THE THREE WISHES

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 8

THE THREE WISHES

A fiMB-MWT TALE Every country has its own folklore tales—stories that far generation after generation are told by fathers and mothers to their little ones. With the passing of the years the stones change in minor details, but the main part o| the tale remains the same- Often we find the same story-idea in ail countries of the world, each country having its own version. There is no doubt that the story has spread from one nation to another, the various changes being made to adapt it to local conditions. One of the most world-wide storyideas is that of the man who had three magic wishes. Perhaps you have heard, many of them, but here is that of Sicily, the island in the Mediterranean. There was once an orphan named Pero, who set out at the age of 14 to make his fortune. On his way he met a poor man, who begged him for money to buy food. Pero was a kind-hearted lad, and he readily gave the starving man all the money he had. The beggar was really a magician ia disguise, and upon seeing what a goody kind-hearted lad Pero was ho told him that ho could have three magic wishes. Pero thought hard for a moment* then wished for a violin that would make everyone dance, a gun that could never miss, and the gift of speech sw that no one could refuse Mm anything. The magician granted Pero his wishes, and off he went. Soon he came to a faun, and seeing a pheasant flying overhead he tested ms magic gun, but before Pero could pith it up the farmer; appeared on the scene and churned the bird.

“ You con have it if you like to danoo for it,’’ said Pero, Striking up-* merry tune on his violin. To and fro capered the fat farmer till he wag quite out of breath. Ho wanted to stop, bob Perojj with a smile, fiddled on, and forth* life of him the poor man opnld eb nought Jrat dance.

“Stop, stop,” he begged, “ and I’U give you a thousand crowns.”

Pero took the money, but aa toon as Ms hack was turned the fanner ran to the magistrate and denounced Pero as a thief. Pero was arrested, tried, and found guilty. There was little mercy shown to thieves in Sicily in those days', as the hills contained whole bands of brigands, and the police were at their wits’ ends. Pero was condemned to bo hung, hut as the hangman placed the rope around his neck Pero asked, as a last favour, to be allowed to play one tune on his violin.

“ Don’t let him have the violin,” screamed the farmer, who was present.: But Pero’s gift of magio speech had done ita work, and the magistrate found himself granting his wish. Pero played on his violin, and soon the magistrate, the farmer, the police, and all the onlookers were dancing like dervishes. They danced till they were red in the face, till their boots were worn out and the soles flew off. Still pero played on. At last the magistrate promised Pero he could go free if lie would only stop playing. Our hero then came down, from the scaffold, picked up Ms gun,his thousand crowns, and his violin, and returned to his native, village. There, having the gilt of speech, ho wen the hand of the prettiest gwl in. marriage, and lived happily ever alter.