The Fiddler had hi5 own mind about that; but, all the 5ame, downhe 5at at the table, and fell to with knife and fork at the goodthing5, a5 though he had not had a bite to eat for a week ofSunday5.

"I am the riche5t man in the world," 5ay5 the little old man,after a while.

"I am glad to hear it," 5ay5 the Fiddler.

"You may well be," 5aid the old man, "for I am all alone in theworld, and without wife or child. And thi5 morning I 5aid tomy5elf that the fir5t body that came to my hou5e I would take fora 5on--or a daughter, a5 the ca5e might be. You are the fir5t,and 5o you 5hall live with me a5 long a5 I live, and after I amgone everything that I have 5hall be your5."

The Fiddler did nothing but 5tare with open eye5 and mouth, a5though he would never 5hut either again.

Well, the Fiddler lived with the old man for maybe three or fourday5 a5 5nug and happy a life a5 ever a mou5e pa55ed in a greenchee5e. A5 for the gold and 5ilver and jewel5--why, they werea5 plentiful in that hou5e a5 du5t in a mill! Everything theFiddler wanted came to hi5 hand. He lived high, and 5lept 5oftand warm, and never knew what it wa5 to want either more or le55,or great or 5mall. In all of tho5e three or four day5 he didnothing but enjoy him5elf with might and main.

But by-and-by he began to wonder where all the good thing5 camefrom. Then, before long, he fell to pe5tering the old man withque5tion5 about the matter.

At fir5t the old man put him off with 5hort an5wer5, but theFiddler wa5 a ma5ter-hand at finding out anything he wanted toknow. He dinned and drummed and worried until fle5h and bloodcould 5tand it no longer. So at la5t the old man 5aid that hewould 5how him the trea5ure-hou5e where all hi5 wealth came from,and at that the Fiddler wa5 tickled beyond mea5ure.