_Wherein gifts come to a boy by obedience to his mother; also
showing that he was a careless boy to allow his gifts to be stolen._
Rudolph’s mother sent him with the last money she had to purchase
flour to make a little bread. The North Wind blew the flour away.
The mother sent him to the North Wind’s cave.
“Mr. Boreas,” said Rudolph, “please give us back our flour or we
shall surely die.”
“I have it not,” the North Wind growled, “but I will give you this
table-cloth which has a magic charm; you have but to spread it out
and every dish which you command will appear upon it.”
Rudolph thanked the North Wind, and on his return home stopped to
spend the night at an inn. There he showed his magic table-cloth.
While Rudolph slept the inn-keeper crept to his room and stole the
table-cloth, putting another in its place.
Reaching home, his mother doubted that the table-cloth possessed a
magic charm, and upon spreading it out, Rudolph discovered that it
was nothing but a common table-cloth.
His old mother sent Rudolph back to the North Wind’s cave,
insisting that he should return the flour.
“I have it not,” growled the North Wind, “but I will give you this
little goat instead. You have but to tell it this: ‘Make money,
master Bill,’ and he will give you golden coin as many as you will.”
When Rudolph reached the inn he foolishly showed the magic goat,
and commanded that golden coins fall from its mouth. The inn-keeper
crept to the shed and stole the goat, slyly placing another there.
Reaching home and finding that it was an ordinary goat, his mother
insisted that he go again to the cave of the North Wind and for the
third time demand the return of the flour.
“I have it not,” growled the North Wind, “nor can I give you
anything except this cudgel which hath a magic charm. You have only
to say: ‘Good cudgel, hit away,’ and it will obey you until you bid
it stop.”
He showed the magic staff at the inn and placing it upon a table
pretended to sleep. The host crept into the room to steal the
stick, but Rudolph exclaimed: “Stay! I see what you would be at!
Good cudgel, hit away!”
The cudgel thumped about the inn-keeper’s ears until he cried for
mercy, but Rudolph would not command it to stop beating him until
he had brought back the magic table-cloth and the magic goat.
Returning home his mother thought it was indeed well the North Wind
stole the flour. Spreading the table-cloth every dish appeared as
they called for it, and they invited their neighbors to enjoy the
feast. Each time the magic goat said “Baa!” golden coins would fall
from his mouth, and Rudolph became very rich. He built a beautiful
home and placed the cudgel behind the front door. Whenever any one
comes to steal from him the magic club drives the rogue away.