The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-15
The Wonderful Ring,


The miller, who had lived beside
the little forest stream all his life,
had got very old and feeble, and he
realized that he could not live in this
world much longer. So one day he
called his two sons to him and said:
Boys, 1 am getting old and am
very little use for this world now.
The pleasures of this life are not the
same to me as they used to be. |
don't take much interest in them. All
l want is to have little room where
l can rest my weary bones until the
day comes for me to die. Now, what
Iwant no do is this: l will give you
the mill and everything belonging to
it, and you can work it for all it is
worth and all the profit shall be
yours. All l want you to promise
me is to keep me for the rest OF my
days. Are you satisfied with that?"
John, the eldest, bowed hts head
as a sign of agreement, but Felix, the
younger boy, said:
Father, the mill is hardly large
enough for John and me, and | don't
think that we could make much of q
fortune for both of us, SO am going
to make John a proposition. l am
going away to seek my fortune in
some other country, and if he prom
Uses me faithfully to treat you well
to the end OF your days, l will give
him my share Of the mill. But if he
does not, and | hear of it when | re-
turn. then he must give up to me the
whole mill, and will punish him in
to the bargain. What do you say to
that, John?"
"You need have no fear that |
will not look after father; believe me,
l will do my best, and if father should
still live when you return, hewill say
so himself"
"Allright," replied Felix, 81 believe
you, my brother, and your assur-
ance makes it all the lighter for me
to go away, because l know that fa'
Their is well taken care of,
Thenext morning saw Felix turn
mis- back upon the Old mill. He was
q young fellow who was fond of ad-
| venture, and his heart had Away de.
lighted in brave deeds of warriors
and heroes. 1t was his dearest
wish to see something of the world
himself, and on that account the
quiet, uneventful existence in the old
mill did not suit him very well. He
wanted togo away, because his en-
citable nature could not rest in con
tentment with nothing else to cheer
him except the clatter of the old
rickety mill wheel. He had no clear
idea.as to what he would do when ht
| got among strangers and in strange
places, but he had a heart full o
hope for a bright future, and he was
fully confident that something would
turn up in his favor wherever h
went.
So it happened that he Travelled
through q great many lands and h
saw a good many strange and won
ierful things that caused his eyes tx
open in wonder and establishment
One day he was walking through {
big forest, when he noticed a yer,
ancient dame dragging herself along
the road with an enormous load Q
wood on her back. Felix felt com
passion for the old lady and he i'm
rnediately resolved to carry the loa,
| of wood for her. He quickly hurrie,
after her. and when he overlook tn
dame he said:
81 guess that load is rather heav,
for you, ma'am; wouldn't it be easie
for you if put it on my back an
carry it?"
The woman seemed to be we
pleased with the young mans kin
offer, and she at once dropped tn
wood to the ground.
"Yes, young man." she replied; 8
you think you are strong enough
all right, picki it up; but, mind yo,
don't promise what you cannot fu
fill. / have along way to go, and
is allup hill walking"
Felix only laughed at the old lad,
"You don't mean to say that
could not carry a load of wood tha
does not seem to be too heavy fe
your"
81 don't know" snapped the won
an. "Many a young man thought /
could do o lot, but when he tried
did not succeed. But, there! don
stand there talking. Pick up tt
wood and follow me"
Felix, although somewhat take
aback at the woman's peremptor
speech, picked up theload and Wake
behind her. He had not gone man
yards, however, when he found o,
that he had undertaken a very heav
task. The load seemed to pre-
down upon him SO heavily as if evei
piece of wood had been transforme
into lead. Still he never murmure
He did not want to have the o
woman think that he was not
strong as she, At last he saw an o
log house before him under numb'
of oak trees. Arriving there, the Q
woman bade him to put down b
load and go inside. She soon Il
lowed him.
"Now, young man, she said,
will give you reward for. your kin
ness, and / suppose you deserve
!Sit down at that table and ca
Whoever eats from my table he new
will feel hungry again, and whoev
drinks from my cups he will never
thirsty again, no matter how lol
he livesl"