Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-05-30
The Three Wishes.


gum ana enjoying n1mselI, e1'
cept Tom, who was trying to
smoke a cigarette, and just at
that moment beginning to feel
uneasy about the stomach.
While they sat there, who
should come along but one Of
those old philanthropists, with a
gingham umbrella and nine
fingers Of Grape on his high hat.
So, as soon as he spotted these
chaps, he laid his hand on Toms
head, and this benevolent old
sport said:
Thomas, my son, what is your
ambition in life? What do you
want to DO when you grow up?' .
Tom felt miserable on account
Of that cigarette, SO he only an
swered:
"Oh. l don't know and ! don't
care. All / want is to get rich.
I'm going for stamps" And he
turned to Dick.
An expression Of pain passed
over the aged mans face.
And, Richard, what do you
want most in life p"
Dick said be was going to be a
great man.
"And. Harry. what is your am
bitionf 7"
ITO be good, SIR" replied
Harry.
Now, it is the regular conyen-
tional thing, when boy answers
in this manner, for the philan-
thropist to shed q silent tear and
to fork out q half dollar as the
reward Of virtue. But this
man disappointed Harry by
simply wiping his nose with his
pocket handkercnief and stating
that Harry was on the right
track, and had chosen the only
course that could make him
serene, and happy, and tip-top.
Aud this, you see, was just
where this old customer was
wrong. For the whole thing
turned out exactly the wrong way,
and not at all in accordance with
the books which tell perfectly
miraculous stories about fellows
like these three.
Tom, for instance. laid himself
out to get rich, as he played
mumble-peg for keeps, and
cheated and worked hard, and
saved up, and got stingy and
mean, and never gave . cent u
sick cripples in the street. an6
retained from alternating the
suHerings Of any lonely widows
and orphans who were starving t.
death in garnet. and spread oui
none Of his stamps for the be-
nighted heather in Africa, who
he said, ought to be benighted
and we're better of when they
were benighted.
And 40 he got older he specu
lated in oil and took his friend
in ON the ground floor OF hi
company, which smashed VI
after Thomas had made his pile
Afterward he started a bank, ant
when he got half q million o
dollars in it he failed, and EN-
bexzled it, and went to Europe b
take 4 tour for the benefit Of hi
health, for he had obtained hi
desire to be rich.
No pang Of remorse bothere'
him much, and he didn't want Il
be a boy again, but he enjoye'
himself just as he was, spendin
his revenue and having every
body considering him . magnifi
cent fellow, which they didn
whom he was poor. and he eve
had the hardhood to assert this
he would do just as he had don
again, and he would 60 for tn
money Of the next man he got
chance at.
And Dick wanted to be greaI
So he Just worked his cards, an
got elected Police Justice, and b
let up on hardened criminals O
condition they would vote Il
him for Common Council. S
they did, and he was elected.
And then he gave out contrac
to rascally politicians who coul
rob the treasury as much as the
wanted to, provided they booste
Dick into the Legislature, whis
they accordingly did. And wht
be got there, he voted for all CO.
porations and railroad swindle
Tor the fellows had promised
make him Governor, and he W
elected Governor, and then VIII
must he do but pardon all Il
pickpockets and thieves in Il
penitentiary, and wink at all Il
first-class frauds practiced in t
Legislature, so as to be sent to u
Senate, which he was, and nc
he is loading his dice to get TO
President.
But now does he sit down, al
at the goal Of his ambition say
himself, how hollow are all tie
honors? How dissatisfied
this power and grandeur, VIII
purchased at the sacrifice Of no
esty and self-respect and decenc
Well, / should think not.
merely observes that he's
right, aud he wouldn't sw
places with any man, he would
His only regret is that
can't hold three or four Offices
the same time.
And Harry. he started out W
the design Of being good, and
made himself abjectly miseral
and came to grief.
He never could enjoy hims
with the other boys. and ne