“In a far-off country a youth set out upon a long journey. One day, as he was travelling along a dusty road, he became very hot, and having proceeded a great distance, he grew fatigued, and at last angry and impatient. ‘Confound this dust and heat!’ said he; ‘I wonder why it must be so hot and dusty to-day, just as I am obliged to travel over this road. Why, it’s enough to melt an ox!’
“Thus complaining of the heat and dust, the youth worked himself up into a fury, so that he became hotter than ever, and it seemed as though he would choke from the influence of dust, heat and passion. Just at this moment, a lively little woman, with bright blue eyes and flaxen hair, stepped out from the road-side, and joining the youth unasked, walked along with him. The two soon fell into conversation, and the youth’s mind being diverted in some degree from his troubles, he forgot the evils which had disturbed him before. Taking counsel of his companion, he walked a little slower; avoided the deep sand in the path, and chose his way along the turf by the roadside; amused himself with thinking of something beside his toil; and thus he forgot his cares, and mitigated the labors of his journey.
“After a while, the little woman left the youth, and with a lightened heart he proceeded on his journey. He wished very much to get to a certain tavern to lodge for the night; so he travelled late in the evening. At last it grew very dark, and the youth once more became impatient. ‘I wonder why it need to be so horrid dark just now!’ said he. ‘Why, it’s black as Egypt!’ Thus talking to himself, and working his feelings up to a considerable pitch of discontent, he became careless, and ran against a post by the road-side. In an instant he fell to the ground, and as he was getting up he heard the little woman by his side.
“‘Never mind, never mind!’ said she; ‘it’s pretty dark, but still we can see well enough if we are careful and patient. This accident arose from your indulging your passions, which always tend to make us blind.’ Saying this, the little lady took the youth’s hand, led him into the middle of the path, and directing him to be of good cheer, left him to proceed on his way.
“The youth had not gone far, when he saw something before him which seemed to be a mighty giant, standing by the road, and stretching its long arms almost across the sky. He looked at it steadily for some time: at one moment it seemed to be a windmill, and then again it seemed to be a giant. He was a good deal perplexed, and though his reason told him that it must be a windmill, for there are no such creatures as giants; still his fears got the better of him, and he stopt short in the road, afraid to proceed any further.
“While he stood here, his teeth beginning to chatter with terror, he heard the voice of the little woman, close in his ear. No sooner did he hear her tones, than his alarm vanished, and shame for his fears came over him. He immediately set forward, and the woman keeping along with him, they soon came close to the place where the occasion of his terror stood. There it was, an honest old windmill, standing perfectly still, and as little like a giant as possible!
“‘You see,’ said the little woman, ‘how we get cheated, when our fancies get led away by our apprehensions.—Fear is always an unsafe guide, especially in the dark; for then it can turn a windmill into a giant, or a bush into a ghost.’
“Having said this, the lively woman departed, and the youth soon reached the town in which he was to lodge. At the inn where he put up, he had a poor bed, and this vexed him very much. While he lay upon it, fretting and keeping himself awake with his murmurs, he heard the little woman’s voice, and looking up, there she was before him! ‘Lie down,’ said she—‘lie down!—and instead of magnifying the evils of your condition, consider that thousands are worse off than you. Your bed is small and rather hard, but how many are there that have no bed at all!’
“Doing as he was bid, the youth lay down, and closed his eyes, and was soon buried in sweet repose. The next morning, much refreshed, he arose and proceeded on his way. He travelled steadily until toward evening; being then much fatigued, and finding the road exceedingly rough, he became discouraged. So he sat down by the way-side, and gave himself up to despair. While he sat here, wailing at his fate, the lively woman leaped out from some bushes, and placed herself before him. ‘Courage, courage, my friend!’—said she, cheerily; ‘you have done a good day’s work to-day, and the place of rest, for the night, is near at hand. Then do not give way to despondence! Think not of the evils that you have suffered, or of those that lie before you: dwell rather upon the good things in your condition. Remember how much you have done—and how little remains to do, before sleep will restore strength to your limbs and courage to your heart.’
“Saying this, the bright-eyed lady lifted the youth from the ground, and reanimated him by her voice; he then left her, and proceeded cheerfully on his way. Soon he reached the place where he was to sleep for the night, and here he was soon buried in peaceful dreams.