THE COLD HEART
“This” thought he “must surely be the abode of the Glass-man”
(p. [217])
Peter reached the highest point of the mountain and stood before a pine-tree of tremendous girth, for [!-- original location of full page illustration --] [!-- blank page --] which a Dutch ship-builder would have given many a hundred florins. “This,” thought he, “must surely be the abode of the Glass-man,” and so he drew his hat from his head, bowed low, and said with a trembling voice:—
“Good-evening, Master Glass-man,” but there was not a sound in reply. “Perhaps I had better try the little verse,” he thought, and began in flattering tones:
“Owner of all in the pine woods green,
Many a hundred years thou hast seen,
Thine all the lands where the pine-trees grow—”
As he spoke he saw to his terror a strange little figure peeping out from behind the big tree trunk. It seemed to be dressed exactly as he had heard in the black vest, red stockings, and pointed hat. Even the pale, clever little face he seemed to see for a moment; but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.
“Master Glass-man,” cried Peter in trembling tones, “I pray you do not make sport of me. If you think I did not see you you are mistaken.” But there was no reply, beyond a faint chuckle from behind the tree.