The Wishing Ring.

4arnier,> whose husbandry would wtrrightly prosper with him, sat on n ' B m* moment to rest and wipe the sweat mm ' Wow. Just then an old witch mathobbljng by, and cried out to him, "!%|seep toiling and moiling there to no piX'Take my word for it, and travel b|ffday? straight forward, till you come liigreaCpine tree that stands alone in the fesfimd overtops all other trees. When jmfell it your fortune is made. Si« farmer did not let himself be told fcrice, but took his axe on his shoulder and A pot. When he had travelled for two Is„found the pine. He proceeded at wetflfellit, and in the moment that it ipj Mows, and struck with force ijsiiMt the ground there fell out of its mat a nest with two eggs. The eggs •WbotOn the ground and broke, and 1*1136 came a young eagle, and from the jifatjejl a little gold ring. The eagle ieptgrowing larger i>nd larger till it was wit kali man's height: then it spread it. %aS Wit wished to try them, raised MaHttie above the ground, and cried : 11 fttave released me. Take forrecom- P»tbe ring that was in the other egg. »Bi_wisbing ring. When you turn it faetimeson your finger, and at the same faspronoonceawigh, it will be immedi «? fulfilled. But in the ring there is jfy Cringle wish. When that is spent it «Waufnrtber power, but and is like ring. Consider carefully, there- Mkt'you' desire, so that you may repent." With there Words it raised itself high into Nr, failad once or twice in great circles mm head of the farmer, and then Wliii a n m(iw towards the East. JJf fanner took the ring, placed it on his *$>f& set off on his way home. To- be reached a town. There ™™ttegoldsmith in his shop, and he had precious rings for sale. Then the Siwr'ehdWed him his ring, and asked what vm might "be. "It is paste !" replied W&mith. Then the farmer laughed J l ' and told him it was a wishing-ring, J 4 Wh inbre than all the other rings were in his fhop. But the puth faß l crafty, treacherous man. JIP the farmer to lodge with him for fWs\ laying: "To harbour a man J m jrith sqch a treasure, brings luck : S ; *Wi:_e! , '_ en tertained him in his with wine and smooth words, M?%. when" he was asleep, drew ffIPW **>& ring from his finger, and another quite ordinary ring. JiM? the, goldsmith could hardly WW Off impatience, 'till the' farmer JJ%.'He woke him in the very BfijWM; h°» r and said: "You lojf^" 4 king way before you, it is best .«moment the farmer was gone he went fcfiLlSfo Hf room, closed the shutters Lr;, Do ,one. could see in, bolted the IiJBUW himself in the middle of UjS"!™ ™c ring round on. his finger, h**A2 'J w i*b immediately a hundred 11 %|! '' " OW B P oke " the words, when it kjf dollars, hard bright dollars, m »h!°? r<jd from " the minfc > and the -W on head and shoulder tjj ijA began to cry out lamentably, wS'.WiWW the door, but before ho *os?!*s unbolt it he sank, bleeding VtflPiWy. ro the floor. But the mms still kept on, and soon the HflM w ay from tlie weight, and |S™|» together with his money, Then it kept on Hsa|!il ■" the hundred thousand was goldsmith lay dead in mdiß "P or > him the heap of gold. ™ u S hfct he neighbours hastening and when tbe y found tho 1 ! [lead under the money, iafSi/tw really a great ill luck MEpunc comes so thick." |i«St ,9^,ltime »- the farmer went ll^S"-^ 6 ' and showed bis wife the S Sill can W a nt for nothing, dear bt4 *R?« V our fQrtu ne is made. We ''Wittily to decide what we shall

But his wife had a good suggestion to make at once. " What do you think," she said, "if we were to wish ourselves some more land? We have really too little. There is a strip there that comes right be tween our fields. Let us wish for that."

" That were well worth the trouble," said the man. "If we work bard for a year, and have any luck, wo can perhaps buy it." Then man and wife laboured a year long with all their might, and at harvest time they had never had such abundance as at this season, so that they were able to buy the strip of land, and had still some money left. "You see," said the man, "we have the land, and the wish is still ours."

Then the wife thought it would perhaps be a good idea if they wished themselves another cow, and a horse at the same time. " Wife," said the man once more, while he rattled the money in his trousers pocket, '■' why should we part with our wish for such rubbish. The cow and the horse we will get the same way." And he was right; for after another year Che cow and the horse were richly earned. Then the man rubbed his hands with satis faction, and said, " Another year the wish spared, and yet everything got we wanted ! What luck we do have !" But the wife tried seriously to prevail on him to come at last to the wish.

