Year: 1873

w mo piooSu lUi tnOmeut as ne
whipped his brow, when an old witch crept
up to him and said, "Why do you toll so
bard. and all for nothingY Walk straight
before you for two days and you will
come to large fr-tree, which stands
alone, towering over all the other trees
OF the forest. If you can but fell it, your
fortune is made"


The farmer did not wait to be told
twice, but, taking his axe on his should
er, started on his way After walking
two days, he came to the fir tree, and i'm.
medlately set to work to fell it, Soon it
toppled and crashed to the earth. when
from the top branches dropped nest
containing two eggs. The eggs rolled on
the ground and broke as they broke,
iorth came young eaglet from one and
a small golden ring from the other. The
eaglet grew visibly, till it reached half
the height of a man, shook its wings, as
1t to try them, raised itself from the
ground, and then cried You have re
leased me as token of my gratitude,
take the ring the other egg contained
1t is wishing ring. Turn it on your
hnger, speak your wish aloud. and it will
immediately be granted. But the ring
has only Que wish when that is accom-.
plished, it will lose all power and become
no more than any other ring. There
lore, reflect well on what you wish for,
SO that you may not have to repent af.
terwards"


Having so spoken, the eagle rose high
into the air, swept for some time in wide
circles over the farmers head, and then,
like an arrow from bow, shot swiftly
towards the east. The farmer took the
ring, put it on his finger, aud started
homeward Towards evening he reach
ed town. At the door of his shop a
goldsmith stood who had many valuable
rings for sale. The farmer showed him
his ring, and asked him what was about
the value of it.


Mere trumpery," answered the gold
smith The farmer laughed hearthily,
telling the man it was a wishing ring
and of more value than all the rings in
his shop put together Now the gold
smith was false, designing man, so he
invited the farmer to stay all night at his
house, saying: 1T must bring one good
luck to entertain a man who is the pos
SCISSOR of such precious jewel. so pray
remain with me" He accordingly en-
tertained him well with plenty of wine
and civil words, but when he went to
sleep at night, he drew his ring stealthily
from his finger, and put on it instead a
common ring quite like it in appearance.
The next morning the goldsmith could
hardly wait with any degree of patience,
till the farmer had taken his departure.
He awoke him in the early dawn, saying:
You have so far to 60. you had better
start early" As soon as the farmer was
safe on his journey, the goldsmith went
into his room, and having shut the shut
ters that no one might see. he bolted him
self ia, and standing in the middle Of the
room, and turning the riug on his finger,
exclaimed:


81 wish to have hundred thousand
silver crowns immediately ~


Hardly were the words spoken, when
bright five shilling pieces began to rain
down from the ceiling shining silver
crowns bounced down so fast and hard,
that at last they began to beat him un
mercifully about the head aud shoulder
and arms. Calling piteously y for help, he
tried to rush to the door, but before he
could reach it he fell bleeding to the
ground Still the rain of silver crowns
did not cease, and soon, under the weight
of it, the flooring gave way, and the un
fortunate goldsmith and his money fell
down into deep cellar. And still it
rained on till the hundred thousands
crowns were completed, and tbeu the
goldsmith lay dead in his cellar, with the
mass of money upon him. Attracted at
last by the noise, the neighbors rushed
to the spot and, on fud:ug the goldsmith
dead under his money, exclaimed, at
really is great misfortune, when bless
ings rain down like cudgels." Then the
heirs came and divided the spoils.


Meantime the farmer went happily
home, and showed the ring to his vile.


ave shall now never want for any
tSipg, dear wife," he said, "our fortune
is made But we must consider well
what we must wish for"


The wife had bright idea ready at
hand


nI.et us wish ourselves some more lane" !"
said she 1--WE have SO little There is
Just nice strip which stretches into our
field. Let US wish for that. =


"That would never be worth while,
replied the husband "we have only to
work well for year, and have moderate
share of good luck, and we can buy it for
ourselves"


And the man and wife worked hard
for whole year, and the harvest bad
never been SO plentiful as that Autumn,
SO they were not only able to buy the
strip of land, but had money to spare


"You see," said the husband, "the
land is ours add the wish too"


IT,. IL ennh unman fhnnoht Ii HOnld