THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL PORTLAND. SATURD AY EVENING, OCTOBER 2 1, 1903.
STORIES. FOR CHILDREN By WALT McDOUGALL
jTHE WIZARD OF THE BRICK AND WHAT HE DID FOR LITTLE
I LEIGHTON T 1 EDELM AN . AND ,HIS UNCLE, WHO HAD DIS
COVERED HIM AND THE SECRET OF HIS STRANGE POWER
WISHES FULFILLED SO SPEEDILY THAT.THOSE WHO MADE
THEM WERE GREATLY SURPRISED-UNCLE JOHN'S SUDDEN
GROWTH AND THE QUEER TROUBLE IT FINALLY CAUSED
o
N certain day in the autumn, Leighton Edelman, leaning against the wall of blackened bricks
that enclosed the yard, noticed that a curious tbing happened. He bad said, "Uh, dear, I wish I
had a good foot-ball I" and the next instant over the wall came sailing tho
finest he ever saw 1 II ran out to see who had kicked it over, and there '
was not a boy in sight in all the street. Nor could ho learn from whence came this
altogether perfect, seemingly almost magic treasure, for it had many peculiarities
that ordinary foot-balls lacked. It never lost its air nor did it show wear and tear,
and my I how high it would 30 when one got a good square kick at it I
All the boys envied him its possession, and he was very proud of it, but down in
his heart constantly lurked an awfuL clutching dread that at any :noment tho boy
who had lost it would come along and reclaim, his precious plaything. However, as
time passod this fear wore away little by little until it was "almost forgotten, and per
haps Leighton might never uave, learned from whence it had come lad he not kicked
it upon the roof of tho house one' day. .
While he stood there looking up and 7aiting for it to roll down his head rested
against the brick wall once more, just as it had done on the day the foot-ball came to
him so mysteriously, and he felt something nipve beaneath his
lingers. ' . . ' : v.
Starting and staring hard at tho wall end seeing nothing
living he again placed his hand upon the bricks. Again he felt a
movement, a tremor of the hard brick, so plain that it frightened ,
him. It certainly moved beneath his fingers, althougn he saw no
motion at all when he looked hard at it. Again he tried, and this
time the quiver was bo distinct that he saw the brick move as
well as felt it I
Now, as you know, such a phenomenon was utterly against
all tho laws of matter, for a brick cannot move unless something
lis pushing it, and yet this motion was not a push, but u sort of
tremble like' the flutter of a bird's body. He examined the brick
most carefully. It was exactly like the others, perhaps slightly
blacker and smoother, but there was nothing remarkable about it.'
"This is funny 1" he muttered, as he felt of the brick again;
"I wonder what does it. I wish I knew I"
Tour wish shall be granted!" said a low voice a; his car;
Leighton jumped. He stared around, but nobody was near, and
again he heard the whisper right beside him. This tima it said:
"I am the wizard, Crowley., While you touch me you can
Lear my voice and commune with me. , Keep your band on the
brick." . . '
Frightened as he was, Leighton hardly dared move his hand
away, but he asked, in a whisper even lower than that of the
strange voice:
"Where are you!"
"I am the brick, here in the wall."
"Why, how can that be ! How can a brick talk V cried Leigh
ton; "somebody's playing a trick on me!"
"It is no trick. I am the remains of Crowley, the magician.
Ages since, so many cnturies ago that you cannot count them,
I was alive and famous the world over for my moj?ic. Even the
Sultans of Turkey and the Kings of Arabia sought my aid, genii
slaved for me, elves and gnomes dug in the earth at my bidding,
: and demons strove with one another to obey my commands. I
could move over the earth like the lightning, beneath the sea like
the sea serpent, pass through fire, walk upon the waves; in fact,
, nothing was beyond my powers. Now I am but a brick of clay and
I ft very ordinary, cheap quality of brick at that!"
"But how did it happen f" inquired Leighton. ( ,
"Quite naturally," replied the voice. "In course of time when
I had reached the natural limits of even a wizard's lifetime, I
died, and as the ages passed I became clay, as we all must do."
"Oh, yea 1" cried Leighton, "we learned a verse at school like
that It went like this :
i.-j-.dksfc " 'Great Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
J 1 : ! lUght stop a hole to keep the wind away.' "
fl never heard of great Caesar, but the statement is quite
true," replied the voice. "I became clay and finally w.-s utilized
in the making of a brick instead of stopping a hole. -Here in this
block of clay I repose immovable, but after all it might have
been worse. I might have been put into some buried foundation
where I never would see the light nor hear a voice.
