,transcriber's ,notes3 ,italic text is denoted by underscores and bold text by equal signs4 ,small uppercase have been replaced with regular uppercase4 ,blank pages have been eliminated4 ,variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the original4 ,,frontispiece4 ,illustration3 ,see ,page #aa4 ,,the ,,wishing-,,cap4 ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,sherwood1 ,,author ,,of ,,little ,,henry ,,and ,,his ,,bearer1 c4 c4 ,,new ,,edition4 ,,london3 ,,houlston ,,and ,,stoneman1 #fc1 ,,paternoster ,,row4 ,,the ,,wishing-,,cap4 ,there lived once a lady in ,london1 who had a great deal of money1 but who had never given her heart to ,god4 ,this lady had the care of five children3 four of them were brothers and sisters2 and their names were ,james and ,edward1 ,charlotte and ,louisa4 ,the fifth child was an orphan1 and had no brothers or sisters4 ,the name of this little boy was ,charles4 ,little ,charles's papa and mamma had been dead only a very few months3 they were very pious people1 and had brought up their little boy in the fear of ,god4 ,charles thought of his papa and mamma every day3 he knew they were gone to heaven1 and he knew1 also1 who that blessed person was1 for whose sake they had been received into that happy place4 ,illustration ,every day little ,charles read a few chapters in a ,bible which his papa had given him1 and he tried to remember the good things which had been taught him3 so ,god blessed little ,charles1 and helped him to be good4 ,it happened1 one ,sunday afternoon1 in the ,christmas holidays1 that the lady came into the children's play-room1 and sat down among them4 ,i am come1 she said1 to drink tea with you this evening2 after which we will put on a wishing-cap2 and then we shall see what fine things the wishing-cap will produce4 ,the children were all pleased to see the lady sit down among them2 and while they were drinking their tea1 they talked a great deal about the wishing-cap4 ,what can a wishing-cap be8 said ,louisa1 who was the youngest3 and how can it bring fine things8 ,i never heard of a wishing-cap in all my life1 said ,james4 ,i want tea to be over1 that we may see it4 ,o6 said ,charlotte1 ,i know what is meant by a wishing-cap4 ,i remember reading of a man1 in a fairy tale1 who had a wishing-cap2 and when he put this cap on1 and wished for any thing1 he had it immediately3 but ,i thought there were no such things really as wishing-caps1 except in fairy tales4 ,well1 well1 said the lady1 we shall see what kind of wishing-cap ,i can make3 but ,i must tell you1 my wishing-cap is not so good a one as the man's in the fairy tale2 it will only produce such things as may be easily had1 it will not bring wonders to pass4 ,in this manner they went on talking till tea was over1 and the tea-things carried away4 ,then the lady drew her chair to the fire1 and bidding the children sit round her1 she put her hand into her pocket1 and pulled out a sheet of white paper4 ,she then folded up the paper in the shape of a cap1 and holding it up in her hand1 ,this is the wishing-cap1 she said2 you shall put it on1 and try what it is good for4 ,come1 who will be the first to wear the cap8 ,then the lady placed the cap on ,charlotte's head4 ,now1 she said1 think6 what do you wish for8 ,illustration ,but will what ,i wish for really come8 said ,charlotte4 ,perhaps it may1 answered the lady3 we shall know to-morrow morning4 ,then1 said ,charlotte1 ,i wish for a muslin frock1 trimmed with satin ribbon4 ,very well1 said the lady4 ,who comes next8 ,i6 ,i6 cried ,james1 snatching the cap from his sister's head1 and putting it on his own2 ,i wish for a rocking-horse4 ,now for me1 said ,edward2 give me the cap4 ,i wish for a coachman's whip4 ,now1 ,louisa1 it is your turn4 ,i wish for a wax doll1 with flaxen hair1 and blue eyes1 said ,louisa4 ,now you have all had your turns1 said the lady1 but ,charles3 come1 ,louisa1 give the cap to ,charles4 ,there1 take it1 cried ,louisa1 throwing the cap at him1 and make haste4 ,the cap fell at ,charles's feet3 he took it up1 and laid it on the table4 ,put it on your head1 you foolish boy1 said ,james1 and wish a wish4 ,charles smiled1 but he did not offer to take up the cap4 ,what are you about8 said ,james1 giving him a push2 put on the cap1 and tell us your wish4 ,charles1 said the lady1 don't you understand what you are to do8 ,put on the cap1 and don't be stupid4 ,i thank you1 ,ma'am1 answered ,charles2 but ,i beg that you will not be angry1 if ,i don't put on the wishing-cap4 ,illustration ,but you shall have it on1 said ,james1 taking it off the table1 and putting it on his head4 ,charles took it quietly off his head1 and laid it on the table4 ,the lady looked surprised2 and drawing ,charles to her1 she said1 ,what is the meaning of your behaviour8 ,why will you not play with us8 ,perhaps you may not be pleased1 if ,i tell you1 ,ma'am2 and ,i do not wish to make you angry1 answered little ,charles4 ,but ,i will know1 said the lady1 looking vexed4 ,my poor papa1 when he was alive1 said ,charles1 used to tell me that ,i ought not to wish for any thing but ,god's blessing3 and he taught me this verse--,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god1 and his righteousness2 and all these things shall be added unto you3 7,matt4 vi4 #cc47 and this is the reason why ,i do not like to put on the wishing-cap4 ,while little ,charles was speaking1 the rest of the children stood staring and laughing2 and when he had done1 the lady pushed him away1 saying1 ,you are a strange1 foolish boy1 and not fit to play with other children4 ,go to bed immediately4 ,charles went up to his room4 ,his