The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-16
THE wIsHING-RING.

THE WISHING RING.
A young farmer, whose farming did not
prosper particularly well, was sitting,
wiped his brow, when an old witch crept
up to him and said, "Why do you toll SO
hard, and all for nothing Walk straight
before you for two days and you Will come
to large fr-tree, which stands alone TO-
wering over all the other trees Of the for.
then made"
The farmer did not wait to be told twice,
but taking his axe on his shoulder. started
on his way. After walking tive days. ne
to work to fell it. Soon it teppled ana
crashed to the earth, when from the top
branches dropped nest containing two
eggs. The eggs rolled on the ground ano
broke ;as they broke, forth came young a;
: from the other. The eaglet grew visibly,
till it reach half the height Of man, shook
it's wings, as il to try them, raised itself
from tho ground, and then cried: "You
have released me as token of smy graft,
it is a wishing ring: Turn 1t on your GU.
finger, speak your wish aloud, and it will
Immediately be granted. But the ring Has
only one wish when that is accomplished,
it will lose all power and become no more
than any other ring. Therefore, reflect
well on What you wish for, SO that you
NAV not have to repent afterwards"
Having thus spoken, the eagle rose high
into the air, swept, for some time, IN wide
circles over the farmers head, and then,
towards the east. The farmer took the
ring, put it on his finger and started home
ward. Towards evening, he reached q
town. At the door of his shop goldsmith
stood who had many valuable rings Tor
sale. The farmer showed him his ring and
T.; hat
"Mere trumpery," answered the gold
smith. The farmer laughed heartily, tell,
ing the man it was a wishing ring, and OF
put together. Now the goldsmith was a
false, designing man, so he invited the FAR
mer TO stay ali night at his house. saying
sit must bring one good luck to entertain
q man who is the p0ssessor OF such pre-
cious jewel, so pray remain Nv, WIN me me vile
plenty of wine and civil words, bnt when
he went to sleep at night, he drew his ring
stealthily from his finger, and put on il
instead common ring quite like IL IN ap'
pearance. The next morning the gold
smith could hardly wait, with any degree
of patience, till the farmer had taken his
departure. He awoke him in the early
dawn, saying: "You have so far to go
you had better start early" AS soon al
the farmer was safe on his journey, the
shut the shutters that no one might see, ht
bolted himself>in, and, standing IN the
middle of the room, and turning the rini
on bis finger, exclaimed
81 wish to have q hundred thousa nd sii
yer crowns Immediately.
Hardly were the words spoken Whel
bright FIVE shilling pieces began to rail-
down from the ceiling; shining silve
crowns poured down 30 fast and hard tina
at last they beat him numerically abou
ohn nd
piteously for help, he tried to rush to tn
door. but before he could reach it and un
bolt it he fell bleeding to the ground. Still
the rain of silver crowns did not cease, ant
soon, under the weight of it, the hoorln!
gave way and the unfortunate goldsmith
and his money fell down into deep cellar
And still it rained on, till the hundred
thousand silver crowns were completed
and then the goldsmith lay dead in hi
cellar, with the mass of money upon him
Attracted by the noise the nelghbor
rushed to the spot, and on finding tn
goldsmith lying dead under his money, ex
claimed at really is o great misfortune
when blessings rain down like cudgeis.
Then the heirs came and divided tn
spoil.
Meantime the farmer went happily HON
and showed his ring to his wife.
awe shall now never want for nythint
dear wife," he said s'Our fortune is mad
But we mnst consider we'll what we mu
wish for,
The wife had bright idea ready 1
hand.
"Let us wish ourselves some more lan'
said she, eve have 30 little. There is jul
a nice strip which stretches into our fiel'
Let us wish for that.
"That would never be worth while, r.
piled the husband Eve have only to wor
well for year, and have moderate shal
of good luck, and we can buy it for GU
selves.
And the man and his wife worked hal
for q whole year, and the harvest had new
been 30 plentiful as that autumn, 80 the
were not only able to buy the strip OF lar
but had money to spare.
'You see," said the husband, "the lar
is ours and the wish too"
Then the good woman thought it won
be capital thing to wish themselves co
and horse.
"Wife," answered the husband, aga
blinking the surplus money in his poeks
sit would be folly to sacrifice our wish +
such q trumpery thing. We can get t!
COW and horse without that"