"'Give me a light for my Easter candles, good people, I pray you.'
"'You are heartily welcome,' said the other, pointing to the glowing
fire; 'but how are you going to carry it home?'
[Illustration: STEPKA CARRIES THE FIRE IN HIS CLOAK.]
"'Oh, dear me!' cried poor Stepka, striking his forehead, 'I never
thought about that!'
"'Well, that shows that you were very much in earnest, my friend,' said
the other, laughing; 'but never mind; I think we can manage it for you.
Lay down your coat.'
Stepka pulled off his old patched coat and laid it on the ground,
wondering what was to come next; but what was his amazement when the
man coolly threw two great shovelfuls of blazing wood into the coat, as
coolly as if it were a charcoal bucket!
"'Hallo! hallo!' cried Stepka, seizing his arm, 'what on earth are you
about, burning my coat that way?'
"'Your coat will be none the worse, brother,' said the charcoal-burner,
with a curious smile. 'Look and see!'
"And, sure enough, the fire lay quietly in the hollow of the coat, and
never singed a thread of it! Stepka was so startled, that for a moment
he thought he had to do, not with charcoal-burners, but with something
worse; but, remembering how they had greeted him in the Holy Name, he
became easy again.
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