in point of fact, very heavy,
although it seemed so to his imagination, and he moved slowly along till
he found a safe hiding-place for it.

In this way Hans suddenly became rich--rich enough to buy a property of
his own. But being a prudent man, he finally decided that it would be
best for him to leave his old neighbourhood and look for a home in a
distant part of the country, where nobody knew anything about him. It
did not take him long to find what he wanted, and after he had paid for
it there was plenty of money left over. When he was settled, he married
a pretty girl who lived near by, and had some children, to whom on his
death-bed he told the story of the lord of the underworld, and how he
had made Hans rich.

(Ehstnische Marchen.)

THE HISTORY OF DWARF LONG NOSE

It is a great mistake to think that fairies, witches, magicians, and
such people lived only in Eastern countries and in such times as those
of the Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid. Fairies and their like belong to every
country and every age, and no doubt we should see plenty of them now--if
we only knew how.

In a large town in Germany there lived, some couple of hundred years
ago, a cobbler and his wife. They were poor and hard-working. The man
sat all day in a little stall at the street corner and mended any shoes
that were brought him. His wife sold the fruit and vegetables they grew
in their garden in the Market Place, and as she was always neat and
clean and her goods were temptingly spread out she had plenty of
customers.

The couple had one boy called Jem. A handsome, pleasant-faced boy of
twelve, and tall for his age. He used to sit by his mother in the market
and would carry home what people bought from her, for which they often
gave him a pretty flower, or a slice of cake, or even some small coin.

One day Jem and his mother sat as usual in the Market Place with plenty
of nice herbs and vegetables spread out on the board, and in some
smaller baskets early pears, apples, and apricots. Jem cried his wares
at the top of his voice:

'This way, gentlemen! See these lovely cabbages and these fresh herbs!
Early apples, ladies; early pears and apricots, and all cheap. Come,
buy, buy!'

As he cried an old woman came across the Market Place. She looked very
torn and ragged, and had a small sharp face, all wrinkled, with red
eyes, and a thin hooked nose which nearly met her chin. She leant on
a tall stick and limped and shuffled and stumbled