Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-01-19
gslecten Miscellamu.
THE FAIRY WHO JUDGED HER
NEIGHBORS.
BY JEAN INGELow.

There was once a Fairy, who was good
Fairy. on the whole. but she had one very
bad habit; she was too fond of finding fault
with other people. and of taking for grant
ed that everything must be wrong if it did
not appear right to her.
One day, when she had been talking
very unkindly of some friends Of hers, her
mother said to her:
my child. I think if you knew little
more of the world. you would become
more charitable. I would therefore ad-
wise you to set out on your travels; you
will find plenty of food, for the cowslips
are now in bloom. and they contain ex-
cellent honey. I need not be anxious a.
bout your lodging. for there is no place
more delightful for sleeping in, than an
empty robins nest. when the young have
flown. And ifyou want new gown, you
can sew two tulip-leaves together, which
will make you very becoming dress, and
one that should be proud to see you 10. !"
The young Fairy was pleased at this
permission to set out on her travels; so
she kissed her mother. and bade good by
| to her nurse, who gave her little ball of
spiders threads to sew with, and beau
| tiful little box, made of the egg shell of a
wren. to keep her best thimble in. and
took leave of her, wishing her safe home
again.
The young Fairy then few away. till
she came to a large meadow. with clear
river flowing on one side of it. and some
tall oak-trees on the other. She sat down
on high branch in one of these oaks.
and, after her long flight. was thinking of
a nap, when. happening to look down at
her little feet. she observed that her shoes
we're growing shabby and faded. Quite
. disgrace. declare" /" said she. Il must
look for another pair. Perhaps two Of the
smallest flowers of that snapdragon which
I sec growing in the hedge, would it me
I think | should like pair of yellow slip
pers."
So she flew down and after little trou-
BILE she found two flowers which fitted her
very neatly. and she was just going to re-
turn to the oak tree, when she heard a
deep sigh beneath her. and peeping out
from her place among the hawthorn bios
SONS. she saw fine young Lark sitting in
the long grass. and looking the picture of
misery.
"What is the matter with you, cousin?'
asked the Fairy.
'.Oh, am SO unhappy" replied the
poor Lark; L want to build nest. and
| have no wife,"
"Why don't you look for wife. then?"
said the Fairy. laughing at him. "Do
you expect one to come and look for you?
Fly up. and sing beautiful song in the
sky. and then. perhaps. some pretty hen
will hear you; and perhaps, if you tell her
that you will help her to build capital
nest and that you will sing to her all day
long. she will consent to be your wife,
"Oh. | don't like" said the Lark; Il
don't like to fly up. am so ugly. IF I
were gold6nch. aud had yellow bars on
my wings. or robin. and had red feath-
ers on my breast. should not mind the
defect which now am afraid to show
But am only poor, brown Lark. and I
know I shall never get wife,"
81 never heard of such an unreasona-
BILE bird" said the Fairy. You cannot
expect to have everything"
"Oh. but you don't know" proceeded
the lark, "that if I hy up, my feet will be
seen; and no other bird has feet like mine.
My claws are enough to frighten any one.
they are so long; and yet l assure you,
Fairy. | am not cruel bird"
Let me look at your claws" said the
Fairy. -
Z So the lark lifted up one of his feet.
which be had kept hidden in the long
grass. lest any one should see it..
1T looks certainly very ierce." said
the Fairy. Your hind claw is at least
an inch long. and all your toes have very
dangerous looking points. Are you sure
lyou never use them to fight with 2"
mo. neverm said the Lark. earnestly;
II never fought battle in my life; but
yet these claws grow longer and longer,
and I am so ashamed of their being seen
that | very often lie in the grass. instead
10: going up to sing, as ! could wish"