Nathaniel Hawthorne Feathrtop! There are thousands upon thousands of coxcombs and charlatans nthe word, male up of ast such a jumble of wornout, Torzoten, and gondornothing trash as he eas! Yet they live ia far repute, and never see themselves fr what they are And why should my poor puppet be the only one to know himsel and perish fori? e "While thus muttering, the witch hal Aled a fish pipe of Aotacce, ind held the sem between her Bngers, a, doubtil whether to theust site her own movth or eathertop's "Poor Featheropl she continued. T could easy give him snather chance aod send him forth again tomorrow. But no; is fecings ae too tender, hit snsbiiies too deep. He seems to Ive too much hart to baste for his own adsantage in such an pty and heartless work Well well! 1 make a scirecow of him afer all “isan innocent and 2 wef vation, and wl suit my dating well, and if each of hie human brethren bad as Bt a ‘ns, twonld be the better for mankind: and as for this pipe of tohaceo Hace i ore than he So saying, Mother Righy put the stom between her lps chon” ered she, in er high, sharp tone, “anther coal Fr hy ie! 8 our. § The King of the Golden River or The Black Brothers cuarrer 1 How the Agricultural System ofthe Black Brothers ae itorfored wih iy South West Wind, Equire ieee ceeeerente Stina, there was, in old time, a valley of the mot surprng and Insurtantfertty It was surrounded, on all sides, by seep snd rocky mounting rising ito peak, which were always cnvered tvih sno, and fom which a mumber of Grr desctnded In Contant citiract, One of these fell westward, over the ce of ‘rg 0 high that when the sun had sett everything el, and all ‘low wis darass, his beams til shone fll upon thi wtf, 40 that Looked ike «shower of gold. Teas, therefore alle by ‘he prope of the netghbourbood. the Galen River Twa stange that none of these streams fell into the valley sell They all descended on the other side of the mountains, and wound away ‘rough brad pains and by populous cites. But the cows were raw so constantly tothe soowy hil and ested so Sf In the tsrelar hollow, that in tine of drought and eat. when all he oumtly round was burnt wp there was il rani the lite valley tnd is crope were x0 heavy, and ts hay 30 high, aod ts ples 30 ted, and Is grapes so blve and its wine 0 rich, and its Sone 30 "sect, that it ws a marvel to everyone who held i, and was SGemmonly called the Treasure Valley. The whole of he Ile alley belonged to three brothers, called Schwartz, Hs, and ‘Gck. Schwarz and Han, the two elder brothers, were very WeyJohn Ruskin men, with overhanging eyebrows and small dull eyes, which were ‘espa half shut, so that you coulda see into dem, and always fancied they saw very far into you. They lived by farming, the ‘Freasure Valley, and very good farmers they were. They kiled ‘renting that did ot pay for seating. They shot the Blackbirds, ‘Because they peeked the rut apd killed the hedgehog, lest they ‘Rould suck the coms; they potoned the crickets for eating the ‘imbs tm the kitchen, and smothered the cada, which used to ‘Sing all summer in the lime tees. They worked their servants ‘thou any wages ill hey would not work any more, and hen TJumrlled with them sod tured them out of doors without ‘Ring them, It would have Been very od if with such a fr, Ei auch = system of farming, they hadn't got very rich and very Toh they did got. They generally contrived to keep thei com by {hem til twas very dear and then sll i for twice value; they iad heaps of gold ng about on thelr Hors, yet it was never known {hat they had given so much ae» penny ora crust in charity; they rnever went to mass, grembled perpetually at paying tithes, nd ove, na word, of 30 cruel and grinding a temper, a5 to receive oma hose with whom they had any dealings, the nick-name Gf'the “Black Brothers” "The youngest brother, Gluck, was as Smapletely opposed, in both appearance and character, to hit scenes a8 could. possibly be imagined or desired. He was opt Shove toelve years ok fi, lve eyed, and Kind in temper to Ry ing thing THe id ot, of course, agree particularly well Sheth brothers or rather hey didnot agree with hin, He was Tielny appointed to the honourable oe of turnspt, when there Mane thing to rot which war not often for, to do the brothers Jeter they were hardly less sparing upon themselves than upoa Aiher people. AU other times he ured to clean the shocs, ors sey" Ectimer the plates, cccasonlly getting what was left on ‘he by way of encouragement, and 2 wholesome quantity of dry lows, by way’of edueation “Thingy went on inthis manner fr a long time. At last cane a sory et summer, and everything went wrong in the country ound: The hay bad hardly been got, when the Haystacks were hata cl town othe cu by a inundation; the vines were cut to pleces with the bathe corm was all killed by a lack Dliht ‘uly tn the Treagre Valley, as wal, ll was safe. As t had rain “Then there was rain nowhere ee, so t had sun when there was ‘The King of the Golden River sun no where ele, Fvery body came to buy cora at the frm, and ‘ent eray pouring maledicions on the Black Brothers. They Skea hat they liked. and got, except from the poor people, ‘tho could only bog. and several of whom were starved at their ery door, without the sightest regard or notice "sus drawing towards winter, and very cokd weather, when cone day the two elder brothers had gone out, with ther wshal “Taming ttle Glock, wi was left to mid he roast, that be was {o'ce nobody in. and give nothing out Cluck sat down quite close to the Bre for las raining ery hard, ad the chen walls were by no means dy or comfrtable loking. He turned and turned, wad the rost got nice and brown. ‘What a pity, thought Glock, “iy brothers never ask any ody to dinner. Tin sore, when they ve ft such nee place of mln as this and nobel else bas gt 20 ‘etc asa pice of dry bread, ¢ would do ther hears god to have Somebody to eat with them st ur he spoke, thee came a double knock atthe house door, yet heavy and dul, as though the knocker had been ted up Meee ike a puff than a knock, It most be the