Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-26
THE WONDERFUL PUMP
By FRANK BAUM


they had not been much handled.
When the value of the pieces was add
ed together they were found to be
worth $500.
Suddenly the woman spoke.
Husband, the beetle spoke truly,
when he declared we should get some
thing more precious than the water
from the we'll. But run at once and
take away the handle from the pump
lest any one should pass this way and
discover our secret"
So the man ran to the pump and re-
moved the handle, which he carried to
the house and hid under the bed.
They hardly slept wink that night.
Lying awake to think Of their good
fortune and what they should do with
their store Of yellow gold. In all their
former lives they had never possessed
more than a few dollars at time, and
now the cracked teapot was nearly full
Of gold coins.
The following day was Sunday, and
they arose early and ran to see II their
treasure was safe. There 1t lay, heap
ed snugly within the teapot, and they
were so willing to feast their eyes up
on it that it was long before the man
could leave it to build the fire for the
woman to cook breakfast.
While they ate their simple meal the
woman said:
I'VE will go to church today and re-
turn thanks for the riches that have
come to us so suddenly. And I will
give the pastor one Of the gold pieces"
1T is we'll enough to go to church"
replied the husband, "and also to re-
turn thanks But in the night I de-
cided how we will spend all our mon
ey: so there will be none left for the
pastor"
I'VE can pump more" said the wo-
man.
Perhaps, and perhaps not" he an
swered cautiously. What we have we
can depend upon, but whether or not
there be more in the we'll cannot
say"
Then go and find out" she return
ed, ''for l am anxious to give some
thing to the pastor, who is a poor man
and deserving"
So the man got the pump handle
from beneath the bed, and going to the
pump fitted it in place. Then he set
a large wooden bucket under the spout
and began to pump. To their joy the
gold pieces soon began flowing into the
pail, and seeing it about to run over
the brim the woman brought another
pail. But now the stream suddenly
stopped, and the man said cheerfully
to his wife:
THAT is enough for today, good
wife! We have added greatly to our
treasure, and the parson shall have his
gold piece. Indeed, think shall also
put coin into the contribution box"
Then, because the teapot would hold
no more gold, the farmer emptied the
pail into the woodbox, covering the
money with dried leaves and twigs
that no one might suspect what lay
underneath.
Afterward they dressed themselves
in their best clothing and started for
the church, each taking bright gold
piece from the teapot as a gift to the
pastor.
Over the hill and down into the val
LEY beyond they walked, feeling so gay
and light-hearted that they did not
mind the distance at all. At last they
came to the little country church and
entered just as services began.
Being proud Of their wealth and of
the gifts they had brought for the
pastor, they could scarcely wait for the
moment when the deacon passed the
contribution box. But at last the time
came, and the farmer held his hand
high over the box and dropped the gold
piece so that all the congregation
could see what he had given. The wo-
man did likewise. feeling important and
happy at being able to give the good
parson so much.
The parson, watching from the pull
pit, saw the gold drop into the box and
could hardly believe that his eyes did
not deceive him. However, when the
box was laid on his desk there were the
two gold pieces. and he was so sur
prised that he nearly forgot his SER
mon.
When the people were leaving the
church at the close of the services the
good man stopped the farmer and his
wife and asked:
Where did you get SO much gold?'
The woman gladly told him how she
had rescued the beetle, and how, in
return, they had been rewarded with
the wonderful pump. The pastor lis
tened to it all gravely. and when the
story was finished he said:
| According to tradition strange
things happened in this world ages age
and now find that strange things may
also happen today. For by your tale
you have found beetle that can speak
and also has power to bestow upon you
great wealth." Then he looked care
fully at the gold pieces and continued
Either this money is fairy gold or II
is genuine metal, stamped at the mint
of the United States government. II
it is real money, then your beetle must
have robbed some one of the gold and
placed it in your well. For all money
belongs to some one, and If you have
not earned it honestly, but have come
by it in the mysterious way you men
ton. it was surely taken from the per-
sons who owned it without their con-
sent Where else could real money
come from?"
The farmer and his wife were con-
fused by this statement and looked
guiltily at each other, for they were
honest people and wished to wrong nc
one.
Then you think the beetle stole the
money!" asked the woman.
by his magic powers he probably
took it from it's rightful owners. Ever
bugs which can speak have no con-
Al,