of the little man, and blushed. "No,
Mr. Schatzhauser," said he; "idleness is the root of every vice, but
you cannot blame me, if another condition pleases me better than my
own. A charcoal-burner is, in truth, a very mean personage in this
world; the glass manufacturer, the raftsmen, and clock-makers, are
people much more looked upon."

"Pride will have a fall," answered the little man of the pine wood,
rather more kindly. "What a singular race you are, you men! It is but
rarely that one is contented with the condition in which he was born
and bred, and I would lay a wager that if you were a
glass-manufacturer, you would wish to be a timber-merchant, and if you
were a timber-merchant you would take a fancy to the ranger's place, or
the residence of the bailiff. But no matter for that; if you promise
to work hard, I will get you something better to do. It is my practice
to grant three wishes to those born on a Sunday, who know how to find
me out. The first two are quite free from any condition, the third I
may refuse, should it be a foolish one. Now, therefore, Peter, say
your wishes; but mind you wish something good and useful."

"Hurrah!" shouted Peter; "you are a capital glass-mannikin, and justly
do people call you the treasure-keeper, for treasures seem to be
plentiful with you. Well then, since I may wish what my heart desires,
my first wish is that I may be able to dance better than the king of
the ball-room, and to have always as much money in my pocket as fat
Hezekiel."

"You fool!" replied the little man, angrily, "what a paltry wish is
this, to be able to dance well and to have money for gambling. Are you
not ashamed of this silly wish, you blockish Peter? Would you cheat
yourself out of good fortune? What good will you and your poor mother
reap from your dancing well? What use will money be to you, which
according to your wish is only for the public-house, thereto be spent
like that of the wretched king of the ball-room? And then you will
have nothing for the whole week and starve. Another wish is now left
free to you; but have a care to desire something more rational."

Peter scratched himself behind his ears, and said, after some
hesitation, "Now I wish the finest and richest glass-factory in the
Schwarzwald, with every thing appertaining to it, and money to carry it
on."

"Is that all?" asked the little man, with a look of anxiety; "is there
nothing else, Peter?"

"Why you might add