12 History of Gutta-Percha Wiltte.

 

of possessing such wonderful virtue. By means of
it, he was able to do anything he wished, without
the least trouble; and so, upon a trial of skill,
appointed by a certain king, in order to find out
which of the craftsmen of his realm was fittest to
aid him in ruling it, he found it easy to surpass
every one of them, each in his own trade. He
produced a richer damask than any of the silk-
weavers; a finer linen than any of the linen-
weavers; a more complicated as well as ornate
cabinet, with more drawers and quaint hiding-
places, than any of the cabinet-makers; a sword-
blade more cunningly damasked, and a hilt more
gorgeously jewelled, than any of the sword-makers ;
a ring set with stones more precious, more brilliant
in colour, and more beautifully’ combined, than
any of the jewellers: in short, as I say, without
knowing a single device of one of the arts in
question, he surpassed every one of the competitors
in his own craft, won the favour of the king and
the office he wished to confer, and, if I remember
rightly, gained at length the king’s daughter to boot.

For a long time Willie had not uttered a single
exclamation, and when the old woman looked up,
fancying he must be asleep, she saw, to her dis-
appointment, a cloud upon his face—amounting to
a frown.

“What’s the matter with you, Willie, my chick ?”
she asked. ‘“ Have you got a headache ?”