A TRULY WIZARD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 43, 25 October 1890, Page 19

A TRULY WIZARD.

It all began with Tommy’s being taken by I'nclc Jack to Signor Blitz's matinee. x.

The very next day the nursery was turned into a hall, with Margie’s half dozen dollies seated in a staring row, and places of honour reserved for Margie herself, for mamma, brother Hal, Bertha, the nurse-maid —anybody, in fact, who would Ire so kind as,to watch Tommy play at ‘ wizard.' Tommy's rosy face wore a very solemn expression, as it rose behind the little table which he had draped with a black cloth, and furnished with a mysterious collection of balls, rings and handkerchiefs collected from all paits of the house, not to mention Margie’s canton-flannel rabbit and his own pretty stuffed canary. Ami Tommy’s performances were so remarkable ami unexpected that it was no wonder that mamma whispered quite loud enough to be heard upon the stage that ‘it actually made her feel creepy to have a real wizard in the house. ’ But the most exciting time must come to an end, and Tommy at length grew tired, and went to one of the rear windows overlooking the alley, and watched old Gottlieb, the wood-sawyer, hard at work on a great pile of logs which Tommy’s papa had ordered cut into lengths for the library fire. The old man’s face was thin and wrinkled, his hair was quite white, and his back crooked with long bending over his work. He could not swing the saw so rapidly as once, but he woiked unsteadily and patiently, only stopping occasionally to take breath, and to pass his brown hand across his hot forehead. Gottlieb and his little grand-daughter Gretchen lived all by themselves in a small room in one of the tall tenementhouses. where Tommy’s minima went sometimes to visit her poor people. Tommy had once been there with her when Gretchen was ill. Just behind Gottlieb, in a corner of the wood pile, was his little brown-covered dinner-basket. Tommy had so often watched Gottlieb at his luncheon that he could easily guess what was in it—a great piece of black bread, of that he was sure, but nothing more except a morsel of cheese, or a small bit of dried meat. ‘ If I was a truly wizard,’ said Tommy softly to himself, ‘I know what I would do.' I would Change that dry stull in Gottlieb’s basket itito the nicest dinner that ever was cooked !’ Away downstairs he Hew to Martha the cook, who was busily baking gingerbread hearts in a delicious atmosphere of spiciness. Martha was fond of Tommy, because he was respectful, and never * bothered,’ so she listened quite willingly to something which he whispeied in her ear. Five minutes later, Tommy had slipped through the entry door, crept up behind old Gottlieb, who, what with the noise of his saw and his own deafness, would hardly have heard the tramp olf a regiment of soldiers, and, snatching up the brown basket, disappeared inside the house. In the kitchen, all was hurry and excitement, for suppose —only suppose that Gottlieb should miss the basket. The half loaf of black bread tumbled on the floor, unheeded by anybody except Carlo, the dog, who sniffed at it a moment, and turned away in disdain to his place by the fire. Ham sandwiches, buttered rolls, gingerbread, a lovely frosted cake, and a great, rosy apple ! surely nobody but a ‘truly’ wizard could have packed so much in so small a space! 11 The basket was safely replaced, and not a moment too soon, for just as thte log which Gottlieb was sawing, fell into two parts, the clock in the church-tower struck twelve, and the old man laid down his saw with a little sigh of relief. When he had made a seat for himself upon a block of wood, he set the basket on his knees, bowing his head, a moment, before opening it. Meanwhile, Tommy had flown to bring mamma to the nursery-window, while Martha peered cautiously through a half-closed shutter. Gottlieb lifted the lid. His jaw dropped in surprise, ami his old face turned pale. Tommy squeezed his mamma’s hand with all his strength to keep himself from shrieking aloud in his delight. The colour came back to Gottlieb’s cheeks, and, raising his eyes, he gazed searchingly at every door and window. There was no one at all to be seen, for Tommy and his mamma had hidden behind the curtain. Then a lovely smile overspread the old man’s face. He took off his shabby cap, and while the wind fluttered the thin, white hair on his forehead, he looked up toward heaven with moving lips. But Gottlieb ate only the sandwiches, one of the rolls, and the smallest piece of gingerbread. All the rest he put carefully back into the basket. ‘ He is.saving the best for Gretchen !’ whispered Tommy the wizard. Mary A. P. Stansbury.