GOOD GIFTS AND A FOOL’S FOLLY

“TI know,” said he, ‘what has happened to you. If I
were wise I should let you alone in your folly ; but once
more I will have pity on you and will help you, only this
time it shall be the last.” Once more he led the way to
the stone room, where were the iron candlestick and the
magic carpet, and with him he took a good stout cudgel.
. He stood the candlestick in the middle of the room, and
taking three candles from his pouch, thust one into each
branch. Then he struck a light, and lit the first candle.
Instantly there appeared a little old man, clad in a long
white robe, who began dancing and spinning around and
around like a top. He lit the second candle, and a second
old man appeared, and round and round he went, spinning
like his brother. He lit the third candle, and a third old
man appeared. Around and around and around they spun
and whirled, until the head spun and whirled to look at
them. Then the old greybeard gripped the cudgel in his
hand. ‘Are you ready?” he asked.

“We are ready, and waiting,” answered the three.
Thereupon, without another word, the greybeard fetched
each of the dancers a blow upon the head with might and
main—One! two! three! Crack! crash! jingle!

Lo and behold! Instead of the three dancing men,
there lay three great heaps of gold upon the floor, and the
spendthrift stood staring like an owl. ‘ There,” said the
old man, “take what you want, and then go your way,
and trouble me no more.”

“ Well,” said the spendthrift, “ of all the wonders that
ever I saw, this is the most wonderful! But how am I
to carry my gold away with me, seeing I did not fetch my
basket ?” ;

“You shall have a basket,” said the old man, “if only

Iog