`` A staff with wings ! It would be an excellent kind of stick for a little boy to ride astride of ! '' By this time , Philemon and his two guests had reached the cottage-door . `` Friends , '' said the old man , `` sit down and rest yourselves here on this bench . My good wife Baucis has gone to see what you can have for supper . We are poor folks ; but you shall be welcome to whatever we have in the cupboard . '' The younger stranger threw himself carelessly on the bench , letting his staff fall , as he did so . And here happened something rather marvellous , though trifling enough , too . The staff seemed to get up from the ground of its own accord , and , spreading its little pair of wings , it half hopt , half flew , and leaned itself against the wall of the cottage . There it stood quite still , except that the snakes continued to wriggle . But , in my private opinion , old Philemon 's eyesight had been playing him tricks again . Before he could ask any questions , the elder stranger drew his attention from the wonderful staff , by speaking to him . `` Was there not , '' asked the stranger , in a remarkably deep tone of voice , `` a lake , in very ancient times , covering the spot where now stands yonder village ? '' `` Not in my day , friend , '' answered Philemon ; `` and yet I am an old man , as you see . There were always the fields and meadows , just as they are now , and the old trees , and the little stream murmuring through the midst of the valley . My father , nor his father before him , ever saw it otherwise , so far as I know ; and doubtless it will still be the same , when old Philemon shall be gone and forgotten ! '' `` That is more than can be safely foretold , '' observed the stranger ; and there was something very stern in his deep voice . He shook his head , too , so that his dark and heavy curls were shaken with the movement , `` Since the inhabitants of yonder village have forgotten the affections and sympathies of their nature , it were better that the lake should be rippling over their dwellings again ! '' The traveller looked so stern , that Philemon was really almost frightened ; the more so , that , at his frown , the twilight seemed suddenly to grow darker , and that , when he shook his head , there was a roll as of thunder in the air . But , in a moment afterwards , the stranger 's face became so kindly and mild , that the old man quite forgot his terror .
Nevertheless , he could not help feeling XXXXX this elder traveller must be no ordinary personage , although he happened now to be attired so humbly , and to be journeying on foot .
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