Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/48

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The Tinder-Box.

deed, he had money in abundance. The tremendous dog was put on the cover again, the door of the chamber shut, and the soldier went back to the hollow of the tree, and called out.

“Hallo, old hag! Now, then, pull me up again!”

“Have you got the tinder-box?” said the witch in reply.

“I’ll be hanged, if I hadn’t nearly forgotten it!” said the soldier. He then put the tinder-box in his pocket; the witch drew him up out of the tree; and he soon was standing again upon the highway with all his treasures.

“What do you want with the tinder-box?” asked the soldier.

“That’s nothing to you,” answered the old hag. “You’ve got money in plenty; so give me the tinder-box.”

“No!” said the soldier. “Tell me directly what you’ll do with the tinder-box, or I’ll cut your head off with my sword!”

“No,” cried the witch, “I won’t.”

And the soldier instantly drew his sword

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