Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26

swered Waldo.
'Rut whT do you sell 50 good cov1''
asked the old man.
My sister and l are very poor, replied
the boy; tive need money and know of no
other way to get 1t"
"If you will let me take your COW, shall
give you this flask, ;" said the old man, draw
ing from under his coat small glass flask.
Waldo laughed aloud at these words.
"What should 1 do with the iask?" he
asked.
"The flask is worth a thousand times your
COW, said the stranger.
"How can I believe that?" asked Waldo.
"wheu the flask is SO small aud is entirely
emrty."
Waldo" said the little man, II have
known you for long time, and l love both
YOU and vour sister. L warn you not to re-
fuse this flask, or your COW will die before
you can reach the market. Ii you accept
my offer you viii be rich, aud always have
plenty"
The boy became very thoughtful, and then
said: Come what may, L shall take the
flask, and the COW is yours"
You will never regret those words" said
the stranger "and il you will carefully fol-
low my advice, YOU will have all that you
need and much TO spare. When you 90
home, place the flask on the table, and say
Little HAsk, perform thy duty, and then
you VIII see what viii happen"
With these words he gave the flask to the
bow and then both the man and the COW
disappeared. Astonished at what he had
seen, Waldo returned home. He was met
At the door by his sister, who cried "You
are back soon, Waldo. Have you brought
much money with you?'
II have brought only this flask, was the
reply.
Elsie's ewes flashed with anger, and she
exclaimed: "YOu stupid boy, you certainly
have not given our good COW for that ugly
little flask. Now we are poorer than before
and winter is nearly here. What shall we
du?"
And in her disappointment the little girl
wept aloud. But when Waldo had told
what the old man had said, Elsie dried her
tears and helped her brother spread the
table with clean white cover, on which
they placed the little flask. Then Waldo
said: Little flask, perform thy duty"
AT once a thick cloud of blue smoke
poured forth from the mouth of the flask
and filed the room. The children could
dImly see two golden-haired fairies, with
futtering wings, lowering about the table
and seeming to place something upon it.
NneU, lew moments later, the smoke
cleared away, Elsie and Waldo saw on the
t. bic the richest food, served on gold and
silver dishes, ana also plates heaped high
With gold and gems Of great value.
With such q treasure as the flask in their
possession, tie children could not be poor.
They bought beautiful house, horses and
chSriots, and everything that could be
wished for IN the world. This sudden
wealth was a great surprise to those who
knew how poor Waldo and his sister had
been. The Mayor of the city went to the
mansion in which the children lived, and
inquired how they had come into so great
possessions. They eagerly told the story of
the old mam and the little flask.
Il should like to see SO great q WONDER"
said the Mayor
The unsuspecting Waldo brought the flask
from its hiding place, and setting it on the
table, cried: Little flask, perform thv
duty"
And the room was filled with blue smoke,
and the two fairies could be seen carrying
their treasures When the air was again
clear, ald the children were displaying the
gi.U which the fairies had brought the
visitor suddenly seized the flask and ran
sWay Witn il. In the same moment. the
large mansion, with all its beauty vanished.
and Waldo and Elsie found themselves
back la their plain Little cottage, and In the
saed near the door stood the COW which
they had sold TO the old man. For many
DAYS the children walked through the city
streets telling how they had been robbed. |
aud begging those whom they met to help
them 10 regain their flask. But no one
dared to oppose the Mayor. who was now
more powerful on account Of his increased