"Very, likely," said the boy; "but tell me more about your
self." "There's nothing more to tell. I have lain here in this wall
for 200 years or so, and during all that time no one ever awoke
me to speech by placing his hand upon me r.nd uttering a wish,
except once."
"Does every wish come true that is asked that way!" in
quired Leighton.
"Anything in my power you may wish for," said Crowley's
. iroloe; "and happy to oblige, I am sure. It's been a long time
since I exercised my powers, and perhaps the demons and gnomes
may be slower than they were once in obeying my behests "
"Oh, there ain't any demons and gnomes any morel" cried
fceighton. "All that sort of thing has passed away !"
"You don't say so!" cried the voice with a sort of amazed
squeak. "Is it possible t Ho, Zamiel! Ho, Azuriell Awake,
h, Ahrimon, King of the Ginns !"
A silence followed, during which time Leighton watched
carefully to see if any of these demons appeared in response to
the call of the wizard, but aa nothing happened, he placed his
hand again upon the brick, and said :
"I guess they're all dead. I haven't heard of any genii or
anything like that since the Arabian Nights' times, you know."
"Perhaps you are right!" responded Crowley. "They do not
' answer, at any rate. They were a pesky lot, anyway. If they're
dead I am glad of it, for they were always more trouble. than
'help at all times. One had to be constantly increasing the
strength of bis incantations in order to keep them in control,
and I've been driven half mad at times with the awful-smelling
compounds that I had to cook up in order to make them obey
me.' But evdn if they are dead or have deserted me, I still retain
many wonderful charms, and my power is quite unlimited, I as
sure you, even yet. If you will make ft wish so as to test the mat
ter, I will be much obliged indeed."
Just then the bell rang for luncheon, and Leighton said:
"All right ; I'll make a wish, but mamma is ringing the bell
now and I must go in at once." '
The bell rang again, a little sharply this time, for llrs. Edel-
. man did not like to be kept waiting. "All right!" cried the boy;
t "I wish for a million dollars all in silver quarters." Then he
hurried away.
! His uncle, John Manz,' who lived with them, was seated at
the table and seemed surprised that Leighton was lato at
luncheon for once. He asked;
VVbat kept you so later
"I was talking to a wizard," replied Leighton gravely. 1
made a wish, too !" . -
Uncle John laughed and said:
"If he can give you a wish he's a brick I'd like to know him
myself."
"That's just what he is; a brickl" replied Leighton with his
mouth full of omelette. "But I don't know rvhether he would
'erint von a wish or not" 7
"Hello 1 What's all this Tasked Uncle John, suddenly, as he
'rose to look out of the window. "Look at all these wagons, and
v they're not the brewery wagons, either !" , r "
; v Leighton looked out and saw a long line of carts coming
(down the street and turning into the Edelmanjard. Uncle John,
I who employed many wagons in his brewing business, ran out to
Jinouira into' the unusual circumstance, while Leigh,toa weftt ph ,
trf-.- - : - - r. . " ..
UNCLE JOHN WAS AFRAID TO MOVE
with his luncheon, as it did not concern him, ho thought. In a
few moments Uuclo John ran in and said iu a very excited
manner: .
"Here, Leighton ! Come out here! They say that the chrts
are loaded with silver quarters and they are for you. What docs
this mean?"
Leighton jumped up, thinking at onco of ihc wizard, and
hurried out :
There stood a man in uniform, who held out a paper to him,
which showed that one million dollars in silver quarters were con
signed to Leighton Edelman, packed in wooden boxes straight
from the Mint. This was signed by the President, the Secretary
of the Treasury, the Comptroller of the Currency and the Man
ager of the Mint.
"Just dump the boxes right there in the yard," st.id Leigh
ton to the man in uniform. "I think that's as good a place as
any." Uncle John lost his voice from amazement as he saw the
man rapidly unload tho carts and pile boxes of, coin against
the house.
"Well, well!" he cried. "Here are more carts coming! There'
are at least a hundred of thorn I"
"Exactly 100," said the man in charge; "$10,000 in each cart,
$500 in each box. That's the way the President always chips
quarters when he sends them. We can keep track of them easier
that way, you see."
