Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIV, May 1852, Vol. IV

In the quiet valleys of Franconia, the spirited children Phonny and his cousin Malleville are drawn into a modest adventure by Antonio, known as Beechnut. He invites them to help pull a heavy stone from the ground, loading oxen and a makeshift drag with tools while humming a whimsical lullaby about a fairy dancing on ice. Their lighthearted banter and the rhythmic creak of the wagon set a gentle, rustic scene that hints at something hidden beneath the soil.

When the oxen finally halt beside the stone, the children and Antonio spring into action—shovels dig, a freshly cut tree becomes a lever, and Phonny climbs a nearby trunk to saw a branch for additional help. Malleville, perched on a smooth stone, watches the scene while humming the same melody, her curiosity growing with each scrape of soil. The simple task soon takes on an air of adventure, as the hidden stone promises a story of its own. Listeners are drawn into this slice of 19th‑century rural life, where imagination and labor intertwine.