wind, aid Glick vndbody elke would venture to Knock double knocks at our door” Not wasnt the wind: there it came again very hard, and what was poviclarly astounding the knocker seemed to be tna hurry, and otto be inthe Teas fai of the consequences. Gluck went to the ‘ndow, openel it and pt is heal out to see ho it was. It was The mast entaordinary oking tle gentleman he had ever seen fishies He had a very log nose, slightly bras-coloured, and xpanding towards its termination into a development not unlike the lower extremity of key bugle. His checks were very round, find very fed. and eight have warranted = supposition hat he aad been blowing a refractory fre for the last eightand-forty Tours His eyes twinkded merrily through long silky eyelashes, his vmoustaches earled twice round Hke a cork-serew on each side of fis mouth and his bai, of curious mixed pepper and salt colour, Slcicendedi far aver his shoulder He was about four fect six 0 Dtghe and wore a comical pointed cap of weary the sane alte ‘ceosted ith black feather some three feet long. His doublet ‘ter prolonged behind into something resembling a vilent ex ezetaion of what now termed 2 ‘swallow tail” but was muck ‘Shncured by the swelling folds of an enormous black. goss Tuking cloak, which most hive been very much too Tong in clsJohn Ruskin weather, asthe wind, whising round the old house, caried it ‘lear out from the wearer's shoulders to aout four times his own Teast {Cluck wat so perfectly paralyed by the singular appearance of his visitor, that he remained fixed without uttering 4 word, ‘until the old gentleman, having performed another, and 3 more ‘energetic concerto on the knocker, turned round t lok after his fray clk In so doing he caught sight of Gluck’ ite yellow head Jaman in the window, wilh te mouth and eyes very wide open indeed ll!” sid the Ite gentleman, that's not the way to answer the door: Fm wet let mei? To do the litle gentleman joie, he was wet, His father hung oven between it legs ikea eaten puppy’ al, dripping ike am ‘umbrella, and from the ends of hie moustaches the water war Fonning into hi walsteoat pocket and out again. ke 2 rail T beg pardoo, sir’ suid Ghck, ‘en very sony, but 1 realy "Cat what” said the old genileman, eat Tet you i, si, —H ea indeed; my brothers would beat sme to death, sir fT thought of sch a thing, What do you want, ar (said the old goatleman petulanly. ‘I want fe, and shelter and thee's your great Bre there blzing crackling and ‘ncing om the wall, with nobody to Feel. Let me in sy 0 1 had had hit bead, by this time, x long ost of the window, that he bezan to feel it was realy unpleasantly cold, and when he tired, and sw the enuf fre rstling snd roaring. and throwing lng bright tongues up the chitnne. a it were king 1S chops at the savoury smell ofthe Teg of mutton, is hear telted within him that shoud be baring aay Sor othing. “He oes look ery wet” sid ite Gluck Hl just let him infor 4 ‘quarter ofan ovr" Round he went othe door, and opened it and 4 the litle gentleman walked tn, there came a gust of wind through the house, tha made the oid chinoeye totter “That's a good boy,” sid the Ile gentleman. ‘Never mind your brothers 1 talk to them "Pray sir, don't do any such thing said Gluck ‘I eat lt you sty til they come; they'd be the death of me The King of the Golden River ‘Deat me, sid the old gentleman, "Tm very sorry to bear that. How Tong may Tsay?" ‘Only til the matton’s done, se,” reped Gluck, “and ifs very row, "Then the old gentleman walked ito the tchen, and sit hime oven on the ho, withthe top of his cap accommodated yp the ‘himney, frit war» great deal to high forthe rot “Youll soon dry there, sn sid Glick, and sit down agin to tum the mutton” But the old gentleman dl not dey there, but ‘went on drip, dep, deping among the cides, and the Bre Firzed. and sputtered, and began to look very back, and uncom Fortabie: never was such a loa; every fold sn ran ike a guter eg pardon. sir said Clack a ena, after watching the water spreading in lng. quicksilver like streams over the floor for a ‘Garter of an hour, maya I take your cloak? ‘No thankyou, sid the old gente, Your ea, si?” ‘am allt, thank yon,” std the old gentleman rather graf “But—sie—Fm very sory, aid Clack, hestatingy but — realy si-—youre—pattng the re out “ttl ake longer to do the mutton then, replied his vstor diy Gluck was very mach pursed by the behaviour af hi gest was such a strange mistite of coluess and Ivmilty. He turned tay a the tring mediately fr another five ines. “That mutton Tooks very nice,” sid the old gentleman a length ‘Cant you give me a litte bt? Tim very ung," continued the old gentleman. ‘Ive had nothing to eat yesterday, nor teday. They sel could ie a Tit fom the hackle! He spoke in so very melancholy a tone, that quite melted Gluck’ heart. “They promised ie one sce to-day, saad he. T ‘an give you tht, but ota bit more That's good boy,” sid the old gentleman again “Then Chek warmcd's plac, and sharpened afl. I doot care 141 do gu beaten for it, thought he. Just athe had et arg hice ‘out ofthe maton, there came a tremendous rap atthe door. The ‘ld gentleman jumped ofthe ob, tsi had suddenly become ‘sconveniently warm. Gluck ited the slice int the mutton again, ‘with desperate ellos at exactitude, and ran to open the dor “What did you heep us waiting in the ran for? ald Swart, aJohn Ruskin bbe walked in, throwing his umbrella in Glick’ fic. ‘Ay! what for, Indeed, you litle vagabond? said Hans, administering an educa Tonal box on the ear he fllowed his brother sno the kitchen. “Bless my sul! said Schwartz when he opened the door “Amen,” stil the hte gentleman, who had taken his eap of land war standing in the middle of the Ktehen, bowing withthe ttmost posible velocity ‘Who's that” iid Schwartz, catching wp a sollng pin, and. toring to Glck with a Bere frown "don't know indeed, brother.” said Cluck in great teror ‘ow dle get in? roared Schwartz ‘My dear Brother sad Gluck, depreatingly “he was s0 very “The rolling-pin was descending on Gluek's head: bet, at the instant, the old