title: The wonderbox stories
text: mmm V. i)Ui I * ' . • • I • • *!(*-» !• t • < FT MEADE CenCol 1 iV ■ • Jvji j. ji • ••• . . *; ; I i?r t v. : TTJBB COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT / * • ». ■ • 4 \ The W onderbox Stories * The W onderbox Stories By Will Bradley Tork^ The Century Co. 1916 Copyright, 1916 , by The Century Co. Published October, 1916 NOV 14 1916 ©CLA445637 ( ' Contents PAGE Much from Little 3 The Two Chests 23 Hans and the Hoop of Gold 36 The Master Makes a Bargain 49 The Lad and Luck’s House 64 The Five Golden Candlesticks 82 Hans the Wise 99 Three — and a Fourth 117 Snip and Stitch 132 Nip and Tuck 144 Will Bradley ’ Wonderbox Stories Much from Little O NE fine day in June there was such a stir in Noodle- burg as had not been seen in that town for many a day: a herald astride a big white charger was riding up one street and down another and all the while blowing a gay tune upon his bugle. When the people had come from out their houses and had followed that herald into the market-place, he turned his horse about, and this is what he said: “ In a land over the hills away, there is a King who is looking for a husband for the Princess; but the Princess has vowed and declared how she will never marry unless she is brought a dress, the finest in all the world, into the making of which there has gone no sorrow and nothing save kindness. So the King decrees that whoever will bring such a dress may have the Princess, and half the kingdom to boot.” Yes, that was what the herald said in the market-place of Noodleburg that day in June. As you may well guess, this set the people’s tongues to wagging, and it was n’t long before a word or two came to the ear of the Provost. How he did chuckle when he heard what the King intended to give away! This is why the Provost chuckled. He thought: “ Surely there are no lads in all the land smarter than the two I have 3 Will Bradley's W onderbox Stories at home. I will fit them out with this, that, and the other, and off they shall go to find the dress. If one of them finds it not and fails to win the Princess, then must she surely fall to the lot of the other.” It did n’t take long then for the Provost to get the lads ready. Unto each he gave a fine suit of clothes for his back, a bag of silver pennies to tie at his belt, and a good steed for the journey. This was all right and good, said the two sons, but who ever heard of any one riding out to win a Princess with no servant to wait upon him — to brush his clothes, hold his stirrup, and dance here, there, and yonder, as might be need. Now the Provost was close-fisted and stingy, and he could n’t hear the silver pennies jingling in the two bags with- out making a wry face over the matter. But if the two lads must have a servant, why of course they must; only they could n’t each have one ; no, there must be one for the two. And see how would Brother Hans’s boy, Peter, do? Well, since that was all the sauce there was to that pud- ding, why they must make the best of it; so if the Provost would send for Peter they would be getting along on their journey. Brother Hans was a poor wood-chopper living at the edge of the Black Forest over beyond Noodleburg. As for Peter, if one was to say he had enough to eat each day, but no more, and one suit of clothes to his back, and no other, that would be only the bare truth. Yes, Peter could ride with the Provost’s two sons. Hans wouldn’t say no to that offer, for perhaps the lad could earn a penny or two and see a bit of the world into the bargain. 4 Much from Little So the Provost’s sons bestrode their fine steeds, and Peter mounted a little donkey, and off they started. Up one street and down another they went, and by and by came out upon the highway. All day they traveled with the good sun warm upon their backs, and the birds singing by the wayside, arriving, when it was nearly evening, at a big town that lay just over the hills. “ Do you go ahead, Peter, and get us lodging for the night at some inn,” said the older son. “ And a good supper, mind you ! ” said the younger. Peter let his little donkey run at a smart gallop, and presently came into the town and saw before him a fine inn with lights in every window and with the savor of meats a-cooking coming out of the open door. Just across the way was another inn, not so big by one half as that fine one, yet a neat and tidy-looking place withal, and as good, indeed, as any there were back in Noodleburg. At first Peter was for going into the fine inn, and he said, “ Surely, this is the sort of place they will be wanting.” Then he glanced over the way. “ But if they are of a mind to be saving their pennies,” he thought, “ then it is the other they would choose. I had best get them lodging there.” Across the way he went then, and no sooner was the mat- ter settled with the landlord than up the street came the two sons. So Peter thought they wanted to stop at the little inn, did he? And when