appeared as genteel and stupid as could possibly be conceived. "There's
not a story to be met with in this part of the town," thought the
literary man. "I must go out, and see if I can find one elsewhere."

The snow flakes were rapidly falling from the sky, but the literary man
wrapped his warm cloak around him, and went bravely out. It is not every
one who has courage to go out in the snow! that is, the snow at
Friedrichshafen. It is sure to be so wet and cold, with large bits of
icy hail among it, covering the ground with a slippery compound, that
one cannot step upon without danger of falling.

However, out he went, and slipped and scrambled along the pavement.
Kribbedy, krabbledy, plump! down he sat on a neighbor's doorstep; not
without exclaiming, "Potstausend!"

As he sat there with a rueful countenance, the thought passed through
his mind, "If, now, the wind would but give me the least idea how to
begin, I might compose a tale while I wait for a hackney coach, for walk
I won't!" and he looked up and down the street, but no coach came in
sight.

All at once it was as though a merry voice whispered in his ear--yes,
the literary man felt sure that the snow said to him "S-o-o! my good
friend, the wind has sent thee to me! Fie upon thee, that thou canst not
compose a tale without help, for all thy learning! Well, pay attention,
and I will tell thee some of the frolics of my merry cousin, the Frost.
Now, listen."

And the literary man listened with all his ears, and quite forgot that
he was looking for a hackney coach, and that he was sitting on the steps
of his neighbor, the Herr Hartman.

THE STORY OF THE SNOW, ABOUT CAPTAIN JACK.

THE children were hurrying homeward on a cold winter's evening, from the
forest, where they had been binding fagots. As they scampered along,
some one seized upon them from behind and nipped their ears sharply.
"Fie, ugly Captain Jack!" cried they; "so thou art at work again! one
may easily see that!" and they would have pursued their spiteful enemy;
but he was already gone, and they were now obliged to hasten onward.

Captain Jack had slipped back to the forest, and thrown himself
stealthily on the ground, laughing to see their discomfiture. The moon
shone on the spot where he lay, and then all the dried grass appeared
white and sparkling, as though it were covered with glistening spray. At
one moment one saw him lying gazing at one with laughing eyes; the next,
it seemed as th