The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-10-21

the ola woman, sharply, land you
might let them carry you on to those
who have better means of making you
comfortable"
NAY, granny" said the maiden;
the young man seems weary. 'Tis true
we have little, but that little may be
a blessing to him with less. Let him
stay"
He's but a wandering vagabond,"
said the old woman. LET him go
about his business, if he has any. If
he has none, let him find some. am
too old to feed more than one idler."
The maiden flushed and glanced at
her spinning-wheel, the bobbin of
which was filled with fine thread. She
seemed about TO speak, but sighed and
said nothing.
Dame" said Pendragon, Jr., to the
old woman, you have bitter tongue.
But it may be that 1 can convince yOu
1 am no idling vagabond. said had
only my good staff to depend upon;
but still there are worst friends than
a good staff. Mine has a virtue great
er than many another. Let me give
you a notion Of its powers
So saying, Pendragon, Jr., stepped
to the door, and seeing the dragon-fy
resting on the fence-rail, he suddenly
waved the wand and pronounced a few
magic words. This was done so quick
ly that even if the dragon-fiy had
known what was to be done it could
hardly have escaped. AS it was, the
insect could not move before il was
changed into a beautiful little white
pig, which squealed with astonishment
and rage.
Pendragon, Jr., was laughing heart
lily at the antics of the little animal,
when he was amazed to see the old
woman jump toward him. He tried
to avoid her, but she was as spry as
a cat, and before he could get away
she seized the second-best wand from
his hand. Then she began to wave it
over her head and to dance about with
glee.
"Oho and aha!" she cried; "a brave
young man art thou, o Pendragon.
Jr.! Thou wouldst be wiser than thy
father; and see what thou hast
done! Thou hast changed thy old
father into white pig! Ohio and aha!
Now shall the young fool go to join
the old fool!"
The old woman waved the wand
over her head. and behold! Pendra-
gon, Jr., became a white pig. Jr., and
squealed with rage and astonishment,
just as the elder Pendragon had done
only few moments before. As soon
as the change was accomplished the
old woman tried to drive the two
pigs into the pen that stood near the
cottage.
Now, all pigs are hard to drive;
but two magicians that have been
changed into pigs against their will
are the hardest of all to drive. One
ran this way, and the other ran the
other way, and the old woman
chased them until she was tired and
ready to drop. Then she called to
the maiden who stood near, looking
very sad and very solemn at the
same time.
Come, Betty, thou lazybones, help
me to drive these two little squeal-
ing porkers into the pen. Else will
it be the worse for theei"
Give me the stick. then, Granny"
said Betty; and without remember
ing that it was a magic wand the
old woman handed Betty the slender
stick
AS soon as Betty held the magic
wand safely in her hand she seemed
changed from a quiet country maiden
into proud princess. She faced the
old woman, and with terrible look
said, Now, thou wicked witch. thou
art about to receive punishment for
all thy wrong-doing! Behold, I com
mand thee to become a cross old
cat!"
The old woman could not help her
self, and so when Betty waved the
wand there suddenly appeared in
stead of the old woman a very ugly
old cat, who spat and clawed about
as if she was in very bad temper.
The two little pigs meanwhile
stood perfectly still, with their eyes
as wide open as pigs eyes ever are.
AS soon as the old cat was gone
Betty turned to them, and with a
wave of the wand restored Pendra-
gon, Jr., to his true shape, and hand
ed him the wand again.
81 thought you would like to re-
store your father to his own shape
yourself" she said. ut seems more
$50 it does" he replied; and in a
more the old magician stood
before them we'll as ever.
Before you CO." said Betty to the
father and son, 81 wish to give YOU
both a word of warning. To you,
Jr., would say this:
to learn your brFiness
before you begin to practice it. If
it had not been for me the old witch
would have succeeded in capturing
both your father and yourself. She
had been the enemy of your family
for many centuries, and would have
been glad to ruin you both"
"Why, was that old Elspeth. the
witch?" asked Pendragon, Sr., much
rr~rr,sad