there was such fine entertainment to be had across the way? Well, if that was how he was going to do their bidding, why, he could go without his supper; it was high time he was taught a lesson. If he wanted a bed, he 5 Much from Little would have to look for one in the stable. That is what the two sons told him. As for them, they would certainly lodge in the big inn. Off Peter went with his donkey and the two horses; and when he had fed them, he shook down a little straw for their beds, then curled up in a corner and went to sleep. Whatever happened that night with the Provost’s two sons is more than I can tell. But it must have been a jolly time they were having, for never a minute passed when there was not flying out of the open windows a sound of singing and laugh- ter. On the morrow Peter was up early, and, when he had fed and saddled the horses, there was such a noise and stir in the stable-yard that he must needs go and see what it was all about. No sooner did he get outside the door than he saw three stout lads with stones and sticks in their fists tormenting a little green frog, while they shouted and laughed in great glee. “ Here is a game another can play at,” said Peter. And in a moment he, too, had a stick in his fist and was wielding it as well as the best of them. But it was n’t the frog that felt Peter’s blows; he was dusting the jackets of the three lads with such warm whacks that he who received one was glad to avoid another. While the lads were scampering away (which they did as fast as their legs could carry them), the frog escaped also. When Peter had led the horses around into the street, there was the landlord of the little inn standing smiling in the doorway. “ Good morning, lad,” said the landlord. 7 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories “ Good morning, sir,” said Peter. And now would Peter come over the way a moment? The landlord had a word or two the lad might be glad to hear. See? The landlord had heard how Peter got no supper the night before, and how he was like to get no breakfast; here was a bit of bread and cheese he might slip into his pocket to eat by the way. And, since the landlord liked the looks of such a lad as Peter, here was something more, which no doubt would come in handy some day. With that he dropped into Peter’s hand a tiny silver casket. “How long is our servant going to keep us waiting?” These were the words of the older son when he came out of the inn and saw Peter over the way. “ And what can be in that little silver casket the lad has just slipped into his pocket?” That was what the older son was wondering. But of this he said nothing. All that day they traveled under the good blue sky and at evening came into another town. Peter knew better what to do this time, for had n’t he been taught a good lesson yesterday? There would be no trying to save pennies now. This time he chose the fine inn; and gay times they cer- tainly were having inside, for every guest was a rich lord or noble, journeying on to the King’s town, where each hoped to be the one to win the fair Princess. Well, no sooner had Peter begun his bargaining with the landlord than up the street came clattering the two sons. So Peter was for putting them in this fine inn, was he? Did n’t he know they had spent nigh all their money in the last inn? No, they would go to the small one over the way. 8 Much from Little As for Peter, why it was plain he would never learn how to serve them. He had best find a bed in the stable again, and get no supper into the bargain. The two sons had no pennies left to waste on such a stupid lad; and anyway, he needed another lesson.. This night there was such a throng of travelers in the Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories town, that, with all their servants and lackeys to be housed, there was not so much as an inch of room to spare, even in the stable. A sheltered nook in the lee of a big rock was the only place that Peter could find. “ I am in great luck to get such a fine bed,” said he, for the night was warm, and he did not mind having no more above his head than the twinkling stars. No sooner did Peter have his jacket rolled up for a pillow, than he saw that another had occupied his nook before him. “ Oh, ho! ” said he, “ if I sleep here, I am to have a spider for my bedfellow, am I? He has spun a fine web, too. It would be a shame to spoil what has cost him so much hard labor. I will just find me a new bed.” On the morrow, when Peter stood with the horses before the little inn, the landlord stepped out of the door of the fine inn over the way. Would Peter be good enough to step across the street? The landlord had something he would say to him. See? The landlord had heard how Peter had no supper the night before, and how they would give him no breakfast. Here was a bit of roast chicken he might tuck into his pocket to eat by the way. And — it was good to have a look at a fine lad like Peter — here was a little