Year: 1879

In olden times, when people some
times had visits from angels, when
they thought they were only receiv-
ing strangers. it happened that one
OF these good beings found himself
out rather late, and it grsw dark be-
fore he could reach q tavern. As he
travelled along, he came to place
where there were two houses directly
opposite 10 each other. One was
large and beautiful the other was
small and looked poor; one belonged
to rich. and the other to a )r man.
The traveller said, II shall be no bur-
den to the Iich man, l will knock at
his door," The itch man heard a
knocking at the door, opened the
window. and asked The stranger what
he wanted. The traveller answer ed,
nights lodging. The rich man
looked sharply at the traveller, and
because he saw he had poor clothes
on, and did not appear as il lie had
much money in his pocket, shook his
head and sail, Il cannot take you in.
my chambers are all stiewed with
herbs and seeds, and IL took In
everybody who knocked at my door.
I should soon have to take staff,
and set out begging for myself You
must look somewhere else for wei
come" He slammed down the win
dow and left the poor traveller stand
ing without. Tho traveller turned to-
ward the little house and knocked.
Scarcely had he knocked, when the
poor man opened his little door, and
begged the wanderer to come in and
spend the nj hit.


~It's very dark" he I'D, @and you
cannot go any further Tonight"


The traveller was pleased, and went
into the house. The wife Of the poor
man reached out her hand, bid bin
welcome, and begged him to make
himself at hoIe. She had not much
to give, but what she had che gave
with a whole heart. She put some
potatoes In the fire, AMI while they
were roasting she milked her goat,
that he might have cup of milk with
his potatoes; aad when the table was
prepared. tho traveller placed himself
ut the table and ate and praised the
supper. When he had eaten and II
was time to go to bed. the wife whis-
pered TO her husband. that the poor
tired traveller might rest upon their
bed, for they had but one. The man
said with all my heart" and he beg
ged the stranger to lie down on their
bed and rest himself. The traveller
did not wish to take the poor peoples
bed, but they urged him so much
that at last he consented, and laid
himself down while the good people
slept on the straw upon the Il ,or
Tho next morning they got Up befor,
day, and prepared breakfast for theil
guest. When the sun shone Into the
windows and the traveller had got up
be ate again with them, and wished
to go on his journey. But rs be wa
standing at the door, he said TO them
@you have been so good and kind Il
me, that il you will wish three times
your wishes shall be granted.


Then the poor man said. @Wha
should I wish for, but eternal happi
ness. and that we two. as long as W,
live, may have our necessary dali.
bread. For the third wish, do no
know what to ask?"


The traveller said. @would you no
like a new house In exchange for you
old one?"


Tie man said, IF this could com
to pass, should like it," and imme
diately the wish was fulfilled, the oil
house was changed to a bsautifu
new one, and the traveller went o
his way.


When the rich man looked out c
his window in the morning, he saw


new house standing opposite, in plac
OF the old one. He rubbed his eye
called his wife and said, wife. loo
here, and see what has happened
yesterday morning there stood OF
posite a miserable hut, and now her


Is a new house-run over and find OF


what has happened"


The wife went to see the poe


neighbor, and asked her what


meant.


The poor woman told her that the
gave poor traveller a nights lode
ing. and that when he bade thel


good bye, he granted them thrt


wishes = eternal blessedness. the


daily bread. and new house for the


old one.


When the rich mans wife heal
y tLis, she ran back and told her hu


band, who said, Il could almost te;


my hair, I am so vexed with mysc
y L L