The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-06-13

with the baby On his shoulder and
marched them into the garden, where he
PLAYED with them until his wifelet thrust
her head out Of the window and re
marked:
'After all my toll and trouble he in
tends to.let the meat get cold before he
carves it"
Certainly" said Quiverfull to him
self, amelia is upset today"
But all he did was to marshal his host
in doors and help to incase each in a blue
! check eating apron, and he tried to be
cheerful, poor man! and he praised the
dinner, and he told q funny story that
Stibbs had told him, and he helped to
wipe the dishes afterward; but nothing
soothed his wifelet or restored her to her
usual condition Of mind. She had made
up her mind that her lot was hard. that
she had made q mistake in marrying a
small clerk in a small drug store, that
fate had afflicted her in bestowing five
boys upon her and in recently adding a
| girl baby. al day she had been envy
ing a maiden lady opposite. who sat in
her luxurious apartment tanning herself
and reading. What a happy fate was
hers, She had an immense income. She
boarded, she wore diamonds, she was
driven cut every afternoon: she had no
cares and responsibilities.
Later. when she had retired, the baby
asleep in her arms, and the five little
Quiyerfulls in their cots and cribs in the
next room, she listened to her husbands
small. peculiar snore. like the purr Of a
contented kitten, and scornfully curled
her nose in the darkness.
Why couldn't have waited for a
good match?" she said. why must l
marry a red headed little man like that?
wish | was Miss Stickleback."
"If yoa really wish it, you can be-"
said Il little voice at her elbow, and open
ing her eyes widely, Mrs. Quiyerfull saw
a little old lady perched upon the pin
cushion in her work basket.
She was "a very little old lady indeed,
net more than two feet high, and wore a
Vatican dress and powdered hair. She
was tanning herself with a fan made of
L.-.an.ing birds feathers, and she laughed
as Mrs. Qdiycrfull prepared TO cover LIZ
face with the sheet.
You need not be afraid Of me, she
said. Il am your well wisher. You
have never believed in fairies, l suppose:
Well, now you see one. am a fairy. l
heard you bemoaning yourself a little
while a9o-reeretting that you were not
Miss Stickleback, and wishing yourself
rid Of your little red haired husband
with a small salary, your five big boys
and your squalling infant. I can't blame
yon. either, a pretty woman like you.
You weren't made for dish washing and
dinner getting. Miss Stickleback does
have a good time, but she wants a hus-
band and offspring, SO, if you like, I'll
say a few words, wave my hand and
change you. You shall be the wealthy
spinster, she the overworked married
woman"
"I-don't like" faltered Mrs. Culver
fulfil feel"-
"Oh, you want to get up and cook
breakfast, l suppose" said the fairy.
'Well, tastes differ. shouldn't"
ooh, l don't, either" sighed Mrs.
Quiverfull. Only
"You would like a change" said the
fairy.
Yes" said Mrs. Qaiyerfull.
Suddenly there was a ringing Of bells
in her ears-no, not quite like bells,
either; rather the mur1nur Of a swarm Of
bees. She was rising, floating, flying.
She opened her eyes upon a room full Of
pale, rosy light. The perfume from a
bunch of jack roses came to her. The
quilt that covered her was Of softest silk;
the sleeves Of her n~ightgown was of rich
lace. She recognized the lovely lounging
chair in which Miss S~tickleback lolled
half the day. The fairy had kept her
promise. She had become the free,
happy, rich Miss Stickleback.
Shortly a maid entered the room and
whispered that the bath was ready il
miss was.
What Il delightful bath! what delight
full towels? what a delicious breakfast
afterward: The post brought invitations
to lunches, to afternoon teas, to theatre
parties. What a happy life! And here
was the new novel, and time to read il
in. But as she fiirted the pages Il little
voice called, "Good-by, papa" and peep
ing out Of her window she saw a little
man with red whiskers come out of the
gate OF u tiny cottage, followed by five
little boys. He kissed them all round
and jumped each N owe the fence.
Then there was Il pretty woman ina blue
calico wrapper with a baby in her arms,
and she fixed his cravat for him, and he
kissed them both. Then he stopped on
the corner and waved his hand before he
took the car.
"Oh, it's Jim!' cried the false Miss
Stickleback. 'Oh, it's Jim! It's my
husband! Oh, oh, oh! There are my
children. That's my baby, That's me!
No, | mean it isn't me. I'm somebody
else. Oh, oh, dear! Oh, dear me! Ohv'
Are youi i'll, miss? Can do anythingf"
simpered the maid, popping in at this
juncture.
"You can go away" said the trans
formed Mrs. Quiverfull, snappishly.
The maid vanished.
"What shall | dol" moaned Mrs. Quiy-
erfull. Instead of aplump brunette she
beheld II slender blonde in a morning
robe.
"Jim never would believe it was me if
l swore it!' she exclaimed, wringing her
hands. ="And she would not give him
up, know. Oh, let her alone for that
oh ,oieo.aG1a .r.ro+ch 4bo{ I oYpis