The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28
An Unturned Fairy.

1.-THE following extract from Mrs Frances Hodgson
Burnetts latest tale. 1.-THE Story of Prince Fairy.
foot, begun in the Christmas st. Nicholas, throws
some new light on fairy lore.
One day, in the Forest Prince Fairyfoot heard
a sound in the air above him, and looked up to
see what it was 1t sounded like little bird in
some trouble And surely enough there was a
huge hawk darling after plump little brown
bird with red breast The little bird was ut
tsring sharp, trightend cries. and Prince Fairy
foot felt so sorry for it that he sprung up and
tried to drive the hawk away. The little bird
saw him at once, and straghtway few to him.
and Fairyfoot covered it with his cap. And then
the hawk flew away in a great rage.
When the hawk was gone, Fairyfoot sat down
again and lifted his cap expecting, of course, to
the brown bird with the red breast. But
much higher that your little fnger-a plump
little man in brown suit with bright red
vest and with a cooked hat on.
"Whyr exclaimed Fairy foot, "I'm surprised"
$50 am II! said the little man eheerfully. II
never was more surprised in my life, except
when my great-aunt's grandmother got into such
a rage and changed me into robin -redbreast.
| tell you that surprised me-"
II should think it might" said Fairyfoot
"Whv did she do itF
Mad" answered the little man. "That was
what was the matter with her. She was ALWAYS
losing her temper like that, and turning people
into awkward things, and then being sorry for it,
and not being able to change them back again
Ii you are fairy, you have to be careful. If
you'll believe me, that woman once turned her
second cousins sisterin-law into a mushroom,
and somebody picked her. and she was made
catsup-whch is thing no man likes to have
happen in his family"
"Of course not" said Fairyfoot, politely.
1.-The difficulty is," said the little man. 'that
some fairies don't graduate. They learn how to
turn people into things but they don't learn
how to unturn them; and then, when they get
mad in their families-you know how it is about
getting mad in families-there is confusion
Yes seriously, confusion arises. 1t arises That
was the way with my great aunts grandmother.
She was not a cultivated old person, and she did
not know how to unturn people, and now you
see the result Quite accidentally tired on her
favorite corn she got mad and changed me into
a robin and regretted it ever afterward. could
only become myself again hv kind hearted per-
sons saving me from great danger. You are
that person. Give me your hand"
Fairyfoot held out his hand. The little man
looked at it.
ION second thought" he said, "I can't shake
it; it's too large I'll sit on it. and talk to you"
With these words he hoped upon Fairyfcot's
hand and sat down, smiling and clasping his own
hands about his tiny knees
81 declare, it is delightful not to be a robin. +"
he said Had to go about picking up worms
you know. Disgusting business. | always did
hate worms. / never eat them mvself-I drew
the line there-but had to get them for my
family"
suddenly ne began TO g1ggle, ana TO mug MS
knees up tight.
do you wish to know what I'm laughing atp
he asked Fairyfoot.
YES" Fairyfoot answered.
The little man giegled more than ever.
'Pm thinking about my wife," he said-s'the
one had when / was a robin nice rage she'll
be in when don't come home tonight! She'll
have TO hustle around and pick up worms for
herself. and for the children, too-and it serves
her right She had temper that would enbt-
ter the life of q crow-much more simple robin.
/ wore myself to skin and bone taking care of her
and her brood. and how / bate 'em!-bare.
souawking things always with their throats gap
ing open. They seemed to think parents sole
duty was to bring worms for them"
at must have been unpleasant" said Fairy
foot.
1T was more than that" said the little man.
cit used to make my feathers stand on end.
There was the nest, too! Fancy being changed
into robin, and being obliged to build nest at
a moments noticel / never felt SO ridiculous in
my life. How was / to know how to build
nesti And the worst Of it was the way she went
on aboutit"
"Shef said Fairyfoot.
'Ob her, you know" replied the little man.
ungrammaticallv; my wife, Shed always been
a robin, and she knew how to build a nest; she
liked to order me about, too; she was one of
that kind. But, Of coures, wasn't going to