Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-26

! That night she dreamed the same dream,
and in the morning begged Gertrude thas
she would seek the nest For an hour or
two the little girl searched diligently under
many trees, but in vain. Then as she was
beginning to think there was no such nest
to be found, to her astoniShment she stood
near broad, blue lake, whose shores were
strewn with pearls, ,and whose waves washed
up delicate shells.
Il shall seek no more for the nest, eA-
claimed Gertrude, "but shall gather these
pearls, and then shall be so rich that l can
buy medicine, which will cure aunt sooner
than the egg of which she dreamed"
Having filled her apron with the largest
and choicest pearls Gertrude fastened home
to show her treasure. But the way seemed
longer than usual, and it was nearly night
when the little girl reached the cottage.
When she had called her brother and sister
to come and see her riches, she found her
apron full not of pearls, but of common
white pebbles, such as she might tnd any
day on the shore of the brook. Gertrude
was greatly mortified, especially when her
aunt's groans reminded her how she had
neglected the poor woman's request. Inc
next morning Elsie said:
"Aunt if you could only spare me to-day,
perhaps might find the egg which Is to
make you well again.
$50, child" replied the aunt, "hut can
scarcely hope that you will be successful:
But Elsie ran away, determined to make
every effort to find the egg. How beautiful
1t was in the forest 1t had been such a
long time since the little girl had been
there, and every step brought her new pleas
ure. She looked from the hill top down
into the valley. There, covering the ground
like blue and white carpet, were many,
many violets, which nodded as if to say,
"Stay with us to-dayP
How Elsie did love flowers; but she
cried:
"Sweet violets, do not tempt me; for l
must seek the egg which will heal my aunt. "
Then she saw among the flowers a narrow
path, and, following this, Elsie came to q
thorn bush, standing directly in her way.
Pushing aside the branches, she saw a large,
black hen, which few out, leaving nest in
which were three eggs; one blue, one red,
and one gold. Elsie stood moment, Won
dering which one would cure her aunt. She
had about decided to take all OF them, when
q shrill voice criedi
$50 you wish to steal my eggs"
The little girl looked up, and saw stand
ing near her an ugly old woman, leaning on
q crutch. When Elsie had told Of her aunt's
dream, the old woman said:
"She was right. The blue egg gives
health, the red one beauty, and the gold one
wealth. You may take them all if you will
return here tomorrow evening and agree to
serve me for one year"
Elsie willingly promised to return, and
then fastened home. She first gave the
blue egg to her aunt, who Immediately was
well and able to rise from her bed. She gave
the golden egg to Edmund, and he at once
filled his pockets with money. Gertrude
received the red egg, and became the most
beautiful maiden in the land. The next
evening Elsie, according to her promise, re-
turned to the thorn bush, and her aunt,
weeping bitterly, went part of the way with
her. Elsie was met by the old woman, who
said:
''My home is very beautiful, and your
labors will be very light"
She then led the little girl to an elegant
palace, surrounded by large gardens. For
several days Elsie had nothing to do but ad-
mire her new home and roam through the
gardens. The old woman ceased to be ugly,
her voice became sweet and pleasant, and
she was very kind to the little girl One
morning she came to Elsie and said:
'The only service require Of you is to
weave a veil which shall be ga soft as linen,
as fine as a spiders web, shining as gold,
and Largo enough to cover your whole fig
ure"
Elsie thought for a long time over these
words, and then began to weave. She used
the finest silk and sprinkled here and there
many sparkling gems. When it was finished
she carried it to the old woman, who ex-
amined it very carefully and then saidi
''This is beautiful; but it is entirely use
less, and you must try to do better another
time"
Elsie was bitterly disappointed, and all
day she thought how she might improve her
work. In the evening she ran out into the
garden. There in the moonlight danced the
rose fairies, who inquired the cause Of
Elsie's sadness, and when they knew it they
said;
"You forgot the gold. That is why the
veil was useless"
"But I could find no goId," answered
Elsie.
"And yet there was plenty about you,-
said the fairies. ''Only look at your hair.
What better gold can you desire ?''
81 understand, and now can make the
veil," cried Elsie delightedly, "for my hair
is soft and golden"
"And we each shall give you some Of
ours, said the fairies.
1t was not long until Elsie had a great
quantity Of golden hair. She at once began
to weave, and did not stop until the veil
was finished This time the old woman
said
Thanks, thanks, my dear child. now I
can bring home my lovely daughter, the
Forest Fairy, vino without such a veil must
always remain in the home of the Wood
land Nymph, who stole her from me-"
That night the old woman's daughter re-
turned, and all the fairies from far and near
assembled at the palace to join in the re-
joicings.
The gay scene, with its sounds of music,
and the fairy figures fitting about, was one
that Elsie never forgot Much honor and
attention were lavished upon the little girl
who had woven the veil, and when she re-
turned to her aunt the next day she was so
laden with treasure and rich gifts that for
the rest of her life she had plenty and to