Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-06-25
THE FAIRY FIDELE.

| Little Jessie sat IN tne nursery
window, just at twilight, very
cross and unhappy. Nurse had
made her rock the baby for hall
an hour, when she waOted to
play party with her new tea set,
and Aunt Abby had decided that
she was not TO go down to dinner
with the grown people to day, aud
she had her dinner quietly IN the
nursery with little Fred and Ber.
the. And Jessie, who had caught
S ght of a great freezer of ice'
cream and basket of white grapes
was somebody elSe's girl.
But Why not Aunt Abby? she
had pleaded.
Because | do not think it is
best, said Aunt Abby. And Jessie
knew we'll hat when A unit Abby
spoke in that quiet and resolute
way there was no sort of use IN
her begging any longer.
l do lead such a hard life, she
sighed to herself. | wish L could
be any bOdy-Se es, almost anybody
except Jessie Clover.
All was still and silent. Nurse
was down at her tea. The baby
nesting in its crib like a rose leaf,
was sound asleep, and Jessie could
hear the old clock 60. 'tick-tick,
tick.tick,' 10 the silence. And then
she sat watching the snow as it
tell in white, huttering drifts.
Oh, SAID Jessie, drOwslly. If only
| lived in d land where all the
snow was pelrls and all the rain
was diamonds!
Would you like that7 said a
voice as sweet and small az a
chime of SILVER bells; and glauce
lug upward in the direction from
which it came Jessie saw, to her
surprise that the tiny fairy in the
picture over the mantel piece,
which for a whole year had been
peeping out Of the white leaves OF
an opening lily, had at last clim-
bed over the edge and stood there
on the mantel with a small, spark.
ling crown upon her head aud a
wand in her hand. Would YOU
really like that, little Jessie? Well
then come with me aud we Will
grant your wish.
Who are Sou7 said Jessie.
am Fldele the FAIRY, the small
beng answered.
But how can We 60 through all
this snowY cried Jessie.
shall order ny carriage, said
Fidele the FAIRY.
She struck with her wand three
times on the marble mantel-
Jessie trembled for fear the little
click, click, click, should awaken
the baby, but it didn't
aud the next she knew, Jessie
found herself standing in a chariot
with gilded wheels and a parasol'
like canopy of pale-green crystal
which kept oil the snow delight
fully.
Where are we golngY said Jessie
Why, you wanted to change IN
to some other little girl, didnI
youf said the Fairy Fidele. And
now is your chance. We will
peep into all the windows, and
when we see some little girl with
whom you desire to barter places,
whlskl prestol with wave of bel
wand, and the thing is donel Look
look, you wanted to be IN tht
kingdom of pearls, and here you
are.
And, to Jessie's SURPRISE, all tht
air around her was full OF shining
pearls instead of snow.
On. on they went in their swift
fight through the world OF beauty
which surrounded them.
Stop here, Fairly Fidele, sai(
Jessie as they Hoated iu sight of
great castle with flags flying from
its turrets; l think should Ike t'
live here!
In an itstant, as it seemed t.
Jessie, they we're in a satin lineC
chamber, where candles burned il
silver branches, and all the al
was sweet with flowers. A littl'
GIRL of Jessie's own age lay ther
on a silke pillow, with a quilt @
elder down pulled over her shou'