Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-05-22
THE CHINA FAIRY.

Tom johnson was five-and-twenty
and clerk in the city. He was mar
ried to the dearest little woman in the
world and they lived In three rooms in
4 nice respectable street near Camden
town. Rose, Toms wife, was perfect
little household fairy. Tom could only
give her thirty shlllingS a week out of
his salary, but she did wonders with 1t.
The little sitting room was always
bright and coy and clean, and there
was always something nice for Toms
tea when he came home tagged out
with the work and worry OF the Office.
OF course they were obliged to be very
economical and to deny themselves
many things they would have liked,
but one treat they always allowed them
selves every week, and that was a visit
10 place of amusement. Tom and
Rose we're both very fond of the thea
ter, and by waiting till a play had a
good run and 10y get ing TO the doors
early they generally managed TO get a
good place IN the PIT.
Being so fond of the theater. Tom
and Rose naturally took great deal of
interest in the theatrical items of news
and gossip, without which, nowadays,
newspaper is not to be fully adapted
Poor little Rose used to give sigh of
! envy sometimes wlten Tom read out to
her the paragraphs about the enormous
incomes which dramatic authors were
making. oh, TOm,' she would say,
fancy making hundreds of pounds a
week like that, just for writing play!
Fancy If you had been able to do itl'
'It would be fine, wouldn't it?' Tom
would reply, and then they would begin
fancying what they would have done
with the money. They would have had
a beautiful house and a carriage and
a pair for Rose; and when she went IL
the theater on the first night to see her
husband come on the stage and bow
amid the tremendous applause of a
crowded house, she would have Worn
the lOveliest dresses, and her diamonds
would have been the envy of all the
ladies.
: 'Oh, how beautiful it would be,
Tom,' the young wife cried one day, as
they conjured up visions of splendor
together; no getting up at half-past
in the morning for you, dear; no turn
ing out in all winds and weather; yoU
would be able to have your breakfast
lice and comfortably with me, and take
plenty of time over it; and you would
: stop at home and work in your study
and l could bring my sewing and 81
with you, and when you'd finished W.
should be able to have dinner together
and go out every evening to some plac,
of amusement. Oh. Tom, dear, couldn'
you write playp'
Tom shook his head. 'I'm afraiC
not, Rose he said. There's peculia
knack about it, l expect
Il suppose it is very difficult sighe,
Rose.
You may be sure it is, my dear,
answered Tom, 'or there would be
great many more people doing 1t, ant
the authors wouldn't be getting sucl
prizes for their work as We read abou
i'll the newspapers
On Saturday Tom and Rose went L
the morning performance of a play tina
had been acted 200 times straight off il
London, and the author of which wa
reported already to have realized ElO,
0C0 by it.
On their way home they passed a
old curiosity shop and stopped to loo
In at the window. Among the odd
. and ends there was pretty little chin
fairy, 10 which Rose took great fancy
On, Tom, dear, she cried, look a
that little china figure. Isn't it pretty
That is just the sort of thing L shoul
like on my mantel shelf. / should neve
be tired of looking at it. Do go III az.
see how much it is
Tom went in and asked the prize
and returned with the information tba
1t was 10 shillings.
oh, dear said Rose, that's mic
more than we can afford Cone along
, Tom.'
But though Rose said 'cOn" along
! she didn't move. She stood lookin
lovingly at the little china fairy. a
, at once she gave a start. oh, Tom
she exclaimed; look at that fairy's lip
they're moving
What nonsensel said Tom, laughing
you've been staring at it; It's an optic;
Illusion
Tom, would it be very wicked if W
e bought itl I'd saved money out of IL
D housekeeping.
= We'll, it's lots of money, but l daI
D say 1t won't ruin US. | see you want i
1 dear, and You shall have it,
r And before Rose could stop him Tol
had stepped into the shop, and PR
Sently he came out with the little chin
fairy Carefully wrapped up in papel
! Rose put it III her muff-it was quite
little fairy-and they bore it off hom
in triumph
1t looked so lovely on the mant.
shelf Rose couldn't take her eyes off i
: but kept on going up TO it all the evel
> ing and saying, 'Oh, you little dear
and she would have il that the fairy
eyes were looking at her.
Tom laughed, but he confessed TIL
!. 1t really was very lifelike little hgur
The face was quite real. and the VOL