Tho yard soon filled up with the boxes, as it was by no means
a large one, and soon the wcodshed was full aa well, and they be
gan to carry them indoors. In fact, when his surprise wore off
Uncle John wos for taking them all into the cellar for safety's
sake, but Leighton thought they were well enough there in the
yard, for he saw at once that he never would be able to spend all
that money in e lifetime even with Uncle John to help him, and
you can bet J ohn Man- was a good spender.
"What on earth are you going to do with it r.ll ?" inquired
his uncle. "We can't leave it cut here, because every crook in
town will pile in here after it, and every bit of it will be carried
off before morning."
"I suppose we can put it in the bank," replied Leighton.
"What in the world did you get it all in quarters for, any
how ?" asked John. "Why didn't you get some "gold $10 pieces
while you were about it? And tell me, how did you get so well
acquainted with the President ?"
"It wasn't the President that did it. It was the Wizard
Crowley," said the lad. "He's a friend of mine, but I'll say that
I never really expected him to do it."
"Ask him for come more, right away, but have it in $1000
bills," urged Uncle, John. "It's handier that way. He's very
likely got plenty more where this came from."
"Mebbe I will," said Leighton, guardedly.
"And sa-, how about striking him for some diamonds t ' Has
he got any?"
"I hardly think he'd like to have me make you acquainted
with him just on purpose to strike him for a diamond," said
Leighton. "It certainly would look rather cheeky, don't you
think?"
"Perhaps so. I'd better get solid with him first, 1 suppose,"
said Uncle John. "But don't you go to asking too much of him
and make him tired before I get a whack at him, will you!"
"I shall thank him for what he has already dono for me,"
said Leighton. .
1 "That's right. Tell him so right off!" cried his uncle eagerly.
"No hurry," said the boy. lie knew that Uncle John wanted
to discover the secret,. and ho determined to ask Wizard Crow
ley's permission before introducing the man. to him. So he did
not take any steps toward thanking the wizard, and p etty Boon
it was time for Uncle Joha ifi hastejbfick to bis breweryf so he -ye&t
Into tho iwracv ' - ' y ; ..
Ho was about to move, but he suddenly recollected that in doing so he might very easily overturn all
the houses beneath his great feet, and, even now, on looking carefully he could see that he had tumbled
tho wall into a b?up of bricks and part of tho woodshed was in ruins. A tall elm tree that shaded tha
house was twisted about his ankle, and the boxes of silver were lying all over the street. His first thought
was to save them, and, reaching down he guthercd them up by handfuls and piled them against the ruined
woodshed. Then he began to be frightened and called loudly for leighton to get tho wizard to htlp him. .,
That awful voice coming from the sky aroused 1 10 wholo ity, and peoplo came pouring out of the
houses in alarm, only to repoil terrified at the sight of tho tremendous form outlined against the dark
clouds above the city. Some called for the police, others for tho fire department and stiU others ran fot
their teleseonea to study this gigantic visitor.
Unclo John did not move, for he well knew that disaster would follow in his train, but he kept oa
vellinjr fcr his nephew, and you may be sure- that tho boy heard him, as his voica
. ., jjl 1 a -11- l T 1. 1 ! J i . 1
was like a tnousana uiunuerBiorms rowing aioii. .LCignion nurriea arouna q me
house and with great difficulty recognized his unclo in the giant. He saw the ruinl
created by his immense feet, and guessed that in somo way the wizard's brick was re
sponsible. Of course, among that tumblo of bricks ho could riot distinguish the iden
tical one that had worked all these wonders, and his heart failed him.
At last he began to climb, like another Jack tho Giant Killer, up that trousei
1r nf rloth. so coarse that he could easily put his littlo feet into its fabric, and aftea
.1. .am do finally reached a 6D0t wher Unpin Jnlin nhservpd hm ITU nnald
reachod down and took him carefully up. Holding him In his hand he said:
I . ' - .1 . I I'll 1 A I 1 11 1L.
rest of tho town. Get that darn wizard to help me quick!" r
"You'vo kicked tho wall over and I can't find the brick P re
plied Leighton.
"Wo havo just got to find it!" cried John. "I can't stay up
here all night. Holy smoke! What if I havo to be a giant ail
tho rest of my life!"
"That would be great!" cried Leighton; "I'd havo you in mjj
museum!"
"Not on your life!" cried his uncle. "I must get out of thisj
scrape."
