by David Cory
MAGIC EARS
The Man with Ears like a Donkey invited Ned to eat with him.
MAGIC EARS
"DEAR me," said the giant suddenly. "I've forgotten all about my errand.You and your Magic Axe have robbed me of my memory," and the big manscratched his hand and looked anxiously at Ned.
"What is it?"
"I was to take a chicken to my old mother," answered the giant sadly.
"Go ahead," said Ned. "I can take care of myself. At any rate it isabout time my friend the Gnome came back to me."
"You are very kind," said the giant. "Here are your Magic Axe and yourMagic Pickaxe. I almost forgot them," and he set off at a great rate forhis mother's house.
Ned, too, quickened his pace, for it was growing late, and the shadowscreeping from tree to tree. At length he saw a light in the distance. Itwas a very little light, not much larger than a star, and at first Nedthought it might be a giant firefly. However, he kept on and after awhile it turned out to be a little candle in the window of a poorwoodcutter's hut. Knocking on the door, it was presently opened by astrange looking man. He had long hairy ears like a donkey and wasdressed in the skins of wild animals.
"Welcome," he said in a kindly voice, "I am just preparing my eveningmeal. Come in and eat." Ned followed the donkey-eared man into thecottage and sat down at the rude wooden table on which were spread blackbread and beans.
"I have but humble fare to offer you," said the donkey-eared man, buthis smile was a kind one as he helped Ned to the beans with a largewooden spoon. "But as I see you are a traveler, you no doubt have faredworse at times," and he smiled again in such a friendly way, that Nedtook a great liking to him.
"You are right. I'm a traveler, seeking adventures and many strangethings I have seen while visiting Gnomeland."
"I have heard little of the world since my ears were changed into thoseof a donkey," sighed the donkey-eared man.
"Is there no magic charm which will remove them?" asked Ned, as hefinished the last bean on his plate and wiped his mouth carefully withthe pocket handkerchief which his kind mother had given him the verymorning he had set out for Gnomeland.
"None whatever," answered the man with a sigh. "There is no charm normagic herb, but I've heard tell of a Magic Axe that once cut down acharmed oak tree overshadowing a king's palace. But where am I to findthat Magic Axe?"
"Oh master dear, pray ask this lad Your donkey ears to sever; For then your own two ears will take Their place as good as ever,"
sang a little bird from her tree in the forest.
When Ned heard that, he jumped up and went behind the door where he hadhung his knapsack. Taking out the Magic Axe, he laid it on the tablebefore the donkey-eared man.
"Cut off my ears!" shouted the donkey-eared man.
"I can't do it," said Ned, trembling all over.
"Do as I ask you," begged the donkey-eared man, laying his head on thetable.
Instead, however, Ned touched the donkey ears with his little magic goldring, at the same time whispering, "Away with you!"
Off went the long, hairy ears, and the next minute, two grew in theirplace, just like yours and mine.
"Oh, now I'm free from donkey ears, Three cheers and once, again, three cheers! No more the witch's evil snare Shall force me donkey ears to wear!"
sang the donkey-eared man, dancing about the room.
All the next day Ned trudged on alone until towards evening, he came tothe edge of a pine-forest, where close at hand stood a small hut made ofpine-branches, plastered with mud and thatched with rye-straw. No soonerhad he tapped on the door than it was opened by a girl. She looked outtimidly, thinking, I suppose, it might be a robber. But when she sawNed, she smiled.
"Come in," she said, and Ned saw four small children staring curiouslyat him.
The room was very smoky, for there was no chimney to the rude hut. Ahole in the roof let the smoke out, and there were no windows, for thefather of these children was a poor peasant who made his living bygathering turpentine in the pine forest.
Ned sat down, while the girl went on with her work until the black beanswere ready for supper, when she put them all in a big wooden bowl, andinvited Ned to join her and the four children.
While they were eating out of the bowl with a wooden spoon, a tamejackdaw who had been sitting on an old stool by the fireside, hoppedover and perched himself close to Ned.
When the supper was over, and the children were ready for bed, hewhispered, "This little family is very poor. Their father is awayselling turpentine, and there is little food in the cupboard. But if youwill come with me tonight, I will show you how we can help them."
When all the children were sound asleep, Ned looked over to the firesidewhere the jackdaw sat, his eyes shining brighter and brighter throughthe darkness, till they made the room so light that Ned could plainlysee the five sleeping children huddled together on the straw bed in thecorner.
Then the jackdaw nodded, and hopping down from the stool on which hesat, walked softly over to the door.
The moon shone brightly on the bare brown fields silvered with whitefrost, and in the still, cold air, the forest looked like a black cloudjust dropped upon the earth.
