The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-06-15

refused obedience to his will, aad his
tongue Glove to the roof of his mouth. And
all the time it was growing darker and
more dark. till presently not single OBJ
ject could be discerned. II 4
lis this death 2" thosght Asalph, 10 an
indescribabIe agSiy of mind.
!" 1t is not DEATH replied . whispered
voice, in answer 10 his thought.
And then. directly before him, he per-
ceiyed small. faint ball Of light, which
gradually enlarged to a circumference Of
several feet, and frightened to radiant
brilliancy and then, in the centre of this
sun-iike globe. appeared the bright figure
ofa beautiful fairy, with golden wand in
her hand. and tiara Of brilliant gems
around her brow.
Asaiph." she said, "I am the Queen
of the realm Of guild and gems. l have
this day been witness Of the noble, self
sacrificing deed performed by thee, and l
have come to reward thee with thy hearts
DESIRE"
Then give me gold and precious gems !"
cried Asalph. in rapturous delight, no lon
ger speechless, and all fear beiag suddenly y
banished with the hope OF fortune.
"It is in my power. Asalph. to grant
thee three wishes, and ne more--therefore
think well before asking. or thou mayest
repent forever"
u have one great DESIRE" returned
Asalph. "and / hesitate not TO name il.
Sarround me with gold. and silver. and all
the precious stones oil earth, and shall be
content"
Remember" said the fairy. "two wish
es yet remain 10 thee, and beyond them
have no power. Have then thy FIRST. Be,
hold y
She waved her wand, the light expand
ed. aud Asalph felt himself lifted BY some
inyincble power and borne swiftly through
space. The next noment he found him ;
self The solitary tenant OF a grotto. whose
splendor and magni6cence far exceeded
his widest dreams.
II was vastly spacious. delightfully."- cool.
softly lighted. and yet everything within
and around, on which the eye could rest.
was splendid beyond conception. Its CELL
ing. walls. and door. and sll its thousand
partitions aud rooms. were Of massive guild
and silver. brilliantly illuminated. so to
speak. with millions Of earih's richest gems.
A little stream. Of quicksilver meandeIed
through IL; and all about were trees, and
vines and lcwers--but sll cempssed sf the
richest ores and minerals-gold, silver. di-
amonds. pearls. sspphires. rubies. emeralds.
and every gem 10 which maa had given a
name and value.
"And all this is Hine!" cried Asalph.
clapping his hands for JOY. "oh, happy,
happy man am at last !" and in perfect
ecstacy. he begsn to wander pp and down
and through the winding passages aud
apartments Of his new glorious home, re-
GREETING only that there was not another
sense besides that Of seeing, TO double his
rapture and give his almsst bursting soul
still greater fullness; for. after all. one
sense emily could enjoy the scene and il he
closed his eyes. his riches suddenly van
ished into 50 many black and shapeless
racks.
Hours rolled away while Asalph wan.
dered 10 aud down his golden hsme; but
at last he grew weary. and laid him dswn
TO rest. He gradually closed his eyes,
though sorry 10 lose sight Of all his soul
most priced but he was still mortal, aud
nature would have her due, aud 50 he fell
asleep and slept many hours.
| lie awoke refreshed, and with renewed
Ijsy again roamed over his golden home.
I'rhis time. hunger, instead Of sleep. sradu-
aIly tsok possession Of him--and where
was he to End ausht 10 appease iti This
was one Of the things be had forgotten in
his anxiety TO secure his priceless trca-
sures. and now happy to remember that
the fairy had said he could have three
wishes. and his second call would be for
food and water. enough for all his wants
I--for, however much he might delight in
gold and gems. he could net eat them, nor