Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-01-31
The Fairy Ring.


test of the Summer. The children,
George and Edith and Mary and Frank,
the baby, had been kept IN doors all
day. because their mother said that if
they went out they would certainly be
sunstruck.
They hadn't been very pleased about
it, and said at least dozen times over
that they were sure it couldn't be any
/ hotter outdoors than it was in; that
they knew of lots of cool places, if they
could only 60 out; and, to make long
story short, they were very sure and
every one quite positive that they knew
a great deal more about the matter than
their mother did. They had even
promised to run very fast through the
sunshine. But even then, much to their
surprise, their mother was more decided
than ever about their staying in.
But at last the long, hot, tiresome
hours wore themselves away. and it was
an hour before sunset; and with the
nurse, they started out, carrying their
supper with them. to eat IN the grove
behind the house. But troubles began
at once; for George, who was carrying
the milk, suddenly imagined himself to
be horse and off he galloped, and, as
he said afterwards, before he had time
to say ''Jack Robinson" the milk was
all spilled. There was just about half
a tumblerful left and that was all.
George stepped as suddenly as he had
started off. "Holloa !'' he said, I've
spilled the milk, l guess"
Edith just then caught up with him,
breathless and angry.
'Oh, you bad boy. You're always
doing something just as provoking as
can be. You just meant to do that.
You know you did. Just to make me
| l t..
George looked at her. He really had
not meant to spill her milk. He SIM
ply hadn't thought, and he felt really
sorry when he found he had done it, and
had even thought of running right back
for some more. But when Edith spoke
to him as she had, he in his turn, bot
and angry. had made up his mind OF
the spot that he wouldn't 60 back on,
step. So he looked into the pitcher ane
SAID: "All right l don't care. There
enough for Frankly. and the rest of u
don't want any milk"
81 think you are wrong Edith" sal,
f Mary, who heard the last part of Edith
e angry speech. Il am sure George di,
not mean to spill it."
e II declare p said Edith, II never di
: see such girl, as you are, Mary Rol
Inns {! You always take Georges part
whatever he may do"
$50 she does.' said George. "Yo
are brick. Amt you Polly ?" An
he put his hand on the crown of her ha
and tipped it over her eyes.
Mary laughed and pushed it back
0 and walked quietly along, while Edit
;, scolded about the milk for long tim,
d At last they reached the grove and sa
down to eat their supper, and they wer
lovable, happy and good-natured agair
:, And when, after a while, George an
q Mary both said that the spring waite
was warm and nasty, and that the
s didn't like it, and wished they had som
o milk, Edith was as sorry as she coul
o be that she had lost her temper an
q been unkind.
80, after they had pleasant littl
# picnic, although they were not nearly S
r cool as they had been sure they woul
? be and daddy-longlegs and ever f
J" many bugs and crickets would walk owe
u the table-cloth.
When supper was over they s;
- watching the setting sup. 1t was goin
!, down like great ball of fire, slowl
It sinking out of sight. Just then Mar
S noticed the round ring in the grass
K front of them. 1t was complete rir
of tender green grass, of light,
q color than that all about it. Agne
the nurse, saw it at the same moment.
d ''That's a fairy ring" she sal
i "They have lots of them in the Of
Il country. And to be sure this very ds
= is the midsummer day, and they wi
L L dance tonight
+ "Tisn't either,' said George. It
d where my hoop laid sol long. And whs
" | picked it up the grass was all yello'
1T and now its green again. There a
'e no such things as fairies anyhow.
= MAYBE not in this country" sa
, Agnes: "but there's many of them
r. mine"
ct 81 like to think that they are her
20 too" said Edith. "and wish | cou
IS IS see one, but nothing ever happens no
IN But thing used to happen once" "Oh
h II she said. suddenly. and jumping u
"See that chicken. It'll get lost. Th
q old hen don't mind about it. bit, a.
r. it's shame -
~ ~ The children all jumped up to Sc
ng A hea with thirteen little chickens, b