The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-10-08

when they Try 10 please;
They do much TO help us,
While they shell the peas.
The WONDERFUL CARPET.-Hugh
was boy who never could wait. BEFORE
you had finished your sentence, Master
Hugh was out of your sight, too i'm
patient always to wait and find out
where you wanted him togo, or what you
wished him to see. Hugh's mother had
preached to him often on the subject,
but all her preaching made no difference !;
and so there happened what am about
to tell you.
One day he came down late to break
fast, and nothing was left for him but
bread 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, peeping over the edge,
oh what should he see but a 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 little fnger-if your finger is
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, sob
please help me out, and l will make your
fortune"
And Hugh, putting his forefinger into
the jar, the elf walked up on it, as you
would on bridge, and came out on the
table.
Now for my fortune!" cried i'm
patient Hugh. but"
Wait Bit" answered the elf. "I
can't do anything while l am in this
pickle"
And, indeed, deplorable figure he
looked, for his wings were so gummed
with honey that he could not spread
them, and all his sunny curls were drip
ping and flat, and fast on his pretty
head.
"What shall do 2" cried the elf, all
bee should come and find me now? /
am a dead elf"
Then seeing lovely white rose
looking in at the window, he exclaimed,
oh, dear rose, help me, beg of you :? "
Who'll" cried the rose, shutting
all her leaves in violent hurry. do
you suppose wish to soil my beautiful
white leaves?"
cob! what shall / do?" cried the
elf.
"Why, will scrub you," said Hugh
taking up a napkin; but at that the eli
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 violcts, called
out, " Come here, elf, and we will help
YOU"
So the elf rolled in the grass among
the violets, and presently came out, look.
ing as fresh and trim as usual.
And now, young man." said he to
Hugh, 81 promised to make your for.
tune"
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 pony
that he had seen the day before and, OF
course, he was in hurry to be on the
ponys back.
You must know" said the elf, "that
there is wonderful carpet that will
carry you anywhere you like to GO, and
that, though only yard square, can
carry an army of men. Now, can tell
you where this carpet is, and you can
sell it to the king, and then your fortune
will be made"
at that. He decided at 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 woodpath," said
the elf, and when you come to the turn
be sure you keep to the right go on till
you find an old owl sitting on a rock
Tell him the lily elf sent you to ask him
what o'clock it is. He will get up from
the wonderful carpet, on which he is sit.
ting, to see; and then do you seize
tho"
ooh, yes, see / know!" cried Hugh
too impatient to listen another instant
and running out of the door, was out OF
sight in an instant.
What fool that boy is" said the
elf, looking after him.
But Hugh did not hear him. Running
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 go to the left.
This path took him deeper and deeper
into the forest, till at last he came to q
great rock, overhung by the branches OF
tree, through which he saw something
dimly white. Thinking that it was the
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"
But, unluckily, instead of an owl, this
was wicked water-goblin, of whom
every one was afraid.
CPL teach you to ask me what o'clock
it is" Numbered the goblin, splashing
down through the trees in great roar
ing, toaming waterfall that took Hugh
oil his feet in moment.
Over he went, bobbing about like a
cork; now his heels up, and now his
head, splashing and spluttering, gurgling
and screaming, while the water dashed
and laughed about him, till, at last, he
caught by the branch of tree and pulled
himself out. Oh n wet and miserable
boy was he, crawling home, his clothes
80 heavy with water that he could
hardly walk and what was worse, he lost
the fortune, for, after that, he never
could find the OWL
You see, fairy opportunities come but
once, and Hugh lost his because he was
too impatient to wait and hear all the
elf had to say.
American Witch Hanging.