gold casket he might have ; it would come in handy some day. “Well, well, well! we can’t be waiting here all day for our servant to come and hold our stirrups,” is what the younger son said when he came out of the inn and saw Peter talking with the landlord over the way. But all the while he was thinking: “ I wonder what can be the contents of that little gold casket? ” Much from Little Just then the elder son came out of the inn. He had paid the score and there was not one penny left to jingle against another in either of the two bags. Nothing remained now but for Peter to sell the donkey. It would never do for the Provost’s two sons to ride to the King’s town with not a penny upon them to buy a night’s lodging or to get a bit to eat by the way. When the donkey had been sold and the pennies counted into the two bags, the two sons mounted their fine steeds and left Peter to trudge on afoot. How the two were ever going to get the dresses that would win the Princess they did not know. “ We must trust to luck,” they said. “ Ho, Brother,” grumbled the older son, u we are getting on but slowly; we must ride double. I will take our servant on my horse for away, then ’t will be your turn.” Not long did they ride before the older son must know a thing or two about the silver casket; and in the end, there it was snug in his pocket. Such trinkets were not for servants, he said. Peter should have handed it over in the beginning; it was very plain he needed another lesson, so he must get down and walk. “H’m! Well, we will never get to the King’s town at this rate,” said the younger son. “ ‘ Needs must when need drives.’ Come, fellow, get up with me.” Peter mounted before the younger son. As it happened before, so it happened now. They had not gone far before Peter was paying well for his ride, and this time with the gold casket. After that, it was n’t long until Peter was again on the ground with no more to bear him on his journey than his two good legs. 11 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories Now that they had the two caskets, the Provost’s sons were of no mind to have their journey delayed any longer by their servant; so, putting spurs to their horses, they went galloping off down the road with never so much as one “ good-by ” to Peter. Yes, the Provost’s two sons went clattering off and left Peter alone on the highway. Over the hills they rode and through the valleys, and by evening came to the town where the King lived. There they sold their horses and took lodgings. As may well be guessed, no sooner was the older son alone in his room than he must be taking a peep at the silver casket. My, how he did skip and dance and caper about when he saw what was inside! For no sooner did the lid spring open than he beheld neither more nor less than a beautiful silk dress. All of the color of spun silver, it was, and so finely woven that not one little bit did it get wrinkled from being confined in the tiny casket. That he would win the Princess with such a dress as that, the older son never once doubted. While the older son was busy with the silver casket, the younger son was having a peep into the gold casket; what he found there was another dress as like to that silver one as two peas in a pod, only that the color was like unto spun gold. “ There can be no dress one half so beautiful as this,” said the younger son, “ and now the Princess will surely be mine.” In the morning the two sons started off to the palace. Each carried in his pocket one of the tiny caskets, and in his mind the thought that when he was next traveling that way it would 12 Much from Little be the Princess he’d have at his side and not his brother; and that he would be riding in the King’s finest coach and not kicking his toes in the dust with all the common folks. When at last they came to the palace, there were the King and Princess seated on a high platform, and before them a long line of noble suitors, each bearing his beautiful gift. If ever a lady wanted to see fine dresses, she should have been in the King’s town on that day, for never before nor since has there been such a sight. At the very end of the line, the Provost’s two sons had to wait nearly the whole day, it took the Princess so long to judge. Some of the gowns were so lovely it seemed as if she surely must choose one of them, but always, when she looked carefully, there was to be found a thread of sorrow that had gone somewhere into their making. At last up stepped the older son. My, but the Princess did like that gown in the silver casket, and no mistake ! Look as hard as she would there was not to be found in it one single thread of sorrow. Yet she couldn’t quite decide; the Provost’s older son was just to be seated beside her, and she would take a look in the gold cas- ket. Up stepped the younger son. A fine gown it was that came out of the gold casket and no two words on that! and now it was harder deciding than ever. If the silver gown was