mons having carried off their treasure
again; but the shoemaker was buried under the pulpit in the church at
Ringen.

* * * * *

We may end this section with the story of a man who failed to raise a
treasure through fear.

THE NOCTURNAL CHURCH-GOERS.

(KREUTZWALD.)

One Christmas Eve the people at a farm-house a couple of versts from a
church went to bed early, intending to go to early morning service by
candle-light. The farmer woke up, and on going out to see how the
weather was, he saw the church lit up, and thinking he had overslept
himself, called his people and they set out. They found the church lit
up and full of people, but the singing sounded rather strange. When they
reached the open door, the lights and people disappeared, and a stranger
came out, who told them to return, saying, "This is our service; yours
begins to-morrow." But he took one youth of the party aside, and told
him to come again at midnight three days before St. John's Eve and he
would make his fortune, but he warned him to keep it secret.

As the party returned to the farm-house, the sky cleared, and they saw
from the position of the stars that it was midnight. When the matter
came to the pastor's ears, he tried to persuade the people that it was
only a dream; but the matter could not be hushed up.

The youth who had received an invitation from the stranger felt very
doubtful about keeping the appointment, especially as he had been
commanded to keep it secret; but a fortnight before the time, he was
going home one evening after sunset, when he saw an old woman sitting by
the roadside, who asked him what he was thinking about so deeply. He
made no answer, and then she asked to see his hand to tell his fortune,
assuring him that she meant him well. She put on her spectacles, and
after examining his hand for some time, promised him great good fortune,
and told him to go with the stranger without fear. But if he wished to
take a wife, let him not do so without great consideration, or he might
fall into misfortune. She refused any payment, and hurried away as
lightly as a young girl.

Three days before St. John's Eve, the youth set out a little before
midnight. A voice cried in his ear, "You are not going right!" and he
was about to turn back when he heard voices singing in the air, which
urged him not to throw away his good fortune, and encouraged him to
proceed. He found the church-door closed, bu