Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-12

little face, and taking the child in his arms,
he said: "Certainly,we are GLAD to see you,
little one; but where did you come from?"
81 don't know exactly" was the reply,
''but think that the fairies told me that
you were lonesome, and I thought you
might want me; but if you don't shall go
right away"
7'shall we keep her, mother7" asked the
father
"Of course" answered his wife. "True,
we are poor, but this child is SO much like
our lost Elsie that we shall soon love her"
Solttle Lisbeth stayed at Farmer Hansen's
house and made the home bright and happy.
But she could never tell anything more
about herself than when she first came.
She loved the farmer and his wife as If they
had been her own parents and she was
always good, obedient daughter. No
harm ever came to the child, for when she
walked in the forest the thorn bushes would
draw back SO as not to prick her delicate
face. If wasp lit on her hand the birds
drove 1t away. If she wandered near a.
precipice the squirrels would cry out: ''To
the right, little Lisbeth, or you will get
hurt" The little girl had many friends
among the birds and flowers, for she loved
them all and could understand their Ian
guage.
distress came to the farmer and his wife.
The crops had failed, and they had not
enough money with which to pay their rent
Every day they feared lest the owner OF the
house, the cruel Lady Constance, whom
every one thought to be an old witch, would
come for the money and drive them out Of
the house. At last Lady Constance did
come, and when she saw Lisbeth she said:
"What beautiful little girl? Give her
to me and the farm shall be yours always"
But neither the farmer nor his wife would
consent to part with their daughter. Then
the lady told Lisbeth of the beautiful castle
in which she lived, and of the garden, where
grew the choicest flowers and fruit. The
little girl listened with delight to all this
fine talk, and was almost persuaded to leave
her home, when little bird perched on the
window sill cried: "Lisbeth, do not go.
She is crafty and cruel, and will cause you
sorrow. Stay with the farmer and his wife;
for they need you"
Then Lisbeth looked up in the lady's face,
and said: Il shall not leave my father and
mother"
These words made Lady Constance very
angry, and she declared that if she did not
at once receive every penny due her, the
home
The farmer counted again and again his
little store of earnings, but he still lacked
81 to make out the rent. Then Lisbeth tore
from her neck the blue ribbon, on which
hung bright silver dollar, which she had
worn when she first came to the farmers,
and before her mother knew what she was
doing, she had thrown the money on the.
little heap, and said that now the rent could
be paid. Lady Constance hastily snatched
the money and cried" You had better gone
with me than to have parted with this
And the bird on the sill cried, 'Lisbeth,
Lisbeth, what have you done?"
A day or two later Lisbeth saw in the Il
garden very beautiful bird Of kind that
she had never seen before. Its feathers
were brilliant red, and on its head was a
little black tuft. 1t looked saucily at Lis
beth and chirped: "Catch me if YOU can"
The little girl stretched out her hands to |
catch the bird, but it flew just beyond her |
reach. Lisbeth followed after So intent |
was she upon having the bird that she |
noticed not which way she ran, until at |
last the beautiful red bird disappeared and
she found herself In dark pine forest |
where scarcely ray of sunshine pierced the |
gloom. A great white owl, with its round,
branches and said: $50 you have come at |
last. I have waited long time for you,
and then sent my messenger, the red bird,
to bring you here. If you had come before |
you gave away the money this would have
been a very happy day, but now all the
birds are sad and have no heart to sing theiT
sweet songs"
'But why are they sad?" asked Lisbeth,
'tthe sun shines brightly and the flowers are
just as sweet as ever. Why should they
grieve over the loss of my money!"
''That was no common money" returned
the owl, cit was piece Of magic silver.
Now we arein the power Of the evil Lady
Constance. Nearly every bird in this forest
Is an enchanted creature, being changed
into these forms many years ago by that
wicked Lady Constance. To-day the en-
chantment would have been over if you had
only kept the silver, which the raven stole
and hung about your neck when you went
to the farmers. Now we are without hope,
and must continue to be birds unless we
regain possession of the money"
At these words the little girl wept Bit
terly over the sorrow she had unconsciously
caused; but she thought: 81 shall 90 to
Lady Constance and promise to live with |
her always if she will only give the money
to me that may free the birds"
And with this resolve Lisbeth started |
toward the castle. She had gone but few |
her and said: "It will be useless for you to |
visit the castle, for Lady Constance guards |
The silver piece very carefully, and would |
never give it to you. But my power is |
even greater than hers, and if you will |
build house in this forest and bring your |
father and mother to live in it the birds |
shall be free"
The old woman then disappeared, and |
Lisbeth exclaimed, 'tBuild house. How
could do that?"
But the birds sangin chorus; ave shall
help you"
In moment oil the birds Of the forest,
both large and small, were busily carryingj
caves, twigs and small branches, and then l.
hey worked with such zeal that by the
morning the house was finished. True, it |
hat if her parents would only come there
o live they would never be troubled about
he rent, and she ran hastily home. On the
Tay she met the farmer and his wife, who
lad been searching all night for Lisbeth,
rho, they feared, had met with some acci-
ent. When the little girl told all that
ad happened the farmer said: eyes, we
hall live in the little house that you have
uilt, and if it is too small can easilymake
larger"
The three then started toward the foresty
ut instead of finding rough, thorny path,
,ey saw broad avenue, shaded by large
'ees, and bordered with flowers. The little
ut was nowhere to be seen; but in the dis-i
lnce appeared q stately castle, whose white
arble pillars cleaned in the sunlight
isbeth and her father and mother were so
'tonished that they could not speak; but
alked silently toward the palace. There
q the threshold they were met by host Of
.iries, and among them the Queen, who