The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-07
The Three Gifts,

There was once a poor weaver VINO became
known TO three rich students who, seeing
that the man was very poor, gave MN lor his
housekeeping hundred dolors. The weav-
er was ovcrioyed at the gift, and resolved on
employing it to the greatest advantage-but
would first for time, feast his eyes on the
shining money. He concealed 1t where no one
would think of looking for it, namely, among
some old rags. One day, while he was out, "a
rag collector came to the house, and his wife
sold the whole bundle of rags for few pence.
Now there was grief OF heart when the weav-
er returned, and his wife, full of joy, showed
him the triie OF money she got for her old
rags. When year had passed, the three stu
dents came again, hoping to find the weaver
in comfortable circumstances; instead OF
which they found him poorer than ever, and
on expressing wonder for this, he informed
them of his misfortune. After warning him
to be more careful in future, they gave him
another hundred dollars Now he thought
he would be more prudent-so without say
ing a word to his wife, he hid the money in
the dusttub, and this time it fell out just as
on the former occasion. His wife exchanged
the ashes with a dustman for two or three
pieces of soap, while her husband was just
gone to carry some work to customer.
When he returned, and was told ofthe bargain
VI lllC tlolltH, ilV vas 81 'ii"5 INV nv 3d.
his wife beating.
When another year had passed, the three
students came for the third time, and found
the weaver in rags and misery They said,
throwing at the same time piece of lead at
his feet.
"Of what use is nutmeg to COW? To give
thee money again would prove us to be great
er fools than thou art. We will never come
TO you again
fhereupon they went away in anger, and
the weaver picked up the piece OF lead and
laid it on the windowsill. Soon after his
neighb0r entered the room-he was a fisher
man-baGe him good day, and said:
My friend have you perchance piece OF
lead, or anything heavy, that l can use for
my net? for ! have just now nothing at
hand"
The weaver gave him the piece of lead
which the students had left, for which the
fisherman thanked him, and promised thath he
should have in return the first large fish that
he caught.
Very well" replied the weaver but ii is
not worth speaking about"
Soon after the fisherman ACTUALLY brought
fine fish weighing four or five pounds,
and obliged his neigbor to accept it He i'm
mediately cut up the fish and found bright
stone in his belly. This stone he alsolaid on
the WlnuOWSlll. IN inc evening when IL W
came dark the stone began 10 shine, and the
darker it grew the brighter the stone became,
and Just like candle.
That's cheap lamp" said the weaver 10
his wife. "Wouldst thou not like 10 dispose
of il a. thou didst the two hundred dollars:
and he placed the stone - hat il illuminated
the whole room.
The next evening merchant CHANGED 10
ride past the house, who on seeing the hrll-
liant stone, alighted and entered the room,
looked at il, and offered ten dollars for II.
The weaver answered:
1T is not for sale
What, not for twenty dollars
Not even for tkat," replied the weaver.
The merchant, however, kept ON bidding
and bidding for the stone, till at last he oiicr-
ed a thousand dollars, for the stone was "A
precious diamond, and really worth much
more.
Now the weaver struck the bargain, and
was the richest man in the village. His wife
would have las; word, took much credit to
herself, saying:
see. husband, how well il was that threw
away The money twice, for thou hast me to
thank for this good luck"'