_In which a little boy has some adventures with his gun and his
fiddle._
Louis had worked for his master for three years and had only
cast-off clothes to wear. One day he went to him and said:
“I will have to go out into the world and earn my living--if you
think I have earned anything here, pay me.”
“Upon my soul,” said the man, “I will give you only three pennies.”
Louis felt quite rich for he had never had a penny in all his life.
He started off, but while seated upon a rock up came the ugliest
man he had ever seen, and asked for something because he was hungry.
“I have only three pennies, but I will give you one,” said Louis.
Stopping to rest again, another man larger and uglier than the
first asked for help, and Louis gave him a penny. Again a man
larger and uglier than the others asked aid, and Louis gave him his
last penny. Then the man changed into a brownie and told Louis that
for his unselfishness he would grant him three wishes.
“I wish for a gun that will hit everything I shoot at.” In a moment
the gun came through the air.
“I wish for a fiddle that when I play everybody will dance.” Down
came the fiddle.
“I wish that whenever I ask for anything it will be given me.”
“You may have it,” said the brownie, and disappeared.
Louis went into a store and the proprietors gave him clothes and a
fur overcoat. At a livery stable they were delighted to give him
a pair of horses and a carriage. Driving up the street he met the
policeman.
“I have a gun with which I can shoot the bird off the church
steeple,” said Louis.
“If you shoot it I will go into the briars and pick it up,” said
the policeman. Bang! down fell the bird, the policeman went for
it and Louis began to play his fiddle. The policeman danced, and
danced, and Louis played on until the policeman was quite worn out.
Then Louis lay down and went to sleep.
While Louis slept, the policeman put handcuffs on him and put him
in prison. Next morning he was brought up before the judge, who
sentenced him to jail. He asked to be allowed to play his violin.
The people insisted that his request be granted, but the policeman
begged to be tied to a post so that he should not dance any more.
Louis began to play. The people danced; the judge danced off the
bench; the policeman bumped his head and knocked his feet so hard
against the post that the judge was obliged to set Louis free so
that he would stop playing, and the people could stop dancing.