very door to do him homage, and the white
young lady bears dance the Polonaise so gracefully! We don't spend a
moment in silly thought about anything--no! we frisk and caper about,
and even my uncle comes down from his throne and hops around, as well as
his age will permit! and there I have such glorious sport in the long
moonlight nights!"

"Bur-r-r!" grumbled the north wind, sweeping by. "Thou hadst better
hurry home, thou silly madcap! The sun is coming, and he is no friend of
thine!"

"Many thanks!" cried Captain Jack again, with a graceful bow; "I see,
truly, that my sport is over for to-night!" and he now looked about him
with mischievous eyes, to see if there were not some last trick that he
could play before he fled to his forest cave. But there was no time to
lose, for already the round red sun, winking and blinking sleepily
behind his bed curtains of red clouds, was rising from the sea; and,
with a sudden leap, Captain Jack flung himself off the ship, and
hastened away.

The river was all covered with ice; the little hares skipped over it; in
the town everybody was bawling for water, and the pump handles were hard
and fast; the Burgomaster had his nose tied up in brown paper and warm
vinegar; the naughty people went about with cricks in their necks and
colds in their heads; while every withered grass blade, every branch of
tree and bush, and every pane in the windows, was covered with the
beautiful, fantastic, glittering handiwork of CAPTAIN JACK FROST!

* * * * *

As the story ended, the door above suddenly opened, and the Herr Hartman
himself came out; and certainly looked somewhat surprised at seeing his
good friend sitting there on the lower step.

"Why, my dear Herr Ekstein!" he exclaimed. "Is anything the matter?" and
he hastened down the steps.

The literary man jumped up, and saw the Herr holding out his hand.

"Nay, then, my good friend!" he exclaimed, "I have been hearing the
merriest tale!"

"But come in! come in!" cried the Herr Hartman. "Some of our friends are
with us; let us spend a sociable evening together."

With a pleased and happy face the literary man entered the house, and
the warm room, where the company were assembled; and, amid peals of
laughter, related both the story of Captain Jack, and that of the
sleigh-ride to Ole's, with the deuse himself as driver!

THE CABBAGES;

OR, THE DISCREET WIFE.

IN a remote part of Swabia there on