cheeks were wet with tears1 and his heart was very sad4 ,he remembered1 that he once had a papa to lean his head against when he was unhappy1 and a dear mamma to wipe away his tears2 but they were both dead3 yet still he had a ,saviour to whom he might freely go4 ,so he tried to lift up his heart to this dear ,saviour1 and laying his little head on his pillow1 he fell asleep4 ,in his sleep he had a very sweet dream about heaven3 and when he awoke in the morning1 he remembered these words in the ,prophet ,isaiah--,as one whom his mother comforteth1 so will ,i comfort you4 7,isaiah lxvi4 #ac47 ,illustration ,while ,charles was dressing himself1 he heard a very great noise down stairs4 ,he made haste1 and running into the play-room1 he found the rest of the children screaming and jumping for joy4 ,charlotte dressed in a new muslin frock2 ,louisa with the wax doll she had wished for2 ,james riding on a large new rocking-horse2 and ,edward with a coachman's whip4 ,look here1 ,master ,charles1 said ,james1 see what the wishing-cap has brought us6 ,are you not sorry now that you were such a fool as to refuse to put on the wishing-cap8 ,then the rude boy began to shout and halloo1 riding up and down as hard as the horse would go2 while ,edward kept cutting and lashing the heels of the wooden horse with his coachman's whip1 whistling1 and smacking his lips1 like a coachman2 ,louisa sung to her doll2 and ,charlotte danced about in her new frock1 singing and laughing3 and1 all together1 there was such a noise1 that it might have been heard to the end of the street2 the boys every now and then crying out1 ,well1 ,master ,charles1 what do you think of us now8 ,every thing went on very well1 and all were in the greatest good-humour1 till ,edward1 without intending it1 instead of lashing the wooden legs of the horse1 gave his brother a most terrible cut with his long whip1 over one knee1 and across one hand4 ,james1 being made very angry with the pain1 jumped from his horse2 and flying at his brother1 began to beat him with all his strength4 ,edward ran to his sisters for help2 and ,james followed1 continuing to beat him1 and saying1 ,you sha'n't horse-whip me for nothing1 ,sir1 ,i can tell you that4 ,at length1 ,james pushed ,edward against ,louisa2 by which means1 her doll was thrown down1 and broken to pieces3 and ,edward1 as he fell1 caught his foot in ,charlotte's new frock1 and tore it sadly4 ,charlotte and ,louisa now began to scream and cry in their turns2 and there was such a dreadful noise1 that the lady came in haste to see what was the matter4 ,the children were all quiet1 as soon as they saw the lady1 and very much frightened too4 ,so1 she said1 you have been fighting1 you naughty children1 instead of enjoying the pretty things ,i got for you6 ,you1 ,charlotte1 have torn your frock2 and you1 ,louisa1 have broken your doll4 ,and as to you1 you naughty boys1 you have been beating each other3 go up to your bed-rooms2 and there you shall stay all day1 and have nothing but bread and water4 ,as for the rocking-horse and the whip1 ,i shall send them back to the shop4 ,so the four children were taken up to their rooms2 and the whip and the rocking-horse were sent back to the shop3 but little ,charles was asked to breakfast with the lady in the parlour4 ,and she said to him1 ,i begin to think your papa was a wise man1 when he taught you to seek for nothing but ,god's blessing3 for ,i see that having the things we wish for1 does not always make us the happier4 ,little ,charles was much pleased1 when he heard the lady speak so kindly2 and he asked her to forgive the other children1 but she would not4 ,illustration ,and now ,i will tell you how little ,charles received at last what he had secretly desired above all things1 and how happy it made him4 ,about two months after this time1 all the children were taken ill with a fever which was then going about ,london4 ,they all recovered1 however1 but little ,charles2 for though the lady took great care of him1 because she now began to love him1 and though a very skilful doctor came often to see him1 yet he got worse and worse4 ,for many days he could not speak1 and did not know any body4 ,at last1 the time of his death drew very near4 ,he had been asleep2 and opened his eyes1 while the lady was standing by his bed4 ,he looked quite cheerful2 and holding out his hand to her1 ,i am going to die1 ,ma'am1 he said1 ,i feel death approaching2 but ,i am very happy4 ,that dear ,saviour whose love my father taught me to seek1 is very near me1 though my eyes do not now see him4 ,he comforts me with his promises1 and tells me that for his sake death shall be made easy to me4 ,illustration ,it was because ,i desired his love alone1 that ,i ceased to wish for other things4 ,i knew that they could not make me happy4 ,all the world1 my papa taught me1 could not make me happy without my ,saviour's love4 ,and now ,i am going to this dear ,saviour2 and ,i know that he will forgive my sins1 because he gave me grace to seek him4 ,then little ,charles prayed that ,god would bless the lady1 and the other children under her care3 and soon afterwards he died4 ,i am happy to tell you1 that the lady never forgot little ,charles's words upon his dying bed4 ,from that time1 she gave her heart to seek heavenly blessings instead of earthly possessions3 and she used often to say to the other children1 when they were wishing for toys1 or other foolish things1 ,remember little ,charles2 and1 like him1 put away the wishing-cap4 ,and so ,i say to you1 my dear little children1 who may hereafter read this story1-- ,,don',t ,,put ,,on ,,the ,,wishing-,,cap4 ,,finis4