Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-21

had ventured before them. They did moi
care, it seemed, that death was staring them
straight in the face Their sense of curl
osity was aroused; they became inquisitive
10 know what was going on in the castle,
and hence they defed everything to gratify
their desire of inquisitiveness.
There are good many people like that in
this world, who want to know everybody s
business, although it does not concern them
in the least. So it was with the people Of
the country around the Hummingbird Cas-
tie. 1t was not essential that they should
know what was going on in the castle, who
lived there. If they had minded their own
business it would have been much more to
their benefit and to their quiet of life. But
mol They were filled with idle curiosity
and they must know.
In this manner time had gone on. The
people around the Hummingbird Hill con-
tinued to look with anxious wonder up to-
ward the castle, and everyone sighed and
said, "I wish knew what was in there"
The father would always include into his
PRAYER at the dinner table the sentence:
"Pray, dear Lord, let us find out who lives
in Hummingbird Castle" The schoolmas-
ter and teacher in the school said to their
Pupils that they must try and find out the
mysteries of the castle; aye, and even the
preacher in the church never closed his SER
mon on the Sunday morning before he in
vo1ed the people not to forget and let him
know what was in the castle, If anybody
happened to get there and back without be-
ing killed.
In the last few years so many people had
died in the attempt to climb 10 the top of
the hill that it looked as if the population
of the country would soon be swallowed up
by this craving of curiosity. But even that
- &ba 10 nd a.
though there were funerals going on all day
to bury the broken bones that were scat
tered around at the foot of the hill the peo-
pie did not get any the wiser.
It so happened, however, that there was q
nah living in this country, who was full of
wisdom. His house stood at the outskirts
of small village, where he resided all by
himself, No one went ever near his house,
because it was rumored around among the
people that the old man was wizard. He
had no friends or relatives in all the world, it
seemed, exeepta young man about 20 years
of age. whose name was Goldenhair, on ac-
count of the mass of beautiful yellow curls
that hang from his head down upon his
shoulders. Goldenhair and the wizard were
often sitting in their little room in the
small house together, where the old man
would teach his young friend the wisdom
that was contained in the many books that
were stacked on the large shelves around
the wall.
One dav-it was Just after Goldenhair had
finished his very difficult lesson-he said to
fhe old wizard, whom he always addressed
ax Professor: professor" he said, 81 am
yerv sorry Tor the people of our land and
wonder whether nothing can be done to help
them?"
.sWbat is the matter, my dear boy, what
do these people have to do with you?''
''Well' 1 am sorry for them. OF course
YOU know all about Hummingbird Castle
and the fact that no one can get into it.
Now, the people around here are just crazy
to get inside of that building. Ever SO
many have climbed up the hill and at
TEN pied to get over the wall, butso far none
Of them have succeeded; in fact, all of them
have died. Their bones have invariably
been found at the base of the hill. smashed
against a rock or q tree. Now, what 1
would like to do is to convince them that
the whole thing is foolish and that there is
nothing in the castle worth seeing so much
as that anyone should venture his Lille to get
to it."
But, my dear boy, how do you know
Well, Of course 1 am not sure, but it
seems to me that a mans lite should be
worth more than all the secrets of all the
nysserloas castles in the entire world.
THAT is right, my boy. 1 like to hear