Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-31

leave undone the slightest of her tasks. and
thus merit no reproach for the few hours
each day she gave her denr old friend Aud
now madame was getting we'll, and with the
help Of her strong servant maid, could 20
from room to room; but she was best salts
fed as yet to lie in the wee parlor ON the
lounge before the big window.
And here Viola made her appearance tho
day the roses were beckonng, with a merry
greeting and dish Of luscious red strawber.
ries smOtheicd IN cream; but in spite Of the
lIerry greeting there was a hint of shadow
ON herbonny face that didnot escape madame's
keen black eyes.
"Teilme ahoutit, my DEAR she said in her
sweet trembling voice
Viola knelt be ide her. "You must be @
fairy, madame" she said 'for none but a
fairy 60 Id have guessed that | was a little
sorry to-day. And for such trihng cause
I'm ashamed to speak of it," But the old
lady insisting with gentle persistence, she be-
gan 1T is ball l would like to 90 to, but
can not. | have never been to a ball and
this one You remember the young lady
who boarded at our house last summer, with
her father and sister"
And brother" suggested madame.
''And brother" repeated Viola, never low
eriug her frank blue eyes, but blushiug from
the tip of her round chin to the curls shading
L
good friends then, but never dreamed she
would remember me after she went away, for
he-she, l mean-is rich, and am poor, and
our ways in life lie very, very far apart But
she has not forgotten me. See, madame, here
is an invitation to ball to be given on her
nine teenth birthday at her aunt's house only
few miles away. And-and hcr brother
signs il too. He writes a handsome hand,
does be not, madame? p
"a strong, handsome hand, my dear, and
be is a handsome, manly fellow. I do not for
get the messages he used to bring me from
you and deliver with such courtly grace You
must go to the ball"
"Oh, madame, it is impossible. l could
not go if it we're to be the simplest of par
ties, and it is to be a fancy dress. 1 have
nothing to wear. You know the crops failed
last year on account of the drought. But
what folly for me to let so slight thing dis
tre5s me for a moment, when all at home
have health and strength, and you are fast
getting we'll
For which we should-and no doubt we
are-devoutly thankful" said the old lady,
and all the more reason why you should 20
to the ball. You said just now 1 must be
fairy. I'll prove my right to the title by be-
ing fairy godmother. You did not know
that my name was Violet Take the key you
will find under the clock ON the mantel, and
open the ottoman that stands yonder."
"Open the ottoman, madame Z"
''Yes it is simply a chest in disguise, and
in it lies your ball dress"
The lid Of the disguised chest was raised,
long box lifted out aud opened An excllma-
tion Of delight burst from Violas lips. There
lay a satin dress of creamy whiteness 1t un-
folded into miracle Of old fashioned lowell
ness Purple violets we're scattered here and
there upon the scant skirt, as though dropped
from some careless hand, and the pulled
sleeves and short waist were made OF wealth
of amber hued lace. And then came a large,
quaint fan of sandal wood and peacock feath-
ers, a necklace of pearls, high tortoise-shell
comb, and pair of satin shoes with low fat
heels and queer pointed toes.
But you never mean that l should wear
these, madame = said Viola.
That do |, most surely" said madame,
gayly. II wore them, child, many. many
years ago. And now another Violet needs
them. There is fate in it. And will put
spell upon them; and-who knows they
may help you win true-lover, as they did
me-"
But the shoes, madame-they are too
small, I'm sure"
Try them, my dear"
Viola slipped one on. 1T binds across the
irstep," said she
IhhG Alt HClhsOIb anu cut II, lutl.
"Oh, madame, it would spoil it,"
DO as l bid you. Fairy godmother must
be obeyed. Now take the rosettes still re-
naming in the box, and fasten one over each
shoe to hide the damage done"
Aud with the beautiful rosettes of satin and
lace, with ''V" encircled in seed-pearl in
the centre of each, hiding the gaps the scs-
sors had made, the toilette was complete.
And so Viola went to the ball, not in fine
carriage drawn by prancing steeds butin her
fathers covered wagon, behind the old farm
horse. But when she appeared in the bril-
| liantly lighted room it was rather late, for the
old horse travelled slowly-the creamy white
satin dress clinging to her slight, graceful
figure, the pearls clustering around her smooth
throat, her golden hair wound about the tor
toi+e--hell comb, her dimped arms and shoul-
ders Just showing through the ancient lace,
her innocent blue eyes looking slyly over the
quaint fan, and her feet clad in the queer
pointed shoes, half hidden by the great ro
sottes-the gay crowd felt some of them Qhe
fair maidens these) with bitter envy, that en-
unknown Princess Of Beauty was among
them.
Aud the Prince of the reigning house quick
ly followed his sister to welcome her, leaving
| Il Night with diamond stars to sparkle for
some more faithful worshipper. And again
and again he and the unknown Princess dane
ed together until nearly daybreak, when, a
servant summoning her hastily-for the farm
er-father was tired of waiting--she flew to
the dressing room, and one of the rosettes
bdrsting from its fastening on the way, away
went the shoe it had helped to hold in place,
down, down through the well of the winding
staircase, to regions far below.
And Viola, having the enchantment of the
night still strong upon her, never missed it,
but hastily drawing on her stout boots ran TO
the old wagon, jumped in, and drove away in
the dim first light of morning from the Prince
and Fairy. y.land.
But when she awoke from the deep sleep
into which she sank as soon as she reached
her home-the sun Was then on its westward
way-she discovered the loss, and while she
was bewailing it the Prince rang at the door.
Il have found slipper or shoe, or some
thing of the kind, he said, taking it from
the breast pocket of his fur,trimmed coat
''and as it will not fit either my sisters, or my
cousins or any of the lady friends who with
them bide, l thought it might fit you."
1T does not really" said truthful Viola,
with her lovely blush. ~ could not have
worn it had it not been cut open at the instep
I have not an aristoeratic fOot-and that is
how, the stitches that held the friendly ro-
settle giving way, came TO lose it."
"Ihat THANK fortune might find it.
Aud now, Viola dearest"
But what need of saying more? You can
all end the story for yourselves, / am sure,
even to guessing that madame lived to be
hundred years old, and that never was fairy
godmother so loved and petted as She
Margaret EytiRge IN Harpers Weekly.
=
A farmer at Hcksville, n j., traded