River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-05-09

but kept going up to it all the evening
and saying: ''Oh. you little dearr' and
she would have it that the fairy's eyes
were looking at her
Tom laughed. but he confessed that
ii really was a very life-like little fig
gre. The face was quite real. and the
wonderful thing about it was that the
expression seemed to change.
Being Saturday night. the young
couple sat up rather late. Tom smoked
his pipe while Rose read to him, and
they were so comfortable and so hap
py that they never noticed the time
till Tom nappeneo to look at his watch,
and then he cried out: Good gracious.
Rose. it's one minute to twelve!"
Rose closed her bOOk-shs had
reached the end of the chapter-lit the
bedroom candle, and then Tom turned
/ the gas out As he did so the big
clock down stairs struck twelve.
just as the last stroke died away, a
sweet, soft, silvery voice exclaimed:
THANK you SO much for buying me.
Rose was so startled that she dropped
| the candle. which fell on the floor and
went out Tom turned round with an
/ exclamation, and there, with halo of
light round her head, stood the little
china fairy on the mantel-shelf. II
was the fairy who had spoken. Her
/ lips were parted. showing two rows of
pearly teeth; and the kindest. sweetest
smile was on her face.
Don't be frightened. said the fairy.
as Rose clutched Tom, and wondered
whether she ought to faint or not;
don't be frightened, | am a good
fairy. | was turned to china by a
wicked enchantress, but every night at
twelve o'clock / recover the power of
speech. which lasts until dawn. | was
very unhappy in the old curiosity
shop. where / was taken by the
person who found me in a forest
and thought / was an ornament.
There was no one there at midnight
for me TO talk to except a lot of Chinese
idols and brass figures and creatures of
that sort. aud they didn't understand
me. l was very pleased when you
brought me to your nice, happy home.
and you can't think how I've been
longing for twelve O'clock. to be able
to thank you"
I'm sure we're very pleased" STAN
mered Rose, but Of course it's very
odd. don't like to ask you. but-er
would you like any thing to eat?"
The fairy laughed a silvery laugh.
''Oh, no. she said. ''fairies are never
hungry. Besides, l want you to be
kind enough to open the window for
me and let me fly away. II / can get
back to fairyland before dawn, may
find my prOtectress, who will take
away the spell that has been put upon
me-
"Oh, certainly" said Tom, with
pleasure, and he was proceeding to
open the window when he recOllected
the fairy had cost him ten shillings,
and that the transaction would be a
dead loss to him.
The fairy evidently guessed what
was passing in Toms mind, for she
flew gracefully off the mantelshelf and
came and stood on the table beside
him.
Il will not be ungrateful," she said;
las a reward for your kindness. can
grant you one wish, whatever it is"
80 Tom exclaimed Rose, who had
gradually shaken off her nervousness.
wish to be dramatic author"
Tom was always an obedient husband
Chat was why he was SO happy, and
so he said at once: Il wish to be dra-
matte author"
Certainly" said the fairy. $50 to
bed, and tomorrow when you wake up
you will be one. Now, thank you very
much land goodnight" The fairy
kissed her little hand to the young
couple. spread her wings and flew
away in the moonlight Tom and Rose
watched her as far as they could see
her, then closed the window and re-
tired to rest.
The next morning, when Tom woke
up, he had a splitting headache. and
felt so awfully seedy he could hardly sit
up to look at his watch.
by JOve." he exclaimed, "it's
twelve o'clock.
Then ne looked round for Rose, and
found she wasn't there.
Rose. Roser' he called out, "where
are you?"
Rose came running in from the next
room.
''Oh. you are awake at last. Tom"
she said. ''Will you have cup of
tea?''
Il think so; L BY Jove, I'm aw-
/ fully i'll, and | can hardly open my
eyes"
Il don't wonder at it," said Rose;
lit was six o'clock this morning when
you came home"
.'Oh, an. yesi | remember said
Tom, sitting up and looking round the
! large elegantly Furnished bedroom, "a
beastly all-night dress rehearsal. And
/ I've to go down to the theater again
/ to-day. aud see that scene. have to
alter the situation at the last minute
/ to suit the scene, because the scene it.
| self can't be altered in time
WAS Mr. Smith any better tenn
pered last night?'
"NO; he swears it's the worst part
he ever played, and he's sure that it
/ will be a frost; and Miss Brown won't
/ have that speech cut; she says it's the
only good one she has, and I'm sure
that it will be goosed. and it comes
I Just at critical point"
Tom was just going 10 lie down
again till the tea came, when a servant
came mp.
Please. sir. Mr.. Jones has called,
aud nc says he must see you at once. "
"Oh, bother" said Tom. What 5
the matter now? Ask him to come
up
Rose went down. and presently Mr..
Jones. the manger Of the theater where
| ,Iohnsou's drama was 10 be produced on
/ Monday evening. came in.
Sorry 10 worry you, old fellow.
said Jones, but its serious. laeTy
/ body who saw the dress rehearsal last
night, says the fifth act will settle the
/ play You must end it in the fourth. "
What" yelled Tom, pressing his
hands to his splitting head; "cut out