The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-24

AFTER paying Tor the SODA, ana cOnSe-
quently had turned nothing more into
gold. Whether he did it by accident or
design | can't pretend to say, but it is
a fact that he didn't exercise his new
power until Il woman came in who want
ed baa-lamb for three-year-old child.
We're all out of those for 3year-
, olds,' said Hugh politely, "but | have
some nice ones for 2-year-oldS and two
sizes larger for 4-year-olds.'
I'll take 4-year-old lamb-although
| should think it would be a sheep in
that case" said the lady, smiling sweet
~. There is nothing that makes people
smile so sweetly as jokes of their own
manufacture.
Hugh smiled, but not as sweetly as
the lady, and then he took hold of the
i lamb, when it instantly became pure
gold.
He was now in a quandary. He was
strictly honest, and he knew that as they
were the toys We're not worth over ten
cents. Nothing in a ten-cent store ever
is, else it would not remain ten-cent
store very long, But a gold baa-lamb is
naturally worth far more than dime.
Seeing the lamb change color and
noticing Hughs hesitation, the lady said:
Come, little boy, give me my lamb and
my change, for | must be going But
he said: I'm afraid can't sell you this
lamb. If you vii pick out another for
yourself you may have it. but l have
the touch of gold, and | must not handle
the toys unless Mr.. Cuthbert wants to
change this place into gold mine, and
| have not talked to him about it yet
But the lady knew gold when she saw
it, and she naturally wanted the greatest
bargain in Philadelphia, and she began
to talk so excitedly that good Mr.. Cuth-
bert came up and said: Here, Hugh
what is the trouble, and what are you
doing behind the baa-lamb counter?"
Il have the touch of gold, SIR said
Hugh, "and Miss Dyer was sick and
took her place. and I've turned this baa-
lamb into gold, and so of course it's
worth more than ten cents" AS he
spoke he touched the brass counter rail
inadvertently, and it turned into gold
in twinkling.
Mr.. Cuthbert was Il hard hearted man.
but he was touched at Hugh's honesty.
| He also saw that the boy was more val
liable than his whole force of clerks. He
! told the lady that she might have the
baa-lamb at ten cents if she would tell
all her friends. Then he offered TO pay
Hugh five dollars a week if he would
stay and turn one or two articles on
each counter into gold, so that they
would serve as an attraction for custo-
mers.
Hugh thought the matter over during
! his lunch-for he forgot and took ii,
after all. Il have nothing of my own"
he argued, Except the clothes on my
back, and it won't do me any good to
turn things into gold because they won't
be worth any more to me than before.
Because | turn Mr.. Cuthbert's baa-lambs
into golden ones it doesn't follow that
they are mine. Five dollars week is
a big sum of money, and Mr. Cuthbert
gave me a place when no one else would.
| owe him all that / can do for him.
will accept his offer"
During his luncheon Mr.. Cuthbert de-
cided that he would offer Hugh six dol
lars a week and get him to turn every
thing into gold. He could then sell out
at auction and realize even more than
he did on the ten-cent articles. He felt
sure that the extra dollar would hold
. Hugh, for he was a good judge of
character.
Now, whether the magician heard of
it and was vexed that Hugh did not
make more of his golden opportunity |
cannot say, but it is a fact that after
the lunch hour Hugh found he had lost
his power.
He went around touching everything
in the place, but he could not make them
! worth more than dime. But although
Mr.. Cuthbert was close, he was also a
man Of his word, and having told Hugh
that he would pay him five dollars a
week, he continued to do it, and Hugh
was so diligent that he adj
vanced higher and higher, until at last
he was made a partner in the business,
and today he is so rich and all things
he undertakes are so prosperous that
people say of him, HE has the touch of
gold"
But if he had not been so mindful of
Mr. Cutbbert's interests he might still
have the yeritable touch of gold that
he possessed for one short hour, and
I'm free to admit that that would have
been far more interesting.
CHARLES BATTELL LOOMS.