Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16

prisoners at liberty, and was delighted to
see how they enjoyed their freedom. She
was about to return home when slight
rustic among the branches attracted her at
tention, and a white cloud seemed to be
floating down from the trees. She watched
at with establishment, and soon recognized
the grace iul form of the fairy Holda.
'Oh, Holda," cried Bella, "please do not
be angry with me, for keeping your lady
birds; was afraid the children would hurt
them. And now 1 have brought them here
So tn It they can find their way home"
The iairy smiled kindly, and then disap-
peared; and the little girl went home with a
light heart. Summer passed by, and when
autumn came great war ragged in the coun-
try. All the strong men in the village
must leave their home, and fight for the
King. Bella's father was among the first
to leave. All tnat long, dreary winter. the
mother and her little daughter lived in that
lonely cottage, and waited for tidings from
the absent father. But they could hear
nothing OF him, and feared that he had per-
ished with SO many others.
One day, when the spring had come again
and the trees and flowers were all abloom, a
neighbor returned from the war and brought
the sad news that Bella's father was missing,
and it was thought that he had fallen in
battle. The poor mother was So overcome
with grief that she died a few DAYS later
leaving her little daughter alone in the
world. Then arose the terrible cry that the
enemy was approaching the town, and the
people must flee for safety 10 the mount
aims. Bella fed with the others, but stopped
moment at her mothers grave to leave a
garland of flowers which she had gathered
The poor child wept bitterly when she
thought how friendless she was, and she al
xriSb hot r. ,tl,
her mother. At that moment a ladvbird
few upon her hand, as if to say, 81 have not
forgotten YOU"
Then others came and tried to express
their sympathy for the lonely orphan.
Suddenly Bella heard a great noise, and
knew that the enemy had attacked the viii
lage. She could hear the cries of the peo-
pie, who seemed to be approaching her.
what shall do?' she cried; "thev will
be here before can get to the mountains,
and shall be carried of. Oh, if only had
wings like the ladybirds.'
Scarcely had she spoken when thousands
of the insects few about her and seemed to
draw her into the forest, where she found a
small crystal chariot with golden wheels.
She felt sure that her little friends were now
going to rescue her; and without further
delay she entered the chariot, which began
at once to rise in the air. Up, up, it went
until the tree tops looked like green lake
and the village a mere speck. While Bella
was wondering where her journey would
end. the chariot stopped, and she was sur
prised to find herself in large meadow, so
broad that she could not see the end. She
looked about inquiringly, not knowing
which way to turn, when a group of beauti-
full maidens came toward her, and among
them the fairy Holda.
"V'elcome, my child" she said; "the
lady birds have not forgotten your kindness
to them, and have asked permission to bring
you here
And now Bella knew that she was in the
kingdom of the good fairy HoIda; and TAX
ing the fairy's hand, she walked along the
silver path with her, on both sides of which
bloomed red and white flowers such as the
little girl had never before seen. Then they
came to sparkling lake, where the fish
could be seen sporting in the clear water;
and in the midst played fountain which
shone and glistened like precious stones.
But the crystal palace was the most beauti-