The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-01-15
JOHNNY'S WISH.
A FAIRY STORY FOR THE CHILDRE,


A haxen-haired, freckle-faced boy was
Johnny, with blue eyes and lips like
ripe cherries. He was the grandson OF
small farmer, his own father and
mother being dead and gone, and laid
in Gods acre. Grandfather was an old
man, you may be sure, and perhaps he
was a little Cross Johnny thought SO
at all events, and fancied that his own
life was very hard.
When Johnny was taking care of the
few sheep that belonged to his grand
father, he would sometimes see the young
lord of the manor ride by on his milk.
white pony, with servant-man in green
and gold riding behind him on chest
nut cob. Then Johnny would pout his
cherry lips and the tears would come
into his eyes, and he would say to him
self: why was not I born to have
milk-white pony and servant in green
and goldP lam quite as good as he is
am bigger and stronger and just as
good-looking; who is he, to ride, when /
have to walkP All, I wish
And there Johnny stopped and fell
into reverie-which is sometimes as
bad as falling into mill-pond.
Johnny had often heard talk of the
fairies, the good little people, light as
thistle-down and beautiful as innocence,
dwelling in the bell-fowers, drinking
dew nectar, and happy, aye, as happy
as the moonlight night was long.
One night Johnny made up his mind
that he would look out for the fairies.
So, in not the best Of tempers and
the very lowest Of spirits, Johnny came
to look ont for the fairies. he lay down
on the grass and kept very quiet till the
village clock struck twelve; then he
heard q rustic and hustle and voic
not so loud as the buzz of the blue bot
tie, and laughter scrcely so distinct as
the chirp of the cricket-but he knew
it was the fairies, and his heart went
thumpl thumpI thumpl
Presently he ventured to look round
him. The moon was shining brightly,
and by its light he saw the gayest COM
pany OF miniature beings you can pos
sibly imagine, dancing merrily. Time
would fail to tell you how beautiful they
oil were, how gayly dressed, how cour-
teous to each other, and how graceful in
every motion. Johnnyrubbed hiseye and
fancied he was dreaming; he stretched
out his hand and ran it into lot of net
ties, and that quite convinced him lie
was wide awake. The smart sting made
him cry out, aud instantly the ball be-
came rout. The fairies fed in mad
haste, some hiding themselves under
the leaves, some burying themselves in
bell-howers, all escaping except one,
and he got his feet entanged in a spi
der's web, and could do nothing but
wriggle and cry ont.
Johnny came to his rescue, but De-
fore releasing him begged boon.
what will you haveP' said the little
fairy. Speak quickly, and get me out
OF this horrible web
Il want to be as we'll of as the little
lord OF the manor
Tush, quoth the fairy, you are bet
ter off.
III you say that you know nothing
about it., said Johnny-'and You may
stop in the web till the spider finds you.
Why, he has a white pony and servant
in green and gold, and =
'You are healthy little shepherd boy,
without care
Il am worn out with care, said John
ny. MY grandfather is cross; the black
bread is hard and not too much OF il;
my jacket is patched, my shoes almost
worn out; the sheep contrary, and the
dog obstinate. Come, what will you do
for meP"
Would you change places with the
boy you euvyP
Yes, Of course ! would,