English
InasecludedandmountainouspartofStiriatherewas,inoldtime,avalleyofthemostsurprisingandluxuriantfertility.
Itwassurrounded,onallsides,bysteepandrockymountains,risingintopeaks,whichwerealwayscoveredwithsnow,andfromwhichanumberoftorrentsdescendedinconstantcataracts.
Oneofthesefellwestward,overthefaceofacragsohigh,that,whenthesunhadsettoeverythingelse,andallbelowwasdarkness,hisbeamsstillshonefulluponthiswaterfall,sothatitlookedlikeashowerofgold.
Itwas,therefore,calledbythepeopleoftheneighbourhood,theGoldenRiver.
Itwasstrangethatnoneofthesestreamsfellintothevalleyitself.
Theyalldescendedontheothersideofthemountains,andwoundawaythroughbroadplainsandbypopulouscities.
Butthecloudsweredrawnsoconstantlytothesnowyhills,andrestedsosoftlyinthecircularhollow,thatintimeofdroughtandheat,whenallthecountryroundwasburntup,therewasstillraininthelittlevalley;anditscropsweresoheavy,anditshaysohigh,anditsapplessored,anditsgrapessoblue,anditswinesorich,anditshoneysosweetthatitwasamarveltoeveryonewhobeheldit,andwascommonlycalledtheTreasureValley.
ThewholeofthislittlevalleybelongedtothreebrotherscalledSchwartz,Hans,andGluck.
SchwartzandHans,thetwoelderbrothers,wereveryuglymen,withoverhangingeyebrowsandsmall,dulleyes,whichwerealwayshalfshut,sothatyoucouldn’tseeintothem,andalwaysfanciedtheysawveryfarintoyou.
TheylivedbyfarmingtheTreasureValley,andverygoodfarmerstheywere.
Theykilledeverythingthatdidnotpayforitseating.
Theyshottheblackbirds,becausetheypeckedthefruit;andkilledthehedgehogs,lesttheyshouldsuckthecows;theypoisonedthecricketsforeatingthecrumbsinthekitchen;andsmotheredthecicadas,whichusedtosingallsummerinthelime-trees.
Theyworkedtheirservantswithoutanywages,tilltheywouldnotworkanymore,andthenquarrelledwiththem,andturnedthemoutofdoorswithoutpayingthem.
Itwouldhavebeenveryodd,ifwithsuchafarm,andsuchasystemoffarming,theyhadn’tgotveryrich;andveryrichtheydidget.
Theygenerallycontrivedtokeeptheircornbythemtillitwasverydear,andthensellitfortwiceitsvalue;theyhadheapsofgoldlyingaboutontheirfloors,yetitwasneverknownthattheyhadgivensomuchasapennyoracrustincharity;theyneverwenttomass;grumbledperpetuallyatpayingtithes;andwere,inaword,ofsocruelandgrindingatemper,astoreceivefromallthosewithwhomtheyhadanydealingsthenicknameofthe“BlackBrothers.”
Theyoungestbrother,Gluck,wasascompletelyopposed,inbothappearanceandcharacter,tohisseniorsascouldpossiblybeimaginedordesired.
Hewasnotabovetwelveyearsold,fair,blue-eyed,andkindintempertoeverylivingthing.
Hedidnot,ofcourse,agreeparticularlywellwithhisbrothers,or,rather,theydidnotagreewithhim.
Hewasusuallyappointedtothehonourableofficeofturnspit,whentherewasanythingtoroast,whichwasnotoften;for,todothebrothersjustice,theywerehardlylesssparinguponthemselvesthanuponotherpeople.
Atothertimesheusedtocleantheshoes,floors,andsometimestheplates,occasionallygettingwhatwasleftonthem,bywayofencouragement,andawholesomequantityofdryblows,bywayofeducation.
Thingswentoninthismannerforalongtime.
Atlastcameaverywetsummer,andeverythingwentwronginthecountryaround.
Thehayhadhardlybeengotin,whenthehay-stackswerefloatedbodilydowntotheseabyaninundation;thevineswerecuttopieceswiththehail;thecornwasallkilledbyablackblight;onlyintheTreasureValley,asusual,allwassafe.
Asithadrainwhentherewasrainnowhereelse,soithadsunwhentherewassunnowhereelse.
Everybodycametobuycornatthefarm,andwentawaypouringmaledictionsontheBlackBrothers.
Theyaskedwhattheyliked,andgotit,exceptfromthepoor,whocouldonlybeg,andseveralofwhomwerestarvedattheirverydoor,withouttheslightestregardornotice.
Itwasdrawingtowardswinter,andverycoldweather,whenonedaythetwoelderbrothershadgoneout,withtheirusualwarningtolittleGluck,whowaslefttomindtheroast,thathewastoletnobodyin,andgivenothingout.