beautiful, certainly it was no more so than the gold one; neither was the gold more beautiful than the silver; never one single stitch of sorrow could the Princess find in either. As for choosing, she just couldn’t that night; the Provost’s two sons would please be kind enough to wait until the morrow; 13 W ill Bradley's W onderbox Stories and now she would be glad to have them come up to the palace for supper. Meanwhile what had happened to Peter? No sooner had the Provost’s two sons left him alone on the highway, than Peter began to wonder whether it was best to go on or turn back. Then he said, “ Surely, if I may not ride, I can at least go afoot, and no doubt there will be fine sights to be seen in the King’s tow T n.” So, right foot for- ward, off he started. A long way Peter traveled, and presently there he was, so tired and hungry he could n’t go another step. Then he sat down on a rock and felt in the corner of one pocket and found a little bread and cheese, and in the corner of the other and found a bit of roast chicken; and that wasn’t the worst meal that might be, either. When Peter had finished eating, he saw that there were a few ants running here and there upon the ground, so he shook them the crumbs from off his lap, and, getting to his feet, started again on his journey. A little breeze was singing in the tree-tops, and the great white clouds were tumbling overhead as the lad went trudg- ing along. Over hills he traveled and through dales, all of that day and all of the next, arriving at the King’s town just at the dusk of evening. What a buzz there was in the streets, what excitement, and how people were talking! “What is it all about?” That was the first question Peter had to ask. Why just this; there had come two smart lads from Noodle- burg, with two fine caskets containing two beautiful dresses. They were up at the palace now, having supper with the 14 Much from Little Princess. Which one of the two she would be choosing to have for her husband was more than ever a body could tell. But ’t would be one or t’ other, that was sure and cer- tain. When Peter heard this, off he started for the palace. “ Now,” said he, “ is the time they will be needing a servant to brush their clothes and wait upon them while they are visiting the Princess.” No, Peter couldn’t enter the palace. That’s what the guard told him when he reached the front gate. Such a thing was not to be thought of. The King was n’t for having a poor lad like Peter about while the Princess was at supper with her two fine suitors. Peter must be locked in the guard- house for the present — that would surely save trouble. “ There is no telling,” said the guard, “ what tricks a lad like you might be up to.” A hard bench in the guard-house was all Peter had for his bed that night; but he was too tired to mind it one particle and slept as soundly as might be. In the morning early, when he awoke, he jumped up and said: “ I will just be tidying up a bit to pay for my night’s lodging.” In one corner was a pile of sweepings. “ I will clean this up first,” said he, as he started to brush it into the dust- pan. Now, at the very bottom of the pile there was hiding a little green frog. “ Oh, ho! ” said Peter, when he saw the frog winking and blinking up at him, “so I have spoiled your house, have I? Well, that is too bad, but perhaps you can find a better one 15 Will Bradley s W onderbox Stories outside.” Then he stooped to pick up the little creature, intending to put it out at the door. No sooner did Peter touch the frog with the tip of his finger, than lo, a most wonderful thing happened! With a hop and a bound the frog jumped right out of its skin and off through the open window. And the skin that it left on the floor? Ah, that was a skin no longer; it was now a beautiful green suit, all of silk and velvet. It took Peter only a minute to see that this suit was intended for him, and only another minute to get it upon his back. A fine suit it was, too; there were not many tailors could make a fit like that every day. Not one single kink or wrinkle was there anywhere; and as for looks, never Prince in all the realm wore clothes so beautiful. Peter opened the door and walked out, and the guard never even said “ Boo.” The guard thought Peter to be some fine noble, and doffed his cap and bowed very politely. Presently there was a blare of trumpets, and out of the gate came the King mounted on a fine charger, and beside the King rode the Princess, as sweet and lovely a little lady as ever one would care to see. Back of the Princess came the Provost’s two sons, bearing the two caskets, and back of these many lords and ladies. The Princess looked about here and there, bowing to one and nodding to another, until presently her eyes fell upon Peter. If any one were to say that sight pleased her, it would be to tell what was no more than the truth. When the King and the Princess had mounted the plat- form and were seated in their great gilded