Show u The Hermit in the Forest 1 II Translated from the German CHAPTER III ax t- t F WERE you not frightened little Elizabeth to be alone with the terrible old man in that smoky room The old man threw hi himself exhausted exhausted exhausted ex ex- hausted on the sack of leaves and with weary eyes watched the little girl ss y she raked the glowing ashes on the fireplace firey fire fire- k pla place e laid dry leaves on them then r placed the wood on top arid and pushed a aM M small all piece of paper which she took from her pocket under the mass Then she fanned the embers into a blaze and soon had a cheerful fire Although Elizabeth was scarcely thirteen thirteen thirteen thir thir- teen years old she had learned to do all kinds of housework skillfully having been taught by her mother this art in which she took great delight She filled the old pot without a handle which stood on the floor with water and pushed it toward the fire Then she turned to the old man You are so pale and weak she said sympathetically sympathetically sympathetically cally and you are cold There lies k an old brown mantle Wrap yourself up in it It is not too good for that she added with a laugh as she covered him with th the e coarse coarse garment Perhaps Perhaps Per Per- Perhaps haps with that and the miserable wood 1 you will soon be warm warm He pushed her hand back and said a without anger but also without kindness kindness kindness kind kind- ness I I am not cold go home Presently said Elizabeth good- good and picked up a vessel which looked like a broken dish into which she poured some some som of the warn wann water II Now we must wash away the nasty blood Have you a sponge No Then I must take the corner of my apron Old Poppel must indeed have been very weak weak- for he quietly permitted the li little le one to wash his bloody face and forehead Her soft hands glided light and cool over the old mans man's dry wrinkled skin As soon as she had washed away the old blood the wound began to bleed afresh II If If only had a 1 spider web said Elizabeth for she remembered that her mother considered 1 this the best thing with which to stop the flow of blood I It t was very easy to i J satisfy this wish in the smoky old hut for the spider webs hung around like curtains Soon Elizabeth who was not afraid of spiders had stripped 1 1 down the webs and stopped the blood as best she couldWell couldWell could II Well she said as she laid fresh twigs on the fire II Now I will go Are you better now Does your head pain you any more II No he growled II go go home Now Elizabeth had secretly hoped that she might receive a friendly word from the old man She turn turned d sorrowfully sorrowfully sorrowfully sorrow sorrow- fully around to go but when when she reached the door turning her head once more she saw the old man lying in this hole so entirely alone and it made her indescribably sad She went to him once more and took his hand II Poor Poorman Poorman Poorman man said she II are are indeed the people so bad to you He started up suddenly and she shrank back fearful that he would strike her but he only looked at her with tired s sorrowful eyes and said II Why child II Well yes Well yes she began somewhat embarrassed II because you are so bad and angry you know and the day after to-morrow to is Christmas All people even the very poorest are glad and visit each other on Christmas I believe you are are- the only person in the world who does not keep it Christmas said the old man gloomily I have forgotten what that is O 0 I dont don't believe that cried Eliza Eliza- beth She was always enthusiastic and the he old man appeared so grave brave rave and attentive Everyone knows that then the dear Savior came into the world and He was so good and kind all His life He healed the sick and brought the dead to life again and was was not bad bador or angry a single time not even when the wicked people so severely tortured Him and nailed Him to the cross cros Tears started in the childs child's eyes eres for quite recently her mother had read to her the story of the Savior and it had gone deep to her heart h art The old man nodded assent In his heart perhaps was awakened the the blessed story wh which ich his mother had once told him him- Elizabeth thought however that he had never heard it and that his sorrow was caused at learning the agonizing end of the Savior therefore she smiled consolingly consolingly consolingly con con- and said All this happened a long time ago you know and He ISnow is isnow isnow now in heaven heaven- in joy foy and glory But to said she expressing her inmost thoughts I think that every time His birthday comes He remembers that He also was once a child Little children childr n think that Christ Himself comes and brings them beautiful presents but my mother says that even though we do not see Him it itis itis itis is still the Savior who comes to the earth on Christmas night and makes the parents' parents hearts warm toward the children Then we get beautiful Christmas Christ Christ- mas trees wi with th candles on them and good things dolls and tops and no matter if a mother is poor she always gives her child something for the Savior loved all people All All to said the old man sadly No N 0 there are people whom the Savior will wil have nothing more to do with I dont don't believe that said Elizabeth Elizab Elizabeth Eliza Eliza- b beth th shaking her head My mother says it is never too late But now I Im m must must st go or my mother will be anxious Good-by Good come down and see us some sometime sometime sometime time when it is so cold We are poor to be sure but we always have a warm room and you and you must not be offended I think if you were not so bad so some ne e of the children would willingly come out and gather wood for you N No 0 no child But wait a minute and out of a corner of his hut he brought an old brown box and took took something ng from it which he handed to her TO BE DE CONTINUED |