Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-01-25
Written for the Register.l
THE WISHING STONE.

day afternoon, mo more school Till
Monday morning; how glad am. I'll
lust sit down and answer Fannie S let
ter-now have some breathing time" J"
This took her until dinner, after which
she went out for the evening and did
not get home till late.
well, l intended to get some of my
lessons tonight, but there is all day
tomorrow" Such were her thoughts
while she was alone in her room, but
soon she was fast asleep and thought
no more Of troublesome lessons.
Saturday proved to be lovely day,
and Amelia had seated herself at her
desk just beginning her lessons, when
Fred, her brother, called from the bot
tom Of the stairs:
Say, Ann, don't you want TO take
a ride on my new sled? 1t is grand
coasting on Jones hill. Come on, if
you are coming. Don't be all day"
Just wait minute, Fred. I'll be
there in a minute" All the time she
was talking you might imagine the
rush with which the books went into
the closet, with the promise of again
seeing them shortly after coming from
the hill.
Soon after they arrived at the hill
jim Harver said:
Say, Fred, don't you want TO swap
sisters for while? What do you say
to it?'
I'm willing said Fred. Il always
like to be accommodating, you know,
and winked his left eye merrily. The
girls had no objection, so soon they
were all laughing gaily as they flew
past each other down the hill. 1t was
long after sun-down when the merry
group dispersed to get some grub, y
as Jim expressed it, and they were
very glad to sit down to cold dinner,
which was more than dem dar chill
luns desarved,n y as Aunt Dinah said.
The last thing before Amelia jumped
into bed she accidentally thought OF
her lessons. "Oh! those bothersome
lessons Saturday night, and | have
not gotten one lesson-just think of
it! Well, never mind; I'll get Fred to
call me early Monday morning, and |
will get them all before breakfast;
that'll do
So she called to Fred and told him
to be sure and not forget, and he
promised he would not, and SO salts
fying her conscience she went to bed.
Gee whizacom it's cold" said Fred,
when the old clock had awakened him
by six loud dongs: Il ought to call
Ann, but it's as cold es Greenland to
go to her room I'll just wait till six
thirty-that's time enough for girls to
get up. Just see how considerate
am of the fair sex. | AIN u modern
model there's no doubt about that, ="
and he had hardly finished speaking
his thoughts, as he called it, when the
clock gave that one decisive dong,
which plainly warned all within its
precincts that halfa hour had elapsed
since it had last been heard.
well, there's that clock again. It's
not five minutes since it last struck,
and there it is again. it is too late to
call her now, for it takes her two hours
to dress, and half that time to get
awake, so I'll just apologize and say
forgot"
That day Amelia did not know her
lessons-how could shetland as she
came home she happened to come
across tiny pebble and picked it up,
thinking, "Ah, don't wish | was that
stone, Then lessons would never
bother me-" So saying she dropped
it unconsciously, and bright fairy
suddenly stopped before her.
Where did you come fron;' asked
Amelia
From that stone,' replied the fai-
~. That is the historic wishing
stone, and | am the fairy who lives in
it, and see that every person has the
wish gratified that they express. Only
those who find the stone can use it. !"
''Oh! how jolly cries Amelia.
Then I'll wish to always know my
lessons without studying"
1T shall be gratified," said the fai-
ry Just keep the stone in your pock-
ct, and when you want to answer
question just put your ear down close
and you will hear the correct an
swern
Amelia was charmed and ran quick
ly home, and hinging down her books,
played the entire afternoon till din
ner and then went out and spent the
evening with school friend. The
next day in class she was asked ques-
ton, and by holding down her head
replied quickly to the question. She
had no sooner spoken than the class
yelled Gas she afterwards expressed it,
and she was obliged to sit down amid