ABANDONED. Children help an (injured?) man (in hiding?) and receive wish-granting orbs: Children's/YA book read in 70s

[betterusername]

Posting on behalf of my mother, who read this in the 1970s in Germany.

She remembers a group of mixed-gender children who help a man they find in an attic/basement/shed somewhere, possibly injured, possibly hiding. The man gives them golden (?) orbs or balls that, unbeknownst to them, grant wishes. My mother says one of the girls' dream was for her father to return (either from the dead or being away somewhere).

Might have a war context (the hiding man being a soldier or someone persecuted), but we aren't sure about that.

[Rainbowheart]

The Moonball?

[betterusername]

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately, that's not it. There were several orbs, not just one. Also, they were given to, not taken from the kids.

[Rainbowheart]

Did your mom read it in English or German?

[Kris]

S8mb4d, can you narrow down the story's time period and location?

Do the kids get an unlimited number of wishes from each magical orb/ball?

[Rainbowheart]

Still looking for this one?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

S8mb4d left the group. Moving to Abandoned.