The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-22

with mo at the time am speaking Of.
That was-lct me see, let me see-ycs,
that was three, no, four, hundred years
ago the way you count time. The way
s! count 1t, is was only four years ago
-four hundred years ago!' exclaimed
Buster John. why this country wasn't
discovered then"
IT may be mistaken" replied Wally
Yanderoon, "but don't think I said
anything about this country. In fact,
tho story I'm telling has nothing what
ever to do with this country"
"a "Oh!' Buster John cried. apologetlcally.
''Let mo see-I was talking about my
godmother. ASH was saying, she was
tolerably sood-looking woman. was
surprised at this. for l had all idea that
godmotllers must, in the nature of things.
, be old and somewhat shaky. i said as
much to the woman, and she seemed
pleased, for she smiled and showed her
pretty white teeth.
~ i have several gifts for you, she
said, and it remains to be seon whether
you will appreciate them. She came 10
me where l. stood and placed her hand on
my head and began something like this:
:" It's tho natural right OF every man
TO get rich If he must or poor II he cam
II leave you to judge whether, at my
age. could understand the meaning OF
this. L don't know that I understand
1t any better now; but 1 remember every
word she said, and this was the way she
began when she placed her hand on my
head. Then she went on:
"'Your eyes shall see In the night;
Your feet shall be swift IN flight;
Your arms and your legs shall be
And the years that you live shall be
long,
"As you may we'll believe. these pres
cnts or promises made me feel very COM
Portable. T Strengthened myself up and
tried to look taller than I really was.
again. She held III her hand what took
to be piece or red flannel, but when
she unfolded 1t, I saw that 1t was a red
flannel night-cap, such as had seen my
great grandmother wear.
Take this. she said, and guard It
carefully. When you wear 1t at night
you will have pleasant dreams, and In
those dreams you will be able to foresee
danger. and you Will be able to forelell
coming events. This foresight and
knowledge will enable you to tell fortunes
and to predict things"
II wish," said Drusilla, suddenly. dat
ltnowd when / WIS gwlne ter cit dinner"
why, you d spoil any story In the world
She doesn't bother me-" said NVally
Wanderoon; mo. not bit more than
that child there" he pointed to Billy Bis
cult, who was fast asleep. After rub
bling his nose Wally Wanderoon resumed
his story.
"AIy god mother. after telling mo about
tho night cap. as 1 have told you. went
OIL to say that with 1t on my head In tho
daytime I would know who my friends
were and who my enemies. and that 1t
would be OF great benefit to me In many
ways which would find out for myself.
In short, 1t was the MIST wonderful piece
Of flannel cloth that had over been cut
from q loom--or would have been II 1t
had been woven for when came to OK
anime 1t, | found that II had been knit;
but It's texture was Just rs fine and us
close as a piece of cloth made on u loom.
The only way could toll II was knit
was because It was all IN one piece, ! T
1t had been cloth. you know, 1t would
have had n seam In 1t somewhere,
"Well, my godmother gave me tho night
chp and a great deal OF good advice,
which have forgotten, and then she
'bade mo goodbye, hesItatcd about go
ing, for ] was afraid couldn't find my
way out OF the forest, and had hopes
that sho would send the messenger with
me. She saw what the trouble was, and
simply remarked that whenever ! WAS IN
doubt about anything ] must put on tho
nglJt-cap. THIS fastened to do when
out OF sight OF the gypsy camp, and then
a very strange thing happened, by the
time had put the cap on could see
my mother standing In tie door looking III
my direction to see if ! WAS coming, she
shaded her eyes with her hand 'vld peer
ed into the forest, and her features were
as plain 10 me as II had been standing
by her sire. and could see she was NOR
rled,
NOW you may not believe. me, but by
the tine had adjusted my hat over the
cap. ESQ as TO hide IT, WAS s!analn2 IN
tho yard, though ns II seemed 10 me
hadn't moved out OF my tracks. Ny re-
turn was n great relief 70 my mother
who had no confidence In the gypsies, any
more than the common run Of people have
to-day She heard with surprise what
.hadto tell her. aud Insisted on frylng on
thc nIght-cap, but. sorpehoW, 81 othef, she