The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-06-08


sister Elsie. The house Vas built Of
logs and had but one room. one win
dow. one door ami BIG chimney
pushing It's way through miserable
roof Of thatch. Resale shlyered when
ever the little sister awoke. for she
knew that each meal brought them so
much nearer the end Of the food There
were but two potatoes left and only a
crust OF bread Elsie awoke crying hard
Tor something to eat Rosaiie gave her
the crust ana set the potatoes to roast
ing In the ashes OF the big fireplace.
Against the panes of the one window
there had been feeble drizzle all the
morning and now Il began to pour In
torrents. and Roaalie and Elsie were
forced TO the chimney place to keep
dry. Even here the raindrops some
times managed TO find tho way ana
spnttered aud Missed "a they fell on
the IRE. Rosalio went 10 large wood
box and flung handful after handful OF
dry sticks on the flames.
There came n pound upon the door
m n someone were hitting Il In great
hurry 10 get In. Rosalle crcpt cautious
" 10 the window and looked out All
that she could 50 At the door was an
Old woman. In high. peaked hat and
n patchwork quilt pinned over her
shoulders to keep of tho rain.
Poor old creature" cried Rosalie to
herself and she flew 10 the door to let
her In. The old woman made n low
courtesy and entered hobbling. Her
face was wrlnkled and very ugly and
her feet were quite bare She made
her way across the room to the fire.
place where she sank YEARLY upon
bench.
Il am sorry for you" said Rosnlle.
pitylngly II ought to have opened
the door sooner" aud she looked at the
water dripping from the quilt ana
making little pools on the noor
Bless you. my child." responded tho
old woman. II was doubling II you
would let such an ugly old woman
come In at ALL"
Indeed I would" said Rosalle hon
catly. II am very sorry for you. Won't
you please take OF your thlngs7" and
she glanced from the dripping quilt TO
the high. peaked hat The old womans
eyes almost twlnklod as she unfasti
ened the quilt ana laid Il on tho floor.
but she did not take on her hat
"she Ia hungry" thought Rosalle.
swallowing her own hunger Wont
you have this roast potatoY" she said
aloud, and drawing II out Of the hot
ashes. she broke II open. sprinkllug II
with snl, and handed It to the old wo.
man.
MY child you are very good" said
the old woman. SELLING the food and
eating n 10 groedily that soon nothing
was left but the crlspod. brown shell.
Il am very sorry for you. said Rosa
ile," but We have no moro potatoes
Perhaps when my father comes homo
from the war We shall have plenty. l
wish he would come soon, but he ID far
away"
As RoSalio said the third time. II am
sorry for YOU the old womans face
grew actually lovely
MY dear child" she said, Il have
been clear round the world to find
some one TO say to a poor, ugly. old
woman; am sorry for you. At last
hear II from little girl. who gives
me shelter and her last mouthful OF
food. DO you know that these words.
three times repeated by you. have
broken my wretched enchantmentG |
am once more myself and you shall be
rewarded. This quilt lend you. II Ia
In six blocks. and each block will yield
you n wish. After leave touch each
block with your hand. and all Is as you
command"
Speaking thus, a marvellous chang,
was taking place In the old woman
Her bent and shriyell1d body was be
coming upright and beautiful, he
peaked hat had changed to crown o
gold. and her coarse aud ragged gowi
TO dress Of llmy primrose gauz,
She was now a lovely fairy. With he
stan transformed to n fragile wan
studded with jewels she touched III
quilt and said;
One. two three.
bid thee
lie good
To Rosalie.
As she
To me.
Then with a simmer and Fash thl
lighted the duh room like burst
sunshine, she ioated toward the ar
place and vanished up the chimney.
this Instant the rain ceased, Rosal
Easped with astonishment at all the
phenomena. while little Elsie clnppl
her hands with gloo at the pref
transformation
"Oh. Elslcl isn't IL wonderful" ori
Rnsalle AZ last And the quilt; 81
has loft II to MS. How beautiful Il !
II ls made Of velvc, and silk and qul
ed with goldl what was ! TO do wi
Il. ElsIeg 10 wlsh9 Let me see;
will wish rlght away. What shall II
FORT" and she laid her hand upon a r
silk block covered with round symb,
OF orange velvet, that suggested gold
her. - wish, ! wish Tor money GOO
10 buy us each some hearty food"
As her fingers pressed tho block
felt lying gnugly IN the cotton waddl
several coins, In moment she h
seized the scissors to rip the bic
open, when out there rolled from II
dozen gold pieces. while the block
self became detached from the rest