Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-07-25

Ask it what you will.
With many words the poor boy
thanked the South Wind for his gift,
and ran home with it as fast as he
could go.
"Here, mother" he cried, "see
what the wind has given for the -four
he stole.'
And telling her the property of the
basket, he set it down. Immediately
she called for dinner to be placed
before them, and so sumptuous a re-
past Immediately was in the basket
that the woman embraced the boy for
Joy.
So all went we'll for a long time.
They had whatsoever they wished for,
and the boy no longer was subject to
the violent outbreaks of temper on
the part of the stepmother.
One day, however, duke rode by
with a large train of followers.
$50 out and ask the duke to dine
with us, and be sure not to come back
alone!"
The boy went to obey, and when he
delivered his message the duke
laughed But, turning to his men, he
said:
$50 you with the lad, and 1 hope
you may dine WE'LL"
Then with laugh he rode on. The
men did not wish to accompany the
peasant boy, for the hut looked so
poor that they expected light fare.
What was their surprise, then, to
see feast spread fit for king, and
so plentiful that q host might have
eaten and still much have remained
untouched. Then they seated them
selves with hearty goodwill. But
they watched closely the two poor
people. Soon after they perceived
how everything was supplied from
the basket, and the leader determined
to possess it for themselves.
He dispatched one of his followers
to procure basket like the magic
one, and when the boy and his moth
er were away, they exchanged the
two. Soon afterwards they departed
and told the duke their good fortune.
The woman, however, unaware of
the trick that had been played upon
her, threw all the remainder of the
banquet away. For she thought what
was SO easily obtained was not worth
caring for.
Next day, therefore, when she went
to the basket as usual, she obtained
no response to her request. Enraged
again, she turned to the boy and said:
$50 back to the wind, and tell him
want my flour back, or else payment
for it."
And when the boy protested, she
took the stick and belabored him with
it. So he. went again to the home of
the winds and repeated his story.
Fear not!" the South Wind said.
''Take this back, and when the witch
dares to strike you again say: Give,
come out Of the cask and punish
her."
So the boy returned home with the
second gift of the wind.
"Here, mother, is cask in place
of the basket"
"What do I want with cask?" and
in terrible rage she came towards
the boy with stick in her hand.
But he dartel behind the cask and
cried!out:
Give come out of the cask and pun
ish herl'
Immediately five great fellows
sprung forth and gave the old witch
woman such thrashing as she really
deserved, for she was very wicked.
When the boy thought her suffi-
ciently punished he listened to her
cries for mercy and cried:
Give, go back to the cask," and
Immediately the five men disappeared
into the cask.
Then, again, all went well for long
time. The temper of the witch was
much improved, indeed, so much SO
that she became almost human, and
the boy led happy life-for him.
But one day the mother said:
$50 to the duke and demand the
basket from him.
$50 I will" the young peasant said,
and he departed.
When he reached the palace he said
to the servants:
''Tell the duke to come out and
fight me, or return me my basket"
Right merrily did the nobleman
laugh at this brave challenge; but he
sent word where he would meet the
peasant on the morrow to fight. So
quickly home ran the lad and on the
| morrow he came with his cask to the
appointed place.
- Soon the duke appeared with many
servants, and having commanded that
the boy should be thrashed for his in
science, his men stepped forward to
seize him.
But they were too late. No sooner
did the peasant see their motive than
he jumped behind the cask and cried:
''Five to each one of them, out OF
the caskl"
| Oh! what q time there was then. A