["Lived on the borders of one of the great American forests"]
["The next moment a beautiful little creature stood upon his hand"]
["'Oh, don't go,' cried Hulda. 'I am going up-stairs to fetch my wand'"]
["The pedlar had now sunk up to his waist"]
WONDER-BOX TALES
THE OUPHE[1] OF THE WOOD
"An Ouphe!" perhaps you exclaim, "and pray what might that be?"
An Ouphe, fair questioner,—though you may never have heard of him,—was a creature well known (by hearsay, at least) to your great-great-grandmother. It was currently reported that every forest had one within its precincts, who ruled over the woodmen, and exacted tribute from them in the shape of little blocks of wood ready hewn for the fire of his underground palace,—such blocks as are bought at shops in these degenerate days, and called in London "kindling."