Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-07
FOR YOUNG FOLK.
THE WILLOW WAND.
A Children's Fairy story by Martha
Mc'CuIIoch Williams.
copyright, 1907, by the Autbor.1


"Oh, do but lookl There comes a
walking scarecrow," Annabel said, Civ |
ing her head a fine toss
mo, he has just run away from the |
rag man, who had him for sign, YOU
know" Bess returned, with a giegle |
and great craning of her long neck.
Hush, please dol The poor old man
will hear you, Margery pleaded, her
face full of kind pain. To three of
them were coming back from the mead
ows, where Farmer Gray had let them
run and race to their hearts content
and end by filling their baskets with
ripe fragrant wild strawberries. Anna.
bel was prime favorite with him. She
had such pink cheeks and yellow curls
and bright long dashed eyes. She had
bright ways, too, withal little saucy
You did not notice that so much in her
self as i'll BoSs, who aped her in every
thing Bess was not pretty or winsome,
so the airs and poutings and occasional
sharp saying she affected sat very i'll
upon her.
"Poohl l want him to hear He de.
serves it for going about looking as he
does" she said louder than ever and
tiptoeing the least bit, as though she
wished to make the old man understand
how very much she looked down upon
him Annabel tipped her head little
to one side and said in Margery's ear:
Does not Bess look like the giraffe
in the picture books? IL am sorry /
spoke so loud. l did not think Maybe
the poor old man has no better clothes"
'Oh, oh, l believe he is going to
chase usl See, he has got long switch
in his handl" Bess cried shrilly Let
us run past him as hard as we can clip
it. l shall die-yes, die outright-if he
manages to catch me.
"Do be quiet" Margery implored
HE could not hurt us if he would. He
could never catch us. l am sure, too he
would not hurt us if he could. He has
kind face, and, as for the switch, it is
nothing more than a willow wand.
Come, let us go along toward him at
decent pace. "
You do have such low taste, Mar
geryP' Bess said curling her lip. MY
mother even says So She is going to
tell your mother soon that no good will
come Of your ways, taking up, as you
do, for all the lame dogs and stray cats
and beggars and ragamuffins seen in the
village"
''She might spend her breath to better
purpose and worse, " Margery answered,
smiling. By this time they were oppo-
site the old man. He had seated himself
upon the roadside bank and was waving
his wand gently back and forth over his
head His face was thin and wrinkled,
with struggling white beard upon the
lower part He had long white hair too.
1t shone like silver floss ON the collar of
his ragged coat He had removed Il bat
tered cap and showed brow beaded
with sweat, as from long, tedious
tramping.
Give you good day, little ladies, "
he said, smiling at the three as they
approached him. Annabel murmured
family something that might have been
taken for response. Bess stalked on,
staring hard at the other side Of the
highway. Margery alone made courteous
answer Good day to you, sir, " she
said. Then moving shyly toward him:
You must be tired and thirsty. See if
handful of these fine strawberries will
not refresh you.
"No doubt, no doubt, ;" the old man
said, peering eagerly into the basket
she held out, but not touching its con-
tents "You say handful, he went
on, smiling queerly. 81 fear l could not
be content it'll less than basketful II
once l got the taste of them.
There, l told you so. He means to
rob US. We must run Bess broke in,
pinching Annabel as she spoke and max
ing to dart away But the old man
waved his wand toward her, and she
stood rooted to the spot, so much PIC,
ture of anger and fear that Annabel
laughed outright.
lyon may have the whole basketful
if you like, " Margery said, smiling, but
a little wistfully. 81 gathered them for
my mother, but 1 can go back. am
sure good Farmer Gray will give me
more"-
The stranger gave no heed to her
He was still looking at the berries with
out touching them. After little he
took am especially luscious one, crushed
it against his tongue and said, with
kinder smile:
Little girl, that has the full flavor
of a good heart Come. let us make
bargain. You would like to keep you
berries if did not need them. woulc
like to keep my wand if But tina
need not be told. We will make fal'
exchange Give me your basket an'
take this willow bough.
Please sir, you-you will let us &c
homeP' Annabel said, her red lips quiz
ering Bess scowled and stamped ne
foot. Margery took the wand and SAID
smiling up in the strangers face;
II will keep it until you come AM
say you want it back. But you are YER
welcome to the berries. My mother
know, would bid me give them to YOU
80 her daughter inherits generos
ity," the old man said. ''Well' IL Is
great heritage. Now run home' all q
you"
And 1 hope Farmer Gray wlIi
there with Lion, his big dog be'
said, shaking her fist after the man. wh
seemed to have vanished in the hedge
Annabel was almost crying. he Is
wizard. l know it," she said AN
you, Bess, have made him angry. SUI
pose when we wake in the morning
- 18th 70 xUhita mice