The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-11-28
A FAIRY WAND.


that fate was treating her very cruelty;
for misstep on the stairs when going
down to breakfast the day before had
resulted in sprained ankle. and OF
course she couldn'. go to the Grove
Hill picnic. The doctor had said that
she must lie still for several days. and
that il might be aweek before she could
go about again as usual.
She almost cried W tn disappointment
as she lay on sofa by the sitting-room
window aud saw the boys and girls 60
trooping by on their way to the hill.
their lunch baskets on their arms, and
their hats trimmed with daiscs and
vines. Some of them stopped to speak
to her. but what they said WAS not
calculated to comfort her, for II was:
"What shame you cant go, Milly,"
from one, and I'VE are going to have
such glorious time, from another, and
You're sure to find it stupid enough
living on that sofa all day. from third,
until she was almost glad when they
went away.
II don't know how am going to get
through this day." she said to her
mother. 1--WE read everything in the
house that's at all interesting, and l
dom feel like working on my embroid-
cry"
ii would sit with you If could spare
the time" said her mother, ''but must
preserve those cherries bought yester-
day. 1t won't do to keep them any
longer. You'll have to amuse yourself
as best you can until am through.
She left the room, and Milly lag back
ON her cushions and tried to imagine
what was going on at Grove Hill.
'tobably the boys were putting up
wings and hammocks, and the girls
we're off in every direction hunting wild
lowers and ferns to press. Grove Hill
vas famous place for picnics. One
could be always sure of having good
time there.
"Oh, | wish | could have gone, v
sighed poor Milly. and the tears were
beginning TO gather in her eyes again,
when the sound of Emma AIMS sing
ing gave new direction to her
thoughts.
Emma Ann was little black girl who
lived close by. Her mother went out
by the day 10 wash and iron, and Emma
Ann minded the house, a little di-
lapidated wooden building very much
in need OF paint and new chimney.
some people, looking at II from the
street, said it was very picturesque. for
there was a wooden porch in front COW
cred with vines, an old moss grown
well on one side. with big bra s-bound
bucket. and near it little vine-3oyered
arbor which Emma Ann used as play
house. But Milly saw no beauty in any
thing about the place, and often wished
would tear down the old cottage and
build a handsome house in its stead
She was very glad that sixty feet of
ground and thick hedge separated
Emma AIMS home and her own.
Emma AIMS voice was shrill, and by
no means pleasing. She was singing
lover Jordan" to her family OF
dolls, who were being arrayed for the
day in the garments they had cast
aside on retiring to bed the previous
night, and she gave them the benefit
of all the voice she had. There were
six dolls, all more or less damaged by
wear and tear, and crooked neck
squash with piece OF calico about it,
which always occupied a remote
corner, and acted the part of servant.
Emma Ann was very attentive and con-
siderate with the dolls, but the poor
squash was treated with no ceremony
whatever
Milly had never taken any interest
in the little black girl, and now, feel
ing cross and disappointed, she allowed
herself to become irritated by the shrill
melody.
Ave half mind to call to her 10
STOP" she thought, angrily; but be-
fore she had time to do so, Emma Ann
stopped suddenly of her own accord.
Miily sat up and looked out of the
window. Emma Ann had put the dolls
in row, and taken from the rustic
seat dlapidated book in which she
was evidently searching for something
She was a funny-looking little girl,
with very black face, and wide
mouth. Her hair, tightly braided
stood out in stiff little horns all over
her head, and her dress was one which
had once belonged to her mother, who
weighed nearly two hundred pounds.
The skirt had been cut off until it fell
only to Emma AIMS knees, and the
sleeves were turned up to her Shout
ders, but the waist was as large as
ever, and hung in folds'about the small
figure. The mother promised regular
" every morning that she would Fix
over dat dere body when she done
found time" but Emma Ann feared,
with good reason, that the time would
never be found.
''Such dollsr' thought Milly, mental
ly comparing the members of Emma
AIMS household to the wax beauties
which had amused her own childhood,
.and the clothes look as if Emma Ann
had made them herself, which was, in
truth, the case
NOW Use ready to read ter yo', :"
said the little black girl, addressing her
family in the most afiectionate tones.
"Dere's heap mo- OBJ dat book | was
readin' ter yo' yistiddy. Heah's de
place lef' of. Now nay 'tention n
doan let me hear no fussin'.'''
She bent over the book so closely
that the little horns on her head almost
touched it, and began to read slowly
and laboriously, spelling out faithfully
every word of more than four letters.
'''How can / go the palace in
those ragsp' said Olga. The fairy
waved her magic wand. the rags fell
from Olga -and-she stood rob ed in
gold and--blue-a silver gir-dle about
her waist
At this point the reader paused, and
fived her eyes with cold severity on one
of the dolls.
What's dat yo's saving ter yo's sis
ter, Maud Eveline? Doan 20 ter givin'
her no foolish notions bout her clo' es
Dey's all yo' po' NANNY kin buy TO
yo', an yo' oughter be glad yo' done
got any tall. But eff dat fairy we's
been readin' bout would jess come
long heah. some day, reckon we'd ak
de loan OBJ dat wan TO few minutes :"
Milly couldn't help laughing out
loud; but Emma Ann didn't hear her,
SO deeply was she absorbed in her fam
lily.
"Now. Use got ter go ter carry
nanny her dinner Dean none of yo'
children git inter no mischief till l git
back
She went into the house, and Milly
heard her opening and shutting the
stove door Evidently she was warm
ing up something left from breakfast.
Presently she came out with heT sun
bonnet on. Ind tin pail In her hand.
md with a s'arting glsnee IN the dirsc'