Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-05-27
A GREAT MAGICIAN.
BY SYDNEY DAYRE.

BY SIDNEY DA4hE.
GA STORY! Please tell us story,
Aunt Kate; there's just time before we
go to school,"
"What shall it be about?"
"Oh, something wonderful, something
that will make us stare; not about any
thing that's true, but all full of fancies
and entertainments and magicians and
the like"
"Well, sit down."
The little group gathered eagerly
around her and she began:
A little boy named Herman, whose
parents were very poor, lived in mar
row old street, between high brick walls,
where very little sunshine or fresh breeze
ever came, and flower or tree or even
blade of grass were things almost I'M
known. Poor little Herman had been
lying for long months on a bed of pain
and sickness, and got up from it with
such a crooked little foot, all but bent
out of shape, that it was likely he
would always be lame. When he came
down on the gloomy street, limping
about on his crutch, the other children
seemed rough and noisy, and he shrank
from them. A few others laughed at
him, for they were a poor, neglected
little set and had little teaching of
what was kind and gentle, but the most
of them pitied the little cripple and
seemed anxious to treat him well. But
he liked best to keep quiet and to listen
to the talk of people older than himself.
Gradually he grew into the habit of spend
ing much time in the little stall of poor
old dumb clockmaker, who had moved
into the neighborhood during the time of
Herman's illness. The quiet child would
creep into the open door and sit by the
hour dreamily watching the work of the
old man. He thought him very strange
person, different from anyone he had
ever met with before. He had some
curious old books, with wonderful pict
ures, also articles of rare and cunning
workmanship, which were great source
Of wonder and delight to Herman, to
whom they were shown at intervals as
special privilege and honor. The many
little wheels and tools which lay about
the workbench were also each sepa-
rate curiosity to Herman, who grew to
look up to the silent old man with
mingling of great awe and admiration.
"' do believe he's magician, he eX-
claimed to himself one day, as he saw
for the first time an old cuckoo clock
wound up and struck.
"Herman's father had frequently
amused him during his illness with wild,
fanciful stories, and the child had de-
lighted in them. 1t did not need any
great stretch of imagination to believe
the old clockmaker able to work marvels.
His tall, STOPPING figure, long, white
beard, and ever unbroken silence were
quite enough to make all his neighbOrs
think, as they did, that there was some
thing queer about him.
Zone morning Herman went to pay his
usual visit and found his old friend in
terested in something aside from his little
wheels and springs. In answer to his
eager inquiries for the dumb man could
hear and had become so expert in the use
of signs as to make himself pretty well
understood by those who knew him
welD he tried to explain to the boy that
what he held in his hand was to work
some great wonder, which he would
show him. Herman gazed in great awe
as he took curiously shaped vessel, un-
like any he had ever seen before. 1t
looked like neither cup nor saucer, pitch
er, bowl, or basin. After pouring into
it a dark-colored coarse powder he placed
carefully in it the oddly-shaped black
things he held in his hand.
"' What is it for-what will it do?'
cried Herman. But the other, by signs,
babe him wait and watch and he should
see. And he did watch till he grew i'm
patient, and the old man moistened the
dark substance with few drops of clear,
colorless liquid. But it was not until
the whole thing was touched with a
golden wand that the wonder began to
work. Then Herman's eye grew big as
he looked. a slender point shot up
ward, from which unfolded two sail-like
wings Of the most delicate hue. They
were not silk or satin, or velvet or lace,
but more beautiful than either. Up they
went, and more followed them in quick
succession. Delicate little fingers were
sent out in various directions, which
gently sought out anything which could
give them support, and lovingly twined
themselves around, everywhere followed
and adorned by the delicate hued wings
which had first appeared. The golden