Part 17 (1/2)

The three students fell to work scratching and digging where the ball had fallen, and by-and-by they found so in the lid It took all three of theround, and when they did so they found it was full to the brim of silver money

Were they happy? Well, they were happy! They danced around and around the chest, for they had never seen so much money in all their lives before ”Brothers,” said Joseph, in exultation, ”here is enough for all hands, and it shall be share and share alike with us, for haven't we studied seven long years together?” And so for a while they were as happy as happy could be

But by-and-by a flock of second thoughts began to buzz in the heads of John and Jacob Stuck ”Why,” said they, ”as for that, to be sure, a chest of silverfor three students to find who had nothing better than book-learning to help the better even than silver money out in the orld?” So, after all, and in spite of the chest of silveron to try their fortunes a little farther And as for Joseph, why, after all, when he came to think of it, he was not sorry to have his chest of silver money all to himself

So the two travelled on and on for a while, here and there and everywhere, until at last it was John's ball that slipped out of his fingers and fell to the ground They digged where it fell, and this tiold old old money! They just stood and stared and stared, for if they had not seen it they would not have believed that such a thing could have been in the world ”Well, Jacob Stuck,” said John, ”it ell to travel a bit farther than poor Joseph did, was it not? What is a chest of silver h to make us both rich for all the rest of our lives We need look for nothing better than this”

But no; by-and-by Jacob Stuck began to cool down again, and now that second thoughts were co to him he would not even be satisfied with a half-share of a chest of goldbetter than even a chest full of gold money to be found in the world

As for John, why, after all, he was just as well satisfied to keep his treasure for hied away alone, leaving John stuffing his pockets and his hat full of gold money, and I should have liked to have been there, to have had ed on and on by hireat, wide desert, where there was not a blade or a stick to be seen far or near He jogged on and on, and he wished he had not colass ball he carried slipped out of his fingers and fell to the ground

”Aha!” said he to hireat treasure co at all”

He digged down into the barren earth of the desert; and he digged and he digged, but neither silver nor gold did he find He digged and digged; and by-and-by, at last, he did find so that looked like a piece of blue glass not a big bigger than my thumb ”Is that all?” said Jacob Stuck ”And have I travelled all this weary way and into the blinding desert only for this?

Have I passed by silver and gold enough to make lass?”

Jacob Stuck did not knohat he had found I shall tell you what it was It was a solid piece of good luck without flaw or blemish, and it was almost the only piece I ever heard tell of Yes; that hat it was--a solid piece of good luck; and as for Jacob Stuck, why, he was not the first in the world by ood luck when they have found it Yes; it looked just like a piece of blue glass no bigger thanelse

”Is that all?” said Jacob Stuck ”And have I travelled all this weary way and into the blinding desert only for this? Have I passed by silver and gold enough to make lass?”

He looked at the bit of glass, and he turned it over and over in his hand It was covered with dirt Jacob Stuck blew his breath upon it, and rubbed it with his thu! s burst at Jacob Stuck's feet he could not have been lass with his thumb than with a noise like a clap of thunder there instantly stood before hi man, dressed in clothes as red as a flame, and with eyes that shone sparks of fire It was the Genie of Good Luck It nearly knocked Jacob Stuck off his feet to see him there so suddenly

”What will you have?” said the Genie ”I aood luck

Whosoever holds that piece of crystal in his hand him must I obey in whatsoever he may command”

”Do you mean that you are my servant and that I am your master?” said Jacob Stuck

”Yes; command and I obey”

”Why, then,” said Jacob Stuck, ”I would like you to help me out of this desert place, if you can do so, for it is a poor spot for any Christian soul to be”

”To hear is to obey,” said the Genie, and, before Jacob Stuck knehat had happened to hih the air swifter than the wind On and on he flew, and the earth seemed to slide away beneath On and on flew the flareat meadohere there was a river Beyond the river were the white walls and grand houses of the king's town

”Hast thou any further commands?” said the Genie

”Tell me what you can do for me?” said Jacob Stuck

”I can do whatsoever thou mayest order me to do,” said the Genie

”Well, then,” said Jacob Stuck, ”I think first of all I would like to have plenty of money to spend”

”To hear is to obey,” said the Genie, and, as he spoke, he reached up into the air and picked out a purse fro at all ”Here,” said he, ”is the purse of fortune; take from it all that thou needest and yet it will always be full As long as thou hast it thou shalt never be lacking riches”