Part 10 (1/2)

”That,” said the Fisherman, ”I do not know”

”And what is this story about?” asked St George

”Tis,” said the Fisherround”

”And is that all?” said the Soldier who cheated the Devil

”Nay,” said the Fishers in the hole--a bowl of treasure, an earthen-ware jar, and a pair of candlesticks”

”And what do you call your story,” said St George

”Why,” said the Fisherman, ”for lack of a better name I will call it--”

Good Gifts and a Fool's Folly

Give a fool heaven and earth, and all the stars, and he will make ducks and drakes of them

Once upon a ti saving, had laid by a fortune great enough to buy ease and comfort and pleasure for a lifetime

By-and-by he died, and the money came to his son, as of a different sort froained by the labor of a whole year, the other spent in riotous living in one week

So it ca le penny to bless himself withal Then his fair-weather friends left him, and the creditors caoods, and turned hiht with the other fools who lived there

Now the young spendthrift was a strong, stout fellow, and, seeing nothing better to do, he sold his fine clothes and bought him a porter's basket, and went and sat in the corner of the market-place to hire himself out to carry this or that for folk ere better off in the world, and less foolish than he

There he sat, all day long, fro, but nobody ca, there ca down below his waist He stopped in front of the foolish spendthrift, and stood looking at hi to be satisfied, he beckoned with his finger to the young man ”Come,” said he, ”I have a task for you to do, and if you are wise, and keep a still tongue in your head, I will pay you as never a porter was paid before”

Youto such a matter Up he rose, and took his basket, and followed the old man, who led the way up one street and down another, until at last they came to a rickety, ra man had never been before Here the old man stopped and knocked at the door, which was instantly opened, as though of itself, and then he entered with the young spendthrift at his heels The two passed through a dark passage-way, and another door, and then, lo and behold! all was changed; for they had co man would not have believed could be in such a house, had he not seen it with his own eyes Thousands of waxen tapers lit the place as bright as day--a great oval rooe figures, and hung with tapestries of silks and satins and gold and silver The ceiling was painted to represent the sky, through which flew beautiful birds and winged figures so life-like that no one could tell that they were only painted, and not real At the farther side of the room were two richly cushi+oned couches, and thither the old , wonder-struck, and there the two sat theether, and, in answer, ten younga feast of rare fruits and wines which they spread before the, fell to and ate as he had not eaten for many a day

The old man, who himself ate but little, waited patiently for the other to end ”Now,” said he, as soon as the young man could eat no more, ”you have feasted and you have drunk; it is time for us to work”

Thereupon he rose froh an arch door-way into a garden, in the centre of which was an open space paved hite ed and worn, spread out upon the s a word, the old man seated himself upon one end of this carpet, and motioned to the spendthrift to seat himself with his basket at the other end; then--

”Are you ready?” said the oldman, ”I am”

”Then, by the horn of Jacob,” said the old man, ”I command thee, O Carpet! to bear us over hill and valley, over lake and river, to that spot whither I wish to go” Hardly had the words left his mouth when away flew the carpet, swifter than the swiftest wind, carrying the old ht therass to be seen far or near Then it descended to where there was a circle of sand as smooth as a floor

The oldat his side a box, and from the box some sticks of sandal and spice woods, hich he built a little fire Next he drew froray powder upon the blaze

Instantly there leaped up a great flah in the air, and there spread out until it hid everything froan to mutter spells, and in answer the earth shook and quaked, and a ruave a loud cry, and instantly the earth split open, and there the young spendthrift saw a trap-door of iron, in which was an iron ring to lift it by

”Look!” said the old ht you; lift for me that trap-door of iron, for it is too heavy for me to raise, and I will pay you well”