The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-02-23
Young Folks.
A True Story with Fairy in II.
by CLIO STANLEY.

wide open eyes into window rich with
gold and silver ware, which seemed to
her an inexhaustible mine of wealth.
1t was a dreary night in December,
and the chilly wind, carrying the snow
flakes hither and thither, blew her
hair in golden tangles all about her lit
tie white face
"You will never have that, Rosie"
through me-"
When her grandmother said that,
Rosie fastened 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 de-
sire, so hard for child to control.
She di d not seem to feel the cold that
night, perhaps because the wind of ad-
versity had been blowing cold upon her
young life ever since she could remem-
Der. And just then, too her heart was
so warm with the fire of sweet fam
cies
But the heart in Rosie's body was a
tender one, and at the shiver which ran
through her grand mothers frame, she
frightened her hold on her withered
hand, hurryiDg more swiftly along the
snowy foot path.
| They were soon out of the city, the
snow like cloud about them, the brigh t
lights fading like dream in the dis
tance, and their home, poor and cheer
less through it was, friendly sight.
They reached the door and went in.
1t was but poor shelter against the bit
ter storm, the two little rooms in the
midst of the wide desolute common
but Rosie barred the door, lighted
fire of sticks, and put a new candle in
the iron candlestick; then she crept
close to her grandmothers feet before
the fire.
Her grandmother was the only friend
Rosie had in the world, and Rosie Was
the one 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 warm? May
be you'll have happy dreams before the
dawn"
mo-" said Rosie, shaking her head
till the curs tumbed 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 long, long time ago that |
it makes me dizzy to look back to it ! |
But dream sometimes of brighter
summertime, when I shall leave this
worn out house, drop Off these wrinkles
and gray hairs, and be at home in pleas
and gardens with the river of life flow.
ing through"
Rosie looked up in amazement as the |
dear voice dropped into silence; but
there was smile on the wrinkled face,
and glow, like that of the morning,
over the gray pallor of the sunken
cheeks.
"Ah," thought Rosie, to herself, "If l
oliy BCt lOO, WHciC IL 10 Gl- |
ways summer !" And she shivered, for
the sticks had burned out, and the Goals
were burning to ashes.
But there was tiny glow in one cor
ner 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, be.
fore her, in plain sight, was the pret-
tiest little creature your bright fancy
can paint. She blue hadeyes, and a golden
halo about her head so that Rosie could
not tell where the gold of her hair faded
into the gold of the atmosphere which
her.
"How came you here?" asked Rosie, I
softly.
"All ber lifetime I have lived in your
good grandmother'5 heart,' said the
dear little fairy, in her musical voice.
"NoW the spark of her life is gone out,
and 1 am waiting to know if you will
let me stay with you"
"But who are you?" cried Rosie, in
"You wished but minute ago." con-
tinued the fairy, "that you could go
where your grandmother is gone. l am
the Fairy of Kind Words and Gener-
ous Deeds and if you take me into your
heart, 1 can show you the way, and
help you to get there"
II 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 beauti-
'ul fairy slipped in.
Rosie felt her heart grow warm and
and hiding her sleepy eyes on
ler grandmother's cold knees, she fell
asleep, while the candle, too. burned
down to little spark and went out.
In tho 111nppfnne u;n lol |