Glucksatdownquiteclosetothefire,foritwasrainingveryhard,andthekitchenwallswerebynomeansdryorcomfortable-looking.
Heturnedandturned,andtheroastgotniceandbrown.
“Whatapity,”thoughtGluck,“mybrothersneveraskanybodytodinner.
I’msure,whenthey’vegotsuchanicepieceofmuttonasthis,andnobodyelsehasgotsomuchasapieceofdrybread,itwoulddotheirheartsgoodtohavesomebodytoeatitwiththem.”
Justashespoketherecameadoubleknockatthehousedoor,yetheavyanddull,asthoughtheknockerhadbeentiedup—morelikeapuffthanaknock.
“Itmustbethewind,”saidGluck;“nobodyelsewouldventuretoknockdoubleknocksatourdoor.”
No;itwasn’tthewind:thereitcameagainveryhard,andwhatwasparticularlyastounding,theknockerseemedtobeinahurry,andnottobeintheleastafraidoftheconsequences.
Gluckwenttothewindow,openedit,andputhisheadouttoseewhoitwas.
Itwasthemostextraordinarylookinglittlegentlemanhehadeverseeninhislife.
Hehadaverylargenose,slightlybrass-coloured;hischeekswereveryround,andveryred,andmighthavewarrantedasuppositionthathehadbeenblowingarefractoryfireforthelasteightandfortyhours;hiseyestwinkledmerrilythroughlongsilkyeyelashes,hismoustachescurledtwiceroundlikeacorkscrewoneachsideofhismouth,andhishair,ofacuriousmixedpepper-and-saltcolour,descendedfaroverhisshoulders.
Hewasaboutfour-feet-sixinheight,andworeaconicalpointedcapofnearlythesamealtitude,decoratedwithablackfeathersomethreefeetlong.
Hisdoubletwasprolongedbehindintosomethingresemblingaviolentexaggerationofwhatisnowtermeda“swallow-tail,”butwasmuchobscuredbytheswellingfoldsofanenormousblack,glossy-lookingcloak,whichmusthavebeenverymuchtoolongincalmweather,asthewind,whistlingroundtheoldhouse,carrieditclearoutfromthewearer’sshoulderstoaboutfourtimeshisownlength.
Gluckwassoperfectlyparalysedbythesingularappearanceofhisvisitorthatheremainedfixedwithoututteringaword,untiltheoldgentleman,havingperformedanother,andamoreenergeticconcertoontheknocker,turnedroundtolookafterhisfly-awaycloak.
InsodoinghecaughtsightofGluck’slittleyellowheadjammedinthewindow,withitsmouthandeyesverywideopenindeed.
“Hollo!”saidthelittlegentleman,“that’snotthewaytoanswerthedoor.I’mwet,letmein.”
Todothelittlegentlemanjustice,hewaswet.
Hisfeatherhungdownbetweenhislegslikeabeatenpuppy’stail,drippinglikeanumbrella;andfromtheendsofhismoustachesthewaterwasrunningintohiswaistcoatpockets,andoutagainlikeamillstream.
“Ibegpardon,sir,”saidGluck,“I’mverysorry,butIreallycan’t.”
“Can’twhat?”saidtheoldgentleman.
“Ican’tletyouin,sir—Ican’tindeed;mybrotherswouldbeatmetodeath,sir,ifIthoughtofsuchathing.Whatdoyouwant,sir?”
“Want?”saidtheoldgentleman,petulantly,“Iwantfire,andshelter;andthere’syourgreatfirethereblazing,crackling,anddancingonthewalls,withnobodytofeelitLetmein,Isay;Ionlywanttowarmmyself.”
Gluckhadhadhishead,bythistime,solongoutofthewindowthathebegantofeelitwasreallyunpleasantlycold,andwhenheturned,andsawthebeautifulfirerustlingandroaring,andthrowinglongbrighttonguesupthechimney,asifitwerelickingitschopsatthesavorysmellofthelegofmutton,hisheartmeltedwithinhimthatitshouldbeburningawayfornothing.
“Hedoeslookverywet,”saidlittleGluck;“I’lljustlethiminforaquarterofanhour.”
Roundhewenttothedoor,andopenedit;andasthelittlegentlemanwalkedin,therecameagustofwindthroughthehouse,thatmadetheoldchimneystotter.
“That’sagoodboy,”saidthelittlegentleman.“Nevermindyourbrothers.I’lltalktothem.”
“Pray,sir,don’tdoanysuchthing,”saidGluck.“Ican’tletyoustaytilltheycome;they’dbethedeathofme.”
“Dearme,”saidtheoldgentleman,“I’mverysorrytohearthat.HowlongmayIstay?”
