never in his life had he been known to give to anyone who
needed help. He was really poor, for he lacked one thing which he very
much wanted--sleep. Sometimes he could not get to sleep until early
morning; then his neighbor's song would waken him. He wished that sleep
could be bought for money.

One day he said to himself, "I believe I will help that cobbler over
the way. He has a hard time to make enough money to buy his food and
clothes." So he sent for the cobbler.

"Honest Gregory," he said "how much do you earn in a year?"

"How much a year?" replied the cobbler, scratching his head. "I never
reckon my money in that way. It goes as fast as it comes, but I am glad
to be able to earn it. I cobble on from day to day and earn a living."

"Well then, Gregory, how much do you earn each day?" asked the rich man.

"Why, sometimes more and sometimes less," answered the cobbler. "On
many days--the holidays--I earn nothing. I wish there were fewer of
these; but then we manage to live."

"You are a happy man now," said the rich man, "but I will make you
happier," and he handed the cobbler five hundred dollars. "Go spend
this money carefully. It will supply your needs for many days," he said.

The cobbler had never dreamed of so much money before. He thought it
was enough to keep him in food and clothes all his life.

He took the money home and hid it, but he hid his joy with it. He
stopped singing and became sad. He could not sleep for fear of robbers.
He thought that everyone who came into his shop was trying to find out
his secret, or wished a gift. When a cat ran over the floor, he thought
a thief had slipped through the door.

At last, poor man, he could bear it no longer. He took the money,
hurried to the rich man, and cried, "Oh, give me back my songs and my
sweet sleep! Here is your money, every cent of it. I made a poor trade."

The rich man looked at him and said, "I thought I had made you happy. I
have not missed your songs, for, strange as it may seem, I have been
sleeping soundly ever since I talked with you."

THE ICE KING

A tribe of Indians lived near a river. One winter the weather was very
cold, and many of them died.

But spring came at last. The snow melted from the tops of the mountains
and ran in torrents down their steep sides and into the river.

The ice in the swollen river broke up into large cakes which floated
down the stream.

The weather grew warmer. All the ice melted exce