“God sent us,” said the little girl, smiling. And the children were very contented and happy together.
Thus they lived for many years at the old mill.
The little Zoie grew to be a beautiful maiden, as good as fair.
To the old father she was a great blessing, making his home always neat and pleasant.
The two boys were handsome, strong young men, full of energy and life. Every day they roamed over the mountains, prospecting for gold. The old mill was falling to decay, and promised but little in the future.
One evening, when they had returned after a hard day’s work, weary and out of heart, they sat down on the stone steps of the old mill to rest themselves. The waters were flowing on with their usual pleasant music, and they were thinking and hoping for the future. When the household work was done Zoie came out and sat by them. To amuse them she told over the old story of the strawberries and the talisman that should make “wishing having.”
“Let me see the nut,” said the miller’s son, and Zoie gave it to him.
Placing it upon the stone door-step, he pressed his heel upon it, and the shell burst open, showing a silken cap of bright crimson, trimmed with cord, and tassel of gold.
They were all greatly surprised, and the miller’s son placed it upon Zoie’s shining hair.
“How pretty it is,” said she. “I wish I had a rose-bush filled with roses of the same color.”