The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-07
Selected for the Sunday CreseentI
FOB THE LITTLE FOLKS.
BIBI. BABA AND BoBo.

Bib was q little mischief, Bahia was q little
gluttoD, Bobo was little sluggard. They went
one day TO walk in wood that was near their
house, and, in spite of their parents orders, did
not stop at q certain place beyond which they
bad been forbidden ever to go. l must adj that
hey were three disobedent little girls into the
bargain.
1t is only just to say that this was Bibi's fsnlt
On reaching the place Bobo felt tired, aud would
| have been glad to stop. Bsbs, on her part
recollected that luncheon would be ready Ia hall
an hour. and did not care about going any further
| But Bib. who was above such trides, laughed so
much at the other two. that they dared not resist
| her. One was ashamed OF her Incidence. aud the
other of her gluttony, and both followed Biol
| though eorely against their will. This will teach
| yen how weak you are when you undertake 10
obey through any other motive than obedience;
for if our little girls had thought of nothing but
their parents wish that they should not 20 beyond
this spot. they would have felt in themselves that
| they we're right, and would not have been afraid
| of being laughed at.
They went on, however. 1t was q large beau
| ;iful wood, crossed by magnificent roads that
stretched as far as the eye could reach. The walk
| at first was delightful. The children gathered
flowers, rolled on tie soft grass, and listened TO
| The cbirpipg OF the birds. Sometimes a little
| mouse put the end of his nose out of hole, aud
drew IL Ia again soon as the little girls came too
near; or a great gray lizard sprsng suddenly from
| iuft of grass and ran along the road chased by
the merry group; or a brown, bright eyed SOUR
| rel would run along the branch of tree chatter.
ing at them, sit 10 his hole. nibbling at nut.
| Everything went on well as long as they remained
| in the road, which was straight as an arrow, but
| by-andby they reached shady footpath which
| wound among the thicket. and looked so inviting
| that Bib entered il boldly
Don't go that way; We shall lose ourselves"
= Let us get back; it is time we were home"
cried Baba.
I'm only going to the first turning" answered
Bib. "Come with NE; must see what's beyond
IL AHA fhauf raru mad AZ foh ara nfro
ties, the mschevous little girl threw herself on
| the ground.
"Oh what nice place to lie down ill.," she
| cried, land how thick the Strawberries are ~
On hearing this they ran to her-Baba, the gour-
msnd, to eat strawberries; Bobo, the slugg ard,
| 10 lie on the grass at her esse-but the soft spot
| was full of stoLes and dead branches, and as for
straw berries there was not one. Bi0i burst iato
| faces.
I'VE shall find them farther on ssid she to
| Bahia; and taking her hand she dragged her for
ward as fast as che could, followed by poor, tired
| BObO who had great mind to cry.
| After the first turning there came second which
she insisted on seeing. then third then the foot
| path parted ia two and gigantic OAK. which rose
| in the bushes on one side of tho path. attracted
| Miss Bbis attention, and so from one caprice TO
| another, she led Bahia and Bobo so far that when
| they wished to retrace their steps none OF them
| knew the way 10 go, and the poor children were
filed with fright; but Bib would not show it, Sac
|
| black eyes wide and turning with sc0raful ges-
| lure TO her sisters said: Follow me YOU little
| frightened chickens and will lead you home"
But il is not enough in forest to be determined to
| go omewhere-it is also necessary to know the
way. After walking long time and trying all
The paths, they found they we're lost, and Bobo
then threw herself on the ground and cried. de-
| claring she would not take another step. She was
! besutitUl little GIRL viii fair complexion, golden
| lair and blue eyes, with q pleading expression
" haN Fun UpA a han af ara hut
| which did not touch the teasing Blbi, Who shook
| her and tried to raise her from the ground. Poor
| Bobo did not defend herself, but fell back on the
| srass.
You are fine walker" said Bibi. owe will
| leave you here il you have not more courage"
But Bsba came to the assistance of her sister.
| " Don't be afraid, dear BobO; | will not leave
| you. Rest yourself. and then We will set out
| again." and bending her good-natured. chabby
| face. she kissed BObO to give her coutage,
| eli only bad a Tiece of bread" she Burmured.
| !" 1 would wait Is long "a you liked" and she
| heaved a deep sigh. Bobo looked at her with
| compassion. just at that moment her eyes fell
| on beautiful strawberry. sh1ing lusciously
among the leaves few steps from her; IL was the
first they had seen. Forgetting her fatigue she
rose at once and ran to the stra wberry which she
| brought back in triumph 90 poor, hungry Bahia.
"Oh, how good 1t is" said the latter, swallow
| girl"
| In the meantime Bibi, to show her superiority,
| was walking backwards and forwards with lang
strides. Baba's joy displessed her. "A fine din
ner for glutt0n,r she cried, =" it will not carry
| you far" This was unhappy too true. Suddenly
recalled TO the OF her situation and feeling
| Der appetite Tedoubed rather than app eased by
| the delicious but unsatisfactory morse, the poor
child burst into tears. and Bobo on seeing her
| began to sob to keep her company. while Biol
| laughed like the naughty girl she Was.
Just at that moment the queen of the fairies
| passed by and heard them. She had been chosen
| queen by the other fairies because she was the
| best Of them ALL and so good that she had COM
passion on any one in trouble even the wicked.
She suddenly appeared TO the children in the form
| Of an old woman, with bundle of fsgots.
What IL the matter my dears ~ said she; "can
| help you in any wsy?"
"Oh, madam said BObo, "poor Bahia is so
| hungry"
THAT ia not all :" said Bahia, " poor Bobo is so
| tired; we have lost our way ia the woods aud
| don't know how TO get home."
The good fairy looked at them atteniively and
| saw what they had done. " Be comtOrted," she
| said. q | Will send you some add
She broke two little twigs from her fagots and
threw them into the thcket, when instantly
great white sheep, with fleece like snow came out
blestiig, and rubbed his nose on Babss rosy
cheek; and beautiful little squirrel leaped from
tree without ceremony upon Bobo's shoulder.
AID you, my little ohe." said the old woman
10 Blbi, ''are you in want of nothing?
mo, mother" answered Bib with a hsughty
air, 81 am neither hungry nor tired they m axe me
laugh with their complaints"
" All you ask for nothing but to laugh" said
The good fairy, irriaed at the tone of the little
girl. VERY well, have something that will salts.
~ you." She instantly vanished, and behold a
little monkey appeared, which gsmbOed before
Bib making the drolest grimaces that could be
imagined. Delighted with her gift, Blbi took him
in her arms and covered him with kisses. to which
he replied With short angry growl. She paid no
attention to that, however, so amusing and de.
lightful did he seem 10 her.
But all this did not bring the children any nearer
home. Bsba ran her fingers through the silky
fleece of her sheep, che wing at a slice of bread
and msrmslsde which she dancing before her
eyes while BObo kissed her squirrels whiskers
without knowing what she did. The mistress Of
ihe sheep, being the most important was the first
10 speak.
Now" said she, show are we 70 get home,n
"Don't trouble yourself" said the sheep,"I
know The way"
BE began 10 trot slowly in the right direction,
followed by hs little mistress, who gave her arm
to Bobo t. lean on. Bib attempted at first TO
laugh at them and took another path; but the