For The Children

One evening in winter, a man and Iris wii'e seatedby their fire, were conversingabout the happiness of their richer neighbors. "Oh, if 1 were able to have all I wished, I'd soon be happier than all these people," said the wife. "And 1, also," said the husband. "1 wish I had Lived in the time of the friries, and that one would'give me all I wished for," At that moment they saw in their room a beautiful lady. "l'm a fairy," Said she. "I prómiee togjve you three things; but take care. after liaving wished for thi s 'liiiars. i can give you nothing more,' The fairy disappeared ; tlie man and Iiis wife were much embarrassed. "For myself," said the wife, "I know well wliat I will wish. I do not wish vet wish it; but I think there is nothing so good as to be beautiful and rich." "J3ut," said her husband, "witb that, one may be sick and die young. Wish for health and long life." "And of what use is a long life if one is poor," said his wife. "That only helps to make one unhappy a longer time. In truth tlie good fairy should have promised to give us a dozen gifts ; for there are, at least, a dozen things which we need." "That is true," said the husband. "But let us take time and consider until to-morrow morning the three things which are the most necessary for us." "I wish to think all night," said she. "In the meantime let us warm ourselves, for it is cold." Then the woman took the tongs and stirred the fire; and as she saw she had much charcoal well-lighted, she said, without thinking: "See the good fire! I wish I had a yard of black-pudding for our supper! Wecould easily cook it." Ilardly liad she said these words when tlierc feil a yard of pudding down the cliimney. "A pest upon the gourmand with her pudding!" said the hasband. "Behold what a beautiful wish! As for myself, I am so angry that I wish that you had the pudding on the end of your nose I" In a moment he perceived that he had been still more i'oolish than his wife. Por at this second wish the pudding leaped to the end of the nose of the poor woman, who could not pull it off. "How unhappy I am?" eried she. "You are wicked to wisli this pudding on the end of niy nose." "I asante you, my dear wife, that I did not think of it," replied her busband. "But whatshall we do? I will wish for great riches, and I will make you a golden case to hide the pudding." "Oii, ik I" replied slie. "I will kill myself if it is necfssary to live with 'here remaáüs o us one more wish. et me have it, or 1 will throw myself 'rom the window." "Stop, my dear wife ; I give you perïission to wish what you will." "Ah w 11, then I wish this pudding hould fall to the ground !" It feil ; and she said to her husband : L see the fairy has mocked us, and she ad reason to. Perhapa if we had ches we should be more unhappy lan we are at present. Let us sup pon our pudding, since it is all that emains of our wishes." The husband thuught that his wife was right ; and they ate gaily, without roubling themselves more about the .rings they had reeant to have wished 01-