The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-03-31
JUVENILE COLUMN.
A TRUE STORY WITH A FAIRY IN I:


go, Granny, if had but one little piec,
| of all this treasure, what glad girl
should be"
Little Rose Dibble stood at the corner OF
two streets, holding fast to her grandmother
hand, while she gazed with wide open eyes
into a window rich with gold and silver
ware, which seemed to her an inexhaustible
mine of wealth.
It was q dreary night in December, and
the chilly wind, carrying the snowflakes
hitler and thither, blew her hair in golden
tangles all about her little white face.
"You will never have that, Rosie,
through me-"
hastened her steps, holding her breath as
| she passed by the beautiful windows; for
the breath that came over her pale little
lips was the breath of desire, 80 hard for a
child to control.
She did not seem to feel the cold that
night, perhaps because the wind of adver-
sity had been blowing cold upon. her young
life ever since she could remember. And
just then, too, her heart was so warm with
the fire Of sweet fancies!
But the heart in Rosie's body was a
tender one, and at the SILVER which ran
through her grandmother's frame, she
frightened her hold on her withered hand,
6urrying more swiftly along the snowy
footpath.
They were soon out of the city, the snow
like cloud about them, the bright lights
fading like q dream in the distance, and
their home, poor and cherries though it
was, friendly sight.
They reached the door and went in. 1t
was but poor shelter against the bitter
of the wide, desolate common but Rosie
barred the door, lighted fire of sticks aud
put q new candle in the iron candlestick !;
then she crept close to her grandmother's
feet before the fire.
Her grandmother was the only friend
Rosie had in the world, and Rosie was the
only treasure her grandmother had left, so
that the love they gave each other was
undivided"
"Aren't you going to get to bed, Rosie"
her grandmother asked at length, "while
the room is warmf Maybe you'll have
happy dreams before the dawn"
"No," Eaid Rosie, shaking her lead till
the curls tumbled about her face again
"you must tell me story first, Let it be
of the summer time you used to know when
you were little like me-"
"Little like you! All, Rosie, child, that
was such a long, long time ago that 1t
makes me dizzy to look back to it: Bat
dream sometimes of q brighter summer
time, when 1 shall leave this wornout
hairs, and be at home in pleasant gardens
with the river of life flowing through"
Rosie looked up in amazement as the
dear voice dropped into silence but there
was a smile on the wriHkled face, and a
glow, like that of the morning over the gray
pallor of the sunken cheeks.
"Ah," thought Rosie to herself, elf
might only get there too, where it is always
summer" And she shivered, for the sticks
had burned out, and the Goals were burning
to ashes. ---r---4
But there was tiny glow on one corner
of the hearthstone, and, almost as if her
thought had answered itself, low voice
like music rose from the midst of the ashes.
Rosie looked again, rubbing her eyes to
be sure she was awake, and there, before
her, in plain sight, was the prettiest little
creature your bright fancy can paint. She
had blue eyes, and a golden halo about her
head 80 that Rosie could not tell where
the atmosphere which surrounded her.
How came you here J" asked Rosie,
softly.
"All her lifetime have lived in your
good grandmother's heart" said the dear
little fairy, in her musical voice. Now
the spark of her life is gone out, and am
waiting to know if you will let me stay
"But who are you 2" cried Rosie, in
amazement.
"You wished but o minute ago." con-
tinued the fairy, that you could go where
your grandmother is gone. 1 am the Fairy
of Kind Words and Generous Deeds, and
if you take me into your heart, can show
you the way, and help you to get there"
81 WILL" cried Rosie, with a sudden
sweet resolution.
And then, somehow, before she knew it,
in some mysterious way, the door of her
heart swung open, and the beautiful fairy
slipped in.
Rosie felt her heart grow warm and
and hiding her sleepy eyes on her
cold knees, she fell asleep,
while the candle, too, burned down to q
little spark and went out.
In the morning rich lady was riding by |
in her sleigh, all covered with soft fur |
robes, and discovered little Rose through |
The half-open door, which the wind had
,orn from its fastenings.
Moved with pity, she took her to her
own luxurious home, which was bright
With everything but children's faces, adopt
pg her for her own little daughter. There
;tHe fairy stayed with little Rose Dibble
Until she, too, grew old. She needed all
he wise fairy's monitions, dealing out
the comforts which had go
trangely come to her, to the poor and I'M