“I have only three pennies, but I will give you one,” said Louis. Stopping to rest again, another man larger and uglier than the first asked for help, and Louis gave him a penny. Again a man larger and uglier than the others asked aid, and Louis gave him his last penny. Then the man changed into a brownie and told Louis that for his unselfishness he would grant him three wishes.
“I wish for a gun that will hit everything I shoot at.” In a moment the gun came through the air.
“I wish for a fiddle that when I play everybody will dance.” Down came the fiddle.
“I wish that whenever I ask for anything it will be given me.”
“You may have it,” said the brownie, and disappeared.
Louis went into a store and the proprietors gave him clothes and a fur overcoat. At a livery stable they were delighted to give him a pair of horses and a carriage. Driving up the street he met the policeman.
“I have a gun with which I can shoot the bird off the church steeple,” said Louis.
“If you shoot it I will go into the briars and pick it up,” said the policeman. Bang! down fell the bird, the policeman went for it and Louis began to play his fiddle. The policeman danced, and danced, and Louis played on until the policeman was quite worn out. Then Louis lay down and went to sleep.
While Louis slept, the policeman put handcuffs on him and put him in prison. Next morning he was brought up before the judge, who sentenced him to jail. He asked to be allowed to play his violin. The people insisted that his request be granted, but the policeman begged to be tied to a post so that he should not dance any more. Louis began to play. The people danced; the judge danced off the bench; the policeman bumped his head and knocked his feet so hard against the post that the judge was obliged to set Louis free so that he would stop playing, and the people could stop dancing.