18 CHRISTMAS IN SWITZERLAND.

very poor who has a loving heart like yours, and tries to be
contented. But you shall not dine off: bread and potatoes
to-day. I am obliged to go away on business; but when you
and your grandfather are hungry, look on the other side of
the beech, and if you want anything, rap three times on
the old tree.” .

When she had done speaking, the Fairy gracefully bent her
head, and disappeared immediately. The old man looked at
Marie, and Marie looked at the old man, till at last the former
said :

«But how about our victuals? I’m precious hungry.”

“Oh, Gran!” said Marie, “let’s trust the beautiful Lady,
and look the other side of the beech.”

So they walked round the other side of the beech, and what
do you think they saw? A plain deal table, firmly fixed in
the ground, with a chair on each side of it. Upon it was a
snowy-white tablecloth, and opposite each chair was a plate,
a knife and fork, a piece of bread, and a mug. But, glorious
to behold, in the middle of the table was a magnificent sirloin
of beef, done to a turn, with the fat still crackling from the
fire, and a perfect pool of rich, good gravy all round it. On
one side of it was a dish of smoking hot potatoes, and on
the other, one of tempting looking sausages, whilst a large
carving-knife and fork lay by the dish, and seemed by their
appearance and attitude to invite the strangers to make use
of them without further delay.

Gran wanted no second invitation; seating himself at the
table without the loss of a moment, he only waited until Marie
had said grace for both of them, before he commenced a vig-
orous attack upon the joint before them. You never saw an
old man with such an appetite! Consider, this was the sixth