FullReads

“Alas, yes,” replied Peter; “and I often feel uncomfortable, that my heart is so unsympathetic and indifferent, when I think on such subjects.”

On the next night, Peter heard the well-known voice whisper in his ear, five or six times: “Peter, get a warmer heart!” He experienced no remorse at having killed his wife, but when he told the domestics that she had gone off on a journey, the thought had instantly occurred to him: “Where has she probably journeyed to?”

For six days he had lived on in this manner, haunted by these reflections, and every night he heard this voice, which brought back to his recollection the terrible threat of the Little Glass-Man; but on the seventh morning he sprang up from his couch crying: “Now, then, I will see whether I can procure a warmer heart, for this emotionless stone in my breast makes my life weary and desolate.” He quickly drew on his Sunday attire, mounted his horse, and rode to the Tannenbuehl.

In the Tannenbuehl the trees stood too closely together to permit of his riding further, so he tied his horse to a tree, and with hasty steps went up to the highest point of the hill and when he reached the largest pine he spoke the verse that had once caused him so much trouble to learn:

“Keeper of green woods of pine,
All its lands are only thine;
Thou art many centuries old;
Sunday-born children thee behold.”

Thereupon the Little Glass-Man appeared, but not with a pleasant greeting as before; his expression was sad and stern. He wore a coat of black glass, and a long piece of crape fluttered down from his hat. Peter well knew for whom the Spirit of the Wood sorrowed.

“What do you want of me, Peter Munk?” asked the Little Glass-Man in a hollow voice.

“I have still one wish left, Herr Schatzhauser,” answered Peter, with downcast eyes.

“Can hearts of stone have any wishes?” said the Glass-Man. “You have every thing needful for your wicked course of life, and it is doubtful whether I should grant your wish.”

“But you promised me three wishes; and I have one left yet.”

“Still, I have the right to refuse it if it should prove a foolish one,” continued the Glass-Man. “But proceed, I will hear what it is you want.”

“I want you to take this lifeless stone out of my breast, and give me in its place my living heart,” said Peter.

“Did I make that bargain with you? Am I Dutch Michel, who gives riches and cold hearts? You must look to him for your heart.”

“Alas, he will nevermore give it back to me,” replied Peter.

“Wicked as you are, I pity you,” said the Little Glass-Man after a pause. “But as your wish is not a foolish one, I can not refuse you my assistance at least. So listen. You can not recover your heart by force, but possibly you may do so by stratagem; and this may not prove such a hard matter after all, for Michel, although he thinks himself uncommonly wise, is really a very stupid fellow. So go directly to him, and do just as I shall tell you.”

The Little Glass-Man then instructed Peter in what he was to do, and gave him a small cross of clear crystal. “He can not harm you while you live, and he will let you go free if you hold this up before him and pray at the same time. And if you should get back your heart, then return to this place, where I shall be awaiting you.”

Peter Munk took the cross, impressed on his memory all the words he was to say, and went to Dutch Michel’s ravine. He called him three times by name, and immediately the giant stood before him.

“Have you killed your wife?” asked the giant, with a fiendish laugh. “I should have done it in your place, for she was giving away your wealth to the beggars. But you had better leave the country for a while, for an alarm will be given if she is not found. You will need money, and have probably come after it.”