SylvesterDuncanlivedwithhismotherandfatheratAcornRoadinOatsdale.Oneofhishobbieswascollectingpebblesofunusualshapeandcolor.OnarainySaturdayduringvacationhefoundaquiteextraordinaryone.Itwasflamingred,shiny,andperfectlyround,likeamarble.Therainfeltcoldonhisback."Iwishitwouldstopraining,“hesaid.Tohisgreatsurprisetherainstopped.andthesunwasshiningasifrainhadneverexisted。Heguessedthatthemagicmustbeintheremarkable-lookingredpebble.(Whereindeeditwas.)Tomakeatest,heputthepebbleonthegroundandsaid,"Iwishitwouldrainagain."Nothinghappened.Butwhenhesaidthesamethingholdingthepebbleinhishoof,theraincameshootingdown."Whataluckydaythisis!”thoughtSylvester.andhestartedhome,eagertoamazehisfatherandmotherwithhismagicpebble.AshewascrossingStrawberryHill,hewasstartledtoseealion,Hewasfrightened.Hecouldhavewishedthelionwouldturnintoabutterflyoradaisyorevenanything.buthepanickedandcouldn'tthinkcarefully."IwishIwerearock,"hesaid,andhebecamearock.Thelionwentawayconfusedandpuzzled.“MaybeI'mgoingcrazy,"hemuttered.AndtherewasSylvester,arockonStrawberryHill,withthemagicpebblelyingrightbesidehimontheground,andhewasunabletopickitup."Oh,howIwishIweremyselfagain,"hethought,butnothinghappened.Hehadtobetouchingthepebbletomakethemagicwork,buttherewasnothinghecoulddoaboutit.Meanwhile,backathome,Mr.andMrs.Duncanpacedthefloor,franticwithworry.Sylvesterhadnevercomehomelaterthandinnertime.Atdawn,theywentaboutinquiringofalltheneighbors.ButnoonehadseenSylvestersincethedaybeforeyesterday.Theywenttothepolice.Thepolicecouldnotfindtheirchild.AllthedogsinOatsdalewentsearchingforhim.butfoundnotascentofhim.Afteramonthofsearchingthesameplacesoverandoveragain,Mr.andMrs.Duncannolongerknewwhattodo.Nightfolloweddayanddayfollowednightoverandoveragain.Hefelthewouldbearockforeverandhetriedtogetusedtoit.Thenitwaswinter.Thewindsblew,thiswayandthat.Itsnowed.Thenthesnowsmelted.Theearthwarmedupinthespringsunandthingsbudded.OnedayinMay,Mr.Duncaninsistedthathiswifegowithhimonapicnic.Mrs.Duncansatdownontherock.ThewarmthofhisownmothersittingonhimwokeSylvesterupfromhisdeepwintersleep.Buthecouldn'ttalk.SuddenlyMr.Duncansawtheredpebble."Whatafantasticpebble!"heexclaimed."Sylvesterwouldhaveloveditforhiscollection."Heputthepebbleontherock.Theysatdowntoeat."IwishIweremyselfagain,IwishIweremyrealselfagain!"thoughtSylvester.Andinlessthananinstant,hewas!Youcanimaginethescenethatfollowed.Nowealiswithoutwoe.
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