"Oh, look at your diamonds 1" cried Leighton. "Geet Aft
big as water tanks I"
"They got me into this scrape!" growled his uncle. "All th
Fame, I'd just like to know, for fun, how many carats one of them
would weigh now. But hustle down, my dear boy, and search
through that pile of brick for the wizard, that's a good felloWg
for it's getting awfully cold up here, and I didn't bring an over
coat."
So Leighton clambered with great difficuIFyNdown to thd
ground, but by the time he reached the earth it was quite dark. ,
An immense crowd had gathered from all over the city; thia
firemen and tho police, of course, were there, and so was . tha
Mayor, the Chief of Police, and a million children. The firemea
had raised the great water tcwer so that the chief could go un
and see what sort of a nrnn it was that was causing all this dis
turbance, but when ho camo scurrying down and shouted that ifl
was Johnny Manz the crowd went wild.
"Not our Brewer Manz ?" asked the Mayor. "How did he get
to be so great without a single convention or even an appointment!
from the Governor ?"
"It's surely Johnny," replied the Chief; "but I Con't knovs.
how it happened. Go up yourself and talk to him."
"Not on your water tower I" exclaimed the Maor. "If yot
say so I believe it."
"What is he going to do ?" asked the Chief of Police, anx
iously. "The crowd is getting so big that I can't hold it with twd
cops. Can't we get him to move on ?"
"No! Nol" cried an insurance man. "He will wreck tha
town! Tell him to stand right where he is without moving at all
If he starts to move I'll serve an injunction on him."
"I wonder if he wants a drink?" asked a hotelkeeper, anx
iously. "We might send it up to himi in a hose."
Searchlights were sending their blinding rays upward and
illuminating Uncle John's immense body, outlined daxkly against
.the pale evening sky, and they could dimly see his downturnedl
face; but suddenly as some enthusiastic photographer made aj
flashlight picture of the giant a man on a housetop began to sell
off rockets that sailed swiftly up and collided with Uncle John's
vest in a shower of fire.
"Hi, stop that!" he roared. "I don't want to get burned up!
If I get any more bouquets like that I'll kick out and uow a fefll
hundred citizens into the dust."
Now all this time Leighton, in the dark, had been searching
unnoticed for the wizard, and as he turned over rapidly brick
after brick he was coming to the conclusion that he never would)
find it again. Suddenly he felt the familiar quiver just as he had
climbed again to the very top of the pile. He grasped it with BJ
sensation of deepest relief and joy, saying:
Leighton at once placed his hand upon the magio brick and
thanked the wizard for his kindness, but he never nbticed that
John Manz was peeping from the dining-room window and saw
it all. ,
"I am glad you are pleased, but you are not half as satisfied
as I am, for after what you said about all the demons and gnomes
having departed, I had begun to fear that my power was gone,"
said Crowley. "Now you can go right on asking for things until
1 trip up on something. I'll bet you'll go a long way before that
happens, too !"
"I hate to ask you for thigs " began Leighton.
"Nonsense! It's fun for me, and it does you good. I have
not had a ghost of a chance to do anything for centuries. Why,
the last time I wizzed was in Babylon in the time cf King Nobo
palasser. It's a wonder that I can remember a thing."
"Well, if it's, really all the same to you, I'd like to have a
menagerie a big one, full of all sorts of the very rarest animals.
I want ono of those birds they call the Dinornis, about ten feet
tall, and a real Mammoth, too. That's more than any menagerie
on earth has." .
"All right! Where will you have it?"
"In the lot back of the brewery. That belongs to mother,
and it's quite large enough, I guess," replied Leighton.
"All right. You take a walk around the block, and then go
to your lot and see how long it took me to get together a me
nagerie that would make Noah's Ark look like a side show," whis
pered Crowley.
Leighton walked away, and as he left the yard out popped
Uncle John all eagerness, for by carefully watching and listening
cipsely he had managed to identify the wizard's brick and learn
the secret. He was certain that ho could soon master dl the de
tails, and he hastened to the blackened walL
Of course, he did not know but that Leighton had used some
magic incantation to sum-uon the magician, but' he placed his
hand upon the identical brick instantly and bent down to listen.
After waiting for a long time, during which period the wizard
. was, of course, busy getting together the menagerie, Uncle John
fcuddenly felt the brick quiver beneath his fingers' He listened
with his heart in his mouth, and in his mind's eye teeing enor
mous diamonds in the air. Then he heard a faint voice saying:
"Well, what can I do for you, John Manz?" '1Z
"Good morning, wiz !" said J ohn respectfully.
