Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
GBs faniIg GirtIe.
THE THREE WISHES.
u DUTCH FABLE.

EIduu0TS, luSEG 10 Stlll SiiUNu Tue oltc Vi
hut, which was an object of much atten-
ton while it stood, on account of SIN
gular legend that relates to its first in
habitant, kind-hearted fellow, who de-
pended upon his boat for subsistence, and
his own happy disposition for cheerfulness
during every hardship and priyation.
Thus the story goes -
One dark and stormy night in winter,
as Jan Schalken was sitting with his good
natured wife by the fire, he was awakened
from transient deze by q knocking at
the door of his hut. He started up,
drew back the bolt, and a stranger enter
ed. He was tall man; but little could
be distinguished either of his face or
figure, as he wore large, dark cloak.
which he had contrived to pull over his
head, after the fashion of a cowl. II
am poor traveller" said the stranger,
and want a nights lodging-will you
grant it to me % Ay, to be sure" re-
piled Schalken; but I'm afraid your
cheer will be sorry. Had you come
sooner, you might have Jared better. Sit
down and eat of what is left"
The traveller took him at his word,
and in a short time afterwards retired to
his humble sleeping place. In the morn
ing, as he was aboat to depart, he adj
vanced towards Schalken, and giving him
his hand, thus addressed him 1t is
needless for my good friend to know who
| am, bat of this be assured, that | can
and will, be grateful; for when the rich
and the powerful turned me last night
from their inhospitable gates, you well
coined me as a man should welcome man.
and looked with an eye of pity upon the
desolate traveller in the storm. | grant
you three wishes. Be they what they
may, those wishes shall be gratifed."
Now, Schalken certainly did not put
much faith in these promises, but still he
thought it the safest plan to make trial of
them, and accordingly began to consider
how he should fix his wishes. Jan was
a man who had few or no ambitions
views, and was contented with the way
of life in which he had been brought up.
In fact, he was so we'll satisfied with his
situation, that he had not the least inci-
nation to lose a single day of his labori-
Gus existence, but, on the contrary, had a
very sincere wish to add few years. to
those which he was destined to live.
This gave rise to wish the first % Let
my wife and myself" he said, live fifty
years longer than nature had desi ,ned"
1t shall be DONE" cried the stranger.
Whilst Schalken was pulling his
brains for second wish, he bethought
him that pear-tree, which was in his lit
tie garden, had been frequently despoiled
of its fruit to the no small detriment of
the said tree, and grieyous disappointment
of its owner. For my second wish,
grant that whoever climbs my peach tree
shall not have power to leave it until my
permission be given" This was also as
sented to.
Now, Schalken was sober man, and
liked to sit down and chat with his wife
of an evening; but she was busting
body, and often jumped up in the midst
of 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 to the
stranger, and in low whisper, told him
his third and last wish, that whoever sat
in particular chair in his hut should not
be able to move out of it, until it should
please him so to order. The wish was
agreed to by the traveller, who, after
many greetings, departed on his way.
Years passed on, and Schalken's last
two wishes had been fully gratifed, 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 falsiied or be made manifest.
1t happened that the birthday of the
fisherman and of his wife was the same.
They were sitting together on the evening
of the day that made him seventy-nine,
and Mie1e seventy three years of age,
when the moon, that was shining through
the window of the hut seemed suddenly
to be extinguished, and an unnatural calm
ness was spread over the ocean; although
the sky appeared to be mastered by the
winds, that were heaving onward with
their mighty waves of clouds. Birds
dropped dead from the boughs, and the
foliage of the trees turned to pale red
All seemed to prognosticate the ap-
proacA of Death, and in few minutes
sare enough, he came. He1
was, however, very different frem all that
the worthy couple had heard or fancied
of him. He was certainly rather thin,
and had very little color; but he was well
dressed, and his department was that of
a gentleman. Bowling very politely to the
ancient pair, he told them he merely
came to give notice, that by right they
should have belonged to him this day;
but fifty years respite was granted. and
when that period had expired, he should
visit them again. He then walked away,
and the moon and the waters regained
their natural appearance. For the next
fifty years, every thing 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 at the idea Of the anticipated
visit.
The day arrived, and Death came, pre-
ceded by the same horrors as on former
occasion. Well, good folks" said he,
you can now have no objection to ac-
company me, for, assuredly, you have
been highly privileged, and have lived
long enough The old dame wept and
chung feebly to her husband ne If shp