gentleman interposed his conical exp, on which it crushed with a shock that shook the water out af tall over the oom. What was very odd, the rolling pin no sooner touched the fp, than it flow out of Schwart’ hand, xpining hike a steaw in high wind, and fll nto the comer at the further end ofthe rom, ‘Who are you, sie? demanded Schwart, turning upon him ‘Whats your business? snarled im a poor old man, modestly, “and T saw your Bre through the window, and bewged Shelter for a quarter ofan bout “Have the goodness to walk out agan, then,’ said Schvart, “we've quite enough water in our ltehen, without making t a drying bonse” "eis a old day to turn an old man out i, si; lok at my grey Ini." They hung down to his shoulders, as I tld you before "Ay said Hans, ‘there are enough of them to keep you warm. walk” ‘Tm very, very hungey, sr; could't you spare me a bit of bread before 1g0? “Tread, indeed! sid Schwarts; ‘do you suppase we've noting to do with our bread, but to give st such red-nose fellows as you? "why don't you sell your feather?” sid Hans, sneerigly. “Out Tite bit’ sad the old gentlman, he off sa Schwarts Pray, gendemen The King of the Golden River “Off, and be hanged” rid Hans, selzing him by the collar. But the had no sooner touched the old gentleman's call, than avay he went ater the rollng-pin, spinsing round and rovnd, tl he fell {nto the cornce on the top oft. Then Schwartz was very angry. tnd ran atthe old gentleman to turn him out, but he also had hardly touched him, when away he went afer Hans and the rollg-pi, and hit his head agains the wall ashe tumbled into the former And so there they lay, all thee, “Then the old getleman spun himself round with velocity in the ‘oppesite direct; continued to spin until his Tong elask was all ‘wound neatly aboot hie dapped his cap on his head, very much ‘on ane se for could ot stand upright without going through the cing), gave an aditoal twist to his cork screw moustache, and replied with perfect coolness: ‘Gentlemen, Lwish you a very 00d morning. At twelve o'clock to-night, I ell again afer such 2 refs of hospitality as [have jus experienced, you will not be "urrised if that vst ste lst I ever pay you. ‘ever I catch you here again, muttered Scart, coming hall frightened, ont of the coroner —but, belore he could fins his seatonce, the old gentleman had shut the house door behind him ‘with a great bang” and there drove past the window, atthe same Instat a wreath of ragged cloud, that whirled and rolled away dow the valley ia all manner of shapes: turning over and over in the air and melting away a ast ina gush of rai, ‘A very petty business, indeed, Me Gluck sad Schwartz. “Dish the mutton, sir ever etch you a sucha trick again—bles me, why the mattn's Bren cat “ou promised me ove see, brother, you know,” said Chock ‘Chl and you were cutting it bo, T suppose, and going to catch all Ge gravy Ill be long before I promise you sucha thing again Lea the room, sir, and have the kindnese to waitin the col cel ti cal you. Cluck let the room, melancholy enough. The brothers ate as snuch mutton as they could, locked the rest in the cupboard, and proved to get very drunk after dinner. Sich a night as it was! Howling wind, and rushing ran, without fotermision, The Brothers had jst sense enough left to put up all the shutter, and double bar the door, before they went to hed. They usually slept in the same room. As the clock struck weve, they were both awakened by a tremendous ersh. Their %John Baskin ‘dor burst open with a volenee that shook the house fom top to bottom "Whats that ered Schwa, starting up in his bed ‘Only sa the Ile gentleman, ‘The two brothers st up on their bolster, and stared into the darkness The room was fll of water, and by 4 misty mooa-beam, which found nts way through a hole in the shatter, they could see tn the midst of i, an enormous fam globe, sping round, and bobbing up and down like a ear, on which, as on a mos usurious cushion, reclined the litle old gentleman, cap and al. There was plenty of rom for # now, forthe rok was off ‘Sony to incommode you,’ sald their visitor, ironially. “Tm afraid your bel are dampish,peshaps you had better gto your brothers rom: Tve left the eeling n, there. ‘They required no second admonition, but rushed into Glucks room, wet though, and in a agony of terror ‘Youll fad my card on the kitchen table,” the old gentleman called alter them. ‘Remember, the las visit Pray Heaven it may!” sid Schwart, shuddering. And the foam lobe disappeared ‘Dawn came a last, and the wo brothers looked ut of Gluck’ litle window in the morning The Treasure Valley was one mass of ‘ula, and desolation. The inundation had swept away trees, ops, fd cattle, and let in their stead, waste of red sad, and grey ‘nud. The two brothers crept shivering and horro-struck into the Tatchen, The water had gutted the whole frst Boor cara, money, almost every moveable thing had been swept away, and there was left only a small white card onthe kitchen table. On i, in large, ‘reery, loaglege letters, were engraved the words— Say per PBT The King of the lden River cHarreR tt Of te Proceeding of the Three Brothers fer the Vist of South West Wind, Esquire: and how ltde Cluck had on Interview with the King ofthe Golden Bier Soutk West Wind, Rsquire, was as good as his word, After the ‘momentous vst above related, he entered the Treasure Valley no ‘more. and, what was worse, he had much influence with relations, the West Winds in general, and wsed itso effectually, that they all adopted a similar line of conduct So mo sain fell in the salley from one years end to another. Though everything remained green and flourshing én the plains below, the inher ce af the Three Brothers was a desert, What had ace been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of ed sand, tnd the brothers, unable longer to contend withthe adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to sek some ‘means of gining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains. AI heir money wae gone, and they had nothing Tet but some curious ok-ishioned