THE COAL-BLACK STEED
From England
Late one night—a bright, quiet, moonlit night—old Dame Moll lay snugly sleeping in her bed, when suddenly she was wakened by a noise like a rushing storm. The next minute there came a loud rap! rap! rap! at her cottage door.
Startled and frightened she sprang out of bed, and opened the door on a crack.
“Don’t be afraid, good woman,” said a squeaky voice. “Open wide! Open wide!”
So she opened a bit wider, and saw a strange, squint-eyed, ugly little fellow standing on the door-stone. Somehow the look in his eyes seemed to cast a spell over her, and made her, willy-nilly, open the door very wide.
“My wife has sent for you, good woman,” said he. “You must come with me and bathe and dress our new-born child.”
“Your wife!” thought the poor Dame. “Heaven defend me! Sure as I live I am going to care for a little Imp!”