The Van Buren press., 1873-03-04
The Wishing-R
Prom Good Things.I

The Wishing Ring
Prom Good Thng.I
A young farmer, whose farming did
not prosper particularly well, was sitting
resting on his plow for 3 moment ~ hs
wiped his brow, when m old witch crep'
up to him and said. "Why do you toll
80 hard, and all for nothingi Walk
straight before you for two days, and
you will come to large FIR tree, whict
stands alone, towering over all the 9th
or trees in the forest. III you can bu
fol- 10 yo.r fortsnc il made. I"
The farmer did not wait to he told
twice, but, taking his axe on his Shout
dsrs, started on his way Aftor walking
two days, he came to the fr tree, and
Immediately set to work to fell it. Soon
it toppled and crashed to the earth, when
from the top branches dropped nest con
tanning two eggs The eggs rolled on
the ground and broke; as they broke
forth came n young eaglet from on. and
a small golden ring from the other. The
eaglet grew visibly, till 1t reached hall
the hcigh ofa man, shook its wings, as
il to try them, raised itself from the
ground, and then cried: You have re
leased me +! as a token OF my gratitude,
take the ring the other egg contained
it is a wishing ring. Turn it on yeur
finger, speak your wish aloud, and it will
imme ediateiy be granted. But the ring
has only one wish; when that 10 accom-
plished, it will lose all power, and become
no more than any other risg, There
fore, reflect woll on what you wish for,
80 that you may not have to repent al
terward.
Having so spoken the eagle rose high
into the air, swept, for some time, in
wide circles over the farmers head, and
then, like an arrow from bow, shot
swiftly toward the east. The farmer
took the ring, put it on his finger and
started homeward Towards evening he
reached town. Atths door OF his shop
goldsmith stood who had many value.
bio rings for sale. The farmer showed
him his ring and asked him what was
about the value OF il.
"Mere trumpery, answered the gold
smith. The farmer laughed heartily tell.
ing tho man it was wishing ring, and OF
more value than all the rings in his shop
put together. Now the goldsmith was
false, designing man, so he invited the
farmer to stay all night at his house say
ing: at must bring one good luck 20
entertain man who is the posssssor ei
such = precious jewell so pray remain
with me. +" lie accordingly entertained
him well with plenty OF wine and civil
words, but when ne went to sleep at
night, hc drew his ring stsalthily from
his finger, and put on il common one
quite like it in appearance. The nsAs
morning tho goldsmith ceuld hardly wait
with any degree of patience, till the farm
or bad taken hi, departure. He awoks
him in the early dawn, SAYING: "Ysu
have SO far to 90, you had better start
early A soon as the farmer was safe
on his journey the goldsmith went into
his room, and, haviag shut the shutters
that no one might sec. he bolted himself
in, and standing in the middle of tho room
and turning the ring on his finger, ex'
claimed:
81 wish to have hundred thousand
silver crowns Immediately"
Hardly wero the words spoken. when
bright five shilling pieces began to rain
down from the ceiling; shining silver
crowns poured down so fast and hard
that at last they began to beat him m
mercifuly about the head, and shoulders
and arms. Calling piteously for help. he
tried to rush to the door, but before ne
could reach 1t and unbolt il, he fell bleed
ing to the floor Still the rain OF silver
crowns did not cease, and soon, under
the weight Of it, the flooring gave way,
and the unfortunate goldsmith and his
10 money fell down into deep cellar. Ana
still II rainsd on, TIL the hundred thous'
ana rowns were completed, and then the
ooldsmith lay dead in his cellar, with the
mass Of m monsy upon him. Attracted at
last by the noise, the nsighbors rushed
to the spot, and, on finding the goldsmith
dead unoer the money, exclaimed. " II
really is q great misfortune, when bless
inps rain down like cudgels. " Then the
bsira came and divided the spoil.
Meanwhile, tho farmer went happily
home, and showed the ring to his wife.
ave shall now never want for any
thing, dear wife. lie said; "our fortune
/, made. But we must consider well
whst we must ~isk for.
The wife had bright idea ready o.
, hand.
Let us wish ourselves some mor'
land" said she; 1--WE have 90 httis
There is just nice strip which strsscne.
into our field. Let us wish for that.
"That would mover be worth while,
,.p;,ed the husband: "we have enly u
work well for a year, and have moder
ate share Of COED luck, and We can ouI
il ourselves. "
And the man and his wife worked bare
, for a whole year, and the harvest ha'
never been 50 plentiful as that autumn
ss they we're not only able 10 buy tn
strip Of land, but had money to spare.
, "You see," said the husbaud' tn
land Is ours and the wish too.
Then tho good woman thought
/ would bo good thing to wish them'elve
' COW and horse. :.
"Wife," answered the husband. agar
. clinqing the surplus money in his pocket
: lit would be folly TO sacrifice our Wis
a for such ,rumpery thing. We can &c
the COW and the horse without that. "
n And, sure enough, In another year
timo the horse and COW had been We
>, .rnaa so the man rubbed his hand