pieces uf gold pate, the last remnants fade ll gotten wealth, ‘Suppose we turn goldsmiths?” said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large lt. "Iisa good knave's trade: we can put & treat dea of copper into the gold, without ay one's ring ito.” The thought was agreed to be a very good one; they hired a furnace, and turned_ goldsmiths. ‘But two light circumstances affected their tae: the Birt, that people didnot approve ofthe ‘oppered gol the second, thatthe two elder brothers, whenever they had sole anything, used to leave litle Gluck to mind the furnace, and go and drink out the money in the ale-house next ‘door. 80 they melted all their god, without making money enough to buy more, and were at ast reduced to one large drinking ‘which an unde of his had given to lite very bri of, and would not have puted with fr the word though he ever duh anything ont oft but ealk water. Tse mg Very odd mug to look at The handle was formed of two wreaths flowing golden har, so finely spun that i looked more lke ilk than metal, and these wreaths descended into, and mined with 3 heard and whiskers, of the same exquisite workmanship, which surromded and decorated a very fierce lite face of the vekdest a rk, and which he wasJohn Baskin ‘0d imaginable, right in the front of the mug, with a pair of eyes int which seemed to command i whole ereumference. It was imposible to drink out of the mug without being subjected to an intense gaze out of the side ofthese eyes; and Schwartz positively sverred, tha once, after emptying it, fall of Rhenish seventeen times, he had scen thea wink! When i came t Use mug’ turn to bbe made into spoons, # bal broke oor tle Gluck’ heart but the brothers only Insel thi, tose the mig nto the melting pot, tnd staggered out to the ale-howse, leva him, at usual, to poor the gold into bars, when was all ead ‘When they were gone, Click took a frewell lok at his ol friend in the melting pot. The flowing hair was all gove; nothing remained but the red nose, and the sparking eyes, which looked Inore malicious than ever. ‘And no wonder,” thought Chick, ‘ter being tested in that way.” He suntered disconsolately to the window and sat himself down to catch the fresh evening bis tnd excape the hot breath of the furnace, Now this window fommanded 4 direct view of the range of mountains, which, as Ttold you before, overhung the Treasure Valley, and. more ‘specially ofthe peak fon which fell the Golden River T was just At the clove ofthe day, and, when Gluck sat down at the window, he saw the rocks of the mountain tops, all efimson, and purple with the sunset, and there were bright tongues of Bery. loud Tpuring and quivering about them; and dhe iver, brighter than all fel in a waving column of pare gold, fom preipce to precipi sth the double are of road purple rainbow stretched scros {ushing and fading alternately sm the wreaths of spray. "Ah said Gluck aloud, ster he had looked a for a te while, if that ver were really al gold, hat a nce thing i woud be. “No it wouldn't, Gluck,” said a clear metalic voice, close at his less me, what's that?” exclaimed Gluck, jumping up. There wat nobody there. He loked round the room, and under the Table and great many times behind hi, But there as certainly tobody there, and he aat down agin atthe window. This time he ‘dnt speaks but he coulda’ lp thinking again tht st would be ‘ery convenient if the river was really al old ‘Nota al, my boy" said the same vice louder than before ‘lest met sud Chk agin, ‘what is thai” He Tooke again into all the corners, nd copbourds, and then began turning round, and The King ofthe Golden Ricer round, a fst as he cou. n the middle of the room, thinking tere was somebody behiod him, when the same voice struck agin om his ear. I was soging now very mernly “Lala Swords, only a soft runaing ellevescont melody, somet {hat of kettle on the boi. Gluck loked out ofthe window. No, i twas certainly inthe hows. Up stairs, and dawn sts. No, i was Cartel la that very room, coming in quicker time, and clearer fotes, every moment. ‘Laleiirla” All at once i srwck Gluck that it Sounded louder near the furnace. He ran to the opening fd loked i: ye, he sar right, i seemed tobe coming, not only fut of the Furnace, but out ofthe pot’ He uncovered it, and ran Trackin great ght, fr the pot was certalaly singing! He stood in the farthest corner of he ram, with his hands wp, and his mouth pen, for «minute or tre, when the singing sopped, and the ‘oie boeame clear, and promunciative ‘Holo sid the voice. Gluck made no answer, allo! Gluck, my boy, sid dhe pot agin, Cluck summoned all his energies, walked straight up to the cruitle, drow i out ofthe furnace, and looked in The gold was Sil melted, and its surice as smooth tnd polished as «river; but instead of reflecting ile Gluek's head, ashe Tooked a, he saw meeting his glance, from beneath the pod, the red nose, and Sharp eyes of his od fiend ofthe mug, 2 thousand times redder, ‘nd sharper than ever he had seon them in his ie “came Gluck, my boy,” said the voice out ofthe pot again, Tim all ht: pour me out ‘Bat Glick was to0 much astonished to do anything ofthe hind, Pour ae out, Lys the ice rather rally Sill Clack couldn ave "Will you pour me out? said the voice psslonately, Tm too hot By a vslent eff, Cluck recovered the use of his Ibe, took hold ofthe ersible, and slope so as to pour ot the gol. But tea of iid ream, there came out, frst, par of petty litle yellow lees then rome cat ti, then spar of arms stuck a ib and, finaly, the wellknown head of hi fiend the ag all which atle, uniting a they rolled ot, stood up energetically on fhe for. inthe shape of a tle golden dwarf, about afoot and a hal high “Thats sight” sid the dwar stretching out fist his less, andJoh Raskin then his arms, and then shaking his head up and down, and as far round a it would go for Boe minates, without stopping: Spparently with the view of ascertaining fhe were quite correctly Ant toxeher, while Gluck stood contemplating him in speechless Xmzement. He wae dresed in a slashed doublet of spon god, 0 