The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-10
PAPA'S FAIRY STORY.

enOulu DeSln Ill any Otllel way, anu 10
hope that mine will please all the dear
little ones who are still in their fairy
story-hood, | will thus commence it.
Once upon time there lived, in
beautiful village, little boy who had
lovely little sister and very handsome
cat. The cat was of the kind known us
the tortoise-shell.
There was no prettier village in West
srn America than the town of Genevieve.
1t was situated on a plateau surrounded
by deep groves of the largest beech and
oak trees. Upon Il hillside far back from
the thoroughfare was the village church,
and back of that was the quiet grave
ward. At the foot of the hill and on the
edge of the grove lived gentle Mrs.
Plankton and her two children.
Mrs. Plankton was a widow, her hus-
band having died about two years before
the time of which | am writing. Her
boy-the little fellow above mentioned
was five and her little girl just three
years of age.
Lester, the boy, was brave little man,
and felt the Importance OF protecting his
little sister Gertrude upon all occasions
Hand in hand they often wandered
through the woodland in search of wild
flowers, and later in the season they gath
cred the berries which grew in great pro-
fusion in an open field on the opposite
side of the grove.
One day when Lester and his cat-for
pussy always accompanied him when
Gertrude failed to go-were walking
through the grove, there appeared before
them in pathway giant Of tremendous
size. Now Lester, in all his wanderings,
had never met anything to frighten him,
and he was very much alarmed at the
sight of such Il large man. He was just
turning to run home, when the giant
spoke 10 him.
"Fear not, my child | am a friend to
al good boys, and would not harm you
for the world. My mistress sent me tc
fetch you to her, and said if | should
hurt you it would not 90 well with me
She has seen YOU many times when you
were walking with your sister, but wa'
afraid to speak to you lest it shoule
frighten the little girl"
"Who is your mislressW Lester asked
"My mistress is the Fairy Of the Grave,
replied The giant, "and prettier littI'
lady YOU never saw. She lives near by
in grotto that you have never yet seen
While speaking, he had taken Lester
hand and started on the way to the fairy,
home the cat following closely behind
They walked on through the open spac,
which separated one grove from another
and as they neared the other side Leste
saw under the shade of q large oak tree /;
beautiful carriage. Such a tiny littlt
thing as it was-just large enough to hole
him, and possibly his little sister, il sh
had been there.
"Oh." he exclaimed, "what a prett,
little carriage. How / wish that
owned it and those cunning littl
ponies!-ior there were two little blac]
ponies eating grass near by. Just be
hind the tree was the smallest man tha
Lester had ever seen, not more than hal
rs large as himself. This little perso
was dressed in knee-breeches, a blue Goa
with brass buttons, aud a livery hat witt
rosette and feather on one side OF it.
As they approached the tree the littl
man came forward, whip in hand, and
striking the giant across the knees, said:
"Come, you lazy fellow, what has KEEP
YOU so long? | have been waiting her
three half hours for you. If you shoul'
ever loiter again, when you know that
am waiting, shall punish you severely.
The giant trenbled for he saw that tn
dwarf (or little many was very angry.
"Please, master" said he, II looked TO
him for some time before saw him. an
As soon as | had found him | made grea
haste to bring him to you"
The dwarf chen called the ponies in
high, screechy little voice, and they in
medatcly ran up to the carriage, whel
be hitched them up. Before Lester ha
time to think he was placed in the ca
riage by the giant, the cat jumped up b
hind, the dwarf seized the lines, and II
ponies galloped off at a rapid rate.
They soon came, by an abrupt turn,
deep ravine, at the upper end Of whit
was a fine cluster of trees. There We
also various kinds of vines in full blool
and the air was made sweet by their p,
fume. These flowers we're so large tn
four OF the clusters made Deautllul
Dor, under which was richly cary
golden table, laden with delicious fri
and choice flowers. At the further e
of this table, reclining on couch OF 81
green moss, was the Queen OF the woo
nymphs, or fairies. She held &C
wand in her hand, and on her head wa
crown of earth's finest flowers. Behi
her stood two waiting maids who VIZ
dresses made entirely Of leaves and flo
ers.
The Queen motioned Lester to a rus
chair at the end of the table, saying:
"Take seat, my little man. | ha
been waiting for you for some time.
have wanted to talk with you ever sii
the day you were caught in the rain W
your little sister, for | noticed how XII
you were to her; how you took off yC
coat and put it around her to keep
dry, and how you wiped her eyes W
your handkerchief when she cried. S
made up my mind that such a good lit
boy should be rewarded, and | have 81
for you for that purpose. To begin,