The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-14

now was just as bad as ever Though the wind
was blowing to the seq, you could not see Sandy
Hook for the dust. and all the steamers had 70
stop because they were afraid of running into
one another. tits an awful hard job" said
Peter, but I've undertook to get that carpet
clean, and clean it's bound to be-"
Peter beat the carpet for three days. until he
thought he would have beaten it into ribbons,
and still the dust was just as bad. Policemen
came and warned him off the lots, so that he did
not know how or what to do. He felt like re-
turing the carpet to the old man as bad job.
When Peter went to bed that night, having
no pillow, he rolled up the carpet, put it under
his head, and soon went fast asleep. He had a
queer dream, and he thought that the carpet
spoke to him something like this:
"Oh! you stupid Peter Pancake Do you
think that an enchanted carpet like am is to be
beaten like dogs Treat me that way, and the
more you strike and abuse me, the more dust
will come from me. You are an Industrious
man, however, and, dare say. mean well. Now
earn that my master is a magician, and has
been laying traps for lazy darkies, who gave up
the job of cleaning me after the first five min
utes. All those slaves in his house who waited
on you are good for nothing carpet heaters and
whitewashers. Now, Peter Pancake, use a
goose's feather
Peter Pancake woke up with start, and it
was just daylight. He hurried with the carpet
down stairs in the yard, hung the carpet on the
fence, pulled feather from a gooses wing, and
began busting the carpet. Just a little dust
came from III at urSL. Dub soon the carpet Was
beau tifully clean, and shone as glossy as a piece
of velvet.
Then Peter hurried along until he came to the
old mans house.
is the carpet clean. Peter. asked the old
man.
But before Peter could reply, the carpet
which was in tight roll, said in loud, clear
voice.
eyes, I am ciean o my master, and you and
can live on together for thousand years
it was managed the carpet few up in the air,
and disappeared over the housetop.
II tn ink that job was worth more that a
quarter, Boss" said Peter, shut I'll tell you
what will do Just let loose those darkies you
have cotched and we will call it square"
Never" said the magician. "Those were
low-down darkies that worked for me- Let
them suffer their punishment. But" continued
the old magician, cit isn't such hard work for
those darkies, after all. Doing so little for me,
they have grown fat and lazy. They would
starve now, if l turned them out into the world.
Half their time is spent playing the banjo and
and the bones. But thy work on that carpet
shall be rewarded" and the old man drew big
washleather bag out of his pocket and handed it
to Peter Pancake. 1t was full Of gold.
twas queer sort of money, and OF kind
Peter had never seen before; but Peter sold it
for its value in gold, and had given him in ex-
change great many bank notes
Next spring Peter tried and tried again to
come across the old man with the enchanted car
pet, but he never could find him. Maybe a
thousand years from now, and not before, that
old man with the enchanted carpet will be try
ing to find somebody to beat it,