fine ints texture, thatthe prismatic colours gleamed over i, af fon a sure of mather of pearl: and, over this brilliant doublet, his Tir and beard fell fll ha way tothe ground, in waving curl, to enguisitely delicate, tht Gluck could hardly tell where they dod they seemed to melt Into air. The features of the fice, Rowever, were by no means finshed withthe same delicacy; they twere rather coare, sligity inning to coppery in complexion, Und indicative, in expresion, of avery pertinacios and intractable ‘lsposition in their small proprietor. When the dart had Bvished histecl examination, he turned hi small sharp eyes all on Gluck, find saved at him deliberately fora minate or two. ‘No it wouldn't, Gluck, my bo,” said the Ite man "This was certainly rather an abropt, and unconnected mode of commencing convertion, might indeed be supposed to refer to the couse of Cluck’ thoughts, which bad frst produced the ‘war's observations out of the pot, but whatever it refered to, ‘Glock had no inclination to dispate the dtu, ‘Wouldnt i sit” snd Chick, very mld and submisively indeed “No. sid the dwarf, conclusively. No it wouk't” And with that, the dvr polled his cap hard over bis brows, and took two turns ofthe eet lng, up au down the room iting his Tes up ny high, and setting ther down very hard. Tis pause gave time Tor Gluck to collet his thoughts a litle, and, seeing 90 great feason to view his diinative visitor with dread and fcling his SStanty cvercome hi amazement. he ventured on a question of pocalisr delicacy. “pray, sr sand Cluck, rather hestatingy, were you my mua On which the Ile man torned sharp round, waked straight up to Glock and drew himself up to his fll height. sid the lithe ian, am the King of the Golden RWer” Whereupon he turned “bont again. and took two sore turns, some ss fet long, in order to allow tine forthe consteration which this annonncemes predic in his auditor to evaporate. After which, he agin walked ip to Gluck and stood sila expecting some comment on his The King ofthe Golden River Gluck determined to say something at all events. T hope your snajsty i very well sid Glock ‘tent sid the tle man, deigaing 90 reply 0 this polite ingury Lam the King of what you mortals call the Golden River “The shape you saw me Im, wae owing tothe malice ofa stronger King. from whose cochantments you have Us instant freed me ‘What Ihave seen of you, and your conduct o your wicked brothers, Tenders me willng to serve you, therfore attend to what V tel {ou Whoever shall lia tothe top of that mountain from which Jou see the Golden River sue, snd shal as into the tear a its puree, three drops af holy water, for hin, and for him only the fr sal tur to gol. But noone fing in his fist, can succeed In second attempt and sfany one sal ast unholy water into the ther, Itwilloversbicln hin, and he wil become a black stone.” So “lying, dhe King ofthe Golden River tamed aay, and deliberately Walked into the centre of the hotest fame ofthe furnace. His Figure became. red, white, tranparent, dizaing—a Blaze. of intense light—rose, trembled, and disappeared. The King of the Calden River bad evaporated. ‘Oh! evied poor Cluck, rinning to look wp the chimney after him, "Oh deat, dear, dear me! MY mel my mug! my mug! CHAPTER ow Mr Han st of on an Expedition to the Golden River, and Ih he prospered therein “The King ofthe Golden River had hardly made the extraordinary fait related inthe lst chapter, before Hans and Schwartz came Tring tnto the house. very savagely drvok. The discovery of the {onal Boss of tet at plese plate ad he elect of abering them Jnst enough to enable them to stand over Gluck, beating him very Healy for a quarter of an hou; atthe expiration of which period they dropped into a couple of chats, and requested to know what Ihc had otto say for himself. Gluck told them his story. of which ‘ofcourse they didnot believe a word. They beat him again, tll their arms were tied, and staggered to bed. In the morning, however, the stainess with which he adhered to his story titnined itn some degree of credence; the immediate con Sequence af which was, thatthe two brothers, after wrangling &John Ruskin long time on the knotty question, whieh of them should try his tne fist, drew their swords, and began fighting. The nose of the fay alarmed the neighbours, who, Rnding they could not pacify the combatants, sent forthe constable Hans, on hearing thi, contrived to ecape, and hid himself but Schwa au taken before the magistrate, Bned for breaking the peace, and, having drusk out be last penny the evening belore ‘was thrown into prison ll he should sy ‘When Hans heard ths, he was much delighted, and determined to set out immediately fr the Golden River. How to get the holy rater, was the question He weat to tho priest, but the priest ‘ould not give any holy water to so sbandoved a character. So Hans went to vespers in the evening for the fst time in his lie, and, under pretence of erosing himself, stole a cupul, and retumed home in trtraph ‘Next morning he got up before the san rose put the holy water ‘eto a strong lsh, and two bottles of wine and some meat in 2 fant, slung them over his buck, took his alpine staff n his hand, tnd set off or the eaountsins. ‘On his way ont ofthe town he ad te pats the prison, and at he Jooked in at the windows, whom skould be see. but Schwartz meet peping out ofthe bars, and looking very disconsolte ‘Good morning, brother, sad Hans; have you any message for the King ofthe Golden River” ‘Schwartz gnashed his teeth with rao, and shook the bars with all his strength; bat Hans only ughed at hi, and, advising ion fo make himself comfortable til he came back again, shouldered Fis hast, shook the botle of boy water sn Schwart’s face tii frothed again, and marched off inthe highest pits i the work twas, indeed, a morning that might have made any ove happy. even with no Golden River to soek for. Level lines of dowy inst lay stretched along the valley, ox of which rose the massy ‘nowsttine their lower clit in pale grey shadow, hardly dis tinguishable from the ating vapour, but