Yonder upon those three stone tables are three great
treasures: choose whichever one you will, and it is yours."
"I shall not be long in choosing," cried the young spendthrift.
"I shall choose the brass bowl of jewels."
The old man laughed. "So be it," said he. "Fill your basket from
the bowl with all you can carry, and that will be enough,
provided you live wisely, to make you rich for as long as you
live."
The young man needed no second bidding, but began filling his
basket with both hands, until he had in it as much as he could
carry.
Then the old man, taking the iron candlestick and the earthen
jar, led the way up the stairway again. There the young man
lowered the iron trap-door to its place, and so soon as he had
done so the other stamped his heel upon the ground, and the earth
closed of itself as smooth and level as it had been before.
The two sat themselves upon the carpet, the one upon the one end,
and the other upon the other. "By the horn of Jacob," said the
old man, "I command thee, O Carpet! to fly over hill and valley,
over lake and river, until thou hast brought us back whence we
came."
Away flew the carpet, and in a little time they were back in the
garden from which they had started upon their journey; and there
they parted company. "Go thy way, young man," said the old
graybeard, "and henceforth try to live more wisely than thou hast
done heretofore.
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