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THE DRUMMER. |
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doubt, do me some mischief. I can easily strangle wolves and bears, but I cannot defend myself against these earth worms."
" Listen, little man," he said, " I pledge myself that you and your companions shall for the future be left in peace; and now tell me what you wish, for I am quite ready to do your pleasure."
" You have long legs," said the drummer, " so that you can run more swiftly than I can. Carry me to the glass mountain, and I will take that as a proof of your kind feeling towards us, and my people shall leave you in peace."
" Come here,'worm," said the giant, " seat yourself on my shoulders, and I will carry you wherever you wish!" . The giant then lifted him up, and the drummer soon began to play away on his drum to his heart's content. The giant was quite satisfied ; he thought this would be a sign to the rest of the little people that he was friendly with them.
After a while, a second giant made his appearance, and he took the drummer from the first, and stuck him in the button-hole of his coat. The drummer seized the button, which was as large as a dish, andholding fast by it, looked about him quite contentedly. Presently came a third, who took him from the button-hole, and placed him on the brim of his hat, from which elevation he could look over the tree tops.
All at once in the blue distance he espied a mountain. " Ah !" thought he, " that is certainly the glass mountain f and so it was.
The giant, after a few more steps, reached the foot .of the mountain, and then he lifted the drummer from his hat, and placed him on the ground. The little man wished to be carried to the top of the mountain, but the giant shook his head, murmured something in his beard, and went back to the wood*
There stood the poor little drummer at the foot of the mountain, which looked as high above him as if three mountains had been placed one upon another. The sides were as slippery as a mirror, and there seemed no possible means of reaching the top. He began to climb, but he slid backwards at every step. " If I were a bird, now," he said to himself; but it was only half a wish, and no wings grew.
While he thus stood, not knowing how to help himself, he saw at a little distance two men struggling together. He went up to them, and found that they were quarrelling about a saddle which lay on the ground between them, and which they each wished to have. |
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