River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-05
DIPSY AND DELLA.
Della had run away.
Cb1 -,ao n l,t&In nS-l

She was little girl, nine years old,
who had been picked out of on orphan
asylum by old Mrs. Bidge. Old Mrs.
Biihge lived at the foot of mountain,
close to Enchanted Land, and a very hard
mistress she was, az Della soon found our.
She kept her ali day picking berries, and
then locked her up lest she should es-
cape. while she (Mrs Blidge) trudged off
TO sell them at the nearest village. Some
times she fed Della and sometimes she
forgot to feed her, until Della grew thin
and lean and as for clothes, any old rag
was good enough.
One day Mrs Blidge sent Della out to
draw water at the well, and by some ms
take the chain slipped off the cylinder,
and down went the bucket crash into the
we'll. So Della took the tin dipper, and
threw it after the bucket.
Lie there, both of you, said she. "I'll
never touch YOU morem
And away she trudged up the noun
tain to seek her fortune.
Pretty soon she met another little girl,
picking biuebarries off the bushes, and
eating them as if she was half starved to
death.
"Who are you'll" said Della.
"I'm Dipsy," said the strange little
girl.
"lnd what are you doing here3" asked
Della.
'Ol," said Dipsy, i've run away"
Isn't that funny?" said Della. $50
have l. l dropped the bucket down the
veil. What dId N,u dor
II let the oatmeal porridge burn" said
Dipsy. AM while my cross old grand
mother was looking for a nice timber
tick to beat me with, ran away"
"Apd what are you going to do now27
asked Della.
81 uon KNOW" answered Dipsy,
"Neiiher do l." said Della. Lets
take hold of hands and go up the noun
tain together
Pretty soon they came 20 great field
Of BURBERRY bushes, where pail stood
filed nearly to the brinl with the fruit.
stop said Della 1T isn't ours
II don't care" cried Dipsy, stamping
her little foot I'm hungrym
80 am /, said Della; ''but we mustn't
| take what isn't ours"
Dipsy, however, only made a face in
return, aud sitting down, began to gobble
up the berries as fast as she could
All of sudden tall old woman, with
a curious peaked cap, and nose and
chin that almost touched each other,
med to rise up before them out of the
| very middle of huge cluster of blue
| berry bushes.
WHO'S eating my berriesl" said she, in
a shrill voice.
Dipsy put her blue stained fingers be
hind her.
ats that little GIRL said she, nodding
her head toward Della.
| The old woman looked sharply from
one TO another, but she did not say any
thing.
please, ma'am," said Dell, humDly.
1--WE are two little girls going TO seek our
fortunes. Coald you tell me where the
Queen of the Fairies lives"
Il am fairy myself said the old
woman.
At this Dipsy burst out laughing.
mo, yer is not, said she, tilDging a
handful of blueberries at the old woman.
-"FAries are young and beautiful You
are an old frightr'
'Dipsy hushr' said Dipsy.
II won't hush !" said Dipsy.
The old woman, however,. paid no at
attention to the little girls, impuden'
words.
You are in Enchanted Land now,
said She aft you go on straight up this
path. you will find great rock, al hung
with vines, on the edge of stream
Knock at it, and say, Open gates, Della
waitsw You will see what You Will see !
How d. you know my name is Cellar
said the child, IN amazement
II know everything" said the ole
woman. with a wise nod of the head
Didn't l tell You was fairy2 But there
are three things you must observe"
what are theyl" said Della.
Don't look behind you; that's numbel
one. Don't touch anything; that's mum
Der two. Don't laugh; that's number
three. Now, go on your way"
Hand-in hand, the little girls once more
set off, their hearts beating so fast at th'
prospect of enter .ng Fairy Land that the!
co Id hardly breathe. At the top of th'
hill they found the big rock al
over hung with vines, just as the OLE
woman had said. and DIpsy. crowdine
forward, knocked first, crying out as sh'