The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-18

/ he hid 1t in his house; but every night
the thieves would rummage all over
his dwelling. upsetting everything in
their search for this valuable Jewel.
He then took 1t. and hid II in secret
| place In the woods: but. although he
| put up a notice to the thieves, telling
| them 1t was no longer in his house.
they would not believe him-rummag
| ing every night as bad as ever. So he
took his diamond to a deep ravine.
whose steep sides were everywhere
| utterly inaccessible, being just as
smooth as glass: and he dropped IT
down to the bottom, where, hundred
feet below the surface of the earth.
| 1t glittered and shone like a star.
! When the thieves came and gathered
around the deep ravine, and saw that
the diamond was really there. they
ceased to trouble the dwelling of the
Jew. who thereafter slept In peace.
when / happened to see this daz-
cling jewel. as 1t lay at the bottom
of this dreadful abyss, / instantly de-
termined to get 1t II l could. and by
its means marry the prince. So
procured long cord. and at the end
7 / put a stone. I covered the bottom
of the stone with candle grease. and
one moonlight night l crept softly to
the brink of the ravine, and gently
lowered my cord until tn stone
touched the diamond. Then. after wait
ing a few moments. l drew up the
stone carefully and slowly. When I
took 1t in my trembling hand and
turned 1t over, the diamond was not
there. Overcome with disappointment,
sank against q tree When the Jew
came in the morning to look at his
| dfap ha 0a n
"HelIor he said. who has been
putting candle grease upon my dearest
jewelT
Then turning. he saw me. with the
stone and the cord In my hand, still
leaning against the tree.
"'Oh no" he cried. so you have
been trying to rob me. have you? You
thought my diamond was SO light that
It would stick to greasy stone. did
you? Well, miss. you shall not come
about here any more without my
knowing 1t. Mind THAR
$50 ne instantly took these bells
out of his coat pocket and tied them
to my toes. Since that time 1t has
been almost impossible for me to walk
have been compelled to ride every
where I go and I am so ashamed at
the sound Of my bells that / always
ride just as fast as. can, That is
, the way 1 came to ruin your ram
uHCUluS6S
II am very sorry for YOU" said the
! fairy. although think you were try
ing to do mean trick when you fished
for the diamond II I can find your
horse, I will bring him back to you"
: So on his sparrow he rode rapidly
! after the horse, and soon saw the
animal grazing in a field. His tail
: WAS not burnt much: for he had
! jumped In the creek and had put 1T
! out. and was now eating grass quite
contentedly. The fairy gathered a
large quantity Of the finest clover, and
covered himself and his sparrow en-
= tirely with it. Then he flew in front
, of the horse which, attracted by the
! delicate morsei floating In the air, en-
deavored to seize it In his mouth The
, bunch OF fragrant clover. followed by
the eager horse. flew along the creek
! until it reached the spot where the
!. old woman stood behind little bush.
She instantly seized the horses bride.
and the fairy shook off the clover.
The horse heaved a heavy sigh. but
said never a word. IT am very much
! obliged" said the old woman; land, if
you will come to Banbury Cross l
will give you some ranunculus roots.
, and you can make another garden"
THANK you" said the fairy. sadly;
but they would be of no use to me
!. now. It's easy enough to get good
roots, but shall never feel like plant
ing ranunculuses again"
well" said the old woman. I'VE all
have our troubles. Here am / with
these horrid bells which bring all the
, town around me when l go out and
which entirely prevent me from walk
ing, even when at home"
such thing would not trouble
! me long" said the fairy.
How would you prevent itT' asked
! the old woman.
! I'D cut the strings and take the
bells off," said he.
!. said the old woman. 1--WE worn them
SO long that l do not think It would
do to make a change at my time OF
life But I will cut or one OF them
and give 1t to you to remember me
! by"
! So saying. she took pair Of scissors
. out OF her pocket, and, cutting on one
!, Of the bells from her toes. presented
1t to the fairy. He thanked her. and
told her he should always remember
, her by II. Then she mounted her
, horse. and rode swiftly away. The fairy
took his bell home. and hung 1t up
In his garden. Every afternoon he
. rung II when 1t was time for the
|. four o'clocks to shut up.
When the fairy died and the bell fell
. down and was lost. the fOur-oclocks got
out OF their regular habits. and now
we scarcely ever see any that shut
up exactly at four-o' clock.-Frank K.
Stockton. in Housewife.
w. A. Brady is working on new