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The Dwarf Nosey
by
Poor little Jacob knew not what to make of all this. Was it not true that he had gone to the market as usual with his mother, early this morning? that he had helped her arrange the fruits, and afterwards had gone with the old woman to her house, had there eaten a little soup, had indulged in a short nap, and come right back again? And now his mother and her neighbors talked about seven years, and called him an ugly dwarf! What, then, had happened to him?
When he saw that his mother would not hear another word from him, tears sprang into his eyes, and he went sadly down the street to the stall where his father mended shoes. “Now I will see,” thought he, “whether my father will not know me. I will stop in the door-way and speak to him.” On arriving at the shoemaker’s stall, he placed himself in the door-way, and looked in. The master was so busily occupied with his work, that he did not notice him at first, but when by chance he happened to look at the door, he let shoes, thread and awl drop to the ground, and exclaimed in affrights “In heaven’s name!–what is that? what is that?”
“Good evening, master,” said the boy, as he stepped inside the shop. “How do you do?”
“Poorly, poorly, little master,” replied the father, to Jacob’s great surprise; as he also did not seem to recognize him. “My business does not flourish very well, I have no one to assist me, and am getting old; and yet an apprentice would be too dear.”
“But have you no little son, who could one of these days assist you in your work?” inquired the boy.
“I had one, whose name was Jacob, and who must now be a tall active fellow of twenty, who could be a great support to me were he here. He must lead a happy life now. When he was only twelve years old he showed himself to be very clever, and already understood a good deal about the trade. He was pretty and pleasant too. He would have attracted custom, so that I should not have to mend any more, but only make new shoes. But so it goes in the world!”
“Where is your son, then?” asked Jacob, in a trembling voice.
“God only knows,” replied the old man. “Seven years ago,–seven years–he was stolen from us on the market-place.”
“Seven years ago!” exclaimed Jacob in amazement.
“Yes, little master, seven years ago. I remember as though it were but yesterday how my wife came home weeping, and crying that the child had been gone the whole day, that she had inquired and searched everywhere, but could not find him. I had often said that it would turn out so; for Jacob was a beautiful child, as everybody said, and my wife was so proud of him, and was pleased when the people praised him, and she often sent him to carry vegetables and the like to the best houses. That was all well enough; he was richly rewarded every time; but I always said: ‘Take care! the city is large, and many bad people live in it. Mind what I say about little Jacob?’ Well, it turned out as I had predicted. An ugly old woman once came to the market, haggled over some fruits and vegetables, and finally bought more than she could carry home. My wife–compassionate soul–sent the child with her; and from that hour we saw him no more!”
“And that was seven years ago you say?”
“It will be seven years in the Spring. We had him cried on the streets, and went from house to house and inquired for him. Many had known and loved the pretty youngster, and now searched with us; but all in vain. Nor did any one know who the woman was that had bought the vegetables; but a decrepit old woman, some ninety years of age, said that it was very likely the wicked witch Kraeuterweiss, who comes once in every fifty years to the city to make purchases.”