Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-09
RALPH MASON'S WISH.
BY ELLA WHEELER.


"May be I'll go next" and he shivercd as
he drew the sheet over him. The thought
of death was horrible TO Ralph.
"Ugh - he said, "to think Of lying white
and cold as Tommy Smith Cid last sum-
mer, and then being put down in hole
/ wish fairies were on earth now, and
would make them give NE the boon of
eternal life lore to livel And if knew
/ could live forever here on this Jolly
earth, I'd be perfectly happy"
"You would, ?' squeaged the funni-
est little voice Ralph had ever heard; and
turning bis eyes to the right he beheld a
queer figure, no larger than darning
needle would be il dressed up, standing
on his pillow.
"Wellw cried Ralph, "where on earth
-" but the little figure interrupted him.
1t Was very impolite OF her, but fairies
have queer manners, / sm told.
30, you needn't stare So" she said al
am your fairy god-mother, and II is my
business TO cone to you when am called
for. You just now expressed wish for
perpetual life. | sm heie TO grant it,"
80, are you" cried Ralph IN rapture,
"and will you keep death away from me,
and let ne live forever"
"If you so desire H." said the fairy
gravely; "but | would advise you to
weigh the matter we'll. There are two
sides to it--and the advantages seem to
me to tie on the side of death and
80, hush!" cried Ralph. Il know all
about death--it is cold, and white, and
still and awful; and life is so Jolly. Oh
you are the best creature that ever llvea
to do me this favor. And you are sure |
will never die,'
"Sure," said the fairy. "ater | wave
this wand" and she he'd up something
no larger than cambria needle in her
hand. "Aiter | wave this three times over
your head you will be insured against
death"
."Wave it, then, quick said Ralph,
"beiore anything happens to me-"
| Slowly and sadly it seemed 10 Ralph
the fairy waved her wand once, twice,
thrice, and then heaving long Sigh, she
vanished. 1t was hours before Ralph
could go to sleep, 50 full OF delight and
surprise wss he at what had occurred
The day folio wing passed like dream,
and SO did the next, sd the next. Ralph
felt as If some dreadful burden had been
lifted from his shoulders; there vas new
glory In everything, for was be not favor
ed above other mortalsf The rest must
die, and leave this lonely world, while he
WAS To stay forever, insured against death
He laughed aloud ss he thought of that
monster'srage and chsgrin when he should
vainly try his arts
The years few by and while Ralph was
yet a young lad his parents died, He wept
bitterly over their graves, and the world
seemed very lonely, But he was young
life " as all before him, there was too much
TO do, pleasure to enjoy, name and for
tune 10 make, and Ralph dried his tears
as the young do, and turned to the busy
world and found consolation.
He hurried over its great highway with
the eager throng and his song WAS clear
and loud, Once he paused silent and
saddened for moment as he saw white
tomb stone glaring by the wayside. Ii WAS
the grave OF Tommy Smith, lis old
school mate.
poor fellow" Ralph unused. IL wish
he was here with the rest Of us Lite is so
iolly--u seems too bad 10 think of him
lying there"
Then ne hurried on. Whist a gay, jost.
ling, singing, laughing crowd 1t was And
Ralph's heart swelled with JOY as he
thought of the limitless years of enjoy
ment that lay before him. He grew to
manhood before he could realize 1T ana
among the throng OF merry people on the
worlds great highway, he found sweet
faced girl, whom he made his wife. o life
was rapture that day, ane the bells rang,
ana the world laughed, Oue day As they
iourneved on together he saw his bride
pause, weeping, by the wayside.
"Why do you weep' he asked, and she
pointed to tho grave stones cleaning
Whitley al the left OF heir path
"My father and moLOer sleep there" she
said.
"And mine upon the right" he an.
swered; but let US go on with the crowd
wonder. We cannot bring the dead back
by tears We may rs well rejoice with
the living"
so they hurried on. BY and by there
were little children who aurneyed with
them, and life ste med TO- grow gladder
daily To be sure, every now and then
they came TO gravo-s'Oasa, wEere)n we're
carved the names of old friends aud com
panions, and they would pause and be sl-
lent for a moment, AMI the world would
seem to be under cluui for sn hour as
they passed "a. But life WAS so iuil OF
love agd labor and jry, they could not
long b. sad. Name ana fame grew, and
wealth came, and the dear wife smiled,
anu children laughed IN glee. A hesuti
ful woriGl
Then there came a terrible day when
the lovely children were swept away by
the monster death. TUe world seemed
very dark to- Ralph and his wife, IS, tesr
blinded they i0urueyed slowly on, and
Il. an hV h= - l. ~