FOR YOUNG FOLK

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10890, 18 July 1928, Page 7

FOR YOUNG FOLK

THE MISER’S STREAM There one© lived a. man whose only thought was liow lio might make money. Not that he wanted it for clothes or food, for lie did not trouble about .these* things, but at night lie loved to fetch Iris money bags and listen to the jingle of the ooints as lie emptied them. Now, his neighbour was a merry man. Ho did not care* for money as * long as lie had enough to eat and something over lor tiicse* who had not as much as he. He spent the days down by the* stream that ran through iris garden, with his fishing rod. and lie would chuckle* as he brought up fine, large salmon; and, when he had, caught enough for the day, ho would talk with the children who* played on the bank. The miser watched him from liis window and thought how foolish lie was, for with such wonderful fish in the stream lie could make a lot of money. So, after much think mg', lie made his* neighbour an offer of a thousand pounds for the stream. lint his neighbour was anmzca. “It is not worth it!” lie cried. “Never mind. I will give it to you,” said the miser; and the deal was settled. Then, immediately, the miser built

a brick wall around the stream to keep out the children, and, taking liis rod. he went to, fish. But, to his dismay, not one fish did he see. “It must be the wind!” he cried. “1 will wait x£l to-morrow.” The next day the summer breeze which had been, playing in among the willows dropped, and the sun shone, brightly. And again tlie miser cast his line ; yet he caught no fish. “It is my misfortune to fish upon a sunny day!” he cried “For the sun dazzles the fish and, they cannot see my bait. 1 will try tomorrow.” The next day the sun hid behind a bank of clouds.

“A storm is brewing!” grumbled the miser, “No fish will rise to-day.” But every day, whatever the weather, the miser fished in' vain; and so angered was he that he sought out his neighbour. “You have robbed me,” he cried. “A thousand golden coins I paid to you for your stream., but not a single fish have I ©aught.” “Nay, the price was your own,” said the man, “and there were hsh in plenty when the stream was mine. But I will come with you.”

Outside the brick wall the neighbour stopped. for there were the children he loved so well, crying. “Let the children,,, through,” , s aid the neighbour. “They will disturb the fish,” grumbled the miser; but he did as he was bid. Then they cast their line®, amid the laughter of the children aiid the swaying of the willows, and, to the miser’s surprise, the fisli res© rapidly. “Why, how is this?” cried he. “It’s" "just sharing your good, fortune,” answered the neighbour. “And that is tlie secret of all tlie happiness in the world. Pull down your wall and let the children play again on the hank, and you will have no fault to find with yur fisli.” RIDDLES. Why is an ocean restless ?—Because it has so many rocks in its bed. Wli.at is it ton can put into a cup but cannot take out ?—A ©rack. What can you lose, hue never find ? —Time. Why is a bad-tempered person like a good hunter?—Because he easily takes offence fa fence). Why does summer go so quickly ? —Because there is often an evening mist (missed). Why is it difficult to steal a watch?—Because it must be taken off its guard. Why is a ship never lonely ?—Because it always has a mate and never lacks a. companion. Why cannot a king cal! his time his own? —Because it is made up of hours (ours). What is it that has ears, but, yet never hears?—A .stalk of corn. Why are the tides like night and day?—Because they come and go. What is it that walks along the highways with its heatl downward ? A nail in a shoe.