The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-08-12
Sa nd m an
Stories
BY wrs. r. A. Walker.
Copyright. 1916. Mcclure News
paper Syndicate
The Woodchopper's Wish.

" lived in the center Of the great
forest with his wife and two
children The home was neat, the wife
a happy woman, who made the place
CHEEKY and set good table for her
family. while both children were indus
trious and obedient Yet JAMS, the faith
er, was discontentcd
One morning he stood on the very
top OF the mountain chopplng away ata
big oak Below he could see the castle
Of great lord, the wide fields with
waving crops and herds Of cattle, the
villages busy with active life.
How happy the lord must be-"
grumbled JAMS as he rested moment
on his AK.
When JAMS turned to swing his AK
again at the tree he was surprised to
lind standing by i, thin. old man
dressed in gray, with long beard
reaching to his knees
"Woodman," sighed the old man.
you are about TO chop down the home
in which have lived for 1000 years.
| II YOU will spare this tree | will grant
any wish you may make Only the con-
dltion must be that YOU first carefully
investigate the wish"
81 agree at once" cried JAMS in de-
| light, "and | wish | could live life lust
like that OF the great lord OF the castle
at the foot OF this mountain"
well" replied the little gray man,
u will grant the wish IT you will first
% with me to examine into what you
| desire"
With that the man touched JAMS and
he seemed to be AZ light as air and
floating away hand in hand with the
gray ELF through the top Of the trees.
/ Presently he fel, himself sinking
through the roof OF the castle and they
stood in the bedroom OF the lord. Yet
no one seemed to see them. Servant,
/ stood about with discontented faces.
On the handsome bed lay the great lord.
hS white face drawn with pain AMI
his axlous eyes wandering about the
room
"Oh what would give to be strong,
to be able to walk up the mountain, TO
sleep we'll night through, to cat =
breakfast such as the woodchopper in
the forest enjoys sighed the lord. "Ali
this magniiicence only makes my sad
life the harder to bear
Out Of the roo~' JAMS and the little
gray man slipped They walked into
the kitchen and the stables and over
the fields and saw that the servants
we're happier in their health and work
than the rich man IN his golden couch.
Then Jams and the little man seemed
to float away toward the cottage in the
woods The woodchopper could see the
smiling face oi his wife bending over
the soup pot the little girl feeding the
chickens, the big hoy chopping at the
sticks for the fire all were well and
happ,
In another moment the couple stood
again at the foot oi the big tree.
"Do You still want your first wish
carried out lau, asked the gray elf.
JAMS hung his mead in embarrassment.
|"l have mo- desire" he siammcrcd, 10
change place, with the great lord.
see have the happier lot But there il
'nc little wish ! would like. it it is not
against the rules"
1T is agains, the rule, oi the Elves
association o. grant two wlshe laugh
ed the eli 'hnl a~sknow you intend
TO spare my ltec, anyway this tiins
will make an exception and let you havs
another wish"
"Nly little daughter has always want.
ed white hen with a big black top
knot on her head" ,sid lam, And I
believe that would he jus, wha, ! had
hest Wish 'ut it would please her 50
much"
Ec'.rc Jam, had ceased speaking hs
heard a Jlurklug and there on tho
ground before him was q lovely snow.
white hen with a fluffy black topknot I.
and she was not alone Around hor
fee, raced about a dozen tiny beautiful
little chickens just like their mother.
u think YOU will find your creates,
1 happiness at home" remarked the gray
eli a. he gently put the hen and chick.
ems IN bag And this giit to your
daughter will hriug all good luck"
The beautiful chickens delighted the
$ whole family The chicks grew up and
laid eggs tha, sold ior big sum, 20
that the child grew most prosperous
b with her poultry aud the whole family
lived happily IN their cory home Jans
E had been cured Of his grumblins and
was ever aiterNard kind and eonsid.