"I know you no longer, "she said angrily. " You used to be forever groaning and com plaining, and wishing yourself all manner of impossible things, and now when you can have whatever you will, you keep on toiling and moiling, and let the fairest years slip past. King, emperor, count, a great stout farmer you could be, and have all trunks full of gold, and cannot make up your mind what to choose." "Have done with your eternal goading and driving," returned the farmer; "we are both still young, and life is long. One wish only is in the ring, and that is soon spent. Who knows what may yet befall us, when we shall need it. Are we then in want of anything ? Have we not so risen in the wo-ld since we have had the ring that everyone wonders. Therefore, be reason able. We can always be thinking in the meantime what we shall wish." With this the matter had for the time an end. And it realiy seemed as if with the ring a double blessing had come into the house; for barns and garners grew fuller from year to year ; and after a course of years, the little, poor farmer had become a great stout farmer, who all day long laboured %vith and directed his men as if he meant to earn the whole world, but after vespers sat contented and at his ease before his house-door. Bo passed year on year. Now and thep, when they were quite a one, the wife did indeed remind her husband of the ring, and made all sorts of proposals. But as he answered on each occasion that there wae Still plenty of time, and that the best thing always occurred to one last, she did so ever the more rarely; and so at last it hardly ever happened that the ring was spoken of. To be sure, the farmer himself turned it at least twenty times a clay on his finger, but he guarded himself, from at the same time expressing a wish. _ , And thirty and forty years went past, , and the farmer and his wife had become old and snow-white, but the wish was still unroa<le. Then God showed them a mercy, and let them both die peacefully in one night. Children and gandchildren stood around the two coffins and wept ; and when one of them would have taken off the ring to preserve it, the eldest son said : F "Let the father take his ring into the rrrave with him. It has had its secret with him # -hi* life long, -r Most likely it is a dear memorial, and,the mother looked at the rin" just as often.' After all it may be she gaveitto the fatherin their youngdays. So then the did farmer was buried with the ring that was supposed to be a wishing rin_ arid was none, and yet had brought as much good-fortune to the house as a man coulcf ever desire For it is always fltncult to decide what is reaily false and what is genuine, and a bad thing in gopd lmnds'is always a great deal better than a good thing in. bad hands,, ; . i (From the German.)

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, FRIDAI, DECEMBER 2, I§B7.

