Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/177

 every ragamuffin that presented himself from his domain with a storm of stones. Even poor innocent travellers, now and then, got so mauled, when the Gnome was out of humour, thinking of the way in which he had been annoyed, that nobody, for a long time, ventured over the mountain without fear and trembling; and, during several generations, the name of Rubezahl was never heard in the mountains.

One day, years and years after Veit was dead and gone, the Gnome, while lying in the sun under the hedge of his garden, saw coming that way a young woman whose appearance struck him: she had an infant at her breast; another child, about a year older, was riding pick-a-back; she led a third by the hand; and a fourth, carrying a basket, and dragging a rake after him, walked on before her. They were going to collect dead leaves and boughs for fuel. “These mothers,” thought Rubezahl, “are excellent creatures. Here is a poor thing dragging about four children, and attending to her work at the same time, without grumbling at it, and presently she’ll have to carry a heavy basket into the bargain. These are the joys of wedded love, are they? Poor thing! She has paid dearly for her whistle!” These reflections put the well-natured Gnome in so benevolent a frame of mind that he resolved to get into conversation with the young woman, and see if he could be of service to her. Meantime, setting her children on the grass,