TWILIGHT LAND

““T want some help,” said the spendthrift ; and then he
told him all, and the old man listened and stroked his beard.

ut By rights,” said he, when the young man had ended,
“T should leave you alone in your folly; for it is plain to
see that nothing can cure you of it. Nevertheless, as you
helped me once, and as I have more than I shall need, I
will share what J have with you. Come in and shut the
door.”

He led the way, the spendthrift following, to a little
room all of bare stone, and in which were only three
things—the magic carpet, the iron candlestick, and the
earthen jar. This last the old man gave to the foolish
spendthrift. “ My friend,” said he, “when you chose
the money and jewels that day in the cavern, you chose
the less for the greater. Here is a treasure that an em-
peror might well envy you. Whatever you wish for you
will find by dipping your hand into the jar. Now go your
way, and let what has happened cure you of your folly.”

“It shall,” cried the young man; “ never again will I
be so foolish as Ihave been!” And thereupon he went
his way with another pocketful of good resolves.

The first thing he did when he reached home was to
try the virtue of his jar. ‘TI should like,” said he, ‘to
have a handful of just such treasure as I brought from the
cavern over yonder.” He dipped his hand into the jar,
and when he brought it out again it was brimful of shin-
ing,. gleaming, sparkling jewels. You can guess how he
felt when he saw them.

Well, this time a whole year went by, during which the
young man lived as soberly as a judge. But at the end
of the twelvemonth he was so sick of wisdom that he
loathed it as one loathes bitter drink. Then by little and

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