Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-07-11
Che 3epablifan.
The WONDERFUL CARPET.

OF your Slgnt, TOO impatient always
to wait and find out where you wslnted
him to go, or what you wished him
to. sec.,p Hugh,s mother had preach
ed to him often ON the subject, but
all her preaching made no difference;
and SO there happened what l am
about to tell you. =, +,
One day, he came down late to
breakfast, and nothing was left for
him but.breadp and a jar of honey;
and, just as Hugh was about to take
his seat, he.heard a great struggling
and murmuring in the jar; and peep
ing over the edge, OH what should
he see but:, lovely little elf that had
tumbled in. The elf was shaped like
any little boy But then he was so
small. Not longer altogether than
your finger-ifyour fingeris not very
long-with blue eyes shining with
mischief, and little pair of wings.
that could not help him, however out
of the jar So, he said to Hugh,
"Oh please help me cut, sud | will
make your fortune"
And Hugh, putting his ferefnger
into the jar, the elf walked up on it,
as you would on bridge, and came
out on the table.
Now for my fortunes' cries i'm
patient Hugh. but"
''Wait bit" answered the elf.
Il can't do anything while am IN
this pickle"
And, indeed, deplorable figure
he looked, for his wings were so
gUTnmed with honey that he could
not spread them, and all his sunny
curls were dripping and flat, and fast
on his pretty head.
"What shall / do?' cried the elf,
''if a bee should come and find me
now, 1 am dead elf"
Then seeing q lovely white rose
looking in at the window, he ex-
claimed, ooh dear rose, help me, /
beg of youv
"Who-I?" cried the rose, shut
ting all her leaves in a violent hurry.
.Do you suppose / wish to soil my
beautiful white leaves?'
.Oh, what shall do2" cried the
eff.
"Why, I will scrub yeu," said
Hugh, taking up napkin, but at that
the elf was more frightened than
ever.
Scrub me.' why you would smash
me into bits"
But, just then, bank of grass all
wet with dew, and thick with violets,
called cut, Gene here elf, and we
will help you"
So the c!frolled in the grass among
the violets, and presently came out,
looking as fresh and trim rs usual.
"And now, young man, said he
to Hugh. Il promised TO make your
fortune
{" Yes, yes.'' cried Hugh, all on fire
with impotence; for, just as soon as
his fortune was made, he intended to
march straight down the street and
buy a pony that he had seen the day
before; and, of course, he was i'll 4
hurry to be on the popy's back.
You must know" said the elf,
! that there is wonderful carpet that
will carry you anywhere you like to
90, and that, though only a yard
square, can carry an army of men.
Now, / can tell you where this carpet
is, and you can sell il to the king,
and then your fortune will be made. "
Just think how Hugh opened his
eyes at that. He decided Mt once
that he would buy two Shetland
ponies; and getting down his cap he
could hardly wait to hear where
the wonderful carpet was to be found.
"You must take the wood path, :
said the elf, ''and when you come to
the turn, be sure you keep to the
right; 90 on till you find an old owl,
sitting on rock. Tell him the lily
elf sent YOU to ask him what o'clock
it is. He will get up from the won
derful carpet on which he is sitting
to see, and then, do you seize the
''Oh, yes, l see! l know cried
Hugh, too impatient to listen another
instant; and, running out ofthe door,
he was out of sight 10 an Instant.
What a fool that boy is" said the
elf, looking after him.
But Hugh did not hear him. Run
ming as hard as he could tear, he
came to the forest, and there stopped
for lack of breath; but he had been SO
eager to get off that he had hardly
heard what the elf had said, and when
he came to the turn he fancied that
he was to the left. This path took
him deeper AID deeper into the forest,
till at last he came to great rock,
overriding. by the branches of a tree,
through which he saw something dim
ly white. Thinking that it was an
owl he stepped up to the rock, and
said boldly, "Good Mr.. Owl. the lily
elf sent me to ask what o'clock it is. !"
i. But, unluckily, instead of al owl,
this was a wicked water goblin, of
whom every one was AFRAID.
: "Tll teach you to ask me what
o'clock it is" Numbered the goblin,
splashing down through the trees in
a great roaring, foaming waterfall
that took Hugh off his feet in a
moment. us.til
= Over he went, bobbing about like
a cork; now his heels up, and now
head, splashing and spluttering, CUR
Cling and screaming, while the water
dashed and laughed about him till at
last he caught by the branch of a tree
and pulled himself out. Oh. wet
and miserable boy was he, crawling
home, his clothes so heavy with
water that he could hardly walk; and
what was worse, he lost the fortune,
for after that, he never could find
fha nuyI