Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-05-21
THE WISHING RING.

A young iarmer whose farming
did not prosper particularly well, was
sitting on his plow for n moment as he
wiped his brow, when an old witch
crept up to him and said;
Why do you toll so hard, all Tor
nothingl Walk straight before you
for two days, and YOU will come to a
large 6rlrec, which stands alone, tow
ering over all the other trees OF the
forest. Ityou can but fell It your for
tune is mldc.
The farmer did not wait to be told
twice, but taking his ax on his shoulder
started on his way. After walking
two days, he came to the tir-tree' and
Immediately set to work to fell it.
Soon it topplqd and crushed to the
earth, when ircm the top branches
dropped a nest containing two eggs
The eggs rolled on the ground and
broke as they broke, forth came a
young eaglct from cne, and small
golden ring from the other. The Gag,
let grew visibly, till it reached halt
the height of a man, shook its wings
as if to try them, raised itself from the
ground and then cried:
"You have released me as a token
of my gratitude, take the ring
the other egg contained it's n
wishing-ring. Turn it on your finger
speak yonr wish aloud, aud it will
imme iately be granted, But the ring
has only one wish when that is ac'
complished it will lose all its power,
aud become no more than any other
ring. Therefore reflect we'll on what
''''D'
YOU wish for SO that you may not have
to repent afterwards
Having so spoke, 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 OF
bis finger, and started homeward
Toward evening he reached town
At the door of his shop goldsmith
stood who had many valuable ring
for sale. The farmer showed him hi
ring and asked him what was abou
the value of it.
"Mere trumpery," answered tn
goldsmith. :,
The farmer laughed heartily, tell
ing the man it was a wishlng-rin!
and of more value than all the ring
he had in his shop put together. Nov
the goldsmith was a false, designing
man. 80 he invited the farmer to sta,
all night at his house, saying: 81
must bring good luck to entertain
man who is in possession of such
precious jewel, SO pray remain will
me- He accordingly entertalue'
him we'll withIplenty OF wine and clvl
words, but when he went to sleep a
night, he drew his ring stealthily from
his finger, and put on ir instead
common ring quite like it in appear
ance. The next morning the golc
smith could hardly wait with any de
gree of patience, till the farmer ha
taken his departure. He woke hI'
at early dawn, saying: "You have 8
far to go you had better start early.
As soon as the farmer was safe on hi
journey, the goldsmith went into hi
room, and having shut the shutter
that no one might see, he bolted hlu
self in, and standing in the middle
the room, aud turning the ring roun
on his finger, exclaimed
81 wish / had hundred thousan
: silver crowns Immediately"
Hardly were the words spoke'
! when bright Eve shilling pieces bega
' to rain down from the ceiling; shll
ing silver crowns poured down so fa'
and hard that at last they oegan
beat him numerically about tho hea