Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-05-17
"a Splendid Came"

| w hat IN the worlds that ?" asked the
young folks of Don and Dorrv, ana theil
host and hostess candIdlv admitted thai
they hadn't the slightest idea what /; wa.
They never had heard of it before.
We'll, then, how can We play it r. In.
sisted the little spokespeople
Il don't KNOW" answered Dorry, look
Ing In puzzled way at the door.
"An JOIN hanGs and form a circle 7"
cried voice.
Every one arose, and soon She circle
stood expectant.
Your dear great great fairy sod
mother Is coming 10 see you." continued
the voice. ''Sbe is signify coaf, but you
must not mind that"
''Oh, no. no - cried the laughing cir
Gle. mot III the least
She brings her white gnome with her, -
said the invisible speaker, land don't let
him k-ow your names or he will get you
into trouble.
mo, no, mol" cried the circle, wildly.
A slight stirring was heard In the hall,
the doors opened. and IN walked the fairy
godmother and her white gnome.
She was tall, much bent old woman,
IN ruff d cap, peak hat and long
red cloak. de, the gnome, wore req
trousers and red sleeves. The rest Of his
body was dressed In a white pillow-case
with arm holes cut in 1t. 1t was gathered
in at his belt; gathered also with a red
ribbon tied around the throat; the corners
of the pillow case tied with narrow ribbon
formed his ears. and there was white
bandage over the eyes, and a round open
ing fer his mouth. The godmother drag
ged in large sack. and :he gnome bore a
stick with bells at the end.
'.Let me into the ring, dears," squeaked
the fairy godmother.
Let me into the ring, dears," growled
the white gnome.
The circle obeyed.
Snow, my dears," squeaked the fairy
go'lmother, ''lve brought you bagful of
lOvely things; but, you must know, | am
under an enchantment. All can do is TO
let you each take out gift when your
turn comes but when yOu send me q
Thank you,' don't let my white gnome
know who it is. for if he guesses your name
you must put the gift back without open
ing the paper. Bat If he guesses the
wrong name you may keep the gift. So
now begin one at time. Keep the magic
circle moving until my gnome knocks
three times"
Around went the circle, eager with fun
and expectation Suddenly the blinded
gnome pounded three times with the
stick and then pointed it straight in front
of him. iingliEg the little bells. Tommy
Budd was the happy youth pointed at. ::
Help yourself, my DEAR" saueaked the
fairy godmother rs she held the sack
toward him. He plunged his arm into
the opening and brought out a neat paper
parcel.
''Hey. What did you say, dear ~ she
squeaked. Take hold of the stick"
Tommy seized the end of the stick, and
said, In hoarse tone:
Thank you, ma
"That's John Stevens" srowled the
gnome. Put it back. put Ii back"
But it wasn't John Stevens, and so
Tommy kept the parcel.
The circle moved again. The gnome
knocked three tIples, ana this time the
stick pointed to Dorry. She tried TO he
polite, and direct her neighbors hand TO il
but the godmother would not hear of that.
"Help yourself, chi!d,' she squeaked.
and Dorry did. The paper parcel which
she drew from the SICK was so teupting
and pretty, all tied with ribbon, that che
really ir ed very hard TO disguise her
Thank you," but the gnome was too
sharp for her
No, no." he growled. That's Dorothy
Reed. Put 1t hack put it back ~
And poor Dory dropped the pretty
parcel INTO the bag again.
70 the merry game went on; some es
capped detection and saved their gifts: S ONE
we're detected and lost them; but the god
mother would not suffer thJse who had
parcels to try again, and, therefore, in the
course of the game, those who failed at
first succeeded after a while. When ali
had parcels, and the bag was nearly empty,
what did that old fairy do but straighten
up, throw off her hat, cap, false face and
cloak, and if it wasu't Uncle George him
self, very red in the face, and very glad
10 be out of his prison. Instantly one and
all discovered that they had known ali
along it was Mr.. Reed
''Ha. La" they laughed; sand now
starting in pursuit-''lets see who the
white gnome IS"
They caught him at the foot OF the
stairs, and were not very much astonished
when Ed Tyler came TO hgnt.
"lhat is a splendid game.' declared
some. .'Grand!" cried others Fine"
"hrst-rate," GLORIOUS" capital ''as
good as Christmas. SAID the rest. Then
they opened their parcels and there was
great rejoicing.