Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-03-10
NELLA'S WISH.
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

when Nella's father and mother died
she vent to live with her uncle. He
was a miller and lived in a little house
by the mill.
He old Nella he was very poor. but
II she would do the work and help
MN she could live there.
SO Nella worked very hard to please
him, but he was a miser. and never
thought she did enough to pay.for her
board.
one day after she worked very hard
and was tired and hungry, he told her
they could not have any supper that
night. as he did not have money
enough to buy food, as the people for
whom he had ground corn had lot paid
him.
Nella went to bed, but she was so
hungry she could not sleep. BY and
by she heard II noise and she went to
the door of her room and looked out. =
Her uncle was sitting by a table. and
IN front OF him. sparkling and gleam-
Ing like Are, We're beautiful diamonds.
sapphlres, rubies and other precious
stones.
He held them IN his hands and ca
ressed them as though they were alive.
Then he put them carefully in an
earthen jar and put them under his
bed.
The next morning, when they had
only black coffee made OF beams for
breakfast. Nella said: "Uncle. why do
you not sell one of the beautiful stones
you We're looking at last night, then
we could have food"
"Wha! do you ear asked her
uncle; you must have been dreaming.
1 have no valuable stones"
Nella told him what she had seen
and he laughed. 'They are only
glass he said. Il have them to keep
away trouble, but YOU must not touch
them, for if any one else handles them
they will lose their charm"
Nella did moi believe him and after
he Went 10 the mill she took the jar
from under the bed and took off the
cover.
The gems sparkled as the light
touched them. one looked like a coal
of fire, and Nella cached in and took
1t out. 1T turned Il BLUSH shade and
as she rolled it over in her hand ii be-
came yellow and all colors.
This is the prettiest of an" she
said. 81 am going to keep 1T; uncle
will never miss this bit of glass. and /
need something to keep away trouble
as we'll as he does. I did not touch the
others. SO they will still protect HIM"
But what was it that the bit of glass
seemed to be singingp
II have caught the sun of India
And stolen in the moons saft ray.
1 have sat at the throne of Caesar;
Keep me for a day"
Nella pushed the jar under the bed
and put he opal chat was the name
of the beautiful s1one) in her pocket.
After her work was finished She went
to The mill to help her uncle.
She watched the yellow corn as it
was poured into the hopper TO be
ground. Il wish it We're all gold.' she
Thought as she walked away. Then
uncle and | could "a a nice dinner"
A rrN- from, Hor. I1onla c.I,co1 MGR To
look back, and she saw gold dollars in
the hopper in place of the corn.
Where did they come FROM" asked
Nella as h helped to gather them;
did not think bout her wish.
II do not KNOW" said her uncle as
but. of course, it did not turn to gold
as Nella did not make another wish.
Uncle" she said. you must go to
the market and get a nice dinner and
j will cook it."
NO said her uncle. we will eat
bread and milk and save the money"
"NNhat makes you so miserly?" said
Nella. Money is OF use only for what
1t buys for our comfort. ann SO
hungry" she aid. IL wish / had a
table before me with a good dinner
Up from the floor of the mill rose a
table and Nella sat in her chair before
1t so quickly hat she dubbed her eyes
~ 'A1S Ike SIIC II was
real.
Her uncle ran to her and shook her
by the shoulder. "Wish again" he
said.
Wait until I finish my dinner" said
Nella. II am hungry. You eat. too.
uncle"
But the miser was so anxious to
have her wish for gold that he could
not eat. and when Nella had finished.
and he table and chair had disap-
peared. he said: Now wish that the
mill pond may become gold"
Nella wished as he asked her to do
and the mill stopped grinding, for
there was no water to turn the wheel.
The miserly miller had no thought of
that.
Nov see what has happened said
Nella, you cannot grind any more
corn and what will the people do for
food? You are a bad dc man and
think only of yourself. wish / did
not live with you"
AS n spoke she began to run.
Without touching the ground her feet
few along the. road. On and on she
went until she wished she could stop,
and then she stopped SO suddenly that
h almost fell over.
She sat down by the roadside WON
dering strange power had come
to her. e she heard the singing
again. 1T Is the bit of glass; she
said, taking it from her pocket and
looking at 1t. II wish l had a dress like
the blue in it.
Her old dress fell to the ground. and
In it's place was a beautiful blue one.
This will never do" thought Nella.
Il have on a lovely dress and ! have
no home. So she began to wish for all
the things she seemed to need.
A house appeared across the road
from where she sat. but Nella did not
dare enter, it was SO grand. II wish /
were inside the house," she said, and
round herself walking up the
stairs. She went into al! the rooms