1828. ] Friar Bacon's Key. 163. 
and pick-axe ; he has taken a fancy to help in clearing off the stones for 
you.” 
“ T am glad to hear it, master,” said the gnome, “ for they lie thicker 
this year than ever; for my part, I think they must grow like the car- 
rots and turnips, only it may be not quite so fast.” 
“« Bad philosophy, Gobliner,” replied his master ; “but give my friend 
here his tools, and e’en let him set to work as soon as he pleases.” 
I was accordingly furnished with the requisite implements, and was 
trotting off ina violent hurry to a very promising mass of rock, in which 
the diamonds were stuck like pins in a toilette cushion, when the portly 
gentleman again laid his hand upon my shoulder. 
« Hark ye a moment, mine honest friend—there is yet one thing for 
you to learn—one little condition, before you begin your operations, for 
I like to deal on the square with the folks who come here.” 
My countenance fell in an instant. I thought directly of the devil 
and his old tricks, and had scarcely courage to falter out,— Pray, Sir, 
what is this condition ?” 
« Oh, no great matter; it is only that folks are allowed but a single 
day in my grounds. Work away, therefore, as hard as you please till 
nightfall ; dig gold and diamonds, or gather the fruits from the trees, or 
sit still without doing any thing, just as you think proper ; it is all the 
same to me. But, remember, when you see the chrystal above you 
clouded with a grey tint, as if a veil had been drawn over it, then is our 
twilight, and, hard upon that, follows darkness, when you are like to be 
turned out, if you stay so long, with certain disagreeable accompaniments. 
I tell you this, that you may make the best use of your time, and not 
blame me afterwards if you should find your labour has been great and 
your pleasure little.” 
Thus saying, the portly gentleman strode off, with a patronizing nod, 
followed by Gobliner, who turned back from time to time, mocking at 
me with his long yellow hands, and chuckling with delight, as if he had 
some pleasant piece of mischief in view—pleasant, I mean, to himself— 
for I did not suspect him of too much good-nature. I had, however, 
little leisure to think of him. There were diamonds to be dug, and fruit 
to be gathered, for my mind was made up to neglect neither ; though, 
as a prudent man, I resolved not to tickle my appetite till I had collected 
an ample supply of gold and precious stones. Even if this should 
occupy the day, what would that matter? When the twilight came on, 
it would be time enough to think of indulging myself—though, truth to 
say, the fruit looked tempting beyond measure, and the single taste I 
ventured on, by way of experiment, had a surpassing relish with it, that 
almost upset my resolution. 
Such was the profusion of precious stones, glittering from the rocks 
on all sides, that I calculated on digging out as many as I could possibly 
want long before the darkness. But this was a grievous mistake, as I 
soon found out when I actually set to work. The greater part of the 
diamonds grew on the steep sides of precipices, not to be climbed without 
infinite peril to my neck; and those that were more within reach lay 
imbedded in rock that was harder than the hardest granite. Not that 
these difficulties deterred me from the labour ; so far from it, I toiled with 
unabated diligence hour after hour, neglecting the delicious fruits which 
seemed ready to drop into my mouth, and, by the time of twilight, had 
got together a tolerable parcel of the largest diamonds—not to speak of 
Y 2 
