Tony the Sleepless: An Original Tale (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Tony the Sleepless: An Original Tale

There was once a huntsman who lived in a fine Old forest, abounding in all sorts of game; so that What with selling the skins of some of the beasts he killed, and eating others, he managed to make a very fair livelihood. All day long he roamed about under the green leaves, and when night came he retired to a neat cottage, surrounded by a trim little garden that he cultivated in his leisure hours.

Tony had led this life for some years, and was known all over the district as the boldest huntsman and liveliest companion for many miles round, when one evening, as he was returning home by moonlight, his path was intercepted by a strange-looking figure, that was himself more like a moonbeam than a proper man, so transparent and impalpable did he look, and so unusually bright were his eyes. Had it not been for a kind Of pack that he carried on his shoulder, giving the comfortable assurance that he belonged to the corps of wandering pedlars, a stouter heart than Tony's might have been excused for a temporary flutter at the sight of such a phantom-like appearance, who however asked him, in quite a natural voice, whether he could shew him the way out of the forest. Tony answered that it would be easy enough to do so, but that as the next village W a considerable way off, and there were no inns thereabouts, he ha better come home with him, and sleep under his roof, and not attempt to go any further till next morning.

All this Tony said partly from his inherent good nature and hospitable feelings, and partly - shall we confess it - to bluster himself, as it were, into the conviction that there was nothing unearthly about this singular visitant.

Sleep! Repeated the stranger, while his eyes appeared to dilate, and his singular, discordant laugh, shook the very leaves of the oldest trees; I don't think I'm likely to get any sleep, unless you'll sell me some: but I'll accept a night's lodging, and thank you too.

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