Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-10-04
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
King FaIry-Haud,. wonderful Servants.

King Falry-HRnd's Wonderful Servants.
Half-past ten O'Clock I" sighed Milly
Mann, land I've not nearly finished,
though I've been working hard all day
long"
And Milly hustled here and there,
sweeping, busting, cleaning, rubbing,
flying about from one thing to another
in fact, trying to do half dozen things
at once.
And a pretty state of confusion the
room was in in consequence The chairs
were all lying about, the contents of the
dresser-drawers had been emptied out
on the floor in seeking a buster; the
clean linen had been partly taken out of
the basket and sorted, and was now
lying about in dangerous proximity to
the pots and kettles which had been put
there while Milly was sweeping the
shelf; the coal-scuttle had been placed
in the center of the room, fitting on the
broom-handle, while the old cat and her
XII tens were playing hide and seek in
the linen basket, regardless of the con-
sequences to the clean print dress which
Milly's mother was looking forward to
wearing DO-mOrrONs
"There, now, l must begin to clear
up" exclaimed poor Milly, in despera-
ton, Selling the big kettle and sauce
pan, and bearing them off. Suddenly
her eye alighted on the cat. sob p
she cried, "what would mother say to
see you there; I'll give it to you" And
she seized the broom-handle to carry
out her intention, when. with crash,
over went the coal-scuttle, and its con-
tents were scattered in every direction.
This was too much for Milly; her
courage gave way, and sitting down on
the floor she burst into tears, exclaiming:
"That's just my luck; do my utmost,
and yet everything seems to go wrong.
And folding her hands over her eyes
she buried her head in her lap, and
gave herself up to grief and despair.
Rat, tat, tat
"Where did that knock come from 2"
cried Miliy, to herself. cit sounded as
if it we're beneath the floor" Then
raising her voice, she said, "Who's
there? Come in p
What was her surprise and alarm to
see rising out of the floor itself queer
looking little dwarf, about two feet high,
with a wizened face and piercing eye,
who came straight toward where Milly
was sitting.
sob, dearW cried Milly, in dread
full fright. "Who are youG and what
do you want2"
"Child," said the old man, kindly,
81 am King Fairy-hand, and am the
ruler of one of the most powerful tribes
in the fairy kingdom; and though have
only ten servants, they can do such won
ders as were never equaled by living crea-
lures. And seeing you weeping Just
now, 1 have come to comfort and help
you"
"Oh, how kind of you, King Fairy
hand p said Milly, Frightening up, and
quite treasured by the old mans gentle
manner. "Will you, then, help me to
get the place tidy before mother comes
in ?" ...E. .,....
"Indeed I will, with pleasure, re-
piled the king; "and you and 1 will sit
here and look on"
Then spreading out both hands, he
cried:
Servants of King Fairy-hand,
Who delight IN his command,
Do your duty, little band.
Immediately there sprang from the
kings hands-whence, Milly could not
quite see, but it seemed as if they came
from his finger ends-fve pairs of tiny
dwarfs, about four inches high, who al
once set to work to clean and tidy the
room.
Milly noticed particularly that they
all worked together at one thing until it
was finished, and then commenced an
other. First of all they picked up the
Jumps of coal and swept up the dust,
then they put away the clean linen,
swept the shelves, and arranged the pots
and kettles; after that they did the
stove, the CRATE and various other things,
and finished by sweeping, busting and
tldying those unfortunate dresser draw
ers which Milly had left in such dis.
order.
Oh, how they rubbed the table and
chairs, and how quietly and thoroughly
they busted everything in the room, till
in a very short time the place looked
bright and cheerful and comfor ia bic
and Milly clapped her hands with de
light at the transformation 1905
ooh, how quickly they work p she
cried; " no hustle, no hurry. Oh, King
Fairy hand, yours are the most. perfect
and exquisite little workmen 1 ever saw
and they look so cheerful and happy,
too |"
"Ah, Milly, would you like to have a
present of set of my workmen ?" said
the king.
eyes, yes |" exclaimed Milly. "But, ;,
she added, after pause, "that cannot
be, for they would not obey me-"
"But I say they WILL" replied the
king, sharply, /" if you set to work in
the right way" ...-- :E..
sob, do tell me how p cried the ex-
cited child, Sand will promise-yes
king, I will promise faithfully to do Just
as you tell me-" .- tt
"Now," said the king, addressing the
dwarfs, "iust tell this little girl whence
you come, and whom you obey"
Then the little men formed ring,
and sang, in their tiny voices:
Ten little men are we,
In busy little fingers living,
And we will faithful be,
Our best work always giving
To boys, and girls, and men
.s .-- Who du'y try to do;
II you're not lazy, then,
Wen come with helpto you.