The record-union., 1899-07-17
bosom. She was ashamed of herself
for being afraid, but she couldn't


bosom. She was ashamed of herself
for being afraid, but she couldn't
help it.
Afraid said Aunt Jennie, kindly
why, how can you be with the WIN
dow curtain fairies here?'
window curtain fairies" said Ma
bel, drying her eyes quickly. "Oh,
Auntie, tell me about them. Are they
real fairies?''
NO. said Aunt Jennie, they are
only make believe fairies. but they
really do a lot of good for nervous lit
tie girls They live in the window cur
tains and they sway gently to and fro,
waiting for little girls to go to sleep
and seeing that no harm comes 10
them. Then when the little girls are
fast asleep they come and settle down
upon the pillow, one at either end, and
they sing sweet, low songs and tell
pretty stories that every one turns into
bright dreams. They are dressed all in
pure white, and if you watch the cur
tains long enough you can make out
their slender, graceful forms swayine
there, waving their dainty white arms
to keep all ugly thoughts away. Where
they are no evil thing can come, anu
when you once know they are there
you cannot be afraid. I am very sorry
I did not tell you of this before, but
never found out about them till just
now. when I made them UP for your
especial benefit. Now, do you think
you can let Auntie go?'
ooh, yes, Auntie,'' said Mabel, smll-
ing brightly. II can't be afraid now
since you have given me the window
curtain fairies" so Aunt Jennie kissed
Mabel goodnight once more and went
down stairs.
The whole bedroom seemed different
now. In the windows hung long, filmy
lace curtains, moving gently in the
breeze that came through the parity
opened sashes. and Mabel sat up in her
little bed for a long time looking at
the graceful folds of the soft white
lace, trying to make out the forms or
the fairies, until at last she almost
fancied she could see them waving
their slender arms to her. She knew
that they were only make believe
fairies, as Aunt Jennie had said, but
they were none the less real on that
account, and they filled her mind with
pretty fancies. She could hear the
mouse still nibbling in the closet, but
he did not brighten her now. Away
off she could still hear the clock tick
ing through the silence of the night.
but the window curtain fairies were
there weaving beautiful patterns in the
moonlight that lay on the floor, and by
and by, when she was gone to sleep.
they would leave their homes in the
curtains and sit upon her pillow to
keep ugly thoughts from creeping into
her dreams, and they would sing to
her sweet and low, sweet and low,
and tell her pretty stories that would
be woven into bright, happy dreams.
Mabel was so glad she had found them,
and she lay back at last on her pillow
with her eyes still fixed on the cur
tains, for she found herself getting
sleepy. For fear she might drop off
to sleep without knowing it, she kissed
her hand to them and said. Good
night. dear fairies and then laughed
merrily for doing it.
A little later, when Aunt Jennie
again crept up stairs to look after the
timid little girl she loved; she found
Mabel fast asleep, with her curls
spread out on the pillow and the WIN
dow curtain fairies must have been
singing to her sweet and low, for there
was smile upon Mabel's lips.-Cin-
cinnati Enquirer.