“Onlytillthemutton’sdone,sir,”repliedGluck,“andit’sverybrown.”
Thentheoldgentlemanwalkedintothekitchen,andsathimselfdownonthehob,withthetopofhiscapaccommodatedupthechimney,foritwasagreatdealtoohighfortheroof.
“You’llsoondrythere,sir,”saidGluck,andsatdownagaintoturnthemutton.
Buttheoldgentlemandidnotdrythere,butwentondrip,drip,drippingamongthecinders,andthefirefizzed,andsputtered,andbegantolookveryblack,anduncomfortable:neverwassuchacloak;everyfoldinitranlikeagutter.
“Ibegpardon,sir,”saidGluckatlength,afterwatchingthewaterspreadinginlong,quicksilver-likestreamsoverthefloorforaquarterofanhour;“mayn’tItakeyourcloak?”
“No,thankyou,”saidtheoldgentleman.
“Yourcap,sir?”
“Iamallright,thankyou,”saidtheoldgentlemanrathergruffly.
“But—sir—I’mverysorry,”saidGluck,hesitatingly;“but—really,sir—you’re—puttingthefireout.”
“It’lltakelongertodothemutton,then,”repliedhisvisitordryly.
Gluckwasverymuchpuzzledbythebehaviourofhisguest,itwassuchastrangemixtureofcoolnessandhumility.Heturnedawayatthestringmeditativelyforanotherfiveminutes.
“Thatmuttonlooksverynice,”saidtheoldgentlemanatlength.“Can’tyougivemealittlebit?”
“Impossible,sir,”saidGluck.
“I’mveryhungry,”continuedtheoldgentleman.“I’vehadnothingtoeatyesterday,norto-day.Theysurelycouldn’tmissabitfromtheknuckle!”
Hespokeinsoverymelancholyatone,thatitquitemeltedGluck’sheart.“Theypromisedmeonesliceto-day,sir,”saidhe;“Icangiveyouthat,butnotabitmore.”
“That’sagoodboy,”saidtheoldgentlemanagain.
ThenGluckwarmedaplateandsharpenedaknife.
“Idon’tcareifIdogetbeatenforit,”thoughthe.
Justashehadcutalargesliceoutofthemuttontherecameatremendousrapatthedoor.
Theoldgentlemanjumpedoffthehob,asifithadsuddenlybecomeinconvenientlywarm.
Gluckfittedthesliceintothemuttonagain,withdesperateeffortsatexactitude,andrantoopenthedoor.
“Whatdidyoukeepuswaitingintherainfor?”
saidSchwartz,ashewalkedin,throwinghisumbrellainGluck’sface.“Ay!whatfor,indeed,youlittlevagabond?”
saidHans,administeringaneducationalboxontheear,ashefollowedhisbrotherintothekitchen.
“Blessmysoul!”saidSchwartzwhenheopenedthedoor.
“Amen,”saidthelittlegentleman,whohadtakenhiscapoff,andwasstandinginthemiddleofthekitchen,bowingwiththeutmostpossiblevelocity.
“Who’sthat?”saidSchwartz,catchinguparolling-pin,andturningtoGluckwithafiercefrown.
“Idon’tknow,indeed,brother,”saidGluckingreatterror.
“Howdidhegetin?”roaredSchwartz.
“Mydearbrother,”saidGluck,deprecatingly,“hewassoverywet!”
Therolling-pinwasdescendingonGluck’shead;butattheinstant,theoldgentlemaninterposedhisconicalcap,onwhichitcrashedwithashockthatshookthewateroutofitallovertheroom.
Whatwasveryodd,therolling-pinnosoonertouchedthecapthanitflewoutofSchwartz’shand,spinninglikeastrawinahighwind,andfellintothecorneratthefurtherendoftheroom.
“Whoareyou,sir?”demandedSchwartz,turninguponhim.
“What’syourbusiness?”snarledHans.
“I’mapooroldman,sir,”thelittlegentlemanbeganverymodestly,“andIsawyourfirethroughthewindow,andbeggedshelterforaquarterofanhour.”
“Havethegoodnesstowalkoutagain,then,”saidSchwartz.“We’vequiteenoughwaterinourkitchen,withoutmakingitadrying-house.”
“Itisacolddaytoturnanoldmanoutin,sir;lookatmygrayhairs.”Theyhungdowntohisshoulders,asItoldyoubefore.
“Ay!”saidHans,“thereareenoughofthemtokeepyouwarm.Walk!”
“I’mvery,veryhungry,sir;couldn’tyousparemeabitofbreadbeforeIgo?”
“Breadindeed!”saidSchwartz;“doyousupposewe’venothingtodowithourbreadbuttogiveittosuchred-nosedfellowsasyou?”
