Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-31
The Fisherman's Daughter---A Fairy
Tale.

BY MRS. p. ANDERSON.
There was once a poor fisherman, who
lived in a little cabin near the sea-shoro. His |
wife sat all day at her spinning-wheel, aud
their little daughter kept the place so clean
and tidy, it would have done you good to see
IT, They were all industrious, and worked |
hard but the inhabitants Of the few cottages
scattered abroad were as poor as themselves, |
and the fisherman had to walk a great dis
tance before he could sell his fish. Some
times the weather was 80 stormy that he
could not venture out on the great ocean for
days together and then what hard time
it was for the needy family
One day they were very poor indeed
There was not bit Of bread in the house
nothing but a little dried fish and when
night came on, Nora was quite alone for her
fathers boat had not come in and her moth.
er had gone to the large town a few miles
away to sell some Of the linen which it had
taken her so many weeks to spin.
Nora made up good fire, and set the lamp
in the window, so that her father, out on the
dark, dreary ocean, might see the light afar
of.
Mother is late" thought she to herself
but Nora was such good brave little child,
she seldom felt afraid. Yet it was very dis
NAL this evening the wind whisted through
the crevices of the poor little hut, and there
was dark shadow in one corner which ap-
peared to move. At length Nora summoned
courage to 20 and look at it, and it was only
one Of her fathers coats hanging on the wall
so she went back to her chair, and shut her
eyes Then the old clock seemed to say
"Tick, tick, louder than ever, and the great
waves sounded Plash, plash," as if every
one that came rolling in was nearer to the
little cabin.
"Suppose," thought Nora, o they should
carry away the house, and me with it, out
to sea 81
At that moment she was startled by
noise at the door.
"Who is there ?" she said but there was
no answer Venturing to the window, Nora
saw great black dog with basket in his
mouth. So she ventured TO open the door.
" Poor fellow, poor fellow ~ said the child,
laying her little hand OH its shaggy head.
The dog laid down the basket at her feet, and
bounded away again from the open door. But
what had he brought her Such nice meat,
and white bread and delicious looking cakes
"Oh, my goodness !" exclaimed Nora
and then she spread cloth over the table,
and on it put plates and knives and forks
She was about to cut bit Of bread, when the
thought struck her, 1t cannot be ours
the dog must have come to a wrong house"
So, hungry as Nora was, she would not take
morsel though she cried sad, bitter tears to
think she must pack all these nice things up
again and then when her poor, weary father
came home, there would be nothing for his
supper And then, too, Nora remembered
that sometimes her mother was not paid for
the linen she had spun, for three or four days
after.
ooh, dear, dear !" cried she whatever
shall we do this night p
Was it the lamp that burned so brightly q?
Or had the fire shot up into a sudden glow ?
Or could it be a ray from the moon2 No;
but radiant little Fairy was standing there,
and the star upon her wand shone like dia-
mond.
81 have been over land and sea to-day
Nora +" said the Fairy " but Of all the children
have met with, you are the best 1t was
who ordered the black dog to come so the
supper is yours"
"Oh, thank you, madame" said Nora,
making a low courtesy. And will you
please send my father safe home over the dark
waves, and my mother across the lonely moor p
q will, Nora. And what do you wish for
yourself2"
"Oh, nothing, madam"
How did the FAIRY 60 out Of the room2
Certainly not through the door, for it never
opened and Nora had stood at the window
all the time. Surely she must have gone
through the old cock-case 1t was very won
derful But before Nora had recovered from
the SURPRISE in came her mother, to whom she
related the Fairy's visit
"a real fairy, Nora2'
Yes and she spoke so sweetly to me.
| shall never be afraid nov, when | am
alone"
=" And how was she dressed 2'
"Oh, | could not tell you her dress. 1t
looked like beautiful sea-green wave with
silver threads woven through il"
She must have thought our dark kitchen
very mean looking with fathers patched
clothes hanging round, and the old fshing-nets
smelling Of the sea, You should have left
those outside Nora"
| was trying to mond them, mother but
don't think the Fairy looked at them.--
Hark there is fathers boat y
Dear little Nora, how happy she felt that
night when she saw her father enjoying his
supper, and she was sure the kind Fairy was
happy too
Sometime after there arose violent storm
on the sea. The fisherman had 10 swim for
his life and when the waves dashed the
moor old boat on Shore it was so battered
that the old hull had to be left on the shore
till it rotted to pieces.
One night there was no oil for the lamp.
So Nora was sent to the town to buy some, as
her mother had to spin all day, that she
might save little money for them all. 1t
was a long, lonely walk for 50 young a child ;
but Nora had a brave little heart.
She was half way across the moor on her
way home, and then discovered that she had
taken the wrong path aud while standing
to consider what she ought to do, she heard
something 60 "pit-pat, pit-pat" behind her.
1t was the black dog, carrying basket in
his mouth as before He frisked round Nora
for few moments, and then trotted on. The
little girl joyfully followed, and in another
. halfhour reached the cabin door. The basket
was there, but tho black dog had disappeared
"Will you take me with you to-day faith
or 2" asked Nora, tho next morning. Sh'
had had beautiful little dream, in which th'
Fairy had bid her 60 out with her father II
, his boat and cast the fishing-nots into tho sea
! and in the dream tho Fairy smiled 50 gra
Q ciously that Nora felt sure some good luci