in the middle。 The huckster couldafford this； and therefore the goblin remained with the huckster；which was very cunning of him。
One evening the student came into the shop through the back doorto buy candles and cheese for himself； he had no one to send； andtherefore he came himself； he obtained what he wished； and then thehuckster and his wife nodded good evening to him； and she was awoman who could do more than merely nod； for she had usually plenty tosay for herself。 The student nodded in return as he turned to leave；then suddenly stopped； and began reading the piece of paper in whichthe cheese was wrapped。 It was a leaf torn out of an old book； abook that ought not to have been torn up； for it was full of poetry。
〃Yonder lies some more of the same sort；〃 said the huckster： 〃Igave an old woman a few coffee berries for it； you shall have the restfor sixpence； if you will。〃
〃Indeed I will；〃 said the student； 〃give me the book instead ofthe cheese； I can eat my bread and butter without cheese。 It wouldbe a sin to tear up a book like this。 You are a clever man； and apractical man； but you understand no more about poetry than thatcask yonder。〃
This was a very rude speech； especially against the cask； butthe huckster and the student both laughed； for it was only said infun。 But the goblin felt very angry that any man should venture to saysuch things to a huckster who was a householder and sold the bestbutter。 As soon as it was night； and the shop closed； and every one inbed except the student； the goblin stepped softly into the bedroomwhere the huckster's wife slept； and took away her tongue； which ofcourse； she did not then want。 Whatever object in the room he placedhis tongue upon immediately received voice and speech； and was able toexpress its thoughts and feelings as readily as the lady herself coulddo。 It could only be used by one object at a time； which was a goodthing； as a number speaking at once would have caused great confusion。The goblin laid the tongue upon the cask； in which lay a quantity ofold newspapers。
〃Is it really true；〃 he asked； that you do not know what poetryis？〃
〃Of course I know；〃 replied the cask： 〃poetry is something thatalways stand in the corner of a newspaper； and is sometimes cut out；and I may venture to affirm that I have more of it in me than thestudent has； and I am only a poor tub of the huckster's。〃
Then the goblin placed the tongue on the coffee mill； and how itdid go to be sure！ Then he put it on the butter tub and the cashbox； and they all expressed the same opinion as the waste…paper tub；and a majority must always be respected。
〃Now I shall go and tell the student；〃 said the goblin； and withthese words he went quietly up the back stairs to the garret where thestudent lived。 He had a candle burning still； and the goblin peepedthrough the keyhole and saw that he was reading in the torn book；which he had brought out of the shop。 But how light the room was！ Fromthe book shot forth a ray of light which grew broad and full； like thestem of a tree； from which bright rays spread upward and over thestudent's head。 Each leaf was fresh； and each flower was like abeautiful female head； some with dark and sparkling eyes； and otherswith eyes that were wonderfully blue and clear。 The fruit gleamed likestars； and the room was filled with sounds of beautiful music。 Thelittle goblin had never imagined； much less seen or heard of； anysight so glorious as this。 He stood still on tiptoe； peeping in；till the light went out in the garret。 The student no doubt hadblown out his candle and gone to bed； but the little goblin remainedstanding there nevertheless； and listening to the music which stillsounded on； soft and beautiful； a sweet cradle…song for the student；who had lain down to rest。〃
〃This is a wonderful place；〃 said the goblin； 〃I never expectedsuch a thing。 I should like to stay here with the student；〃 and thelittle man thought it over； for he was a sensible little spirit。 Atlast he sighed； 〃but the student has no jam！〃 So he went down stairsagain into the huckster's shop； and it was a good thing he got backwhen he did； for the cask had almost worn out the lady's tongue； hehad given a description of all that he contained on one side； andwas just about to turn himself over to the other side to describe whatwas there； when the goblin entered and restored the tongue to thelady。 But from that time forward； the whole shop； from the cash boxdown to the pinewood logs； formed their opinions from that of thecask； and they all had such confidence in him； and treated him with somuch respect； that when the huckster read the criticisms ontheatricals and art of an evening； they fancied it must all efrom the cask。
But after what he had seen； the goblin could no longer sit andlisten quietly to the wisdom and understanding down stairs； so； assoon as the evening light glimmered in the garret； he took courage；for it seemed to him as if the rays of light were strong cables；drawing him up； and obliging him to go and peep through the keyhole；and； while there； a feeling of vastness came over him such as weexperience by the ever…moving sea； when the storm breaks forth； and itbrought tears into his eyes。 He did not himself know why he wept；yet a kind of pleasant feeling mingled with his tears。 〃Howwonderfully glorious it would be to sit with the student under sucha tree；〃 but that was out of the question； he must be content tolook through the keyhole； and be thankful for even that。
There he stood on the old landing； with the autumn wind blowingdown upon him through the trap…door。 It was very cold； but thelittle creature did not really feel it； till the light in the garretwent out； and the tones of music died away。 Then how he shivered；and crept down stairs again to his warm corner； where it felthome…like and fortable。 And when Christmas came again； andbrought the dish of jam and the great lump of butter； he liked thehuckster best of all。
Soon after； in the middle of the night； the goblin was awoke bya terrible noise and knocking against the window shutters and thehouse doors； and by the sound of the watchman's horn； for a great firehad broken out； and the whole street appeared full of flames。 Was itin their house； or a neighbor's？ No one could tell； for terror hadseized upon all。 The huckster's wife was so bewildered that she tookher gold ear…rings out of her ears and put them in her pocket； thatshe might save something at least。 The huckster ran to get hisbusiness papers； and the servant resolved to save her blue silkmantle； which she had managed to buy。 Each wished to keep the bestthings they had。 The goblin had the same wish； for； with one spring；he was up stairs and in the student's room； whom he found standingby the open window； and looking quite calmly at the fire； which wasraging at the house of a neighbor opposite。 The goblin caught up thewonderful book which lay on the table； and popped it into his red cap；which he held tightly with both hands。 The greatest treasure in thehouse was saved； and he ran away with it to the roof； and seatedhimself on the chimney。 The flames of the burning house oppositeilluminated him as he sat； both hands pressed tightly over his cap； inwhich the treasure lay