“Whydon’tyousellyourfeather?”saidHans,sneeringly.“Outwithyou!”
“Alittlebit,”saidtheoldgentleman.
“Beoff!”saidSchwartz.
“Pray,gentlemen—”
“Off,andbehanged!”criedHans,seizinghimbythecollar.
Buthehadnosoonertouchedtheoldgentleman’scollar,thanawayhewentaftertherolling-pin,spinningroundandround,tillhefellintothecorneronthetopofit.
ThenSchwartzwasveryangry,andranattheoldgentlemantoturnhimout;buthealsohadhardlytouchedhim,whenawayhewentafterHansandtherolling-pin,andhithisheadagainstthewallashetumbledintothecorner.Andsotheretheylay,allthree.
Thentheoldgentlemanspunhimselfroundwithvelocityintheoppositedirection;continuedtospinuntilhislongcloakwasallwoundneatlyabouthim;clappedhiscaponhishead,verymuchononeside(foritcouldnotstanduprightwithoutgoingthroughtheceiling),gaveanadditionaltwisttohiscorkscrewmoustaches,andrepliedwithperfectcoolness:“Gentlemen,Iwishyouaverygoodmorning.
Attwelveo’clockto-nightI’llcallagain;aftersucharefusalofhospitalityasIhavejustexperienced,youwillnotbesurprisedifthatvisitisthelastIeverpayyou.”
“IfeverIcatchyouhereagain,”mutteredSchwartz,cominghalffrightenedoutofhiscorner—but,beforehecouldfinishhissentence,theoldgentlemanhadshutthehousedoorbehindhimwithagreatbang:andtheredrovepastthewindow,atthesameinstant,awreathofraggedcloud,thatwhirledandrolledawaydownthevalleyinallmannerofshapes;turningoverandoverintheair,andmeltingawayatlastinagushofrain.
“Averyprettybusiness,indeed,Mr.Gluck!”saidSchwartz.“Dishthemutton,sir.IfeverIcatchyouatsuchatrickagain—blessme,why,themutton’sbeencut!”
“Youpromisedmeoneslice,brother,youknow,”saidGluck.
“Oh!andyouwerecuttingithot,Isuppose,andgoingtocatchallthegravy.
It’llbelongbeforeIpromiseyousuchathingagain.
Leavetheroom,sir;andhavethekindnesstowaitinthecoalcellartillIcallyou.”
Glucklefttheroommelancholyenough.Thebrothersateasmuchmuttonastheycould,lockedtherestinthecupboardandproceededtogetverydrunkafterdinner.
Suchanightasitwas!Howlingwind,andrushingrain,withoutintermission.
Thebrothershadjustsenseenoughlefttoputupalltheshutters,anddoublebarthedoor,beforetheywenttobed.Theyusuallysleptinthesameroom.
Astheclockstrucktwelve,theywerebothawakenedbyatremendouscrash.
Theirdoorburstopenwithaviolencethatshookthehousefromtoptobottom.
“What’sthat?”criedSchwartz,startingupinhisbed.
“OnlyI,”saidthelittlegentleman.
Thetwobrotherssatupontheirbolster,andstaredintothedarkness.
Theroomwasfullofwater,andbyamistymoonbeam,whichfounditswaythroughaholeintheshutter,theycouldseeinthemidstofitanenormousfoamglobe,spinninground,andbobbingupanddownlikeacork,onwhich,asonamostluxuriouscushion,reclinedthelittleoldgentleman,capandall.
Therewasplentyofroomforitnow,fortheroofwasoff.
“Sorrytoincommodeyou,”saidtheirvisitor,ironically.“I’mafraidyourbedsaredampish;perhapsyouhadbettergotoyourbrother’sroom:I’velefttheceilingon,there.”
Theyrequirednosecondadmonition,butrushedintoGluck’sroom,wetthrough,andinanagonyofterror.
“You’llfindmycardonthekitchentable,”theoldgentlemancalledafterthem.“Rememberthelastvisit.”
“PrayHeavenitmay!”saidSchwartz,shuddering.Andthefoamglobedisappeared.
DawncameatlastandthetwobrotherslookedoutofGluck’slittlewindowinthemorning.
TheTreasureValleywasonemassofruinanddesolation.
Theinundationhadsweptawaytrees,crops,andcattle,andleftintheirsteadawasteofredsandandgraymud.
Thetwobrotherscreptshiveringandhorror-struckintothekitchen.
Thewaterhadguttedthewholefirstfloor;corn,money,almosteverymovablething,hadbeensweptawayandtherewasleftonlyasmallwhitecardonthekitchentable.
Onit,inlarge,breezy,long-leggedletters,wereengravedthewords:South-WestWind,Esquire.
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