autumn wind blowing down
upon him through the trapdoor. It was very cold, but the little creature
did not really feel it till the light in the garret went out and the
tones of music died away. Then how he shivered and crept downstairs
again to his warm corner, where he felt at home and comfortable! And
when Christmas came again and brought the dish of jam and the great
lump of butter, he liked the huckster best of all.

Soon after, the goblin was waked in the middle of the night by a
terrible noise and knocking against the window shutters and the house
doors and by the sound of the watchman's horn. A great fire had broken
out, and the whole street seemed full of flames. Was it in their house
or a neighbor's? No one could tell, for terror had seized upon all. The
huckster's wife was so bewildered that she took her gold earrings out of
her ears and put them in her pocket, that she might save something at
least. The huckster ran to get his business papers, and the servant
resolved to save her black silk mantle, which she had managed to buy.
All wished to keep the best things they had. The goblin had the same
wish, for with one spring he was upstairs in the student's room. He
found him standing by the open window and looking quite calmly at the
fire, which was raging in the house of a neighbor opposite.

The goblin caught up the wonderful book, which lay on the table, and
popped it into his red cap, which he held tightly with both hands. The
greatest treasure in the house was saved, and he ran away with it to the
roof and seated himself on the chimney. The flames of the burning house
opposite illuminated him as he sat with both hands pressed tightly over
his cap, in which the treasure lay. It was then that he understood what
feelings were really strongest in his heart and knew exactly which way
they tended. Yet, when the fire was extinguished and the goblin again
began to reflect, he hesitated, and said at last, "I must divide myself
between the two; I cannot quite give up the huckster, because of the
jam."

This is a representation of human nature. We are like the goblin; we all
go to visit the huckster, "because of the jam."

[Illustration]

EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE

MORE than a hundred years ago, behind the wood and by a deep lake, stood
an old baronial mansion. Round it lay a deep moat, in which grew reeds
and rushes, and close by the bridge, near the entrance gate, stood an
old willow that ben