Page:Round the Yule Log.djvu/60

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THE LAD AND THE DEVIL.

Once upon a time there was a lad, who went along a road cracking nuts. He happened to find one which was worm-eaten, and shortly afterwards he met the devil, "Is it true," said the lad, "what they say, that the devil can make himself as small as he likes, and go through a pin-hole?" "Yes, of course," answered the devil. "Well, let me see you do it; creep into this nut if you can," said the lad. And the devil did it. But he had no sooner got through the worm-hole, than the lad put a small peg in the hole. "I have got you safe, now," he said, and put the nut in his pocket. When he had walked some distance he came to a smithy. He went in there and asked the smith if he would crack that nut for him. "Yes, that's easily done," said the smith, and took the smallest