The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-03-19
stems, and then joining hands in the may
dance, as they sung:


while earth's weary mortals sleep,
We our fairy vigils keep
And where the moonbsams brightest glance,
Trip our gay and joyous dance"
Little Kurt looked around in bewildered
ecstacy and well he might, for he was in
Fairyland, where a mortal had rarely been
before, and few if any have ever been since.
Then the Fairy Queen led the boy into a
shaded grove, and babe the attendants set be-
fore him honey and fruits of many kinds, while
she slipped drop of distilled flower-dew from
goblet cut out of single diamond. After
the boy had rested and refreshed himself, he
roamed at will amid the beautiful trees and
even grew SO familiar with the little fays as to
join in their sports He was happy, and for
got all about his sorrows He thought that
he should like to live so forever, and was sorry
when the Queen called him and said
"You must leave us now, Kurt, for the
morning will soon dawn; but choose first
something to take with you in remembrance
of your visit to Fairyland. You think now,
| know, that you would be happy to live here
forever; but you are wrong, Kurt. You are
not a fairy, you know, and will by and by grow
to be man. Then you will soon be tired of
such a life as we lead, and want to go back to
mankind again. Choose, therefore, what you
will, and then you must leave u.s.
Kurt saw that the Queen was right, and
with sigh cast a regretful look over Fairy
land. Just then an exquisite little bird perch
ed itself upon branch near by, and sung a
bewildering song The plumage of this little
L.,I q, 4,
flashed in the moonlight with ever varying
colors and his breast sparkled with the daz-
zling lustre of diamond.
Kurt stretched forth his hand. 81 will take
this beautiful Bird ''You have chosen
wisely, Kurt, {" returned the Fairy Queen, ap-
provingly. "This little songster will cheer
and assist you; besides, you will never feel
utterly dosolate while he sings the songs of
Fairyland and he will sometimes give you
good advice"
She took the bird in her hand as she spoke,
and fastening slender silver thread beneath
its wings, babe Kurt knot the end of the thread
firmly about his wrist. He did so, and the
little bird came at once and nestled in his
bosom. Then the Fairy Queen babe Kurt fol
low her, until they came to the apparently
impenetrable clump of trees through which
they had entered. Here ali the fairies gather
ed around, saying, in their soft musical voices :
Goodbye, little Kurt goodbye, little
Kurt
And when the little boy attempted to reply,
the first morning sunbeam fell upon them
the whole scene vanished, and Kurt, to his
great astonishment, found himself lying be-
meath the trees, just where the Fairy Queen
had found him.
He looked about him. Everything wass STILL
The birds had not yet left their nests. A
quivering ray of sunlight fell upon the spot
where Kurt had rested. The boy sighed.
81 had beautiful dream last night but it
is broad daylight now, and what am to do?
| shall die if | stay here and how am | to
find my way out of the forest?" just then
he heard sudden gush of strange, sweet
melody that filled his heart with joy; and
amid the variety of trlls and quavers, he dis
tinguished these words
"Kurt il you turn towards the west
And follow the till he sinks to rest
Then onward again when the night is past,
You may find your way out OF the woods at last"
II was the voice of the fairy bird, and as
Kurt looked up, there, sure enough, was the
beautiful little fellow his brilliant plumage
flashing in the sunshine as he scared above
the boy and sung his wonderful song.
And now Kurt felt inspired with new cour-
age.
$50 have not been dreaming after all,
he thought "and this charming little bird
will help me to find my way out of the forest.
How fortunate ! am in possessing him.
Then the boy ate of his bread and cheese,
andthen turning his face toward the west,
walked on with light heart, the beautiful
bird sometimes nesting up in his bosom,
sometimes soaring as high up as the silver
TIN cad would let him, and singing such sweet
songs, recalling to Kurt his visit to Fairyland,
and all the lovely things he had seen there.
SO he travelled on that day and the next, rest
ing beneath the trees at night, but on the
third day he had eaten his last crust, and faint
and weary sat down to rest, while still all
about him nothing but the tall trees could be
seen. His courage failed, and he wept aloud.
"You have deceived me, /" he said to the
bird 81 viii never believe you again. How
sorry am that have wandered so far away
in the woods, for plenty of berries grew near
where was. Perhaps the wood-cutter might
have come back after all. Now, if he should
he will not be able TO find me ; and there is
not berry about here nor drop of water
that can see. | shall starve and die at last,
and it is all through you, deceitful fairy bird.
| wish had never seen you at ALL
The bright bird seemed to understand the
boy, but he did not mind his reproaches for
circling gayly about Kurt's head, and then
nesting in his bosom, he sang another strain :
Courage Kurt, courage, and travel on,
You may find the way yet before daylight is gomez
Though Kurt had declared but the moment
before he would never listen to the fairy bird
again, yet he jumped briskly up and walked
on with renewed courage. Presently he came
to an unexpected opening, and there, just be-
fore him, was cluster of houses, with the