gradually ascending they caught the sunlight, which ran in sharp touches of ruddy flour, along the angular crags, and oierced, in Tong level ays ‘rough their nges of spear lie pine. Far above, shot up red splintered masses of eatellated rock jagsed and shivered into Iyriads of fantartic forms, with here and there a streak of sunlit ‘sow, traced down their chims keine of forked lighting: and, The King of the Golden River far beyond, and fr above al these, fainter than the moraing cloud, but purer and changeles, slept, n the blve sky, the utmost peaks of th eternal snow ‘The Golden River, which sprang from one of the lower and snowless elevations, was now nearly in shadow; al bt the upper ‘most jets of spray, which rose ike slow stoke above the undult {ng line ofthe eataract, and floated away i feeble wreaths upon the morning wind ‘On thir object, and on this lone, Hans’ eyes and thoughts were fied: forgetting the distance he hal to traverse, be act ff san imprudent rate of walking, which greatly exhausted him before Ihe had scaled the fst range of the green and low hills He ‘as, oseover, suprised, ow surmountiog them, to find that « large glacier, of whose existence, notwithstanding his. previous Inowledge ofthe mountsine, he had been absoltely ignorant ly between him and the source ofthe Golden River. He entered om it sith the boldness of a practised mountainoer; yet e thought he had never traversed so' strange, or 30 dangerous a glacier sn his Io. The ice was excessively slippery, and out ofall ts chasis fame wild sounds of gushing water: not monotonous or low, but hangetul and Toud, rising occasionally into deifing passages of ‘wld melody, ehen breaking of oto short melancholy tones, or Sudden shrieks, resembling those of human voices in distress or pain. The ce wa broken Into thousands of confused shapes, but hone, Hans thought, Ike the ordinary forms of splintered ice There seemed a curtous expression about all thelr outlines perpetual resemblance to living features, distorted and scornfl Momads of deceitful shadows, al lars lights, played and Boated shout and through the pale be pinnacles, dazaling and confusing the sight of the traveller, while hi ears grew dull and his head sda) with the constant oth and roar of the concealed watery ‘These painful circumstances increased upon him w he advanced, (he ice crashed and yawned Into fesh chasms at his ee, totering sires nodded around him, and fell Uhundering across his path tnd though he had repeatedly ficed these dangers on the mort fern pacers, and inthe widest weather, was with new and ‘oppressive feling of panic teror that he leaped the last chasm, thd fling himself, exhausted and shuddering, om the fr turf of ‘he mountain le had been compelled to abandon his basket of fod, whichJoh Raskin hcame a perilous incumbrance on the glacier, and had now no meant of refreshing himself bt by breaking off nd eating ome of the pieces of ice, This, however, relloved his hist; anh pote recrited his hardy ame, and, with dhe indomitable sp ‘avarice, he resimed his hborious journey His way no ly straight up ridge of bare red rocks, without a blade of grass to ease the foot. ora projecting angle to afford. an inch of shade foun the south sun. Rt wae past noon, and the rays beat intensely upon the steep path, while the whole atmosphere tas motionless, and penetrated wits heat Intense thitst was soon Idd to the bodily fatigue with which Hans was now alte: lance after glance he cast on the ask of water which hung at bis belt Thc drops are enough at lst dhought he; may. atleast, cool my ips with He opened the flask, and was sising io his ips, when his eve {ell on an object lying. on the rock beside him: he thought it tmoved. I war a small dog, apparently In the last agony of death rom thirst. Ite tongue was out, st jaws dey, ts limbs extended eles, and a swarm of black ants were crawling about ts lips snd throat ts eye moved to the botie which Hans held in his Ihand. He raised ft, drank, spurned the animal with his fot, and passed on. And he didnot kw how it es, but e thought that a range shadow Bad suddenly come across the blue sky. "The path became steeper and more ragged every moment; and the high hill ar, instead of refreshing him, scemed to thos his ‘ood into fever. "The noise ofthe bill cataracts sounded ike ‘mockery in his ears: they were all distant, and his thirst increased ‘every moment. Another hour passed, and he agai looked down to the ask at his side, twas hall empty, but there was much more than three drops in it. He stopped to open it and agin. ashe did 0 something moved in the path above hi. Te was aftr child ‘retched nearly ifless onthe rock, its breast heaving with hist, Its eyes closed, and fs lips parched and Durning Hans eyed i ‘etibertely, drank, and parsed on. And a dark grey dowd came over the stn, and long, snake-like shadows erept wp alg. the thountain sides, Hans srugaled om, The sun war sinking, But ss ‘escent scemed t0 bring no cosines; the leaden weight of the ‘dead air pressed wpon his brow and heart, but the goal was fear. He fiw the cataract ofthe Golden River speaging from the hillside, scarcely five hundred fect above him. He paused for a moment to breathe, and sprang on to complete his tak ‘The King of the Colom River At this instant a faint ery fll on his ear: He turned, and saw ‘sey haired old man extended on the rocks. Hix eyer were Sunk, his features deadly pale, and gathered into an expression of Aespair. "Water" he stretched his arms to Hans, and cried febly ‘Water! Iam dying have none," repied Hans: thou hast had thy share of Me’ He strode over the prostrate body, and darted on. An sash of bie lightning. ose ut of the East, shaped ike a sword, i shook tice over the whole heaven, and left st dark with one bea, impenetrable shade. The sun wa setting, plunged towards the orion like red-hot bal “The roar ofthe Golden River rose on Hans’ ea, He stood at the brink of the chasm through which tran. 1 waves were filled with the ved glory of the sunset: they shook their crest ike tongues of fire, and fathes