The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-07-27
STORY OF A WISH RING

.
and he felt quite Respondent and dis
Outraged. One day he had been
blowing until very weary, and had
seated himself upon his pillow for a
few minutes rest, when he noticed
an old woman passing by. AS she
crcpt slowly along she called out to
the disheartcncd man:
"Why is it that you'll work there
day after day, getting no reward
in return? Leave your blowing,
walk straight ahead for two days, and
Won will have arrived at the foot Of a
great fir tree which stands in the
midst Of great forest 1t is SO tall
that it towers above all the other
trees round about it, and there is no
other tree of its own kind near it. If
YOU can succeed in cutting it down
your fortune will be made"
The old woman passed on and ere
long was quite ont Of sight; but her
words remained behind in the mind
Of the tired and discouraged farmer.
Presently he arose. with the air of
one who had made up his mind, left
his pillow, shouldercd his axe, and
walked steadily forward for two days.
Then, as the old woman had forctold,
he found himself standing at the
foot of great fir tree, which WAS so
tall that it lowered high above all
thc other trees round about it, and
near which stood no other tree Of It's
own kind
He at once began to ply his axe,
and soon beneath his sturdy blows
the chips flew far and wide. At last
the mighty form began to trcmblc and
to sway. As it tottcrcd he heard
the sound of something crashing
through the branches, and in mo-
mcnt there lay at his feet an i'm
mensc nest. Two eggs rolled out Of
the nest, breaking as they touched
the ground. An eagle flew out of
enc, and from the other rolled gold
en- ring. The eagle grew larger and
larger, until it was as large as man.
Then it slowly tapped its wings and
scared aloft, circling three times
above the head of the wondering
man
rs it circlcl slowly above the
turner's head it spoke: "Aou have
saved me. You will find your re-
ward in the golden ring, 1t is a
wish-ring Turn it twice upon your
finger, wishing as YOU turn, and
whatever may be your desire it will
come to pass. But it can bcstow but
one wish therefore consider carefully
and we'll before You wish, that yon
may have no reason to regret your
choice"
Then the eagle flew swiftly toward
the east and was soon lost is sight.
But the memory Of its words was i'm
pressed upon the farmers mind as
he stopped, picked up the ring and
slipped it on his finger Then he
took up his axe, again shouldcred it,,
and this time stan ted on his home
ward way
As night approached on the first
day of his returning walk, he found
himself near jewelers., and he
thought he would ask the value Of
his ring. He entered the shop and
showed it TO the jcwelcr, who assured
him that it was worth nothing;
whercupon the farmer told the man
how he obtained it and that it was a
wish-rinS.
This information inspired the
icwclcr with an immediate and in
intense desire to get possession OF the
ring for himself, and he made great
professions of friendlincss and hospi-
tally, urging insistently that the
farmer remain with him over night.
The unsuspicious man readily con-
scnted, and, when the hour for retir-
ing arrived, went to bed with those
feelings Of trust and security which
induce the deepest and calmest sleep.
While he was thus peacefully sleep
lug, the crafty jcweler stole softly to
his bedside and slipped from his fin
ger the coveted ring, replacing it
with one that looked the same, but
which had no magic power.