TWILIGHT LAND

Inside of the iron ring were written these words:
_ “Whosoever wears me, shall have that which few men
care for—and that is the way it is with wisdom in. our
town.”

“Well,” said Selim the Baker, and he slipped the gold
ring of good luck on his finger, ‘I have driven a good
bargain, and you have paid for your loaf of bread.”

“But what will you do with the other ring?” said
Selim the Fisherman.

““Oh, you may have that,” said Selim the Baker.

Well, that evening, as Selim the Baker sat in front of.
his shop in the twilight smoking a pipe of tobacco, the
ring he wore began to work. Up came a little old man
with a white beard, and he was dressed all in grey from
top to toe, and he wore a black velvet cap, and he carried
a long staff in his hand. He stopped in front of Selim
the Baker, and stood looking at him a long, long time.
At last—‘“Is your name Selim ?” said he.

“Yes,” said Selim the Baker, “ it is.”

“And do you wear a gold ring with a red stone on
yout finger ?”

“Yes,” said Selim, ‘I do.”

“Then come with me,” said the little old man, “and I
will show you the wonder of the world.”

“Well,” said Selim the Baker, “ that will be worth the
seeing, at any rate.” So he emptied out his pipe of
tobacco, and put on his hat and followed the way the old
man led.

Up one street they went, and down another, and here
and there through alleys. and byways where Selim had
never been before. At last they came to where a high
wall ran along the narrow street, with a garden behind it,

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