chairs, the King 16 Much from Little called forward the Provost’s two sons with their gold and silver caskets, and he said: “Willy-nilly, the Princess must now take her pick of one of these, for she has vowed and declared she would marry whoever brings her a dress, the finest in all the world, into the making of which there had gone no sorrow. Here, then, are two such dresses.” So the Princess must be taking a look at the two dresses again. First she was for having the gold one; then it was the silver one she thought the most beautiful. But any one with half an eye could see that the choice lay not with the two dresses, but with the two lads who bore them, and that neither of these was pleasing to the Princess. Yes, that is what any one with half an eye could see. But if any one used two eyes, and these were very sharp, it might easily be seen that not so much was the Princess thinking of the Provost’s two sons as of the lad yonder, in the fine green suit of silk and velvet. “ And is there not some other suitor, who, perchance, has arrived late?” That is what the Princess had to ask now. “ No, there are no others,” answered the King, and he told the Princess she was to take her pick of these two and be done with it. Well, the Princess did n’t say “ No ” to that, only first she would like to speak a word or two with the lad in green yonder. The King could see no sense in that, but he made no objec- tion if she would be quick about it. So presently Peter was brought before the Princess, who 1 7 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories blushed very prettily and cast down her eyes as she let her fingers fall to playing with the folds of her dress. Did the lad have a gift for her? The Princess no more than whispered this question without once lifting her eyes. How the Provost’s two sons did laugh when they saw that the lad in green was only their servant, Peter. And so that simpleton was setting himself up to win the Princess, was he? Well, that would be a good joke to tell of when they were over in Noodleburg again. Peter was sorry he had no gift for the Princess. Of course there were those two caskets, which were really his; but who- ever would believe it if he told how they had been taken from him? The Princess was sorry also when Peter told her he had no gift to offer. “ That is too bad,” she said; “ now I sup- pose there is no help for it only to choose one of these cas- kets.” The Princess then handled the silver dress, but all the time, out of the corner of her eye, she was looking at Peter. Then it was the gold dress she handled; but never for a moment could she forget the lad in green. At last, with tears in her eyes, she turned to the great gath- ering of her subjects and said: “My beloved people, your Princess has pledged her word to take for her husband the one in all the land who brings to her a dress into the making of which has gone no sorrow. Two such dresses are now before me. Your Princess will keep her word. Your Prin- cess has made her choice, and will have for her husband, to sit beside her on the throne and rule one half of the king- dom, that one of these two whose dress is the color of spun — ” 18 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stones “ Hold, my Princess ! ” It was Peter who cried this. “ Wait! Decide not until you see my gift, for I too have a gift for thee, even though it be but a small one.” As Peter spoke, he held out his hand; and in his palm there was only a little gray web which a spider had just left there. That was a poor enough gift indeed to offer a Princess, and how the Provost’s two sons did laugh ! The King stamped his foot and raved, as mad as could be. What did the lad in green mean by playing such a scurvy trick upon the Princess? The King would like an answer to that question. Where were the guards? Let them come at once and pack the lad off to prison. The King would n’t have any more delay or any more fooling; there had been too much of that already; the Princess was just to make her choice of either the gold or the silver dress, and be done with it. While the King was raving and stamping about, the Princess didn’t hear one single word that he said. She held out her hand to receive Peter’s gift; and, when she looked up into his face, the bright light that came dancing into her eyes drove away the tears very quickly, I can tell you. Peter dropped the web into her little hand, and no sooner did it feel that gentle touch than it all unfolded; no longer a spider’s web, but changed to a beautiful filmy dress, like unto a rainbow mist from Dreamland. It did n’t take long now for the Princess to get the whole story out of the lad in green. Then it was good to see the way the King’s lackeys made birch switches dance a jig upon 20 Much from Little the backs of the Provost’s two sons as they chased them through the town and out on the road to Noodleburg. Which one of them she would have chosen I do not know; but now it was the