The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-12
a FAIRY WAND.

Mllly was IN very Hl-nuIlOT, ant
thought she had every reason to fee
that fate was treating her very cruelty
for misstep on the stairs when going
down to breakfast the day before haC
resulted in a sprained ankle, and o
course she couldn't 60 to the Grove
Hill picnic. The doctor had said tina
she must lie still for several days, anc
that 1t nigh. be aweek before she could
go about again as usual.
Il don't know how am going to gel
through this day." she said to her
mother. 1--WE read everything in the
house that's at all interesting, and
don't feel like working on my embroid-
cry"
II would sit with YOU if l could spare
the time" said her mother, ''but [ must
preserve those cherries | bought yester,
day. It 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.
Probably the boys were putting up
swings and hammocks, and the girls
were off in every direction hunting wild
/ flowers and ferns to press. Grove Hill
was famous place for picnics. One
could be always sure of having a good
| time there.
"Oh, Wish l could have gone, I"
sighed poor Milly, and the tears were
beginning to gather in her eyes again,
when the sound of Emma AIMS sing
ing gave a new direction to her
thoughts.
Emma Ann was little black girl who
lived close by. Her mother went out
by the day to wash and iron, and Emma
Ann :" minded" the house, little di-
lapidated wooden building very much
in need of paint and new chimney.
Emma Ann 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 a 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
inc cross and disappointed, she allowed
herself to become irritated by the shrill
melody.
''pve half a mind to call to her to
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 a dilapidated book in which she
was evidently searching for something
She was a funny-looking little girl,
with a very black face. and q 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 We're 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 dolls" thought Milly, mental
ly comparing the members of Emma
AIMS household to the wax beauties
which had amused her own childhood,
land the clothes look as if Emma Ann
had made them herself" which was, in
truth, the case.
Now rSe ready to read ter yo',"
said the little black girl, addressing her
family in the most ,affectionate tones.
.'Dere's heap mo- oh dat book | was
readin' ter yo' yist;ddy. Heah's de
place 1 lef' off. Now pay '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 1 60 the palace in
those rags?' said Olga. The fairy
waved her magic wand, the rags fell
from lga-and- stood rob ed in
gold and--blue-s 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 go 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 Yves
been readin' bout would jess come
long heah. some day, l reckon we'd ak
de loan OBJ dat wan TO a few minutes"
AIilly 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 60 ter carry
nanny her dinner Doan 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 her sun
bonnet on. and tin pail in her hand,
and with a parting glance in the direc-
ton of the summer-house, opened the
small gate and went slowly down the
street.
Aliily watched her disappear around
n corner. and was about to sink back
upon her cushions again and resume
her reverie about the way in which the