the pit; and at the
bottom she saw him sitting in the mud, digging a hole with his hands.

"Hi!" he said, putting his head down. "Some of you come up. I've got the
wand at last. Come and help me down with my pack."

"I'm coming," answered a voice, speaking under the ground; and presently
up came a head, all covered with earth, through the hole the pedlar had
made. It was shaggy with hair, and had two little bright eyes, like
those of a mole. Hulda thought she had never seen such a curious little
man. He was dressed in brown clothes, and had a red-peaked cap on his
head; and he and the pedlar soon laid the pack at the bottom of the
hole, and began to stamp upon it, dancing and singing with great
vehemence. As they went on the pack sank lower and lower, till at last,
as they still stood upon it, Hulda could see only their heads and
shoulders. In a little time longer she could only see the top of the red
cap; and then the two little men disappeared altogether, and the ground
closed over them, and the white nettles and marsh marigolds waved their
heads over the place as if nothing had happened.

Hulda walked away sadly and slowly. She looked at the beautiful
bracelet, and wished she had not parted with the wand for it, for she
now began to fear that the pedlar had deceived her. Nevertheless, who
would not be delighted to have such a fine jewel? It consisted of a gold
hoop, set with turquoise, and on the clasp was a beautiful bird, with
open wings, all made of gold, and which quivered as Hulda carried it.
Hulda looked at its bright eyes--ruby eyes, which sparkled in the
sunshine--and at its crest, all powdered with pearls, and she forgot her
regret.

"My beautiful bird!" she said, "I will not hide you in a dark box, as
the pedlar did. I will wear you on my wrist, and let you see all my
toys, and you shall be carried every day into the garden, that the
flowers may see how elegant you are. But stop! I think I see a little
dust on your wings. I must rub it off." So saying, Hulda took up her
frock and began gently rubbing the bird's wings, when, to her utter
astonishment, it opened its pretty beak and sang:

"My master, oh, my master,
The brown hard-hearted gnome,
He goes down faster, faster,
To his dreary home.
Little Hulda sold her
Golden wand for me,
Though the fairy told her
That must never be--
Never--she must never
Let the treasure go.
Ah! lost forever,