The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-06

"Ah!" she answered quite simply, lifting
her clear eyes with a smile. sit is for thu
fairies.'
For the fairies?' I said.
well, you see," she said, Rlancing rounl
at the wind swept, sun-dappled tielt
them here. They live in the country, yor
know. they don't like the town to live in
they only go there to see people they are
fond of-kiverside (that is the name of
their country house) is full! Of them, and
they are SO fond of swinging. So when
come out I tie the tops of the long grass Of
and bend them over. 1t make d little swing
you see.'
saw that it did. and | saw, too, that she
had not a shadow of a doubt that it would
sway too and fro with the light weight OF
a fairy before it had time to wither.
u DO a great many things for them," she
said. And they are SO glad end they do sc
like me-"
LET US make some more swings" | said,
kneelinR town and beginning to look for
the tallest grasses. "And tell me what
other things you do. Do you know the M
the fairies. 1 mean?"
"Ah, l knew them,'' she answered, busy
ing herself with another swing, ''but I
have never seen them. I just do things to
make them happy. You see they are so
tiny. tiny. tiny, that it isn't easy to see
them. They think we are giants, and they
are rather frightened of us until they know
we are thei. friends, and they run away
and hide in flower cups and under leaves
and in the grass. They know now that l
won't hurt them. SO perhaps l may see
them some day. l hope | shall. never
do anything that might make them afraid
Of me, and | am always trying to please
them"
or wish I could see them,' I said, II
always did so want to see a fairy"
t'Ihav nrn cn >rattp > oh1 1r;I ht7NI,1n
are dressed in clothes made of flowers, or
spun out of sparkling spiders webs, and
they have diamonds made of dew drops,
and sometimes their ball dresses are spun
out of sunshine, and moonsh1ne, and that
hight, white morning mist"
Nothing could nave been sweeter or more
perfectly simple and natural than her happy
sincerity. She spoke of the fairies as il
she were speaking Of humming birds or
butterflies or bees. | felt as if they might
De swarmlng about us that very minute.
tried to pretend to myself that it was
true. and succeeded pretty we'll, too. I
always liked fairies and it was delightful
to knoel there in the warm scented long
grass and talk and act as if they were real.
Have they balls and bail dresseg?' l
asked. But OF course they have, because
I've read about them"
They are fond of balls" she answered.
They dance every night there ia moonlight.
They have asked Miss Anna to their balls
they are not afraid of her-they think she is
a sort of relation"
did she ever go?' | inquired.
We'll, no. She's small compared to us,
you know, but she ia big compared to
fairies, and / think she was afraid she
might tread on some of them, and that
would have spoiled all their party
80 it would" l replied. But it would
have been nice if she could have gone and
sat down carefully. and just looked on.
Then she could have told you about it.
Now We have made swings enough, what
could wa do next?"
II have just thought of something verv
important" said Birdie. "Ihere is a full
moon tonight, and they are going to have
a grand ball in the grove before the house,
n am COINS TO prepare their ballroom
under the oak tree that has H hollow in it.
They use the hollow for q bedroom to take
off their things in, and if any of them bring
bables they want very soft moss to lay
them on"
do they bring their children some
times?" / asked,
They do just now. Koseleaf and Bios
som Doth have babies. and fairy babies are
80 tiny they dhren't leave them alone be-
cause the least breath of wind might blow
thln away
We left the fairy swings and went to thu
oak at once, and began to work in the most
earnest manner.
First we cleared away all twigs unC
fallen leaySs and bits of pebble from undel
the tree. and made a charming smooth
place to dance on. Then we made Il fine mos.
carpet and bordered it with fresh Leaves
and az q finishing touch we made mos.
seats to rest on between the dances. Th,
supper room required much more work
First we had to ind q piece of diamond