gold to fill rill my boot I Ican Ican Ican can do nothing myself For hundreds of years ears this goblin has stolen every bit of gold we gnomes have dug This is the way to get et it back But the Ule goblin may harm me exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- claimed Gretchen I am ready to do almost anything right but to get mv- mv myself self seIt killed would bo be a misfortune l Ido I Ido do not wish to undertake No uNo harm will come ome to you you if it you wear this bit of green feather hidden hid den in lit your hair explained the Ule gnome No Yo o goblins goblin's magic can work against that and in size you are larger and stronger strong r than he so havo have no fear Tell Tall him you will work for him this afternoon if it ho he will wUl fill till my boot to the top with gold pieces That looks easy But Dut this boot is of rubber rubber ruber rub rub- ber er the more he ho will ill put In the tho more It will stretch The gold is ours for that thieving goblin stole it so you need not worry about taking it back It will hold at least a peck of gold so place the boot hoot on the tho edge of ot the rock and when it is full tilt it over and we will twill got get it at the Ule foot of the cliff So Gretchen put the green feather in her hair and walked timidly down downa a long dark tunnel then right up a ladder till un she got to a a. big chamber hollowed out o of rock in the top of at the Ute hill hillI I have come to work for you yott forthe for forthe the Ule afternoon she explained to the goblin whom she found busy sweeping sweeping sweeping sweep sweep- ing out his kitchen And the pay I wish Is to have this boot filled with gold Very glad to have you replied the goblin My 1 house is dirty andI and andI I never knew v how to clean That boot I is not very large either ho he continued as he examined the little shoo shoe of the gnome which Gretchen had brought along Gretchen turned up her sleeves anti and hurried about with broom dustpan and mop By Dy sunset she had everything everything every every- thing shining like new and the place smelt as sweet as a spring morning The goblin opened his cupboard and andI I brou brought ht out a tall taU hag bag of gold I 1 will ill hold the hoot boot oot at the edge of ot i ithe I Ithe the rock at the top of ot the tho cliff cUff said I Gretchen as she stepped out of the window which the goblin had bad cut in his roof Then it will be easier to get It home With VUlt the boot standing Just at the top of the rock the work commenced The gold ran in a a. bright stream into the boot but did not seem to fill it IL That is strange strange 1 exclaimed the goblin It Itis is a a. small boot yet I will I have to get another bag the second bag As So in he lie poured ho stooped over to see what was them the m matter that the boot held so much he lie stumbled and fell fen down the cliff breaking his neck on the rocks s be he- neath heath Gretchen saw the Un tiny gnome waiting below also so she pushed the boot and down it rolled with its treasure golden Halt Half of this is yours ours said the as ho pushed forward a small smi I wheelbarrow gnome and piled a a. L. L part of ot the gold Into it You were bravo enough I to win it for me to get et me back sum sum- have shall and ou my own O you enable and your Kind to you yot grandmother to have a nice home for tor the rest of your days das So Gretchen wheeled the money mony to to her humble cottage where her hor grandmother grandmother grand grand- mother was trying feebly to dig inthe in inthe in the garden It was a beautiful home they bou bought ht with the money and very they lived but never again agam happily of the could the girl find any traces goblins goblin's cavern in the woo woods s. s 1816 br Ux 00 McClure tr 1 New ev tW lor City 1 |
