The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-08
NOW TIIEFAIRIES WERE REVENGED.
A TRUE STORY.
BY CHARLES II. LUGRfN.

"A true story about fairies; how can that
be?n l think ] hear some little reader say:
There are no fairies, so how can story
about them be true." Well all ] can say IS
that what ! am going 10 tell really did hap
pen: and when YOU have read II, you can De
eide for yourself how much the fairies had to
do with II.
There is lovely river in the Province Of
New Brunswick called the "Iobique" Ii
rises among the highest mountains III that
part Of America. and flows for abOit hum
dred miles through the prettiest Juntry that
can be imagined IL is a fam0s place for
fishing and in the winter time tie Indians go
into the wilderness about its source anc trap
animals for their fur. If you climb or of the
highest peaks and look around, you can see
nothing but forest. with perhaps here and
there "A little lake or winding stream. A few
summers ago / spent a week on the headwa-
ters of the river. partly for the sake OF the
holiday and partly 10 find out how much
truth there was in the stories Of gold mines.
which had been told about some of the
branches of the stream. Returning, l was
lying IN my canoe enjoying the gentle motion
as we sped down the little rapids, which every
now and then break the smooth surface Of the
river. when my Indian guide startled me by
asking question. Why should be startled
at so small a thingy You ask. Why, because
Tom would sit and paddle canoe from morn
ing till dark and never speak unless he was
spoken 10. and then would not use two words
in replying If one would do, or any word at all
if grunt would suffice. But he was good
canoeman. honest as the sun, and knew every
salmon and trout hole on the river, and those
good qualities more than made up for his
fondness for holding his tongue, which was,
indeed. not altogether a bad quality. had
been telling him a lot Of Indian legends during
the day; Tor the young men among the In
dlans nowadays do not know many OF the old
stories which their ancestors handed down
from generation 10 generation; and II was
probably from a desire to add his share TO the
entertainment that he spoke 10 me Of his own
accord
"You know Won-e-j on-up?" he asked.
mo. / never heard Of him. WHO'S Won-e-
jon-up.n | said.
oh, him not man: him place." was
Toms answer. All same as fairies place"
Then, after pause: Maybe what yon call
witches; Little people you no see, but can do
everything
Toms voice had a little quaver in it, as
though he was telling about something that
was not to be lightly spoken Of; SO | turned
TO him and asked. somewhat cOntemptuOusly:
You don't mean to say that you believe
such stuff"
No, me don't believe him, but all same me
don't know" was the hesitating reply; and
then, as if the subject had grown too deep Tor
words. Tom relapsed into silence and dipped
his paddle with a stronger stroke that seemed
10 make the canoe almost leap from the water
For about mile We went along in silence
when l noticed that our speed began TO
slacken, the canoe was turned 10 the shore,
and We swung around close 10 low sandy
beach.
This Won-e-j on-up," said Tom.
OF course | got up from my seat and step
ped ashore, Tom following. and drawing the
canoe up 50 as to prevent the current from
carrying Il away There did not appear 10 be
much 10 see only a reddish bank with grass
growing on the top and a gravelly beach ter
lnlnating IN the sand upon which we had
landed. | observed that Tom moved around
very cautiously. and when | advanced toward
him, somewhat carelessly, he raised his hand
lOu look where you step"
| eIanced down 20 the ground, and was sur
prised 70 see a number Of little piles of stones.
In some OF them there would be, | suppose,
twenty pieces, in Others less. stopped to ex-
anime them and found that they were all
shapes. some resembling animals, some not
unlike men in outline. and ell very much like
a rude imitation Cf toys. The largest Of them
was considerably smaller than the palm OF my
hand. They We're the color of q Drowned GIN
ger-snap, about as thick and about as hard.
Continuing my examination. went up 10 the
bank. and there found hundreds of these lit
tie figures projecting from the clay. some in
process Of formation, others fully formed.
asked Tom for an explanation. He told me
that fairies lived in the woods near at hand
ana that they came here every night % make
these odd figures. If We came buck the next
day, he said, VIC would find them all finished
aud lying a. the foot Of the bank, and the