Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ... THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN. CERTAIN merchant had two children, a boy and a girl, who, at the time our tale begins, were both so little that they could not run alone. This merchant had just sent away two richly laden vessels in which he had embarked all his property, and, while he hoped to gain much money by their voyage, the news came that both ships had sunk to the bottom of the sea. Thus, instead of a rich merchant, he became quite a poor man, and he had nothing left but a field near the town where he dwelt, and therein, to divert his thoughts for a while from his loss, he went to walk. While he paced to and fro, there suddenly appeared a little Black Dwarf, who asked him the reason of his sorrowful looks, and what it was he fook so much to heart? "If you are able to help me," said the merchant, "I will tell you." "Who knows," replied the Dwarf, "whether I can or not?" So then the merchant told him what had happened, -- how all his wealth was sunk at the bottom of the sea, and nothing remained to him but this one field. "Do not grieve yourself any longer," said the Dwarf; "for, if you will promise to bring me here in twelve years whatever first rubs itself against your leg on your return home, you shall have all the money you can require." The merchant thought it would be his dog who would meet him first, for he remembered not, just then, his children, so he gave the little black man his word and honor to the bargain, and returned to his home. Just as he came within sight of his house his little boy saw him, and was so glad that he toddled up to him and clasped him by the knees. The father was frightened, for his promise occurred to him, and he knew now what he had sworn to; but still, as he found no money in his coffers, he...