lad in green she would have, and it was easily seen he was the sort of a lad she had been waiting for. “ Well, you may have him if you wish,” said the King, “ but as for me, I will never give one half of the kingdom to a poor wood-chopper’s son with only one decent suit to his back, so there is no need to say any more words on that matter.” That speech of the King made no difference to the Princess and Peter, however. They were sure they would be very happy, even if they could n’t have one half of the kingdom. The Princess then said “ Good-by ” to Peter and started for the palace to prepare for the wedding, which she said would be held that very afternoon. As for Peter, the people bore him away on their shoulders to the finest inn in town, and all the while they were singing and cheering in greatest glee. When Peter reached his room at the inn, he must needs stand and wait in the hall, there was such a colony of ants swarming through the door as covered nearly one half the floor. Every ant bore in its mouth a grain of sand, and these they deposited in a little heap upon the floor. When the last ant had brought in its burden and departed, the mound began to glow and glimmer, to burn and crackle, to flash and sparkle, until presently there lay upon the floor, not a heap of sand, but more than a bushel of rich and rare jewels. Not a jewel in all that pile was smaller than a hazel-nut, some of them were much larger; and, besides diamonds, rubies, 21 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories and sapphires, there was at least one of every other rare stone that one might mention. When the King learned of all these riches that had come to Peter he began to whistle a new tune. As for giving him half the kingdom, he was glad enough to do that now, I can tell you. It was n’t every day he could be sure of finding a clever lad like Peter. After the wedding, which was the finest ever held in that country, matters went very smoothly with poor Hans’s son, and he and the Princess lived together long and happily. When it came time for them to rule over the whole kingdom, they ruled wisely and justly and were greatly loved by all their subjects. 22 The Two Chests D OWN by the river bank, just outside of the town of Noodleburg, was the great windmill of Rich Peter. How it came about that he was called Rich Peter is more than I can tell, though in truth the matter seems not over-strange, since ’t is certain he had great store of riches. Some folk say (and indeed it has been so whispered to me) that Rich Peter got his riches by taking somewhat more of corn from each farmer’s bags than was his due for the mill- ing. Yet of this I cannot say for certain, but only know that he was a sour, crusty old fellow, with never a good word for a body, and nought save envy for any bit of luck that came tumbling to his neighbors. Now, joining the land of the miller, on a rough bit of stony • ground, was the house and farm of Hans, the brother of Rich Peter; and because but little would grow upon this farm, Hans got the name of Poor Hans. But if Hans and his good wife were poor, yet they always had enough to eat and a bit left over, and of clothes enough to keep them warm and one suit apiece for Sunday. So you see there was cause for joy in their house, and they never let sorrow get a warm nest in the corner. Indeed, Hans always went about his work with such a twinkle in his eye and such a laughing countenance that most folk got to calling him not Poor 23 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories Hans, but Happy Hans, which was a name, I think, quite worth the having. Well, one day when Hans had been to market with some parsnips and turnips and was returning whistling a merry tune as he sat astride his little donkey, between the two empty panniers, it happened that Rich Peter was riding that way also. 24 The Two Chests Down the road he came, dressed in his finest Sunday clothes and astride his big bay horse. Did he speak to Hans? Oh, no, Rich Peter would not speak to Hans. He just rode by with his nose high in the air and never a nod for anybody, and pretty soon was lost to sight in a bend in the roadway. Now just beyond this bend was another traveler — a little old lady with a basket of eggs tucked under her arm. “ How do you do, Master Miller? ” said the little old lady. But never a word did she get in reply. No, the miller just rode on with his nose high in the air, and the only answer that went to the little old lady was a cloud of dust that was kicked up about the horse’s feet. “ Ker-choo !” said the little old lady, “Ker-choo! Ker-choo! )} for the dust had made her sneeze and had gotten into her eyes. So she wiped her eyes, and, by then, along came Hans. “Oh, ho!” said Hans. Then, quick as a wink, he was in the road- way, and had picked up the dame, and had her seated between the pan- niers, without so much as breaking a single egg. Doffing his cap, Hans bowed in a courtly manner, and the dame