Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

niers when You get them?" asked the fairy.
Il shall give them to the most deserving per-
son know. he answered with little ehuckle
"A very worthy fellow indeed
The fairy understood him. 81 do not care a
Bit" she said, .'about benefting you, for am
not at all certain you deserve it, but think the
King is quite right in wishing Shamrock to
spend Christmas with the rest of the people. and
| have great mind to try and see what can
do to bring the thing about
But II you succeed" said the shoemaker, " /
must have the credit of the affair. for if had
not come here tonight you never would have
done anything at ALL"
THAT is very true" returned the fairy GO I
should not have thought of it.
After few minutes reflection, the fairy told
the shoemaker that she had plan which she
thought was good one. ''And if succeed"
she said. what will you do for me: Will YOU
make me pair of slippers
The shoemaker laughed as he looked at her
tiny feet I'll do that, he said, whether GU
succeed or not
Every well" said the fairy. "Take my meas
ure"
The fairy then went away as fast as she could
imps dwelt. She gathered these little beings
about her. and when she had told them what
she wanted them to do every ice imp waved
his diamond cap in the air, and vowed he would
go to work that very instant.
The next morning Shamrock got up and went
out to look for his COW. Somehow he had good
deal of trouble in finding her. He could hear the
tinkle of her bell but it came from some very tall
reeds and PUSHES, and he could not see her.
At last, hearing the bell close to his
feet. he stopped down that he might the better
find the COW.
Suddenly he felt himself moving. In an in
slant he was out from among the PUSHES. and
he found that he was sliding down along hill Of
ice as smooth as polished slab of marble, and
which extended great distance. to what
seemed the bottom of deep ravine. The de-
scent was very gradual, and the giant slid slowly
down. but though he made every effort to do so,
he found it impossible to stop. In moment q
strange figure appeared before him. 1t was a
very small dwarf, about foot high. mounted
upon stills four or five times longer than him
self. On the end of each silt was little skate,
and on these the dwarf was sliding backward
down the hill.
''HelO" said the little fellow Chow do YOU
like it?''
81 don't like it at ALL roared Shamrock
What does it all mean?'
at means that you are going to the bottom
of this ravine," said the dwarf, throwing out his
arms to steady himself 81 EXPECT You'll 90
be afraid. There's pile of straw-fOur OF five
tOns-at the bottom, and you'll go right into
that
"Who did this thing?" cried Shamrock
"YOu'll find out when you get to the bottom -
said the dwarf. ''But there! did you see? /
nearly went over"
you'll break your neck directly" said the
giant.
mo. 1 won't. Or at least 1 think won't
But my stills are very unsteady. They are made
OF skewers tied together with thread. and they
are not stiff bit, and the skates make them
more shaky yet
What did you put them on for, you little
idiot ?" said the giant.
piled the dwarf, land l wanted something to
raise me up. so l could talk to you and hear YOU
You see, want to tell the ice imps, and the
fairies what you say while you are sliding down"
You can tell Them" rOared Shamrock. "that
SAID you were an impairment little fool and
that / hoped you'd break your neck"
There's nothing interesting in that" said
the dwarf. Cant you tell me what sort of
sensations you have? Did any of your family
ever"
At this moment one of the stills of the dwarf
bent under him, the other flew forward. and the
little fellow went sprawlng ON the ice.
Shamrock had not time to see what happened
next. He was now moving very swiftly, and as
he passed the struggling dwarf he tumbled over
on his back. and so went on and on until he
landed safely in the pile of straw at the bottom
OF the HILL
The giant floundered to his feet. and looked
about him in dismay. He was in an enormous
pit, three sides of which arose perpendicularly
high above his head, while in front of him
stretched upward the smooth and glittering ice
hill. He knew it would be absurd for him to
try to ascend this, and the steep walls were COW
cred and glazed with ice, and impossible to
climb.
He was greatly wondering how there hap
pened to be such place, how he happened to
slide into it, and now he should ever get ont Of
it. when he heard a little voice not far from his
head. Turning around. he saw the fairy stand
ing upon slight projection on the wall.
'Are you hurt" she said.
''No, am not hurt, ;" he rOared; ''but what is
the meaning of this? Had you hand in it?'
yes" she said; 81 invented this pit and the
hill, but it was the ice imps who carried out my
plans"
And what did you plan it for, you wicked
little creature?" cried Shamrock.
liam not wicked" replied the fairy; land didit
because wanted to please the King. and to make
you stay with him over Christmas, and think
managed it very well. Some of us fairies took
the bell from your cow. and We tinked it before
you until We led you to the very brink of the
ice hill. Then you slid down. and were not
hurt and now you can't get away"
But what good will that do you and the
King?" cried the giant. II shall certainly not
join him and his people at Christmas"
You can't help it," said the fairy. Tonight
the ice imps will build up the ice under you I'M
til you and your straw will be on the side of
very high hill. You will be in a smooth cleft or
gully Office, which will slope downward until it
ends in one of the great parks outside of the
city. You can't get out Of the cleft and are
bound to slide down as soon as we are ready
Everybody will know what is going to happen,
and the King and hundreds of people will be in
the park. Then. early tomorrow morning. you
will slide down among them, and verybOdy
will bid you Merry Christmas What do YOU
think of that plan? Giants and men can do
nothing with you, but We little creatures can
manage you. can't WEI"
You are lot of little mscreants,' said
Shamrock. land you can do great deal of mis-
chief when you try. l acknowledge that in this
case you are more powerful than giants or men.
But do you know what will happen if you carry
out this plan?''
WHAT" asked the fairy.
81 shall lose my temper, a thing don't often
do; but know shall do it i; you play such a
trick on me as that"
land what will happen tnen:" asked the
fairy.
Happen" cried Shamrock. 81 shall boil
over with Eage. If find myself against my will
among those people on Christmas day, l shall be
so wild with anger that shall trample them to
death without mercy. There will not be many
of them who will think it merry Christmas
do you really mean that" asked the fairy.
Il certainly do said Shamrock.
The little creature looked earnestly at the
giants stern face. ''Shamruck," she cried, .'if
this plan of mine is to cause trouble and misery.