Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-01-21

+ up? And what's IN this little basket !
made out of walnut, | declare p
''Well, if / ever y cried his mother,
as she pored over it. II haven't
seen one of these since / was little
girl. [ thought they were all out of
date. It's a Freedom from Sun
stroke And here is Guarantee
against Govt"
81 don't want to look at EN-, %
said Chritopher John. ''Why could
MT they have brought some of the
things fellows used to have-a drink
to make you invisible or a magic cap,
or lamp that summons a genie!
He was sadly disappointed, tho it
was not long before he forgot his
grief in playing ball with the boys
whom he had expected to dazzle by
fairy gifts. The afternoon slipped
away ices and cake had been served,
and still the Bad Fairy did not APP
pear. Papa and Mamma Goodman
exchanged chances of alarm. Had
all their trouble been for nothing,
and was their poor boys destiny to
be snarled and tangled, after all?
When the last guest had gone,
Christopher John sat down on the
door-stone to mediate before going
to bed his father and mother were
near, also meditating, and their train
of thought was not remarkably sooth-
ing.
"Well!" piped little voice at their
feet. There she stood before them,
her face dark and wrinkled as an
over-baked apple. "Well, now |
hope you are satisfied. I've left all
my work up in arms to get here, just
because you made such fuss
eve thought you might like to
come" said Mrs. Goodman, mildly.
81 told you I shouldn't like it the
other day l should have been here
before, tho, but I've had the Society
for the Promotion of Vice at my
house this afternoon. It's a great
bore and does nobody a particle of
harm, but I've got to keep it 60
ing for the sake of my health. You
don't know what an awful amount of
hard work there is in being a bad
fairy. Well, little dear, so it is your
birthday" she contidued, turning to
Christopher John, with an exceeding
ly unpleasant smile.
"Yes'm," said he, shrinking away
from her.
81 haven't anything to give you,
excet pthis tiny bit of candy" she
went on still scowling frightfully.
Eat it little dear"
She passed him small brown ker-
mel, and he, fond of sweets and afraid
to offend, did as he was hidden and,
tho his mother, vaguely frightened,
cried, s'stop!'' she cried to late.
Goodnight, sir and madam
said the Bad Fairy, making Papa and
Mamma low curtesy, and glaring in
a way that caused them to quake in
their shoes. GIVE given your son
the last grain of magic medicine L
own, and tomorrow he'll begin to be
an Inverse Boy. AS for you, l hope
you'll learn lesson from this, and
not go round dragging folks to your
parties when they don't want to come.
Goodnight, sir and madam %
And she disappeared, leaving a
sorely frightened set of people to
think over her words. Both Papa
and Mamma were inclined to pro-
nounce the kernal poison; and all
night long they sat up working over
Christopher John, pouring medicine
down his unwilling throat and ask
ing, elbow he felt now?" AS no
change became apparent, however,
except that he grew exceedingly cross
at being kept awake, they ceased
fearing, and in the morning were
ready to laugh at the fairy's empty
threats.
Three days had passed, and one
afternoon Christopher John came
running in, calling:
81 say, mamma, | wish you'd cut
off my jacket sleeves they're down
over my hands, and the boys laugh"
"Why, this is the same jacket you
We been wearing!"
II know it., he owned-"I know
it: but, Mamma, 1 do believe I'm
growing smaller! ~
That was it; the Bad Fairy had
given him dose of that drug used in
an Inverse Boy-one who
grows down instead of up. And the
charm was terribly effective; day by
day the boy dwindled, and his father
and mother, frantic with apprehen-
sion, sought all the physicians of the
region, only to be told that none of
them had ever heard of such a case
before. One recommended iron, and
another electricity, but still Christie
pher John waned, and no one could |
help him. The Bad Fairy was no.
where to be found, and even William
of the Wisp had, according to report,
entered dancing college at dis
lance.
Christopher John had never yet
gone to school; but one of the doc
tors called to examine his case recon-
mended his beginning at once.
"Send him to school with the rest
of the hoys,n said he, sat least, till
he's small enough to be stepped on
If will divert hiS mind -