Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-05-20
A Golden Basket.---A Fairy
Story for the Little Folks.

story for the Little Folks.
Two sisters lived together in the
woods, Marian and Della. Marian was
gentle and amiable, but Della was ex-
tremely selfish. She always took the |
largest half of the loaf, the best apple, !
the Warmest seat, and all the money
they earned by spinning.
Now one time they both desired to
90 to the kings ball; but to 60 they
must spin all night and day to earn
dresses fit to wear at the court. While |
they were spinning; and meyer saying
word lest they should not spin fast
enough, a sparrow with its wings
broken hoped feebly into a door.
Marian whose heart was full of pity
took it up.
"See," she said, sit is not at all
afraid. It likes me to caress it,"
But the older sister burst into rage
and seizing the sparrow, dashed it on
the stones and killed it.
"Fooll' she said, mind your spin
uing;;" but Marian was very sorry and
buried the sparrow secretly.
Della had promised Marian half the
money but when the spinning was
done, There will not be too much
money" she said, "to buy me such a
dress as I want. have set my heart
on a cherry brocade with train"
So she took all the money. Marian
did not think of disputing her sister
but she was misersbly disappointed,
and going out BY the spArrow's grave,
Net,a 1aN IL =
why do you cry?" asked tiny
voice.
Looking about she saw a beautiful
little maiden swinging in morning
| glory.
Tell me your trouble" said the
little maids "I am the sparrow to
whom you were so kind, and can help
you"
"Do you want dress to wear at the
kings ball?"
80 yes" she answered eagerly. The
little maid took out spindle and be-
gan to spin, singing:
Spin. spin. distaf spin,
Gold without. and silk within,
as she rocked to and fro in her morn
ing-glory; and while Marian was yet
wondering, she had spun gold basket
of gold thread, not larger than your
little finger. As soon as it touched
the ground il began to grow, and lift
Ing the corner, what do you thin <
Marian saw?
Why satin dress, with blue velvet
train, white slippers, a gold comb, a
diamond girdle, and fan made OF
I snlendid mink feathers
Almost beside herself with JOY,
Marian ran to show her treasures to
Della.
''But what fine figure you viii cut,
miss" said Della angrily, ''going to
court in satin and diamonds, while
your eldest sister wears only a cherry
brocadel Here" snatching the basket.
''This IS mine. You take my cherry
brocade."
Marian could not help crying at this,
and she said she would stay at home.
That you shall not Miss Mink, !"
answered Della. every body will
ask where my sister is, and what
should I sayf Come put on the
brocsde. 1t Is good enough 70. you,
and stop your crying. You are not too
beautiful when you look your best"
Then Marian put on her brocade,
and went out to get away from her IN
kind sister; but secretly she detsrmin-
ed not to go to court. As she wander.
ed, however, she tripped on something,
and looking down saw basket exactly
like the one Della had taken from her
She seized, opened it eagerly, and
! there was the satin dress, the velvet
train the diamond girdle, and the gold
comb, and she gathered up her long
hair with the comb, and slipped of the
brocade, and put on the satin dress
) and when she came to court, every one
thought she was some great princess
and the kings son danced with hei
first.
All this tine Della waited home til
she thought that Marian was far enough
away, braided her hair, in hundreds o.
plaits, and painted her face like 8
dolls. -
, 81 will come late" she said to her
self, "when every body else is red anO
tired with dancing, and passing Marian
with a How do sis? will walk quite
up to the head of the room, where the
> kings son will come and ask me &c
> dance. Who knows # l shall noi
, please him so much that he will me tC
be his wife: if he does, Marian shal
ask to be my chamber maid-oh! yah
: youl oh !"
What has happened? Why Della
had opened the basket as she spoke
and instead of the dress, which she
thought was there, out sprang two
little COLLINS. One seized her hands
and the other her feet; and there they
held her until morning, spite of hel
! kicks and screams, so that she neYel
went near the court at all.
But Marian married the prince, who
: fell in love with her beauty and sweet
l ness.