The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-17
THE STORY OF ANNA AND PETER.

Anna and Peter were always in mis-
chief. One day they climbed to the top
of high wall. 1t was fairy wall, and
it grew higher and higher, until at last
it went so high that they got frightened,
for they did not know how they should
get down again. So they held tight by
| each other and the wall and began to
cry.
But no one heard them. For they were
far away from home; besides, they were
as high up in the air as the top of a
| mountain.
"Oh oh! OH" sobbed Anna.
sob! oh! obi" sobbed Peter.
And their eyes were red and their faces
quite wet and dirty.
Il shall tall, said Peter.
81 can't hold on much longer" said
Anna. And then they both sobbed, ooh!
oh! OH" again.
Then they heard q voice saying cob!
oh! oh' after them. Only it was not
any one crying, for the sound was very
sweet.
They could not look round, for they
dared not move their heads, and they
dared not look down for fear of getting
dizzy. But the voice seemed to be COM
coming nearer. And so it was. For
fairy gate, with tree beside it and a
little bit of ground to stand upon, was
shooting up into the air just as the wall
had done. And when 1t was rs high as
the wall it stopped, and Peter and Anna
saw that boy was leading against the
gate. He was playing on pipe, and
Mat made the sound they had heard.
will play you tune" said the boy.
And he played so softly and sweetly that
Peter and Anna left off crying.
Chow did you come up?" asked Anna.
"On the gate, said the hoy.
How are you going down. asked
Peters.
ION the gate, to be sure,' said the
boy; II have only to say
Gate, gate, let me go
Far down to the earth below"
And as he said the words, down h
went.
''Let us also try" said Anna.
wall, wall, let us go
Far down to the earth below"
Then down went the wall to the ground
and Peter and Anna slid off and stood
staring Mt the boy who was still playing
on his pipe.
"What do you want most?" inquired
the boy: "'My pipe will bring anything l
ask for"
"a silk frock with founce and a sash
and a bonnet with blue ribbons" said
Anna, who was rather fond of fine
clothes.
"a pair Of leather reins to play at
horses with" said Peter.
The boy played a lively tune, and be-
fore Anna could say ''ready'' she found
herself in fine new frock; whilst Peter
had the reins in his hands, and new
suit of clothes with a great frill and
rounded hat.
Then the boy said Goodbye" and
Peter and Anna went toward home.
II will go this way" said Peter.
Il will go that" said Anna.
So they parted.
Anna, as she walked along, heard feet
behind her, and when she reached the
steps leading to her home she looked
around, and what was her surprise when
she saw large mouse dressed like lady
with parasol in hand.
81 am the Countess Mouse
Coming to your house;
With you I'll stay
Every day"
Said the mouse.
Now Anna was afraid of mice, and she
said, "But don't want you; besides,
we have large cat that will eat you
up"
"No, it will not; am a Fairy mouse,
and can eat up the cat, if please.
Anna was much frightened; this was
truly dreadful mouse.
$50 away; oh, go away" she said.
"No," answered the mouse; las long
as you wear my clothes shall stay with
you and take care of them"
"They are not yours said Anna. "a
boy with pipe gave them to me-"
"But he piped to me for Them, said
the mouse: II have wardrobes full in my
castle. You are quite welcome to them;
but must see that you don't spoil them.
l shall sit by You at dinner and play with
you, and walk out with you, and sleep
on your pillow at night.
''Oh dear! oh dear" said Anna; Il wish
had never asked for silk frock?'
''Shall take them back?"
"Oh yes! oh yes! please Countess Mouse,
Take them all back to your house."
"Well, as you have made rhyme, l
will do So" said the mouse, and she
slapped Annals arm sharply with her
parasol. Then Annals new clothes fell
off. and she found herself in her old cot
ton dress again And the mouse grew
larger and larger, and ran away to her
castle with the silk frock and the grand