7



E. PORTER AND CO, Iron and Steel Merchants, Wholesale and Retail Ironmongers QUEEIST AND HIGH STEISETS, ____TD STZR____T. % AND CO. wish to draw attention to their large shipments to arrive, which, added to their already extensive jyjL stock of Hardware, they are in a position to execute any orders placed with them, and at the very LOWEST FRIGES. just landed per Zealand Now landing per s.s. Balcarres Brook from London. To arriv© per Acja Stott from To arrive per Canterbury from To arrive pp Deutsehland from fl?0m London. 500 casks Portland Cement lease Spring Balances, Water New York Via Lvttelton T ™A™ ™„, A„« New York, Via Wellington, 20 tons Fencing Wire ", Gauges, Steam Gauges, etc. " J* ™ ' London, 110W GAie. | oiO Camp Ovens and Covers „ 4 tons Galvanized Fencing Wire 1 cask Box Irons «00 cases Aurora Kerosene, 130' test Ij_b Leather Belting 2 casks Tube Fittings 1 cask Prison Locks • faucet nozzles 12 Artisan Ranges with/faucet nozzles 1 t Y om b Pillars 10 ° coi l s Galvanized Jiarb Wire 1 cask Powder Flasks, Shot Pouches 2 cases Axe Handles 6 jJ Kegister Stoves 4 cases TuDU,ar Hand Lam P s 1 else Wood Taps, Wood Spoons, etc. bundles ff * Hoop Iron and Belts 2 ca ses Pick Handles 1 cask Bricks for Ranges , (; cases S«n Chimneys 4 bars Yellow Metal 30 Hoop Iron 1 caskJßox and Till Locks 2 caSflg Ham Hft 10 Scythe Sfcones 8 12 cases Lanterns ,4) bars Copper drums Raw Linseed Oil 1 case Tucks Engine Packing Broom Handles * caw Cane Blinds JfT % M w S i 2 case Brass Cap Hooks, Screw Rings, 6 » drums Boiled Linseed Oil j case Glass Paper and Emery Cloth - cases Bioom Handles bale Pump Leather « Lilley Butter Workers Butts etc etc 6 casks Lmseed Oil 1 case Furniture Polish and Flour 1 case Eelucenfc 6 cagkg m fc p a „ g 2 cases Incandescent Lamps, Wick% ' " ' " Jo SST e . S iw ?»„,., 24 Novelty Wringers 140 kegs Genuine White Lead 0 _Sf a «ks Patent Shot 1 case Knife Polish 2 cases Claw Hammers 4 cases Enamelled Jaw Boxes 2 cases Apple|nd Peach Parera 400 kegs Wire Nails 1 case Brunswick and ? Berlin Black x L Reflectors 1 case Screw Augers and Brace Bits ? cases Ames LH. Shovels 20 drums Colza Oil 16 Cast Steel Truck Wheels I ;* m , -aenecwrs Grubbin-Adzes 1 case Calclum Burners lust landed per Margaret « d™»» Olive On 2 Cast Steel Spur Wheals J«W CoacJ, Wrenches J JJg ggjgß T cage T ifc E wheels JW 5 drums Rangoon Oil 4 Oak Diaphragm Churns 9 cases Champion Scales 94 Axlo fafa 2 cases Porcelain Knobs fifllbFaith from GlaSgOW. 10 ° cases Corrugated Iron 1 case Gauge Glasses 6 cases Enterprise Meat Choppers SO ingots Tin 30 cases S " ar P's Axes " ? ? oi , ,s ® olt ?°P. c • 9 ingots Patent Bronze 1S cases Glass Fruit Jars 2 calks Butt Hinges . ] g cases ? ar P\? 0 < T A f, S , \m bars Iron . J bale p l°?- h V*» .-, A T 1 case * fcahan hl s 0ar P et P !™ raS 40 boxes Puttnan Horse Nails I case Wood Screws and Cotter Pins l l cases Axe Pattern Hatchets 5 cases Galvanized Flat Sheet Iron 1 case Fittings for Thrashing Machine *v ooxesi ntman noise in ails 1 case Broad Axes "fSSrttSL Iron 3 billes ohalk Packin S 3 cases Gun Caps 3 ™scs Carnage Hardware • § SSS' « cases Rochester Lamps (new designs) SSaSm J ? -sks Minton's Tiles 1 case Gun W& 1 case Oil Stones f Traps j ad « e % JW* W 1 case Marble 1 case Cartridge Cases 2 cases Scythe Handles 1 bundle Mushet's Steel 3 cases Hay Fork Handles - ?CW fl^P Sausa ge 1 case Cartridges 6 caseg Bush Hookfi j bundle c Tubes ? cases Rake Handles ~~ o K , M l achln , es D .._.-_, * cas « Nai Pullers > Cutting Flyers, 3 w C] 6 cases Travelling Trunks ] T%i£ »iv* 1 2d kegs Pencil Point Fencing Staples Punches ° caseß vaier Uloset ha P er 71 coils' Manilla Rone P — ds ? Workers Umit Iflndinff «PP Waikato 40 kegs Steel Fencing Staples 1 bale Fish Lines 1 case Rubber Hose 1 12 Sack Trucks BBW iauui«_ " am — 20 kegs Galvanized Steel Fencing 1 bale Netting Twines 1 case Safety Razors 1 cask Lamp Founts and Collars from London. Staples 5 bundles Gum Spear Steel 1 case Enamelled Letters 1 bale Rubber Hose J case Asbestos Millboarcl 39 bundles Black's Spades 50 cases Turpentine Just landed DOT S S MariHOS* 1 package Wood Screws 1 case Brass and Bronzed Door Fur- 1 case Gum Adzes, Furze Hooks, 10 P1 ~ v vat iiuiuou jjoi s.b- m<u ipu_rt cases Curtis & Harvey's Sporting niture Hoes, etc., etc. j " backing Flianpiqro Powder 4 bales Brown Paper 1 case Pit and Cross-cut Saws ! case Padlocks llum «>d.ll rrailOlb.U. • w«„ aT > mi «i f„ nTn q v dn«i/ 9 bales Paper Hangings J2 Mangling M f hfnes 78 Cylinder Churns 5 bott|es Qulcksilver ManapOUn from Sydney 5 cases Carbons for Electric Light 5 cases Defnes Lamps 1 case Johnston Harvester Fittings 1 package Wind Mill Fittings 100 cases Castor Oil E. PORTER AND CO., -A-ItST-D I_^OJ_Tl^ColsrO'__Ql^S Queen and High Streets, Auckland, also at Newton, Newmarket, and Symonds Street.



