The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-25
THE ENCHANTED
ASH BARREL.
Nlom the Ballimors ~.

Ever since her Queen had made her the
presiding genius Of Thahkless Tenement, in
the town of Tuluk, the tender-hearted, rest
less thumbllng had burned with an eager
ancition to do something for the towns
fo'k. That is to say, something "big."
Comforting wishes in jobIots of three; out
whiting and thwarting wicked magicians,
guests and ogres; changing people and
things that we're not and had no right to be;
giving handsome aud enterprisiuR Young
persons caps OF invisibihty, armor Of in
vulnerablity, titles OF nobility aud fiabby
pyincesses Of no ability whetever-these
were mere commonplace in the ewes of the
fairy Finnlkin. who pooh-poobed them as
such.
What she most longed to do was to create
a sensation sud get herself talked about and
salary raised.
She was too new for anything that's all
there is about IL.
The other fairies in her set said so, and
they ought to know, you know.
20, what's the useW she petulantly would
say to her Queen whenever she was permit
ted to como home 70 the Fairy Ring on
Sundays and holidays az can't do any
thing worth my while there In Thankless
Tenement
"What do they want with 7-league
boots and invisible clothing I've ex-
hausted upon them all the falry-tale gifts
that / could find recommended by Ander-
sen. the Brothers Grimm. Laboulaye, Car
ryll or any of the old authorities. but it's all
of no use. They don't want EN-"
You might try something else, then"
the Queen would mildly suggest on these
occasions-"a wishing-cap. or fying-carpeu
or something Of that sort"
30! pshaw" fairy Finnikin would re-
ply, you don't understand the situation at
ALI lNhu | hoyA faNI
ihanklesS Tenementers everything OF the
kind have in stock, but It don't do any
good. TO Hobokeu with your 99-cent
"Fontasme" propertiesp they yell. Give us
something PRACTICAL We can't swallow
your tive-bladed swords nor eat your oxi-
died genii ringsp"
They might pawn them. though" the
Queen would soy, thoughtfully.
AND so want you either to give me the
power 10 do something worth Wholesome
thing chat these mercenary mechanics and
day laborers can appreciate the fairy
would run on, not needing her sovereign's
interruption, ''or else put me on the Dew
drop and Rainbow circuit. Pm too good
Tor common missionary work in these one
night stands, anyway
This sort Of thing went on for some time.
until, one day, Just month before Christ
mas, the Queen got miffed and spoke out In
meeting:
snow Just see here, Finnikin," said she.
II want you to understand one thing right
here. I've always tried to teach my people
that it's the little things, not the big ones.
that give US the most happiness in this life.
aud so, If you really wished TO work for the
best interests OF those around you instead
OF selhshly trying to make hit for your
selt-which fear ie your strongest motive
you would begin at the foot OF the ladder
aud AID these Thankless Tenementers in the
practical way they desire by first removing
small obstacles from their path
GU say they don't want the usual fairy
gifts Good They are about thresdbare
anyway. | notice that Stockton and the
other modern fairy historians are not res
commencing them any more. Now, sup-
pose you increase your own power and
popularity, bit by Bit in other ways.
Let me see; Pm rot very practical my
self-few fairies are--but, if this were sum
mertime, should advise that you begin by
shooting off the fies and mosquitoes thnt
settle on the babies noses willis their
mothers are cooking the dinner. As you
remark, however, 1t is not summertime
Well, then, suppose you select your own oc-
cuparion, the humber the better, but mind
that II Is useful aud prAc .ical, and that its
ultimate object shall be 10 permanently
benefit the inhabitants OF Tufiuk generally
and the Thankless Tenement9rs in partic-
uIar. I'll give you just one week to pick
your JOOs CDluo, 10 OH MlZIlel
NamooseW And with an imperious wave
OF her wand che dismissed the fairy Finui-
kin from her presence.
10, these amateurs, these ameteurss
They'll drivs me distracted with their ever
lasting kickinRw she sighed. Then, TO quiet
her nerves. she took turn through the art
department where The Vandyke Brownies
were mixing paint with which to decorate
the wings OF the next seasons butterfiies
But tinnikin few back TO Tufiuk full OF
violet wine and good intentions.
She didn't mean any harm, poor little
thing She Just didn't know her business
All that night and half OF the next dav
she thought. 1t was hard work for her and
she WAS glad when the noon hour struck
and che knocked OFF for lunch.
The words OF her dear royal mistress rang
in her cookie shell-like ears-for, like the
Pirates OF Penzance, wish all her faults she
loved her Queen-and betw cen bites of her
bluegrass sand wioh - seasoned with
timothy, she kept repeating over and over
to herself:
Suppose you select your own occups-
ton. tho humber the better, but mind that
IL is useful and practical, and that its ulti-
mate object shall be TO permanently bene-
fit the Inhabitants of Tutuk generally and
the Thankless renementers in particular"
"The humber the betterm she muttere1;
useful and practical-permanent bene-
Ill., AN buhS was Just AZ one WOuIl De-
gin at once, but how?
Now, here is where the ash-barrel comes
in. Like all the good things OF this earth,
it has been slow of naturalization.
Finnikin was sitting on the edge Of 1t as
she nasticated her sandwich. Tie barrel
stood in one corner OF the courtyard around
which Thankless Tenement was built ia the
form OF hollOg square. The barrel was
full OF ashes aud trash.
As the fairy munched and unused, and
munched again, Two Tiny Tots approached
the barrel Then they stopped and peeped in.
Now, the fairy Finnikin had always been
fond of children. principally because she
never bad any Of her own, aud 80 when she
caught sight OF the toddlers, she ceased to
ruminate. grew interested and forgot to eat.
whats 'oor pepper doin' TO div 100 fo'
Tristmas, DimmieF queried the youngest
tot, q bright, tow headed blue eyed, smeary-
faced little midget Of as she chung 10 the
rim of the barrel by her elbows and kicked
her ill-shod toes against it ia time to the
faint music Of a piauo-organ, which was
plink-puuking away of somewhere in the
distance.
"Nawthin' az I knows on" replied The
other tot. q stringy, scrawny, baggard-eyed
little chap Of 5, with hungry look. hall OF
an old cotton shirt and a sbapeless felt hat
full OF ventilation holes. "Wot's yer daddy
a-going ter give you, CissyP