The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-27

ming for pretty maiden to wear" said
one, when she goes to see her lover In
his dreams"
In another place they were making
coach, and Harvesting snow-white hor-
ses to it. "The king wants new
COACH" said they. /" We are going to
take this one and show it to his coach
maker, when he is asleep tonight, and
it will be his model"
In another corner party were fixing
wings on their shoulders. There is
a poor boy in danger of shipwreck to-
night" said one of them " his mother
sits crying; we must fly over the seas,
and when the ship goes down, we will
seize him by his brown curls, and bring
him safe ashore"
So there was no end to the variety OF
occupations there. The three children
were bewilered, but not frightened;
for as they passed along, each gnome
turned and smiled kindly on them and
bade them welcome.
After while, he who brought them
there, said: cit is time for you to go
home; but first, will redeem my
promise: choose each of you what you
will, and it shall be yours.
Crispus's brother spoke first: 'I see
yonder great castle, with woods and
parks I would like that, or one like it. >"
GO You shall have it, replied the
gnome.
The sister spoke next: "I would
like that diamond necklace, and that
coach and horses
You shall have them,' answered the
gnome.
Lastly Crispus spoke Good
gnome you are wiser than [; give me
whatever is best for me, whatever will
make me happiest.''
"You are a sensible boy" quoth the
gnome; and with great ceremony he
presented to Crispus little wooden cup.
"What % exclaimed the boy, els this
all? An empty wooden cup?
"Not empty" said voice ;" look
within" And behold Crispus saw a
drop like water at the bottom.
'Drink that" said the gnome. And
when he had done so, he said: CO al
contcnted with my present; it is the
best, or you would not have given it to
me-"
Once more now they were all three
put into the bucket, and whirled up into
the moonlight. Then the little man
took them all on his back, and scam
pered across the fields to their fathers
house, and climbed in window, and
put them safely into their beds. They
were very tired, and soon fell asleep E;
and the next day, the first thing Girls
pus did was to look at his cup.
my brother and sister had grand
things promised to them,'' thought he /;
l wonder what l am to do with a
wretched wooden cup! I will put it in
the kitchen; it is no better than other
cups"
But as he looked, he saw, as on the
previous night, single clear drop in
the bottom, and as before, he drank it.
&C / am we'll satisfied with my cup"
exclaimed he there is some magic i'll
it-time will show"
Many long talk did the three chill
dren have about their adventure at the
well and in vain did the other two try
to drink from the mysterious cup.
They might hold it up side down as
long as they pleased, the drop clung to
the bottom; they might try to touch
it, it disappeared without wetting their
fingers. Only Crispus could enjoy it;
and the moment he slipped it out, anoth-
er one filled its place, as bright as ever.
They made several more expeditions
to the well, but they saw only the
moonlight streaming down in the dark
ness, and heard only the night breeze
string the long grass. So atlast they
gave up going there, and in time ceased
talking of the occurrence, and seemed
all to have forgotten it, except Crispus,
whose wooden cup was his remem-
brance and oftimes, when worldly mat
ters were wrong with him, when his
old father was peevish, and his custom
er's feet were hard to fit (for he had
taken up his fathers trade), when bad
debts made their fare and fire scanty,
when, after stitching at shoes all day,
he had to stitch up his shabby garments
by night-under all these infiictiOns,
often and often would he sip up the
little pearly drop in the bottom of his
cup, and be as merry and lighthearted
as ever.
In far off country, over the ocean,
events were transpiring which were
soon to change the fortunes of the cob
bler's humble home. In a magnificent
chamber, in a great marble palace, an
old man lay dying. One thought only
had engrossed his whole life-to hoard
up riches; but, as he lay now under his
silken coverings, attended ouly by
strangers and menials, some images
came fitting acrost his memory he had
not found time to entertain in his days
of health.
"My poor old BROTHER said hes "I
doubt if he be living yet. But he had
two boys, and the Youngest is my
namesake. Yes, he shall have all my
money"
And thus the matter was settled;
and all his possessions---his ships and
merchandise, his houses and lands, his
gold and jewels-were poured like
very fairy gift, into the humble cottage
of the poor old cobbler.
"This must be what the gnomes
promised you,' whispered Crispus to
his brother, when the news came
" Now you will take our sister to your
grand castle, and then she will have
the diamond necklace and ride in the
oroD6 ooaob which tbeu ,,ron,1Sa6 to