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the grains with earth； clay； and sand。 Then； after long and hard
seeking； it will be found in this state； by those who have good
luck or much patience。 But； my friend； the hour of dinner is at
hand。 If you wish to remain in this place； and feast your eyes
on this gold； then stay till I call you。'
In his absence Hans wandered from one treasure chamber to
another； sometimes trying to break off a little lump of gold； but
never able to do it。 After awhile his host came back； but so
changed that Hans could not believe it was really he。 His silken
clothes were of the brightest flame colour； richly trimmed with
gold fringes and lace； a golden girdle was round his waist； while
his head was encircled with a crown of gold； and precious stones
twinkled about him like stars in a winter's night； and in place
of his wooden stick he held a finely worked golden staff。
The lord of all this treasure locked the doors and put the keys
in his pocket； then led Hans into another room； where dinner was
laid for them。 Table and seats were all of silver； while the
dishes and plates were of solid gold。 Directly they sat down； a
dozen little servants appeared to wait on them； which they did so
cleverly and so quickly that Hans could hardly believe they had
no wings。 As they did not reach as high as the table； they were
often obliged to jump and hop right on to the top to get at the
dishes。 Everything was new to Hans； and though he was rather
bewildered he enjoyed himself very much； especially when the man
with the golden crown began to tell him many things he had never
heard of before。
'Between Christmas and the New Year；' said he； 'I often amuse
myself by wandering about the earth watching the doings of men
and learning something about them。 But as far as I have seen and
heard I cannot speak well of them。 The greater part of them are
always quarrelling and complaining of each other's faults； while
nobody thinks of his own。'
Hans tried to deny the truth of these words； but he could not do
it； and sat silent； hardly listening to what his friend was
saying。 Then he went to sleep in his chair； and knew nothing of
what was happening。
Wonderful dreams came to him during his sleep； where the bars of
gold continually hovered before his eyes。 He felt stronger than
he had ever felt during his waking moments； and lifted two bars
quite easily on to his back。 He did this so often that at length
his strength seemed exhausted； and he sank almost breathless on
the ground。 Then he heard the sound of cheerful voices； and the
song of the blacksmiths as they blew their bellowshe even felt
as if he saw the sparks flashing before his eyes。 Stretching
himself； he awoke slowly； and here he was in the green forest；
and instead of the glow of the fire in the underworld the sun was
streaming on him； and he sat up wondering why he felt so strange。
At length his memory came back to him； and as he called to mind
all the wonderful things he had seen he tried in vain to make
them agree with those that happen every day。 After thinking it
over till he was nearly mad； he tried at last to believe that one
night between Christmas and the New Year he had met a stranger in
the forest； and had slept all night in his company before a big
fire； the next day they had dined together； and had drunk a great
deal more than was good for themin short； he had spent two
whole days revelling with another man。 But here； with the full
tide of summer around him； he could hardly accept his own
explanation； and felt that he must have been the plaything or
sport of some magician。
Near him； in the full sunlight； were the traces of a dead fire；
and when he drew close to it he saw that what he had taken for
ashes was really fine silver dust； and that the half burnt
firewood was made of gold。
Oh； how lucky Hans thought himself； but where should he get a
sack to carry his treasure home before anyone else found it？
But necessity is the mother of invention： Hans threw off his fur
coat； gathered up the silver ashes so carefully in it that none
remained behind； laid the gold sticks on top； and tied up the bag
thus made with his girdle； so that nothing should fall out。 The
load was not； in point of fact； very heavy； although it seemed so
to his imagination； and he moved slowly along till he found a
safe hiding…place for it。
In this way Hans suddenly became richrich enough to buy a
property of his own。 But being a prudent man； he finally decided
that it would be best for him to leave his old neighbourhood and
look for a home in a distant part of the country； where nobody
knew anything about him。 It did not take him long to find what
he wanted； and after he had paid for it there was plenty of money
left over。 When he was settled； he married a pretty girl who
lived near by； and had some children； to whom on his death…bed he
told the story of the lord of the underworld； and how he had made
Hans rich。
＇Ehstnische Marchen。＇