The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-10-21
Su gnstrUttibe Storp.
The Three Wishes.

Two iourneyman wool-carders were
crossing through q small wood to their
new masters, when they saw a couple
Of fishes, a pike and a golden carp, ly-
ing in the middle Of the pathway, hav-
ing probably dropped from some fisher
mans basket.
"What dainty morsel either of them
might make" observed the younger
Of the two, who, though greedy, was la
zinoss itself; "only It's too much trou-
Bile to carry them away, to say nothing
Of the trouble Of cooking them"
So saying, he pushed them out of his
way with the tip of his shoe.
His companion, who was steadier and
more thoughtful, observed that hewould
not mind the trouble, only the fishes
were heavy, and it might lose time to
carry them away, and they would get
belatcd. "But as they can't profit us,
and as nobody is likely to come by
this lonely spot, I'll put them back in
to their native element" said Watty.
Thcrcupon, he flung them both into a
stream that ran babbling along between
some neighboring bushes. They had
not gone far before they met man
with a fshiug-net over his shoulder, and
other implements that implied he be-
longcd to the craft of fishermen, though
he had a strange, unearthly counte-
nance, and streaming locks, that gave
him very wild appearance.
"Wherc's my fsh?" said he, in a rough
voice.
The elder wool -carder Immediately re-
piled, I"I'm sorry you didn't come
sooner, master fisherman, for you should
have had them"
And then he explained why he had
returned them to the water, observing
that he always honored the maxim,
Waste not, want not"
The strangers eyes now twinkled
with kindly expression.
"You have returned two of my sub
iects to my watery Kingdom" said he,
(which is what you sort of folks sell
dom do. And since I should have
bought them of you, had they still been
in your power, it is but fair to reward
you all the same. You may ask for any
thing you like, and shall obtain it.
The wool-carder now perceived that
he had to do with the Nix, or water
sprite belonging to the stream, and tax
ing off his cap respectfully, answered in
an humble though manly tone, "Well,
since your lordship is pleased to reward
such a small service, why suppose
Chere he looked down at his card, which
he held in his hand) that is to say, ifI
your lordship pleases, I should be quite
satisfied if d could always find my card
full of prime wool"
at is granted" said the Nix, who
had disappeared by the time the two
friends-who had been somewhat awe
stricken--again ventured to raise their
eyes.
Watty now looked at his card, and,
behold it was full Of the finest wool
imaginable.
"My fortune is made" said he,
dancing about for JOY "Now I'll set
up on my own account, instead of hir.
ing myself to a new master 1 shall
never want work, as / shall always
have wool; and III employ you, Tommy,
for nobody shall ever say 1 forgot my
friend in my good luck"
Gay, but what a foolish job you've
made of your wish, objected Tommy,
peeyishly. "When you were about it,
why didn't you ask his lordship for
plenty Of money and then, indeed, we
might have both been comfortable"
"Why, man, isn't this wealth." cried
Watty, taking out q handful Of wool
from the card, which yielded its feecy
treasures like so much smoke coming
out of a chimney. "With a little in
dustry we shall presently be rich.
What more can heart wish for2"
oWish, quotha!" calculated Tommy
"why, a readY-made fortune, without
any work or trouble to be sure"
And as they walked along, he kept
repining attho Nixs churlishness in not
bestowing a wish on himself as well, Just
as if the benefit conferred on his friend
was the greatest injury done him, al
though Watty had so generously offer
ed to make him a sharer in his good
fortune. Presently they emerged from
the road, and reached the spot where
the stream into which the fishes had
been thrown disgorged itself into a lit
tie lake.
"This must surely be the Nix's head
quarters" said Tommy; $50 here shall
I stop until his spriteship comes upI
out of the water, and gives me some
thing"
1t was in vain Walter urged that the
Nix would not come'at anybody's bid !
ding, and that it was only wasting time
to loiter about in such a hope; his lazy
companion declared he would not move
a step furthor, especially as he had no
need now to so to work, since thoro was