Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-11-01
TEEE GOLDEN FAG0Ts.
A cHILD's TALE.

with much difficulty, one very long,
tough branch across her knee, splinter
went into her hand. Il made a wound
from which the blood flowed, but che
bound her hand up with ragged hand
kerchief, and went home To her hut.
Now this old woman was very cross,
because she had hurt herself; and there
fore when she arrived home and saw her
little granddaughter, Ellie, singing ard
spinning she was very glad that there
vas somebody to punish. So she told
little Ellie tha: she was mink. and beal
her with a fagot. But the old woman
| had for long time depended for sup
port upon her granddaughter, and the
daily bread had never yet been wanting
from her table.
Then this old woman told little Ellie
that she was TO unite the handkerchief
and dress tho wound upon he hand.
'The cloth feels very stiff, said The old
woman. And that was a thing not 10 be
wondered at, for when the bandage was
unrolled, one half Of it was found TO be
made of a thick golden tissue. Aud
there was la,ap OF gold in tue old wo-
mans hand, where otherwise blood
clot might have been.
At all this Ellie was not much sur
prised, because she knew verv little ol
gold, and as her grandmother was very
yellow outside, il appeared TO her no.
unlikelyaihat she was yellow the whole
way through.
But the sun now shone into the little
room and Ellie started with delight
Look a, the beautiful bright beetles there
among the fagots!' She had 5fter
watched the golden beetles, scampering
10 aud fro, near hot stone upon tie
rock. .Ah, this is very odd,' said little
Ellie. seeing that the bright specks did
not move. These poos insects must be
I'll asleep!'
But the old woman who had fallen
down upon her knees before the wood.
bade Ellie to 60 into town and sell the
caps that she had finished; not forgetting
TO bring home another load OF flax.
Granie, when left TO herself, made q
great many curious grimaces. Then
she scratched another wound in hei
hand, and caused The Blood 10 drop a.
mong the fagois. Then she hobbled and
screamed, eudeayoring, no doubt, all the
while 10 dance and sing. Ii was quite
certain that her Flood had the power o
converting into gold whatever li!eless
thing il dropped upon.
| IT, az. ,t,l.
Ellie continued 10 support her grand
mother by daily toll. The old womar
llsf or fires, although it was cold winter
weather, and the snow lay thick upor
! the cottage roof. Ellie jumped to warm
herself, and her grandmother dragged al
Eihc iagois into her own bedroom. Ellie
was forbidden ever again 10 make Gran
MES bed, or TO go into the old woman:
room on any account whatever. Gran
MES head was always in bantlage, anl
lit never required dressing: Grannit
could not hurt Ellie SO much now whel
she used the stick, her strength was con
sideFah!y lessened.
One day this old woman did not com,
on 10 breakfast; and she made no answe
whon she was called 10 dinner; and Ellie
when she listened through Il crevice
could not hear her snore. She alway!
snored when she was asleep, so Eli,
made 10 doubt but she must be obstinate
When night came, Ellie was frighten
ed and dared not sleep until she hat
peeped in.
There was stack Of golden fagois
and her grandmother was on the floor
quite white and dead.
When she alarmed her neighbors, they
all came together and held up their hands
and said, 'Whai clever miser this oil,
woman must have been!' But whel
they looked at little Ellie, as she sa
weeping on the pile of gold, they al
quarrelled among each other over lht
qneslion--who should be her friend!
A good spirit came in the night, anc
that was Ellie's friend; FOR in the morn
| ing all her fagols were Of wood again.
Nobody then quarrelled for her love
but she found love, and was happy
because nobody thought i, worth while
TO deceive her.--Dickea's Household
Words.