, 1900-07-10

most valued piece of furniture. Then
tying IN Elsie's bonnet, she started
with her to the village to buy some
food.
n guess maybe you've heard from
your father?" said the baker, Of whom
they bought some bread and cakes.
When is he coming homer,
81 don't know said Resale, and the
coin went into his till, without his
having any idea of its origin.
The basket filled with food was
heavy. and Elsie walked very slowly.
so that it was nearly dark when they
reached their lonely home. Elsie was
heartily fed and tucked into her cradle
with a plum-jumble to MUNICH upon,
while Rosalie put away her new stock
Of eatables and tried to decide what
next to wish for.
Il think l had better wait till morn
ing and take all night to choose what
it shall be-" she said to her sister, who
was already asleep. How nice 1t
would be to wish for a new house.
made of stone with a tight single roof
anu "a 'ihS 6io"iA6 oNCl lAC lloAI
porch"
Resale, by the light of the still
cracking fire, drew the quilt from the
chest, pressed, her fingers upon the
second block and wished for a new
home supplied with every comfort in
side and out, to say nothing of the
vine over the front porch. Like the
first, the second block ripped itself free
from the rest of the quilt and flew up
the chimney. Even as Rosalie refolded
the quilt and put 1t in the chest, there
seemed something unusual going on
about her; but she went to bed without
trying to see what it was, and strange
to say, was lat once asleep, not to
waken till the sun, an hour high, looked
in through the windows of her pretty
new home and aroused her.
Elsie, too, was awakened by the
bright sun, and, sitting up in her bed
cradle, laughed to see herself in a fine
new room. Her cradle and the chest
in which Resale kept the quilt were
the only things unchanged.
Isn't 1t beautiful here, now?" ex-
claimed Rosalie. Il wish father were
here to help us enjoy 1t. I am going to
ask the quilt to write him a letter fol-
me, because l don't know Just where
he is, and tell him to come home this
very day, If he can"
She opened the chest, drew out the
quilt and, laying her hand on the third
block, said:
Dear quilt, won't you please write
father a letter, and tell him he'd better
come home and see the new house Of
stone you have built for US alone"
Immediately there shifted out from
the edges Of the block a letter stamped
and addressed to Rosalie's father, while
the block fiuttered loose from the resi-
Of the quilt and sailed across the room
to the new fireplace, up which 1t dis
appeared.
"Dear!" exclaimed Resale, picking
up the letter, why didn't I wish 1t sen
directly to father; he won't get it for
long time If I send it by the village
post" and touching the fourth block
she said:
please, quilt. speed today, fathers
letter on its way. Bring him ere nigh
to his daughters. two, as you know sc
we'll how to do"
Nm O n had she said this poor lit
tie rhyme than the letter vanished anC
the fourth block followed the others VI
the chimney. She put what was lef
Of the magic guilt again into the ches'
and began, dt once to get everything
ready for her fathers return.
During the day no one came, but to-
ward nightfall there was a heavy steI
upon the new front porch. Rosalie
watching, knew 1t was her father ane
hurriedly opened the door to find hin
standing there, his hand covering hi
eyes.
"Oh. father!" she cried, II knew 20,
would come; the quilt never fails. WHY
do you cover your eyes?"
Il am just of the battlefield, Rosa
lie," he said. where a shot destroyed
my sight. The rest l cannot tell yol
about, only that am here. If l coult
only see you and Elsie, we would neveI
complain"
you shall see US, father said Rosa
AAop SohAA6 AAo AoAu anu ACouAu6 III
across the room to the chest. Fee
this, father, 1t is all that Is left of tn,
quilt. Now I shall wish that you ge
back your sight" and she pressed he
hand upon the fifth block.
In a twinkling it had separated from
the last block and whirled up thu
chimney, and Rosalie's fathers sigh
had been perfectly restored.
What magic is this?" he cried. :"
can see as we'll as ever!"
1T is the precious quilt, as 1 toll
you. father" she answered, putting tn,
last block into his hand.
Seeing is believing" he said, looking
at the block c~uriously. "Put it away
Rosalie. to wish by when you are mar
RED"
Resale took 1t from him.
Il wish for nothing more. now tina:
you are home, but that we shall liv,
long and be happy"
This was enough! The block fiutter
ed from his fingers, drifted across tn,
room, up the chimney. leaving the git
of long life and happiness in the prett.
home on the edge Of the wood.-Ds
troit FrsA Pl sss.
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