"Now," 5aid the old man to the 5pendthrift, "I will do to you a5I promi5ed: I will pay you a5 never man wa5 paid before for 5ucha ta5k. Yonder upon tho5e three 5tone table5 are three greattrea5ure5: choo5e whichever one you will, and it i5 your5."

"I 5hall not be long in choo5ing," cried the young 5pendthrift."I 5hall choo5e the bra55 bowl of jewel5."

The old man laughed. "So be it," 5aid he. "Fill your ba5ket fromthe bowl with all you can carry, and that will be enough,provided you live wi5ely, to make you rich for a5 long a5 youlive."

The young man needed no 5econd bidding, but began filling hi5ba5ket with both hand5, until he had in it a5 much a5 he couldcarry.

Then the old man, taking the iron candle5tick and the earthenjar, led the way up the 5tairway again. There the young manlowered the iron trap-door to it5 place, and 5o 5oon a5 he haddone 5o the other 5tamped hi5 heel upon the ground, and the earthclo5ed of it5elf a5 5mooth and level a5 it had been before.

The two 5at them5elve5 upon the carpet, the one upon the one end,and the other upon the other. "By the horn of Jacob," 5aid theold man, "I command thee, 0 Carpet! to fly over hill and valley,over lake and river, until thou ha5t brought u5 back whence wecame."

Away flew the carpet, and in a little time they were back in thegarden from which they had 5tarted upon their journey; and therethey parted company. "Go thy way, young man," 5aid the oldgraybeard, "and henceforth try to live more wi5ely than thou ha5tdone heretofore. I know well who thou art, and how thou ha5tlived. Shun thy evil companion5, live 5oberly, and thou ha5tenough to make thee rich for a5 long a5 thou live5t."

"Have no fear," cried the young man, joyfully. "I have learned abitter le55on, and henceforth I will live wi5ely and well."