The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-24

of the fairies coming up to her. She
came close to her and stood still for a
moment and then said in gentle and
friendly tones: 81 have seen you crying,
dear human child; what is the matter?
Perhaps I can help you" Then Annie
told timidly how her mother was very i'll
and would die, and how she had lost her
way gathering flowers, and could not find
the path to go home again. The queen
of the fairies listened kindly to her and
said: Both of us have trouble. My
life and that of my people is disturbed in
this wood. Men have cut down the
finest Of the trees under which my SUBJ
iects had their abodes The forest grows
lighter every day, and soon we shall not
be able to find any shade in it where we
can sleep. For that reason have de-
sired to lead my people from here, over
the brook, into another part OF the wood,
where it is still undisturbed, and where
there is thick shade to hide us, but we
have spent several nights looking up and
down the brook without finding any
place where we can CROSS. Now if you
will build us bridge SO that we can get
over it quietly and safely, will thank
you for it, and show you the way home"
Annie rose up quickly, ready to follow
the queen who walked on before her, and
conducted her to place in the brook
where the reeds and rushes were plenty.
The child pulled the longest reed stocks
and laid them close together across the
brook, and covered them with PUSHES; it
was not long before the bridge was
ready. The queen nodded approval to
Annie, and went to the great bell flow
er and rang it for the third time.
Then the little people left their plays
and dancing and gathered around the
queen again, and she walked to-
toward the bridge and the whole array
went after her. Softly, but quickly, the
little creatures marched past Annie over
the bridge, and scattered themselves all
about on the other side and soon not one
OF them was to be seen. Only the queen
stayed by the brook on the other side, and
beckoned Annie to follow her. Annie
gathered her dress up carefully and
walked through the brook, and followed
the fairy, whose white robe showed but
family before her, for the moon was
about to set, and it was growing darker
in the forest. At an open place in the
wood the fairy stopped and said: "Stay
here, and when it is day you will find
something in the grass that will make
your mother WELL" Before Annie could
think, the little figure had disappeared.
She saw something white shining in sew
eral places, but when she went up to it,
it was only white flower. Then Annie
sat down in the grass, and she was SO
tired with walking and with all the won
derful things she had seen, that she went
to sleep. AS she woke up the next morn
ing, she did not know whether she had
been dreaming or whether what she
thought she had seen was true, but the
words of the fairy: When it is day you
will find something in the grass that will
make your mother WELL" still sounded
plainly in her ears. So she looked
around her, and the most beautiful
strawberries met her eyes among the
grass At this Annie did not doubt as
to what the fairy had meant, and SO she
picked her little apron full of them,
and fastened home and had no trouble
in finding the way by day. The sufferer
at home ate the finely favored berries
with great pleasure and actually got
well by means of them. Annie told
her about the elves, and how they
had helped her to find the berries.
Her mother did not believe it and shook
her head incredulously. The child re-
manned firm in her belief, but as often as
she went into the woods afterward to find
the elves, she never could meet them.
They had probably gone to some other
place, and Annie never saw them again.
OF course she had fallen asleep and
dreamed it all-all but the strawberries !;
these were real.