The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-28
LINDA, WHO OBEYED
THE GOOD FAIRY.
A FAIRY TALE FOR THE LITTLE ONES.


was a little girl named Linda. who lived
with her stepmother and her two sisters.
The poor child was in great need of a
mothers tender care; but she tried to be
happy, and performed. uEcOmplainingly, all
the hard tasks imposed upon her. Although
but 10 years old, she must carry wood, draw
water and wait upon her elder sisters from
morning until night. She was kept so busy
that there was no time for her to go to
school; and often she looked longingly at
the rows of books on the shelves, and wished
that she might learn to read and become
wise.
One day as Linda sat resting for few
moments on tie doorstep an old woman,
bent almost double with age, came to the
little girl, and, in pleasant voice, SAID;
Linda, why are you not at school with your
sisters?"
'.Alas,' was the reply, edo you not know
that must remain Mt home to do the work ?"
"But you must learn to read and write"
said the visitor land il your mother will al
low j shall teach YOU
Linda was overioyed when her stepmother
gave the desired permission, and that very
day the instruction began. After the lessons
were over and the old woman was taking
her departure, she whispered to the little
girl: IF you are ever IN trouble call upon
the fairy Blanka and she will bring you
aid"
Linda progressed so rapidly in her studies
that the old woman said some great good
fortune would surely come to her. When
the mother heard this she begged that her
daughters might learn with Linda, and she
bought them beautiful books with gay pict-
ureS But they were lazy and, although the
old woman scolded and scolded, they would
not study. Soon the pretty books became
soiled and torn. and finally lost. Then
Linda must search all day for the missing
books, but they were nowhere TO be seen.
When night came the mother said to Linda:
81 If you do not find the books In the morning
you shall receive IL severe beating"
The little girl was very sad; and that
night when the house was quiet, and her
mother and sisters were fast asleep, she rose
from her little couch, and, needless of the
darkness, wandered forth into tie forest.
As she neared 4 crystal spring, gushing
from the rock, bright light fell around her
and she heard a silvery voice saying: The
fairy Blanka is near, and she will help YOU"
Theu, sinking to the ground, she fell into
deep sleep. When she awOke the bright
sun was bidding her good morning, and in
her lap lay the lost books.
AT HER SIDE STOOD SMALL CART
Drawn by three white owls, one of which,
in a rough, hoar>e voice, said The fairy
Blanka has sent us to carry you home"
The little girl quickly mounted the fairy
chariot, the owls clapped their wings, and
away they went, so swiftly that they reached
Liudas home before her mother and sisters
had awakened.
Now the old woman wished 10 teach her
pupils fine needlework. As before, Linda
applied herself so diligently tina. she was
soon as skillful as her teacher. But
although her sisters had golden needles and
the finest of silk with which to sew, they
would take no care, and finally threw away
the golden needles in order to escape the
hated sewing. When the mother learned
that the needles were lost she commanded
Linda to find them. The little girl sought
all day without finding the object of her
search AT night the mother said: TO
morrow you must find the needles or you
can no longer live in this house"
The child was greatly frightened, and de-
termined to 80 again in quest OF her kind
friend. the fairy; SO when every one was
sleeping she quietly LETT her room, and
walking through the SILENT deserted streets,
came 10 a large meadow, which was so
broad that even in the bright moonlight
Linda could not see the other side. On the
little girl Wandered until, weary and foot
sore, she sank on the shore of broGklet
running through the meadow
PLEASE, kind fairy, help me-" she cried,
and then fell asleep to dream bright visions
Of fairyland. She was reused by something
Juggling at her dress, and on looking up she
saw a tiny humming- bird holding the golden
needles in its mouth. Beside her stood the
fairy chariot, having for steeds six white
swans, which arched their necks and cried:
The fairy Blanka bids you awake and
hasten to your home
Linda obeyed the wishes of the fairy.
Great was tue establishment Of the step
mother and her daughters when they
learned that the golden needles had been
really found.
In short time the Old woman made
another visit to Linda's home, and showing
/ int r,Hh hmm,
cry To the one who will cook me the best
meal | shall give this bag OF pearls"
Each one wished to possess the jewels,
and went to work to prepare the meal, but
one burned the meat and the other did not
cock j. enough. Linda alone made ready
that which satisfied the old woman'S hunger,
and as a reward was given the bag CT pearls.
The mother was very angry that neither OF
her daughters had received the jewels, and
as soon as the visitor had taken her depart
ure the pearls were taken from Linda and
given to her elder sister, who became very
naughty and treated the poor stepchild
worse than ever. Suddenly the pearls dis
appeared, and although neghGors aud
friends joined in the search
NO TRACE OF THE MISSING JEWELS
Could be found. Finally the mother said
Linda, you have found the books and the
golden needles and now you must find the
pearls III you do not find them by t0-mor-
row morning shall beat you aud drive you
from the house."
Linda wept bitterly and begged her moth
er not to be so cruel. but the mother made
no reply, except to repeat her threats. That
night the little girl could not sleep. She had
almost forgotten in her trouble the good
fairy, who bad been so kind to her. Sud
denly remembering the words Of the old
woman she sprang up and crying, " The
fairy will help me-" hastily left the house
and took her way to the mountain. Here
Cbn nalln I nt,1 s.
but no reply came. At last, exhausted
by grief and fatigue, she fell to the
ground and knew nothing more until morn
ing shone bright upon her. AT her side lay
the bag Of pearls, and she was about to has
ten home with her treasure, when she heard
a noise as of rushing wind, and down the
mountain came the fairy chariot, drawn
neither by the owls nor the swans, but
by twelve large eagles. Linda now knew
that the fairy had sent her aid, and seating
herself in the chariot she was soon at home.
Running into the house she cried: "See,
see. mother, l have found the pearls in the
mountain"
But instead of being rejOiced over the re-
cOvery of the jewels, the mother was white
with rage. and Selling the child BY the arm,
cried: wicked child, you have stolen these.
and also the books and golden needles, and
have hidden them in the mountain; else how
could you find them in one night?"
Indeed, mother" Sobbed the child, II
have not stolen them. The fairy Blanka
helped me to find them"
But the mother would hear nothing and
drove the friendless child out into the street
Lone and sad, Linda wandered again to the
IN ountaiD, where she sat down on an old
moss-coyered stone, and shedding bitter
tears, wished she was dead. As she thus
sat a slight rustling in the bushes reused
her, and looking up she saw her old friend
and teacher, WHO inquired the cause of her
trouble When Linda had related her
grievances the old woman said: 81 prophesied
that good fortune would come to you, and
now il is here"
Scarcely had these words been spoken
when the fairy chariot, drawn by the twelve
eagles, was present, and instead of the old
woman the fairy Blanka herself stood near
and said: Your troubles are at an end.
Come with me"
She then carried Linda away TO the beau
tifu palace in fairyland, where she was
happy ever afterward. But the cruel step
mother and her two daughters lived in great
want. as punishment for their evil deeds
Paysie in Pittsburg Dispatch.
Tho Advantage of Public Schools.
We have no place in America for dainty