of bloody light osined loag thelr am’ The sound came mightier and mightier on his senses hs brain grew ‘ily withthe prolonged thunder. Shuddering, he drew the ask from his girdle, and hurled i into the conte of the torrent. As he Aid So, a ey cl shot through he lib, he staggered, shriek tnd fil The waters closed over is cry. And the moaning of the rose willy into the night, si gushed over The Brack Stowe. CHAPTER IV How Mr Schwart et off on an Expedition othe Golden River fand how he prospered therein. Poor tle Gluck waited very anxiously alone in the house, for Hans’ return. Binding he did not come back, he was terrbly frightened, and went and tld Sehwarts inthe piso, all hat had happened. Then Schwarte was very much pleated, and said that Has must certanly have been tured into'a black stone, and he should have all the gold to himself. But Cluck wns very sory, and ‘cred all night. When he got up nthe morning, there was no bread in the house, nor any money: s0 Cluck went, and hited Nimself to another goldsmith, and he worked so hard, and so realy, and s0 long every day. that he s00n got money enough together, to pay his brother's fine, and he went, and ave Wall toJoho Ruskin Schwartz, and Schwartz got out of price. Then, Schwartz was Guile pleased, and sid he should have some of the gold of the ver. Bot Glock only begged he would go and see what had become of Hans Now when Schwartz had heard that Hans had stolen the holy water, he thought to himself that such a proceeding might not be Considered altogether correct by the King of the Golden River, ‘Std determined to manage matters beter” So he took some more GF Glock money, and went to a bad priest, who gave him some holy water very readily for Then Sehwartz was sure it was all tite right. So Schwartz got up early sn the morning before the Shim rove, and took some bread and sine, ina basket, and put holy water in a flask, and act off for the mountains. Like his brother he was och surprised at the sight of the glacier, and ad reat difficulty in crossing even ater Teaving his basket behind Fim. The day was cloudless, but not bright: there was a heawy pre haze hanging aver the sky, and the hills looked lowering {ind gloomy, And at Schwrarts elimbed the steep rock path, the thirst came upon him, at had upon bis brother, unt he lifted his flask to his lips to drake Then he saw dhe fai cid Ing near im fom the racks, and i ried to him, and moaned for water ‘Water indeed,’ said Sehwarty,"T haven't alf enough for myself and pasted on. And as he went he thought the snbeams grew tore diay and he sae lw hank of Black eloud rising out ofthe ‘West, and, when he had climbed for another hour, the thirst ‘vercame him aguin, and he wold have drunk: Then he saw the Sd man fying before him on the path, and heard iin ery out for Staten "Water, indeed,” sid Schwartz, “haven't half enough for Tryst and tm he sent "Then agai the light seemed to fade from before his eyes, and he locked up, and, beh, a mist of the colour of bod, had come fver the sun, and the bank of biack cloud had risen very high, and Its edges were tossing and tumbling ike the waves of the angry Sea, And they east ong shadows, which fickered over Schwartz path “Then Schwartz climbed for another hour, and again Iie hiest returned, and as he Wied his ask to his lips, he thought he saw his brother Hans lying exhausted on the path before him, and, 35 the gazed, the Bure stretched i arms to him, and exied for wat Ha, ha” Taughed Schwartz, ‘are you there? remember the prison ‘The King of the Golden River bars, my boy. Water, indeed! do you suppose I caried st all the ‘way up here for you?” And he strode ever the figure, yet, a8 he passed, he thought he siw strange expression of mockery about {ts lps. And. when he had gone a few yards farther, he looked Iback; but the figure was not there “And a sudden horvor came over Schwart, he Kew not why; but the thirst for gold prevailed over his fer, and he rushed on And the bank of black cloud rose to the zenith, and out of i came bursts of spiy lightning, and waves of darkness seemed to heave and float, between thetr flashes, over the whole heavens. And he ‘ky where the sun wat setting was all evel, an Uke a lake of ‘ood: and a strong wind eame oot of that shy, tearing it erimaon clouds into fragments, and scattering them far into the darkness. ink of the Golden River, is but their fom wa ike ite tnd the roar of the waters below, and the thunder hove met at Ihe cast the flask into the steam, And, as he did so, the lightning sled in his eyes, and the eath gave way beneath hi, and the ‘waters closed. over his ery. And the mouning of the river rote ‘wildly into the ight, a8 gushed over the ‘Two Back Stones cnarr How litle Gluck st off on an Expedition tothe Golden River, and howe he prospered therein, with other matters of interest, ‘When Gluck found that Schwartz did aot come back. he was very sony, and did not know what to do. He had 'no money, and was ‘obliged to go and hire himself again vo the goldsmith, who worked him very hard, and save him very litle money. So, after a month, for two, Gluck grew tired, and made up his mind to go and tay his fortune sith the Golden River “The Ile king looked very bind. thought he. T don't think he wil turn me into Black stone” So he went to the priest, and the priest give him some holy water ae S000 a5 he asked fori. Then Gluck took some bread in his basket, fd the bottle of water, and set off very early for the mountains 1 the glacier had oceasioned a great deal of fatigue to his brothers, was twenty Hes worse for him, who was neither 30Joho Ruskin strong nor so practised onthe mountains. He had several very bad Gt st his Bake, and trend, and was very much frightened st the strange notes wer the fe He ly along time 1 rest onthe fs ater he had got over and began to cmb the hl ost nthe Sots prt of the dy. When he had elimbed fran hoor, he got ‘renifally thirsty. and wae ging to drink Me hs brothers, when the aw a old man coming down the path above him, ooking very feeble and leaning on u sta."My sn.” sald