of roast meat, fish, and
cake."

"What?" cried the farmer, and he opened the oven with all speed and saw
all the nice things the woman had hidden, but which he believed the
magician had conjured up for their special benefit.

The farmer's wife did not say a word, but set the food before them; and
they both made a hearty meal of the fish, the meat, and the cake. Little
Claus now trod again upon his sack and made the skin squeak.

"What does he say now?" inquired the farmer.

"He says," promptly answered Little Claus, "that he has conjured up
three bottles of wine, which are standing in the corner near the stove."
So the woman was obliged to bring the wine which she had hidden, and the
farmer and Little Claus became right merry. Would not the farmer like to
have such a conjurer as Little Claus carried about in his sack?

"Can he conjure up the Evil One?" inquired the farmer. "I shouldn't mind
seeing him now, when I'm in such a merry mood."

"Yes," said Little Claus, "he will do anything that I please"; and he
trod on the bag till it squeaked. "You hear him answer, 'Yes, only the
Evil One is so ugly that you had better not see him.'"

"Oh, I'm not afraid. What will he look like?"

"Well, he will show himself to you in the image of a sexton."

"Nay, that's bad indeed. You must know that I can't abide a sexton.
However, it doesn't matter, for I know he's a demon, and I shan't mind
so much. Now my courage is up! Only he mustn't come too close."

"I'll ask him about it," said Little Claus, putting his ear down as he
trod close to the bag.

"What does he say?"

"He says you can go along and open the chest in the corner, and there
you'll see him cowering in the dark. But hold the lid tight, so that he
doesn't get out."

"Will you help me to hold the lid," asked the farmer, going along to the
chest in which his wife had hidden the sexton, who was shivering with
fright.

The farmer opened the lid a wee little way and peeped in. "Ha!" he
cried, springing backward. "I saw him, and he looks exactly like our
sexton. It was a shocking sight!"

They must needs drink after this, and there they sat till far into the
night.

"You must sell me your conjurer," said the farmer. "Ask anything you
like for him. Nay, I'll give you a bushel of money for him."

"No, I can't do that," said Little Claus. "You must remember how much
benefit I can get from such a conjurer."

"Oh, but I should so like to have him!" said the farme