  A funny little Wish-Man came out of the Somewhere here, (You really should have seen him, he looked so wondrous queer); He had a pack upon his back, stuffed full as full could be, Of wishes for the boys and girls—those living near to me. He said he’d indirectly heard—he couldn’t tell just where,— That in the town of Discontent were many dwelling there, Who wished for this and wished for that (it really was too bad), It made but little difference what, long’s ’t wasn’t what they had! Accordingly, he stuffed his pack (and tied around a band), With every single kind of wish now found within the land, And fared he forth from house to house, to please the people all, And dealt out every kind of wish for which he had a call. To one ’twas wealth—a sordid wish; another called for joy; One asked for ease; one beauty took—a worthless sort of toy! And so he gave them this and that, and all seemed happy quite, For which the Wish-Man naturally took very keen delight. But when a stranger passed the town of Discontent, he saw (’Twas just a short time after this) what filled him quite with awe; No merry whistle, smile nor laugh could be perceived at all,— What dire disaster could have brought upon the town this pall! He called upon a wealthy youth, who said, “I’m all at sea,— What stocks to buy, how to invest—it almost crazes me! Before a rich man I became, I had all sorts of fun, But since my wish, a moment’s joy I haven’t had, not one!” And thus ’twas so all through the town. Each testified the same; Not one was half so happy as before the Wish-Man came. “Ah, ha!” Perhaps by this you’ve guessed who was the stranger man; If not, by throwing out this hint, I’m very sure you can! That night, when everything was still, there crept from room to room, Some one who gathered up each wish that caused such direful gloom, And when old Sol arose next day, and scattered sunbeams down, They fell upon—the name was changed—upon Contented Town! |
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