Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-11-09
BESSIE AND THE ELVES.
A Fairy Story.
BY HELEN PHILLEO JENKINS.
From the n. Y. Independent.

Early one June morning a playful
sunbeam stole through the branches
of an ailanthas tree and crept slyly in
to the chamber where pale little girl
lay sleeping. This sunbeam was one
of band of the busiest and brightest
elves which ever visited this dull world.
They are always in the gaysst mood.
They frohc on the grass, and stretch
themselves upon the tree-tops, ard go
sliding down church-spires, and waltz
ing on the water, and "cuttlng up
shines" generally.
The golden-headed sunbeam which
came into Bessie's room that June
morning said to himself, as he came
slyly through the shutter. II believe
[ can cure this pale little girl. Its in
my line. I'll make her laugh. any
way" So he sprang across the room
and perched himself on the back Of a
handsome easy-chair which stood near
the bed; and there he sat. waiting.
After time Bessie opened her eyes,
feeling sure somebody was gazing at
her, and, sure enough, there was some
body. A golden headed elf, with his
face in broad grin, his cheeks glow
ing, his eyes sparkling, his fat legs
dangling upon the crimson chair back.
<. Altogether it was such funny-look-
ing object Bessie could not help laugh
ing.
$50 ho!" he said. you're awake
at last. [ have been waiting long
time for you to open your eyes. Feel
like having frolic this morning?'' he
said, squirting his eyes in very COM
ical way.
"Who are your" asked Bessie, not
quite certain how she ought to treat
this presumptuous creature.
cDon't you know me?" he said,
laughing, Then suddenly he ran down
the back of the char, keeled over the
crimson seat, and ran up again, look
ing funnisr than before.
"You don't know me Why. [ know
you very well. I see you very often.
but | suppose you don't notice me
when | kiss your hands. and hide in
the folds of your dress, and climb up
and sit upon your head. You need
not laugh at that. ! do sit there Of
ten. You see I'm fairy. You
thought the fairies were all dead, didn' t
you? [ heard you say SO to your ma
ma. the other day, when you were
reading fairy story. And | flew
right down upon your book and looked
right into your sweet face. And you
never saw me at all, did you? No mat
ter. We are 5ery amiable sort of
fairies always in good spirits and not
IN the least vain; so it doesn't make
us feel sad if people don't notice us.
l just thought I'd come this morning
and see if [ couldn't brighten you a
little. You see we are doctors. Fun
ny. isn't it :? We don't give any bad
tasting medicine, though. You need
not be afraid. We use plasters. Ha!
Hap And he looked so roguish and
shook his yellow locks in such a conf
cal way that Bessie laughed outright.
At that Golden Head slipped down
the back Of the chair again. turned a
somersault, and then leaped up and
sat astride the chair back.
"What do you keep doing that for?'
asked Bessie.
"Why you see there Is disturbing
influence outside. I'm afraid it will
get me out there. if [ don't exercise
myself little, I'm not quite the
master of myself, you see"
Bessie did not see. But it was all
the same. She did not care for philo-
sophical explanations. She was impa-
tient to ask a host Of questions.
"Where do such yellow, merry
sprights as you are live !" she said.
"Our home is great way off, in a
grander palace than any kings. 1t
would make your blue eyes blind to
look at its splendor. And We have the
largest playground you could ever i'm.
agine. But we don't care to stay
there. We like better to be cutting
up shines on the grass and among the
flowers to be playing Ring around
Rosy with little girls. when they DONE
know we are among them. Oh, what
fun we have! We never come in the
nighttime, like those sickly fairies you
read about, that dance in the moon
light and play all sorts of tricks, and
then skulk away in the daytime, as il
they were ashamed. No. Our time
is the day. We never hide ourselve:
aud if people don't see US, it ism t oul
fault"
Just then there was a noise in the
tree-tops, as if the wind were blowing
Bessie turned her head, and when she
looked back Golden Head was nowhere
to be seen. She looked all about the
duskys silent room but could see moth.
ing of him. She thought he must
have erept down behind the chair
She had half mind 10 try to get UP
and see when suddenly there he was,
funnier than ever, astride the crimson
arm.
"Why, where did you go, then p
asked Bessie.
t'Out of the window. Didn't YOU