The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-05
misceIlaap.
Jan Schalken's TIRE Wishes.

an object of much attention while 1t stood, on
account of singular legend that relates to its
first inhabi;ant---a kndhearted fellow, who de-
pended upon his boat for subsistence; and his
own happy disposition Tor cheerfulness during
every hardship and privitatien. Thus the story
goes:
Ons dark and stormy night in winter, as Jan
Schalken was sitting with his good natured wife
by the fire. he was awakened from transient
doze by knocking at the door of his hut He
started up, drew back the bolt, and a stranger
entered. He W as tall man, but little could be
distinguished either of his face or figure, as he
were a large dark cloak, which he contrived to
pull eyer his head, after the fashion of cowl.
81 am poor traveller" said the stranger,
"and want nights lodging; will you grant
it to me 2"
AYE, to be sure" replied Schalken; "but 1
am afraid your cheer will be sorry. Had you
come sooner you might have Jared better. Sit
down and eat what is left"
The traveller took HIM at his word, and in a
short time afterwards retired to his humble
sleeping apartment In the morning, as he was
about to depart, he advanced towards Schalken,
and, giving him his hand thus addressed him
at is needless for my good friend to know who
am, but of this, be assured. that can and will
be grateful for when the rich and powerful
turned from their in,iospitabls gates, you
welcomed me as 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 will be
gratihed."
Now, Schalken certainly did not put much
confidence 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 man who had few or no
ambitious views. and was contented with the
way of life in which he had been brought up
In tact, he was so we'll satisfied with his situa.
ton that he had not the least inclination to lose
single day of his laborious existence; but, on
the contrary, had a very sincere wish 10 add a
few years to those which he was destined to live.
This gave rise to wish the irst-"Let my wife
and myself" he said, "live fifty years longer
than nature has designed"
at shall be DONE" replied the stranger.
While Schalken was pulling his brain for
the seSond wish, he bethought him that pear
tree which was in his little garden. had been
frequently despoiled of its fruit to the no small
detrimeat of the said tree, and grisvous disap-
pointment of its owRer.
"For my second wish, grant that whoever
climbs my pear tree shall not have power to
leav. it until my permission DO given" This
was also assented to.
Now, Schalken was sober man, and liked to
sit down and chat with his wife Of An evening
but she was such a busting body, and often
jumped up in tho 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 much a. this and he
was determined, if possible. to prevent rsour-
renee OF the nuisance. With this object in view,
he approached close to the stranger. and, in
low whisper, told him his last and third wish
that whoever nAt in particular chair in his hut
should not be able to mcve out OF it until 1t
should please him 10 to order. The wish was
agreed to by the traveller, who after many greet.
ings departed on hi. way
Years passed on, and Schalksn's last tive
wishe. had been fully gratifsd, BY often detain-
ing thieves in his tree, and his wfs on her chair
The time was approaching when the promise Of
longevity would be false OF b made manifest
1t happened that tho birthday Of the fisherman
and Of his wife wife was the same. They were
sitting together on the day that made him seven
ty.nine,. and Miete seventy-thres years of age,
when the n,ooA, that was shining through the
window Of the hut, seemed suddenly to be q.
tingushed, and an unnatural calmness was
sprc dover the ocean although the sky appear.
ed DO mastered by the winds that were heaving
onwsd with their mighty waves Of clouds
Birds dropped dead from the boughs. and the
foliage Of the tress turned to pale red.
All seemed to prognosticats the approach Of
Death, and in few a minutes forwards, sure
enough, he Game. He was, however, very diff.
'iersnt from all that tho worthy couple had heard
or fanoisd Of him. He was certainly very thin,
and lad very little color; bat 10 ves very we'll
dressed, and his department was that Of gen.
tlsman Bowling yery politely 70 the ancient
pair, he told them he merely came 70 give notice
that BY right they should have belonged 70 him
this day, but aity years respite VA granted, and
them again. He then waddlsd away, AID the
moon and tho waters rsgainsl their neutral up.
psars.cs. For tho next fifty years everything
passed on a. quietly ~ before, but ~ the time
drew near for the appointed advent of Death,
Jan became thoughtful, and 10 felt no pleasure
At the idea Of tho anticipated viait.
The day arrived, and Death came, preceded
by the same horrors a. ON tho former occasion
"Wsll, good folks" said he, 'yeu nsw oan
have no objections to accompany me, for assured
~ you have been highly privileged. and have
lived long enough"
The old dame wept and chung fselfngly to her
husband, Is if she feared they we're 10 be sepa-
rated after they had lived 20 long and happily
together. Poor Schxlken also looked downcast,
an' moved after Death but slowly. Al they
passed BY the garden, he turned 10 take last
lepk at it, when a sudden thought struck him.
He called to Death and said:
"Sir, allow me to propose something 10 ysu.
Our journey is long one, and we have no pro.
visions. l am too infrm or would climb yon.
der pear tree, and take stock Of its best fruit
with us. You are active and obliging and will,
am sure cir, get it for us"
Death, with great condensation, complied !;
and ascending the tree gathered great number
OF pears, which he threw down to Schalken and
his wife. At length he determined to descend,
but to bis surprise and apparent CONSERVATION,
he discovered that he was immOvabls nor would
Jan allow him to leave the tree until he had