Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/173

 the circling dust, which danced up from the arid road, making fine sport for the children, who (Rubezahl altogether forgotten) chased the flying leaves, as airy and well nigh as heedless as they. Among the other things that were tearing about, the boy who had seen, as he thought, the Spirit of the Mountain, descried much more certainly a bit of white paper, which he forthwith made a special dash after. He had just caught hold of it, when there came a gust of wind, and off it went again, and off went the boy. Again and again it escaped him. At last he threw his hat at it, and having caught it in the cleverest way in the world, and found it to be a good big sheet, that might be of use, he ran after his father with it. On examination, what should it turn out to be but the identical note of hand he had given to the Spirit of the Mountain; at the bottom was written: Received in full.

At sight of this, Veit was transported with joy, and loudly exclaimed: “Dear wife! dear children! rejoice with me! He has seen us! he has heard the expression of our heartfelt thanks. Our good benefactor, though he remained invisible to us, knows that Veit is an honest man. I am quit of my debt. Now I can return home happy.” And away went parents and children to their vehicle, weeping tears of joy and gratitude. But ere they returned home, the wife, whom her husband’s narrative had greatly