Beer, which he had sported in
his youth, but which at last got unruly; whether from having been
stabled with vicious beasts, or from a bad quality which it inherently
possessed, he was not in a condition to inquire the first time it
played off its pranks upon him. But one thing was certain, after
several months of docile behavior, one fine morning his pet landed him
very unceremoniously in the gutter, after which, on various occasions,
he mounted nearly all the beasts in the stable, whiskey, rum, brandy,
etc., but they, one and all, proved vastly more refractory than the
first named, and, as we have seen, he was at length left battered and
bruised by the way side.

It is needless to state that Jacob Mentor's experience had not, nor
was it likely to benefit any so much as himself; for who, among the
thousands tampering with stimulating drinks, could be made to believe
that a glass of beer, or an occasional sip of wine would result in
their final overthow?

Such, at all events, was not the opinion of our young friends
journeying in the direction of "Fairy Knoll; for more than once the
wine went round as the night winds whistled colder. But the tedious
road had at length an end, and about dark, the heavy wagon lumbered up
under the shadows of Fairy Knoll.

"It won't do to drive up that hill with this heavy load, the horses
are too much jaded," said Jacob.

"Then we'll walk up," said Mr. Hanford, jumping out. "Come now, Mrs.
Hanford," proudly stretching out his arms, "I will carry you up. Mr.
Sherman follow me; the path is a little slippery, and we shall have to
step carefully."

By reason of his burden and the icy path, Mr. Hanford was sometime in
reaching his cabin, but he made short work of getting inside; for,
having bestowed several impatient thumps upon the window which he
declared frozen down, he suddenly threw himself against the door, and
crack went the wooden fastening, and open flew the door, and a most
unexpected scene burst upon his astonished vision.

Surely here were the fairies, and here the warm fire for which his
shivering little wife had been wishing. Surprise held him upon the
threshold; but Edward, who instantly recognized in one of the
so-called fairies, the person of Little Wolf, sprang forward with a
shout of joy.

"The honey, sure as I'm alive," cried Jacob Mentor, pressing eagerly
after him. "Laws," said he, precipitately dropping his bundles in the
middle of the floor, and rushing up to