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now shrank so fast that soon he would not be visible at all. Smaller and smaller he grew every moment, till at last he was nothing but a mere speck, and then he was gone altogether.

For a few moments every one was silent; at last the miller said, “ Let us all be thankful that he is gone. And now see here: Siegfrid has brought us back our girls, and has lost his eye for them; how shall we reward him?”

Then all the people turned and looked at Siegfrid, who stood beside Handa.

“We will give him whatever he likes best,” cried one.

“We will work for him all his life,” said another.

“Nay,” said Siegfrid, “I don’t want that, but promise me that as long as my father works well for you and makes you good shoes, you will not buy them of any one else. You brought all your troubles on yourselves by your cruelty in leaving him to starve after he had worked for you all his life.”

“The boy is right,” said the miller; “we behaved very wickedly and selfishly, and we have been justly punished for our conduct.”