"Come, no palavering ! What do you want ?"
"I'd like very much to have a couple of nice six-carat dia
monds if you could spare them," said John; "but, of course, if
that's asking too much, make 'em four."
There was a long period of silence, during which time Uncle
John balanced himself on one foot between two boxes of silver
quarters very uncomfortably and waited for a reply. Finally he
grew impatient and cried:
"Hi, there, wizard! Wake up and say something!"
"What do you want now ?" asked the voice.
"Those diamonds !" replied Uncle John.
"You've got them-on your shirt!" said Crowley, impatiently
and angrily. Uncle John glanced down, and to hi3 amazement
" two immense sparklers flamed on his short bosom. He fell against
the wall in his surprise, dazzled by the enormous diamonds, and
as there was little room between the boxes he barked his shin.
Still resting his hand against the magical brick he shouted out .
in a rage : . ; - - .
"Dog my cats I I wish I was a mile high and I'd kick these
things over the house."
T-A.-ii- t. - j l.. : mi.. 1
insiunuy oie was iu a ueuso uazev uui 1 1 ivujv uuu mj a 4ij. . - - - , j , .1 -u 11
moment to realize that he had shot upward into the clouds.' There and every brick I have come 1 across ""nrf Vm ' "tl
: , .1 a . v . .i j. j KrsA ihc. wizard ao-ain. and II 1 do I wiii waat
1 ueau 10 iuo &j auu . kuuu iui; i iiv ' ,
hp was. the lartrest giant ever heard of. his
the ground eiar beneath that he edtold barely distinguish the
luousea Uom &e earth Dt irees . r v ' . v "
"Oh, dear Mr. Crowley, please make Uncle John as small aj
ever!" . i
The next moment the immense crowd was staring blankta
into the air, trying to see where the giant had gone to. He hadl
vanished, but Uncle John stood beside Leighton with a glad!
smile. The boy, looking down, saw that his wish had been grant
ed, and the next moment he slipped, falling down the sliding pild
of bricks to Uncle John's feet. The brick dashed out of his hand!
and flew among the others.
Uncle John picked up his nephew and set him on'lu's feet and
finding him uninjured, turned to the Mayor and explained to' hin
as well as to the newspaper reporters, that it had all been done by
a wizard with,whom LeigLton was acquainted. Of course, every
body was very anxious io know more about the wonderful occur ;
renee, but that was all Mr. Manz would say. He was a very pro
voking man when he was in possession of a secret, as Leightonl '
well knew.
So at last the crowd dispersed, but it took a long time, ami -the
boy was far too tired to seek for the wizard that night, so hat
went to bed. , , ' '
The next morning it was in all the papers, and many znord ;
people had been around before daylight, but when they had eateal
breakfast both Leighton and his uncle went to work at once td
find the lost brick. All day long they searched, but it was in vain.
Not one responded to their touch, and at last when everyone had)
been handled again and i'.frain, it dawned upon them tliat somo
thing had happened. Somebody had picked up the brickl
Then both of them remembered a funny, weazened old maOg
who had been peering into the yard while they were at break
fast, and they came to the conclusion that he must have sua
pected something and had found the precious brick. It was neve
seen again by them, but aa I have heard of some very remarkabla " .
happenings in a certain place that cannot be accounted for by,
ordinary means, I am of the opinion that another person is nowi
in possession of the wizard's remains, and one, too, who is .well
aware of the secret, and who is making good use of it. '
Leighton has, at any rate, all the money he can possibhy nceo;
and, beside, if he wanted more, all he need do would be to charga
admission to his wonderful menagerie, and he would gather it in
by the barrelf uj, for nowhere else can there be seeq the marveloua,
.unique and unparalleled array of living animals in captivity that
is theroshbwn daily free of cost. .... ...
Even if he lost all his fortune, which is scarcely possible,
there would still be left Uncle John's enormous sparklers, which!
probably could be sold for an immense sum, as they weigh, per
haps, twenty-five carata each, aa the wizaid was very generous
and knew, no doubt, how touch Uncle J ohn loved diamonds Bus
he will probably never be asked to ptfrt with them, nor would hsj
ntl Tinea them as headlights on his automo -
bile. Ever since I heard the story I have carefully hfcDdlwl cadi
time In making a wh. let me tell you I
iTALT jrcDOCGAlX.