Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-09-18
Il FAIRY TALE

i 'hsStN ~ "a 49, INrN.
cording to the requirements Of tho
law, he rc-enlistcd for eight years,
and then for eight years mere. At
the end of these t%wcnty-four years
he was discharged, and he left his
regiment, carrying with him n pound
of bread and six pennies, all the pro-
pcrty that he possessed in the world.
eyes" he said to himself rs he
walked along the highway; "a pound
of bread and six pennies, that is
what l have gained by serving the
king twonty-four years. But, | am
in Gods hands What is the use
in finding fault l shall only work
myself into n passion"
A little further on a poor old beg
gar man stopped him and asked for
charity.
"What a l give you?" replied
John. 81, who have served the
king twenty-four years and have
gained only pound of bread and
six pennies"
But the beggar insisted, and the
charitable John took his knife and
cut the bread in two pieces and di-
vidcd it and his pennies with the old
man.
The bcggar cat his half of the
loaf g%rccdily, and when he had fin
ished he said
"Sincc you possess n generous
heart and have shared with me all
that you have in the world, | will
grant you one wish. What do you
desire"
"My bag here is empty" replied
John. 81 desire that to be able to
make anything enter it that I
choose"
$50 be it," said the old man, and
he disappeared.
a short time a%ftcrward, as John
was passing through a town, he saw
in a shop a loaf of bread rs white us
snow and an appetizing sausage.
"Into my bag" he cried.
Immediately the bread rolled to-
wards him like il cartwhccl, and the
sausage glilcl along like a snake.
The owner Of the shop and his
son ran after the man who had car
ricd off their property in this strange
fashion; but John, having Il fern-
cious appetite, had already dcvourcd
all that which had sc promptly Gil
tered the bag.
When evening came he reached Il
city where he to meant pass the night,
and meeting Il man, he asked where
could find a lodging place.
81 am only a poor Soldicr," he
said; 81 have served the king for
twcnty-four years, and have gained
only Il pound of bread and six pen
MES"
81 can lodge you," replied the man
whom he had addressed, Gin n beau
tiful house, where no one darcs to
enter, because it is haunted by Il
frightful ghost. If you arc not
afraid, you can be very comfortable
there. You will find an excellent
supper all prepared, for this man who
returns every night to lis formc,
dwelling, was very rich"
"That is good," cried John, 81 de-
sire nothing better than such a lodg-
ING. | am not afraid. The house
plcascs me-"
And he entered the abandoned
building, and to his joy he found the
cellar well stocked with choice wines
and the dining table spread with an
abundant feast.
70 iortify himself against any
l''to'tt'hi hlIh' i|i''IS, hiltl ilSIIliiS
Il candle, he ate a hearty supper and
drank freely of the wine.
AS he was thus ~hgrccably occu-
pied, he heard a voice calling down
the chimney:
"SLrll | tumblc down?
"Tumblc down if You wish to-"
replied John, Il little excited by the
| wine he had taken. ga soldier who
has served the king for twcnty-fonr
years to gain a pound of bread and
six pennies has nothing to fear"
At the same instant he saw the
leg OF II man fall upon the floor.
do you want to be buried? ?"
asked the soldier, cmptying another
glass Of wine.
With one Of its toes the leg made
a negative sign.
Again the voice cried from the
chimney:
"Shall tumble down ?"
"Tumblc if you wish to- replied
John. "a soldier who has served
the kinU for -f0ur wears trors