bade him good day and laughed full merrily. After that, Hans took the donkey by the bridle and led it along the highway, and he and the little old lady fell to talking together 25 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories of this and that and the other — as of the weather, and how the crops looked, and such like matters, — and in a little while they came to the gate before Hans’s house. So Hans helped her to alight from the donkey, and she thanked him for his kindness and said: “ Maybe, now, thou art called Happy Hans? ” Hans laughed merrily at this and said, “ Aye, good dame, so my neighbors name me.” “ Thou hast but a sorry farm to make thee happy and get thee such a name,” said the little old lady. “ Yet, perchance, an thou wouldst plow yonder hilltop, thy crop would be some- what bettered.” Then she took up her basket and went on her way. At her words, Hans laughed so loud and heartily that the good dame, his wife, must needs come out to see what it was all about. “ See ! ” said Hans, in answer to the good wife. “ Yonder dame bids me plow our stony hilltop and so get bigger crops. Didst ever hear a bigger joke?” and scarcely could he get these words out amidst his laughter. Well, the good wife thought it a jolly joke also, and that the crop was like to be no more than big stones. Then Hans unharnessed the donkey, and after that went in and sat down to a good dish of cabbage broth, and no more was said of the plowing that day. The next day Hans must needs go to the hilltop and look about a little, and so again on the day after; and in the end it came about that one morning, when the good wife looked that way, there was Hans with the donkey hooked to the plow turning the first furrow. “ Well,” said she, “ I will go out and give him a little help.” 26 The Two Chests Up the hill, then, she trudged and came to Hans just as the plow’s nose caught in a great flat stone. So they both took hold of the stone and heaved it over, and there, nigh where the stone was, what should they see glittering in the sun but a fine golden casket and, beside it, one of pewter! “ My, but here are treasures worth the finding! ” said Hans. “ Yes,” said* the good wife, “ here is a crop that is better than stones ! ” “ Aye, or turnips either, for that matter,” said Hans. Well, after they had looked on the caskets some little time in wonder, they took up the gold one; and when they saw how nicely it was wrought, the good wife spoke and said: 2 7 Will Bradley's W onderb ox Stories “ See, Hans, if we take this one, folk will ask how we came by it, and they will say: ‘ Happy Hans is turned thief; bet- ter he had remained Poor Hans.’ Then, when it comes to the ear of the provost, mayhap thou wilt be hailed before the king and cast into prison. What say you, Husband, shall we not put it again beneath the rock and take only the pewter one, which will look so fine on the mantel above the fire? ” Yes, the good wife said all this to Hans; and as for Hans — well, he had eyes that could see more than the shell to that nut and that a good bit pi truth lay in the kernel. So in the end it was done as the good wife wished, and they took away with them only the casket of pewter and left the one of gold beneath the rock on the hilltop. “ See, Husband,” said the good wife, when they had placed the casket upon the mantel, “ does it not look fine? ” “ That it does! ” said Hans. “ What think you it can con- tain? ” Well, the good wife could n’t answer that, but they might look and see. So they had it down off the mantel and found no trouble in opening the lid. Inside was only a bit of parch- ment on which was written : Hah, ant) it aball be tbine till tbou baat enough* “ Now, Wife, what think you can be the meaning of this? ” said Hans. But though they puzzled long on the matter, neither one could find an answer. “ Humph! ” said Hans, at last. “ Wife, I am getting hun- gry. I wish we might have dinner.” Crash ! Bang! Boom! There was a flash of red light 28 The Two Chests in the box, and out hopped two funny little men, who straight- way went about laying the table with all sorts of good things to eat. So quickly did they do this, that Hans and his good wife had scarcely recovered their senses when they saw more food before them than Neighbor Hinckle- fitz had on the day of the mayor’s visit, and that was a good lot, I can tell you ! “ Hold! ” said the good wife, who was a careful, thrifty body and did not like waste. u Surely there is enough here for this day and to-morrow! ” At the word “ Enough ” the little men vanished back into the casket and closed the lid. Well, that was a fine meal for Hans to sit down to, you may be sure, and such cooking as even the. good wife said she had never tasted before ! When they had eaten their fill and had put away, on a shelf in the cupboard, what remained, Hans lent a hand in clearing away the dishes. “ Wife,” said he, “ that was a fine dinner we have just eaten. I wish the donkey out