The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

grant that whoever climbs my pear-tree
shall not have power to leave il until my
permission be given This was also as
scented to.
Now Schalken was sober man, and
liked to sit down and chat with his wife
of an evening; but she was a busting
body, and often jumped up in the midst
of a conversation. that she had only heard
ten or twelve times, to scrub the table or
set their clay platters in order. Nothing
disturbed him so much as this, and he
was determined, if possible, TO prevent a
recurrence of the nuisance. With this
object in view, he approached close 10 the
stranger, and, in a low whisper, told him
his third and last wish; that whoever sat
in particular chair in his hut should not
be able 10 move out ofsit, until ii should
please him SO TO order. The wish was
agreed to by the traveller, who, after ma
ny greetings, departed on his way.
Years passed on, and Schalken's last
two wishes had been fully graiiGed, by
often OBTAINING thieves in his tree, and
his wife on her chair. The time was APP
preaching when the promise of longevity
would be lalsifed or made manifest. Ii
happened tina. the birthday of the fisher
man and of his wife was the same. They
were sitting together on the evening Of
the day that made him sevenly-nine and
MieJe seventy-threc years of age, when
the moon, that was shining through the
window of the hut, seemed suddenly to be
exlinguishcd, and an unnatural calmness
was spread over the ocean; although the
sky appeared TO be mastered by the winds,
they were heaving onward with their
mighty waves of clouds. Birds dropped
dead from the boughs, and the foliage of
the trees turned 10 pale red.
All seemed to prognosticate the ap-
proach of Death and in few minutes az
forwards, sure enough, he came. He
was, however, very different from all that
the worthy couple had heard or lanced
Of him. He was certainly rather thin,
and had very little color; he was well
dressed, and his department was that of a
gentleman. bowlug vvry politely tn the
ancient pair, he told them he merely came
to give notice, that by right they should
have belonged 10 him this day bu, fif-
,y years respite was granted, and when
that period had expired, he should visi,
them again. He then walked away, and
the water and the moon reganed their
natural appearance. For the next fifty
years, everything passed on as quietly as
before but as the time drew near for the
appointed advent of Death, Jan became
thoughtful, and he felt no pleasure a! the
idea of the anticipated visit.
The day arrived, and Death came, pre-
coded by the same horrors as en- former
occasion.-'Well good folks said he,
you can have no objection to accompany
me, for assuredly, yau have been highly
privileged, and have lived long enough.
The old dame wept and chung feebly &c
her husband, as if she feared they were
to be divided after they had lived so long
and happily together. Poor Schalken
also looked very down-cast, end moved
after Death but slowly. AS he passed
by the garden, he turned to take las
look at it, when a sudden thought strucl
him. He called TO Death, and said
! Sir, allow me-to propose something tC
you. Our journey is long one, ant
we have no provisions. ] am too lnfirm
, or | would climb yonder pear-irce ant
take stock Of its best fruit with us
You are active and obliging, and will,
5 am sure, sir, get it for us.
5 Death, with great condescension, com
plied-and ascending the tree, gathered
| great number of pears, which he threw
= down 10 old Schalken and his wife. A
: length, he determined to descend, but Il
a his surprise, and apparent CONSERVATION
] he discovered tina, he was immoveable
: nor would Jan allow him to leave the tire
G until he had given them promise Of liy
0 ing another half century. They Joyce
on in the old way for fifty years more
1 and then Death came again. He was b
G no means as polite as he had formerl
f been, for the trick that Schaken had pu
r upon him offended his dignity, and hu,
s his pride not little. Come Jan : sal
S he, you used me i'll the other day
y Death thinks but little of so years. an
}. | am now determined TO lose no time
h come
l. Jan was sitting at his little table, busil
J. employed when Death entered.--lIe raj
d ed his head sorrowlully, and the pc
% ,rembled in his hand as he thus address
is ed him: Il confess that my former COZ
Ge duct towards you merits blame; but
A. have done with such knaveries now, al
IL have learned TO know that life is Of lit
worth, and that have seen enough of
is Still, before quit this world, shou
1t like TO do all the good | can; and W
is engaged, when you arrived, in making