Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/200

 to the goats, they’re out in the meadow. There, don’t disturb thyself any more about the trick Rubezahl played thee; who knows but he may yet fully indemnify thee for all thou hast lost?”—“I shall have to wait long enough for that,” said Stephen, in a deplorable tone.—“Long looked-for comes at last,” returned Lisa. “Come, pluck up thy spirits, Stephen; though thou hast lost thy glass, and I, to tell thee the truth, my goats, we have still four healthy children, and four strong arms to get a home for them and ourselves.”—“God help us!” cried Stephen, disconsolately; “if the goats are lost thou hadst better throw the children into the river at once, for I can do nothing for them!”—“Well, I can,” said Lisa.

At this moment the friendly Priest, who in his anxiety about Lisa and her family, had got up early and come to see whether Stephen was returned, entered the room; having listened outside, he had heard the whole conversation, and forthwith proceeded to address to Stephen a long homily on the text, “Avarice is the root of all evil.” Having sufficiently taken him to task on this head, and expounded the right use of riches, he gradually informed him that Lisa had succeeded to a valuable property. Taking from his pocket the Italian letter, he translated it word for word, and informed Stephen that he, being the actual priest