There lived once a lady in London, who had a great deal of money, but who had never given her heart to God. This lady had the care of five children: four of them were brothers and sisters; and their names were James and Edward, Charlotte and Louisa. The fifth child was an orphan, and had no brothers or sisters. The name of this little boy was Charles. Little Charles's papa and mamma had been dead only a very few months: they were very pious people, and had Every day little Charles read a few It happened, one Sunday afternoon, in the Christmas holidays, that the lady came into the children's play-room, and sat down among them. "I am come," she said, "to drink tea with you this evening; after which we will put on a wishing-cap; and then we shall see what fine things the wishing-cap will produce." The children were all pleased to see the lady sit down among them; "What can a wishing-cap be?" said Louisa, who was the youngest: "and how can it bring fine things?" "I never heard of a wishing-cap in all my life," said James. "I want tea to be over, that we may see it." "O!" said Charlotte, "I know what is meant by a wishing-cap. I remember reading of a man, in a fairy tale, who had a wishing-cap; and when he put this cap on, and wished for any thing, he had it immediately: but I thought there were no such "Well, well," said the lady, "we shall see what kind of wishing-cap I can make: but I must tell you, my wishing-cap is not so good a one as the man's in the fairy tale; it will only produce such things as may be easily had, it will not bring wonders to pass." In this manner they went on talking till tea was over, and the tea-things carried away. Then the lady drew her chair to the fire, and bidding the children sit round her, she put her hand into her pocket, and pulled out a sheet of white paper. She "Perhaps it may," answered the lady: "we shall know to-morrow morning." "Then," said Charlotte, "I wish for a muslin frock, trimmed with satin ribbon." "Very well," said the lady. "Who comes next?" "I! I!" cried James, snatching the cap from his sister's head, and putting it on his own; "I wish for a rocking-horse." "Now for me," said Edward; "give "I wish for a wax doll, with flaxen hair, and blue eyes," said Louisa. "Now you have all had your turns," said the lady, "but Charles: come, Louisa, give the cap to Charles." "There, take it," cried Louisa, throwing the cap at him, "and make haste." The cap fell at Charles's feet: he took it up, and laid it on the table. "Put it on your head, you foolish Charles smiled, but he did not offer to take up the cap. "What are you about?" said James, giving him a push; "put on the cap, and tell us your wish." "Charles," said the lady, "don't you understand what you are to do? Put on the cap, and don't be stupid." "I thank you, Ma'am," answered Charles; "but I beg that you will not be angry, if I don't put on the wishing-cap." "But you shall have it on," said James, taking it off the table, and putting it on his head. Charles took it quietly off his head, and laid it on the table. The lady looked surprised; and drawing Charles to her, she said, "Perhaps you may not be pleased, if I tell you, Ma'am; and I do not wish to make you angry," answered little Charles. "But I will know," said the lady, looking vexed. "My poor papa, when he was alive," said Charles, "used to tell me that I ought not to wish for any thing but God's blessing: and he taught me this verse—Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be While little Charles was speaking, the rest of the children stood staring and laughing; and when he had done, the lady pushed him away, saying, "You are a strange, foolish boy, and not fit to play with other children. Go to bed immediately." Charles went up to his room. His cheeks were wet with tears, and his heart was very sad. He remembered, that he once had a papa to lean his head against when he was unhappy, and a dear mamma to wipe away his tears; but they were both dead: yet still While Charles was dressing himself, he heard a very great noise down stairs. He made haste, and running into the play-room, he found the rest of the children screaming and jumping for joy. Charlotte dressed in a new muslin frock; Louisa with the wax doll she had wished for; James riding on a large new rocking-horse; and Edward with a coachman's whip. "Look here, Master Charles," said James, "see what the wishing-cap has brought us! Are you not sorry now that you were such a fool as to refuse to put on the wishing-cap?" Then the Every thing went on very well, and all were in the greatest good-humour, till Edward, without intending it, in At length, James pushed Edward against Louisa; by which means, her doll was thrown down, and broken to pieces: and Edward, as he fell, caught his foot in Charlotte's new frock, and tore it sadly. The children were all quiet, as soon as they saw the lady, and very much frightened too. "So," she said, "you have been fighting, you naughty children, instead of enjoying the pretty things I got for you! You, Charlotte, have torn your frock; and you, Louisa, have broken your doll. And as to you, you naughty boys, you have been beating each other: go up to your bed-rooms; and there you shall stay all day, and have nothing but bread and water. As for the rocking-horse So the four children were taken up to their rooms; and the whip and the rocking-horse were sent back to the shop: but little Charles was asked to breakfast with the lady in the parlour. And she said to him, "I begin to think your papa was a wise man, when he taught you to seek for nothing but God's blessing: for I see that having the things we wish for, does not always make us the happier." Little Charles was much pleased, when he heard the lady speak so kindly; and he asked her to forgive the other children, but she would not. And now I will tell you how little Charles received at last what he had secretly desired above all things, and how happy it made him. About two months after this time, all the children were taken ill with a fever which was then going about London. They all recovered, how At last, the time of his death drew very near. He had been asleep; and opened his eyes, while the lady was standing by his bed. He looked quite cheerful; and holding out his hand to her, "I am going to die, Ma'am," he said, "I feel death approaching; but I am very happy. That dear Saviour whose love my father taught me to seek, is very near me, though "It was because I desired his love alone, that I ceased to wish for other things. I knew that they could not make me happy. All the world, Then little Charles prayed that God would bless the lady, and the other children under her care: and soon afterwards he died. I am happy to tell you, that the lady never forgot little Charles's words upon his dying bed. From that time, she gave her heart to seek heavenly blessings instead of earthly possessions: and she used often to say to the other children, when they were And so I say to you, my dear little children, who may hereafter read this story,— DON'T PUT ON THE WISHING-CAP. FINIS. |