in the barn might have as good.” Crash! Boom! Bang! Up flew the lid of the casket, then there was the red light, and quick as a wink the two little men were out in the barn feeding oats to the donkey. Hans and the good wife were not frightened this time, for they had seen the casket act that way before, only they did not know it was in answer to Hans’s wish. In a little while the dishes were all wiped and put away. 29 Will Bradley’s W onderbox Stories Then Hans and the good wife got them ready to go to town, and started for the barn to harness the donkey. My, what a sight there was to meet their gaze ! There was the barn bursting full and running over with oats, and the two little men shovel- ing in more as fast as ever a body could shovel ! “Hold!” said Hans, for he feared the donkey would be smothered. “ There are enough oats here for a year and a day ! ” At that word “ Enough,” the two lit- tle men vanished, and the click of the lid told that they were again back in the casket. As you will guess, when Hans and the good wife put their heads together, they found it not hard to discover the secret of the casket. Then matters went pretty smoothly in that house, you may be sure. There was always enough and to spare on the pantry shelf, and a bolt or two of good linen in the closet. Said the neighbors: “Happy Hans has a thrifty wife; see how they prosper, and on such a poor bit of land, too.” But of course the neighbors knew noth- ing of the little pewter casket on the man- tel above the fire. Meanwhile, how were matters going with Rich Peter? Well, it did n’t take half a look for Rich Peter to see that mat- 30 The Two Chests ters were better than well with Happy Hans. “ Humph ! ” said he, as he rubbed his nose, “ we shall see! ” So one day, rap, tap, tap , — there was Rich Peter at the door of Happy Hans. “ Good day to you, Brother,” said Rich Peter. u Good day to you, Brother,” said Happy Hans. Then a plate was laid at the table for Rich Peter, and he tucked beneath his napkin as fine a meal as ever might be had at the mayor’s house. “ Ahem! ” began Rich Peter, when the meal was finished. But that was only the beginning, and the end was just this: that from Hans and his good wife he got the whole story of the pewter casket. Then Rich Peter rode off to town, and rap , tap, tap — this time it was at the door of the provost’s house. When Rich Peter and the provost got their heads together, only this could come of it, that Happy Hans must give up the pewter casket. Yes, that was what the provost said when he came to Hans’s house the next day. Of course when the provost said this, Hans knew there were no two ways out of it. So the casket was taken to the house of the rich miller, and there it was to be share and share alike with Rich Peter and the provost. “ What shall we wish for first? ” said the provost. 3i Will Bradley’s Wonderbox Stories “ Oh, thus and so,” said Rich Peter. “ No, that wouldn’t do,” said the provost; “ it must be so and so.” In this way they got to quarreling, the miller wanting one thing and the provost another, and in the end there was no wish made that day, or the next, or the day after. While matters were going this way at the home of Rich Peter, the larder was ever getting lower at the home of Happy Hans. “ Wife,” said Hans one day, “ let us go take a look at the gold casket. For see, the provost has taken away the pewter one, and he can do no more with the other.” After that it was n’t long before the gold casket was on the mantel where had been the one of pewter, and no great time passed before Hans and the good wife had the lid open and found another parchment, on which was written: Baft, anb tbou sbalt bave till tbou art content. About this time Rich Peter had begun to wonder how mat- ters were going with Happy Hans. And the thought : “ Now he is like to be feeling pretty poor without the casket. I will go and see.” And so rap , tap , tap — there was Rich Peter at the door of Happy Hans’s house, just as Hans and his good wife were reading the scroll. Quick as a wink Hans had the parchment in his pocket and the casket back on the mantel. Then it was “ Good day to you, Brother Hans,” and “ Good day to you, Brother Peter ”; 32 The Two Chests and there was Rich Peter in the room with his eyes on the casket. Now this time, Rich Peter was n’t going to bother with the provost — no ! It might be share and share alike with a pewter casket, but a gold casket he was going to get all for him- self. How much did Hans want for it? That was the ques- tion he asked now. “ Well, of course Hans did n’t want to sell, but then might not the provost take this one away, also? Yes, that was what the provost was like to do. So, in the end, Rich Peter went off with the casket, and Hans had a hun- dred good gold dollars jingling in his pocket, and, as my neigh- bor across the way says, many a man has had less. Now, when Rich Peter came to the mill, there was the pro- vost waiting in the doorway. 