Public Notices w £> £r v S * # <£" 3? & ■ Kf fy AO R. GRAY, The well-known Cheap Cash Draper QUEEN STREET, OPPOSITE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, Having purchased J. Gilmour's £6,600 Stock of Drapery and Clothing BO per cent. unde r Wholesale Cost, is now holding a o#\L- EZL. TERMS CASH. NO RESERVE. jnJ.l3.__As the premises in Newton are comparatively small, and the Stock very heavy, I have decided to place £2,000 worth of it in my Queen Street premises where there is ample room and every accommodation or public inspection, so that the Sale will be carried on in both places, an 4 thus accommodate everybody. By Order Cheap Cash Draper, opposite Bank of New Zealand. Si Aty V



Business Notices. T~**~**~*"-""Mf"—»"—^M—M»—^—■—«^M—«■—■—^P—^*—■ J|) ..1 111 ['j 1. . 1.1 II j . —i ——jy^ ■—■ —-——i—y_M^———— ~—■ 8 | ~ j(o PIANOS and the MREJYSJEM +Q^ \ on^ & American makers I for prompt cash paid at the manu "'' su ftfly High Ciass Instruments



Saddlers and Harnessmakcrs. mENNIS I Resting and fe>^^ Repaired A lar *« and superiqr assortment of Ladies' . <rt*i and Gent 3' SADDLERY. 165, QUEEN STREET. F. HILL, Saddler, 175, Queen-st. \JT» (next British Hotel), begs to anoQunco to his friends that he has opened up a' splendid and well-assorted Stoi;fc which he will offer at greatly Reduced Prices, to meet the times. Gents.' Saddles, complete with mounts, from ; 40s to £7 10s; Ladies' Saddles, complete with mounts, from 70s to £12 12s; Buggy Harness, I from £6 to. £12; Spring Cart Harness, from £6 5s jto £10; Cart Harness, from £4 lQs to £10 Plough Harness, single sot, from 37s 6d to £2 2a: Cart Collars, all sizes, from 16s 6d to' £I;. Piped Col lar, from 18s to £1 ss; Pack Saddles,'strong and serviceable, with strong leather flaps and heavy strapping, rawhide seats, from £2 17s 6d to £4 10s, A large assortmentoif Bridles, Whips, Spurs, Leggings, Bags, Horse-Covers, &c.,'&c., at equally low prices. • 1 -•. REPAIRS Neatly and Promptly Executed, at the lowest possible rates. N.B.—Full allowance given for Socond-hMA Harness taken in Exchange. THE Best Gift for Home friends is Brett's Auckland Almanac, containing a * Pictorjal Representation of Queen-street, De scription of the Provincial DietrioV New Guide to Hot Lake, &c„ Sea,



Insurance •VTEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COM J3| PANY (FIRE AND MARINE). Capita 1................ ...fil.OOO.OOf). Paid-up and Reserve Funda .£435,000 Protection from FIRE or MARINE L 033 Can be Effected in this Company. CLAIMS MET WITH PROMPTITUDE AND LIBERALITY. j •;,;,,-, JAMES #UTTLE. Manager. lew- 'York Life INSURANCE COMPANY. Caeb Ist January, I§S7 .. £15,518,817 Income for 1886 .. .. .. £3,956,874 Ijoqal Director C. C. MoM. i hx. ax, Esq. (Messrs W. McArthur & Co.) Soltcitprs: Kcsarg Russuer.- & Campbell. Bankers: Bank of Australasia. Policies Issued &uarantoelng the return of all Premiums in addition to the sum insured if dqathoeourwltfcln a twenty-year period. J. fiufiO WARRQP, Resident Agent. THE fviMfe hQ-UW'te endangered by per eem !WW T«W'*wnWwi6 of Woi*_'s awHAPPS, •'■-■ ■■■": ;M' : d :' ''



Educational. MISS LILIAN EDGER7M.A. (latefirst assistant in the Girls' High School, j Christchurch), intends to open a Select School i for Girls in Ponsonby after the Christmas vaca tion. All tho branches of a thorough English, education will be taught. Special Classes will also be arranged for any who may desire to pre pare for the Matricu'atlon or Junior Scholarship Examinations in the New Zealand University. ■ Only a limited number of pupils can bo received. ; Address : Care ' Mrs Judson, Arthur-street, i Ponsonby. MR HU M PHREYS; Cambridge, Solicitor, Receives a few Pupils for the Legal, University, - '-' or Scholarship Examinations; 25, Coomises's Arcade, Auckland. T&T. R & O S W A L T» jJ/JL Gives Lessons in Elocution, 12 to 2, ati ! Mcars't. •Entertainments given and attended* I Terms in advance. 1 Adrtresa-fChamptaloup and Cooper, Queen* Strept. ' BOARDING. AND DAY SCHOOL. FOB j YOUNG LADIES AND LITTLE BOYS, .Qxshukga, Conducted by General and Mrs STODDARD. Education thorough and high class. Religidus'and Moral-Training, Cleanliness, Manners, and Good Food well attended to. , Terms on application. Half Term begins November Ist. . TECHNICAL EDUCATION. —Instruct r«n in Geometry and Mechanical Draw- I ing.—VV. E. Burrows, Hill's Chambers, Queen« street. m TTI7"EDDING CABBS.-Latest) Style aH T f the Star Lithographic Works, Short*l land-street; Auckland. '