the old man, Tam faint with thet, give me some of that water’ Then Gluck Woked ft hm, sod when he sw that he was pale and weary, he gave him the water ‘Only pray dont drink tally sid Glock. But the old Iman drank a great desk and gave him back the bot two-thirds pty, Then he bade him good speed, and Gluck went on again merry And the path became easier to his feet, and two or three Dies of ge appetred pon Mand some prasshoppers began Singing om the bank beside and. Glock thought he had never Teard sock mere singing "Then he weat on for anther hour, and the thst Increased on tims that he thought he shouldbe freed to drink, But, as be ‘aise the fas, he swat child Ing panting by the roadside, in it evi oat patel for water, ‘Then Cluck struged with TnI and determined ta bear Be eis ite longer, and he pt the bottle to the cls ip, and drank tall but afew drops ‘Then i med on him, andpot wp, aed ran down the hil, an {Glck looked after tills Became as smal as hte sta, and thon tuned, and began climbing again. And then there were all Kinds of cet lowers growing on the rocks, bright green 05, ‘wth pale pink sary Bowers, and sof ballad gentians, more blve Than the sky at ie deepest, and pure white tansparent Iles. And fimson and purple butterBies darted iter and thither, and the Sy seme down such pe ight that Click had never S50 happy inhi ie Tet. wlen he hal climbed for another hour, his thirst came intlersble gun, and, when he loked at his bate, he sw that there were only five or si drops let nH, and he could not outure to drink. And, at he was hanging the Bask to his belt enn, he saw ite dog ying om the rocks, gasping fr breath — hots Hans had sen Ion the day of his ascent. And. Gluck Stopped and Yaad att, and then at the Golden River, not five Ihondved yards above him, and he thought ofthe dvart's words, The King of the Golden Bier hat mo ane coal sce, exept the et ater ale tre pr the dog, Bott hoe pou ad Chek pod sou or bone ol lat, Wb dnd wen ee Teen tea dot np Te eked der ond har cd it oe trl 9 hin a nour tnt fe cel nt sae Gold the King adhe pl sal lak nde opened the Hasan poured al the ter ino the do noah he dng nd do od et i sopra 10 es bcm ing loge, sly, len ts nse ieee ery ved ye cme very alg resco the dog wat pn, od nbs lo sol hs ad sepa the King of the Golden River. $ “Thnk you mid the mach, ot dob ghee igh Clack showed mut Spins of tmsraion at the inlet ey tos lt Sheree. da pos ‘ome before th tr. of soning ete ‘sly bins af our fief hve the tale of ting [i nat Vary hod tes ey mae en ‘Oh dt mel tad Gk es yo ely bon rel? ‘Grut dthe wet “tcy poured tly water ty my se dtp Tn og aoe ‘Why sd Chee Tam se r—your mae, | mean ‘got the water out of the church font. es E54 ‘er ela ond the Gv but and is countenance sce tm the aol tater wh ben fond the Sy ofthe weary at ing ren, though had bos Bese by every mit in heme snd the ter Sach eo he wl low ita nen ee wt comes So saying deep sn lady at era hie feet On te white leaves there hung three dope let dew. And he da sak then the fal whch Cc ha ahs had. {Cathe te rhe yan sen on he te the moana iat the esas Valley: had ol sped Ashe moked ge of the douf Yee tee sing cr ofc se med homeo apts mi St doy ig be od fr an tnt ve eth her ash te tito rand bev The color grew ft te mit et ‘the air; the monarch had evaporated. 2 ‘And Clad cod to he rk ofthe Golden River, ad wits ere ders tal ad lt the nAJohn Ruskin when be cast the three drops of dew into the stream, there ‘opened where they fll, smal cicularwhirioo into which the Waters descended with & musial nose. Gluck stook watching for Mine time, very much dicappeinted, canes not only the river twas not tured into gold but its waters seemed much diminished In quantity: Yet he obeyed his friend the dar, and descended the fother side of the mountains, towards the Treasure Valley; and, 3s the ent, e thought he heard the noite of water working its way sander the ground. And, when he eame in sight of the Treasure Valley, bebol, a rvey, like the Golden River, was springing from anew left ofthe racks above i, and was flowing in innumerable Streams among the dry heaps of red Sand, And as Gluck zed, Fresh grass sprang beside the new streams, and ereeping plants rem, and climbed among the moistening soll Young flowers ‘pened suddenly along the river sides, a stars leap out when tilicht is deepening, and thickets of mytle, and tendrils of vine, ‘ast lengthening shadows over the valley as they grew. And thus the Treasure Valley became a garden again, and the inheritance, tvhich had been lst by erulty, was regained by love. And Gluck vent, and dwelt in-the valley, and the poor were never driven Tom bis door, o that his bans became fll af corn, and his house fl treasure. And, for bim, the river had, according tothe dar’ promis, become a River of Gold. And, to this day, the inhabitants ff the valley point out the place, where the three drops of holy ‘ew wore cast nto the stream, ad trae the course ofthe Golden Fiver under the ground, unt itemenges inthe Treasure Valley ‘And, atthe top ofthe cataract of the Golden River are still to be Seen two BLACK TONES, round stich the waters how! mournfully fvery day at sunset and these stones are stil called by the people ofthe valley, ‘Tue Black BROTHER. 1850 FRANCES. BROWNE The Story of Fairyfoot Ovex ug tine te sod tr sen othe ate ct Sea a tnd sn wh sro, marke pl, os Mion, ih cre ahr cntenmasething he epi e Ain ca ly Senge ds tong hey oe ne wei dn he ot fea in wh teas sound sw enced {i if tnd ede Hod a ya eat eee a Dred sv agro tenant Bcd gr {Sevylor Stomp ies tester hsp a he al wt wiht he “ere wre sng shonin, Fs hat a as samo be inked tne ou ef mid by the ena no Sa ced Sg beyond fs tsa oe csc tive tae ly ifthe bear Sn Peo of Stmindene wre ws ado nen moa Se St iad et ge sd ny its by mo mens co ‘ee cay te Wher toa nto ae orth ps ean lt pte ia hc ion thr lw minor nh ge the eager ne thy, here a Sed hve he eo ‘jedi stool tau he et tty a tin aed oceans gaa act ing ssn chy seca op sige wale ‘red rpana Stompin hl sing tom, ane was St say wn ery acts gel Rs jc a Mord Wa a's eh se