The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-14
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
THE FAIRY.

buOuSHt suc Huu cNOiy IcdSOu ~ lctl
that fate was treating her very cruelty;
for misstep on the stairs when going
down to breakfast the day before had
resulted in a sprained ankle, and of
course she COULDN'T 90 to the Grove
Hill picnic. The doctor had said that
she must lie still for several days, and
that it might be aweek before she could
20 about again as usual.
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 |
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-
say. 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.
"Oh, ,Ojsh l could have gone"
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 a 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 d.
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 a crooked neck
squash with a 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 irrtated by the shrill
melody.
"Pve half 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.
Milly 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 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
ly every morning that she would ''fiS
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 AM
had made them herself, which was, il
truth, the case.
Now Use ready to read ter yo','
said the little black girl, addressing hel
family in the most allectionate tones
Deere a heap mo- oh dat book l was
readin' ter yo' yistiddy. Heah's d.
place 1 lef of. Now pay 'tention n
doan let me hear no fussin'."
She bent over the book so CLOSELY
that the little horns on her head almos
touched it, and began to read slowl.
and laboriously, spelling out faithful,
every word of more than four letters.
"'How can l 90 the palace il
Those ragsP' said Olga, The fair
waved her magic wand, the rags fel
from olga -and-she stood robed i
gold and--blue-a silver gir-dle abou
her waist"
At this point the reader paused, an
fived her eyes with cold severity on on
of the dolls.
Whats dat yo's saying ter yo's 81.
, ter, Maud Eveline? Doan 90 ter givr
her no foolish notions bout her clo'e,
Dey's all yo' po' nanny kin buy fC
yo', an yo' oughter be glad yo' don
got any tail. But eff dat fairy we
been readin' bout would jess CON
t long heah, some day, reckon we'd a
de loan oh dat wan fo' few minutes.
Milly couldn't help laughing oil
, loud; but Emma Ann didn't hear he
: so deeply was she absorbed in her fan
: lily.
q "Now, Use got ter 60 ter carr
nanny her dinner, Doan none of "
children git inter no mischief till l Q
back.
She went into the house, and Mil
heard her opening and shutting Il
stove door. Evidently she was war;