own.

"Can hearts of stone still wish?" said the former. "You have all your
corrupt mind can need, and I could scarcely fulfil your wish."

"But you have promised to grant me three wishes, and one I have still
left."

"I can refuse it if it is foolish," continued the spirit; "but come,
let me hear what you wish."

"Well, take the dead stone out of me, and give me a living heart," said
Peter.

"Have I made the bargain about the heart with you?" asked the
glass-mannikin. "Am I the Dutch Michel, who gives wealth and cold
hearts? It is of him you must seek to regain your heart."

"Alas! he will never give it back," said Peter.

"Bad as you are, yet I feel pity for you," continued the little man,
after some consideration; "and as your wish is not foolish, I cannot at
least refuse my help. Hear then. You can never recover your heart by
force, only by stratagem, but probably you will find it without
difficulty; for Michel will ever be stupid Michel, although he fancies
himself very shrewd. Go straightway to him, and do as I tell you." He
now instructed Peter fully, and gave him a small cross of pure glass,
saying, "He cannot touch your life and will let you go when you hold
this before him and repeat a prayer. When you have obtained your wish
return to me."

Peter took the cross, impressed all his words on his memory, and
started on his way to the Dutchman Michel's residence; there he called
his name three times and immediately the giant stood before him.

"You have slain your wife?" he asked, with a grim laugh. "I should
have done the same, she wasted your property on beggars; but you will
be obliged to leave the country for some time; and I suppose you want
money and have come to get it?"

"You have hit it," replied Peter; "and pray let it be a large sum, for
it is a long way to America."

Michel leading the way they went into his cottage; there he opened a
chest containing much money and took out whole rolls of gold. While he
was counting it on the table Peter said, "You're a wag, Michel. You
have told me a fib, saying that I had a stone in my breast, and that
you had my heart."

"And is it not so then?" asked Michel, astonished. "Do you feel your
heart? Is it not cold as ice? Have you any fear or sorrow? Do you
repent of any thing?"

"You have only made my heart to cease beating, but I still have it in
my breast, and so has Hezekiel, who told me you had deceived us both.
You are not the man