Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-03-09
HAL'S DREAM.

Halls DhEAMs
MAINE FAIRY TALE.
Poor little Hal really did not know
what to do with himself. He did not
care to read and Tom was lost in one
of Mayne Reid's soul-thrilling tiger
hunts, and would not 80 much as look
at him. He might have put himself in
his little bed. and spared himself and
the family his restless wanderings about
the room, resulting in the occasional
thump of a book knocked from the
table, an overturned work basket, and
other catastrophes apt to occur in the
erratic course of small boy with moth
ing to do. But never, while he had the
proper spirit of boy of eight, would
he 60 to bed before Tom did So he
bravely fought against his yawns and
general sieepiness and, throwing him
self on the hearth rug, diligently pulled
old Crambo's ears until the warmth OF
the FIRE, and the sweet Strauss waltzes
Cousin Kate was softly playing in the
next room, fairly overlowered the OBJ
stinate little fellow; and, curled up be-
side Crambo, his head comfortably pill
lowed on the dogs back, in spite OF him,
self he sunk into delicious nap; and
this is what he dreamed:
He thought he was perched on a
branch of a large tree which stood on
the edge of the meadow pond. 1t was
u tree that he knew we'll, and a position
in which he had frequently found him
self; for the children dearly loved the
old branches, which so overhung the
pond that many of the leaves almost
A. rho n
used the wonderful tree for all sorts OF
purposes. In warm weather the swim
mer Jumped from it into the cool water,
and the little girls played house and
had " cubby holes" in it, and Hal him
self had often read fairy tales there by
the hour.
But all this had been in summer, and
now he satshivering on the hard branch,
wondering why he was there that bitter
cold winter nj ght. He looked up at the
stars; they seemed cold and cruel; and
the full moon laughed in his FACET
was not pleasant laugh, he thought
but very scornful one. Then he
glanced down upon the solid, silent POND
that lay outstretched beneath him, ano
the poor child shivered again, and pic
tured the warm fire at home, and trieo
to move back on the branch, that he
might jump down and run away; bu
he could not stir; he seemed to be tas
tened as if tied hand to foot.
He determined to call as loud as he
could, thinking possibly some one Nigh
hear him, and take him down and he
was preparing to give good loud scream
when suddenly he heard coming from
all parts of the wide meadow, and saw
advancing lightly over the snow--now
before | tell what he saw and heard,
wish to say that it was nothing reason
able; but one is not responsible TO
what he sees and hears in Faryland an'
Dreamland, and Hal was in both an'
if this is not a true story, no one cal
say it is not true dream-he hear'
coming from all parts of the meadow
tiny little bells, the sweetest, cleares
tones one could fancy and he saw we
white horses prancing lightly over tn
snow, and drawing equipages whic
were half-sleigh, half chariot, exquisitel
delicate and beautiful.
Swiftly dance the little white horse
over the snow, and presently the fair
chariots stop by the very tree where liz
the fear of being discovered. But tn
fairies are quite secure. They have n
fear of an unbidden guest, so long hav
they been wont to hold their revels III
seen. 1t was very different in the day
of old, when at any time they mig
have been surprised by mortal strayIn
within their realms. But people rarel
now wa-days wander so far in Dreamlan
that they reach the blessed Fairylan,
which lies beyond; a fact which fe
know, and which is not taught in IL
geography, and so many believe the
is no Fairyland at all. There are, ho,
ever, other truths not to be found
geography, and would advise all IL
little friends to believe there is Fair
land now. Just as much as there ev
was.
Hal was amazed to see the fairi
coming so gentee]ly in their carriage
instead of flying or floating through Il
air, or rising up suddenly out Of Il
ground. as all fairies he ever heard
invariably did. But he concluded tn
this mode of progression must be a
culiarity OF the Maine fairies. of who
he had never read word, and he W
consequently quite ignorant oil TIT
habits then, too, the fairies in
books lived hundreds of years ago, VIII
these were modern ones, and, natura
enough, larry fashions would be apt
change in thousand years or so.
He watched intently, and saw th,
one by one step from their chariots. IA
such dazzling, radiant little people
had never imagined. They looked Ii
pictures he had seen of brave knie
and fair ladies of old times. only
tiny. The knights wore cloaks glitt
ing with gems, and swords that lool
like rays of light, ard the trains OF