Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-15

went from door TO door begging that en-
%ployment would be given him; but every
where he was refused, until finally dlscour-
aged and without noticing where he was. he
threw himself down on Old Martins door
step and wept bitterly. Suddenly, he heard
i window open and a thin, cracked voice
said: IF you are hungry. WendiIin, come
within and you will fad plenty"
Tn boy looked up and was terrified to
see the dreadful magician gazing down upon
him. He W S about to run away when Old
Martin continued: "Do not he so silly AS 10
refuse food when YOU are suffering from
hunger. Come in, and then if my house
does not please you, you need not remain"
Wendllln hesltated 4 moment, and then
decided 10 accept the invitation, although it
was with fear and trembling that he entered
the mysterious house. Old Martin led his
guest into a large room, into which no sun
shine came, but the place was filled with a
strange green light, which made the old man
appear more wierd than when seen In
the light of the day. In the middle of
the room stood a. table, set for
two; and at the ringing of a bell by the
master, the door opened and an unseen hand
placed food on the table. There were rare
fruits, old wines and many dainties tempt
ing 10 the appetite Of a hungry boy.
Wendilin ate heartily, for he had had
but little food for several days. After the
neal was over, Old Martin invited his
guest into the garden, where, although it
was early spring, and other citizens had not
thought of setting out their plants, roses
and geraniums were blooming in proiusion,
and the air, filled with sweet fragrance, was
soft and baimy.
Il have long thought" said the magician,
AAHh.# anV,ll FrV.eF 80, - ~-.l 49,
Now that you are without a home, | offer
You a place in my house, and shall pay you
well for serving me-"
Wendilin's great love for flowers decided
the question for him, and he determined to
take up his abode with Old Martin, the ma
gician. A first life IN the old house on the
city wall seemed very curious to the boy.
The meals were always prepared and served
BY unseen hands, and Wendilin was sure
that he sometimes saw, peeping out
through the great cracks in the floor. little
men with small bodies and large heads.
Even the garden was not free from mystery,
Often in the lily bells tiny faces would ap-
pear and smile roguishly at Wendiiin, aid
on the bushes, beautiful birds unknown to
that land, would perch and pour forth rich
melodies to the young gardener, busy with
his work. But Wendilin soon grew ac-
customed 10 these scenes, and his master
treated him with such kindness that he had
DC desire to seek other employment On the
garden wall there hung "a golden cage, in
winch was confined a black raven, whose
wisdom was very great, and which was
much pleased with the maSician's new SER
want. At all hours of the day, it could be
heard crying, "Wen6ilin, Wendilin."
One day when Old Martin had gone out
into the city, the raven cried: "Wendilin,
come here. Be quick; l want YOU"
The boy rau 10 the cage and heard the
bird repeat these words: "I am about to
tell you a great secret. The old magician
Is cruel and wicked. ! know him we'll. In
a short time has present kindness to YOU will
be turned into acts OF torture. He wishes to
be the greatest magician in the world. but
in Italy there is one greater than he. who
possesses a ring which gives him Q sero over
three dwarfs, who have all knowledge. L
am kept in this cage because will not
promise TO steal the ring, but if YOU will
open the door for ME L shall secure the ring
for you that you may be free from old Mar
tins power. l can go and return in an
hour"
After he had opened the cage door and
the bird had flown away, Weudilin became
iHach alarmed and feared lest his master re-
Jurning should fnd the raven gone. Then
the boy thought: Perhaps the bird has