The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-29
Young Folks.
Queen Getelln's Escape.
BY AMANDA It. JONES.

Irlnce fdnIanerO ana GrlnceSS tente-
lin had stood up together before all the
valley fairies, and had rings put on their
fingers, and bells on their toes maybe +;
and golden rods were given to them,
and long, shining, rustling mantles
were hung upon their shoulders, and
crowns laid upon their heads, and ev-
erybody sang-"Long live King Fan
fanero and Queen Gentelin ~
There what could fairy bride.
groom and bride wish for more
But the king flew In, with his
eye, in sparkle; in such great
haste to know who had been causing
the queen to sigh and the last word Of
the strange little song her elves had
been singing, died away in whisper,
because the singers wanted to hear what
he would say.
As if a woman did not always speak
first /!
"Oh, my love-" cried Gentelin, "I've
had to sit on this horrid, splendid old
throne and look beautiful 50 long, that
I've lost all heart. l think, hour after
hour, of the dear children, whom we
used to visit together, and whom l
have not been allowed to see since the
night we were married. So much fuss
ing and fummery Robes and cush-
ions, laces and rings, belts and veils
and crowns and necklaces What is q
fairy's life good for, if it is to be all
wasted in dressing and feasting and
dreaming?
"And there are babies, tumbling
about in the grass, and falling asleep in
the sunshine while the breezes say
over and over to them their pretty
words, that even fairy does not al.
ways understand ; and cannot be near
to breathe sweet sounds in their ears,
and make them dream of the time when
they were angels, or of the time when
they will be angels sgain. And all the
big boys and girls l wonder over and
over If they miss me though 1 could
never quite know whether they saw
me or not. I'm afraid they will get
naughty, and there will be no fairy
near to touch their cheeks and make
them blush for it or they may he in
deep trouble, andno soft hand to smooth
their brows and drive all the darkness
away.
"Oh, my king, let US leave our throne
empty for awhile, and fly away togeth-
er, to find out what has become of our
dear ones.
"For brighter than daisy buds that grow
Alive In the sun to their very tips,
Is the smile on babys face of snow,
And the curl of baby's laughing ps.
"oh, the woods are glad when the children
come
Shouting and singing and m erry with play
And the birds rejoice, and the wild bees hum,
And the winds fly after them all the day
'The waves run ripping, in flashes of light;
All In a hurry the flowers unfold,
Then why should fairy be hidden from
sight,
To pine with grief in palace OF gold ~
There what could a kingly bride.
groom say, when the lady he loved, all
In tremble, burst into such beseech-
ing, signing little song as that? And
in such voice too Why it scared
and melted and faded, and rose again,
and darted here and there, now high,
now low, till it echoed its way through
al the shadowy corridors of the royal
house, like the light vibrations of a far.
'ff bell and when it was hushed, all |
your heart sang after it with de-
light.
Well, he said he would go, of |
course !!
Oh, then, what whirl there was
through the great, rich parlors of the
Palace of King Fanfanero and Gu cen
Have you ever leaned over
crystal spring and seen all at once,
little eddy begin in the centre, like
ing of silver, and keep turning and
urning, till all the pool was in quiv-
r and it seemed as if its ripples were
'eing poured down into a shining tun-
lei, and would soon be all swallowed
way by the hurrying whirlpool? But
when you looked, why the spring was
,etting no lower nay it was actually
higher every minute! And
o, what you took for tunnel to pour
he water into, was a stream gush-
ng up out of the heart of the rock be-
leath, and circling out among the 9TH
r currents, as sweet and cool as morn.
ng dew.
There were elves, sprites, fairy la.
lies and lords, gnomes, and puny
collins, no bigger than fire.fiies, and
ooking very much like them in their
carlet jackets, yellow trains, and pret.
y, slashed, green sleeves, with bugles
nd fringes and rows upon rows of frost
york lace, all waving and winding
bout and flying high and alighting
ow, and seeming to be in one of the !
most delightful states ofconfusion poss-
BILE.
Now in fairy land, Pm told, it is very
nuch as it is among men and women,
7ho live near the royal palaces of the
World. Whatever the queen wears, all
ther ladies want to wear too and if
he king rolls out in his carrlrge, why
IL the gentlemen of his court wish to |
oil after him when the royal people
Ugh and look sorry, other folks draw
own the corners of their mouths
which proceeding does no one any
ood), and try to coax the tears out of
heir eyes-by holding their breath
erhaps did you ever try it? But
'hen queen and king look glad, and |
eem to be making ready to enjoy
nemselves, by taking a trip and get /
ng glimpse ofthe world, then yor
lay see such a rushing to and fro, as ',fl
very man and woman must kes N
l motion or die.
So 1t happened that the fairies " bo
'ere always ready in the palace be gan
whirl about, and set their Iii tie.
'athered caps on their heads, and tie
their ribbons and sashes, and lake
lady to follow on after their loved
ing and queen and though YOU
HI.