The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-06-28
T]1e N$exalA ana Nee'S
TEN WONDERFUL SERVANTS.
A Fairy Story for Little Girls.

~ story! ~ story! Oooo man
Prudence!
The peasant smiled and glanced
aside at Martha, who was always
idle. "That is to say that one
must pay for his welcome here"
said he. Every we'll, it shall be as
you wish, my good friends," and
he continued in the following
strain:
On a former occasion l told you
story Of the olden times, when
the pagan armies laid waste our
mountains. That was a story for
men. Today l will speak, if it
will not displcase you, to the wo-
men and little children. Each one
must have his turn. We occupied
ourselves with Caesar; let us enter
tain then with Mother Vert d'Eau.
Every one shouted with laugh
ter; they settled themselves quick
ly, however. William relighted
his pipe, and the old man COM
mcnccd.
This story, my darllngs, is not
an idle tale, but you may read it in
the books, among the true stories,
for the adventure happened to our
grandmother, Charlotte, whom
William here, remembers, and vino
was a woman of wonderful rcsolu-
ton. Grandmother Charlotte was
young in her day, although you
may find it difficult to believe this,
when you see her gray locks and
her hooked nose, which is always
talking to her chin, but those of
her age say that no young girl had
better countcnancc, nor gayer
disposition than she. Unfortun-
atcly Charlotte was left alone with
her father at the head of large
firm, which was more encumbercd
with debt than income.
So that work succeeded work,
and the poor girl, who was not ac-
customed to so many cares was Of
ten in despair, and spent her time
in doing nothing in order to find
out the best way to do everything.
One day as she was sitting before
the door with her hands under her
apron like woman who has frosted
fingers, she commenced to say to
herself in Il low voice: "Heaven
forgive me it is inhuman to assign
me such a task. 1t is great pity
that at my age I should be bur
bcned with so many cares. If l
were rs diligcnt as the sun, as ac-
tive as water and as strong as fire,
should not be able to do all the
work in this house. Oh! why is
not the good fairy Vert d'Eau any
longer in this world? Why was
she not summoned to attend my
baptism1 If she would hear and
aid me, perhaps, it would relieve
us both-mc of my cares, and my
father of his debt.''
"Be content then. Here I am
interrupted voice, and Charlotte
saw mother Vert d'Eau just before
her, leaning upon little holly
wood wand. At first the little girl
was afraid, for the fairy wore a
dress but little used in this country.
She was clothed entirely in the skin
of a frog, the head of which served
her for hood. Being SO ugly, so
old and SO wrinkled, she had not
been able to find a husband, al
though she had dowry of a mil
lion. Charlotte recovered herself
quickly and asked the fairy, Vert
d'Eau in voice little tremulous,
but very polite, what she could do
for her.
''1t is I who Lave come to aid
thee," replied the old woman. "I
have heard thy complaints and
have brought thee something to
help thee out of thy trouble"
"Ohi are you in earnest, good
motherr" exclaimed Charlotte, who
Mt once became very familiar.
"Have you come to give me n
piece of your wand so that all of
my hard work shall become easy3"
"Bettcr than that" replied
mother Vert d'Eau. II have
brought thee ten little servants,
who will do everything thou tellest
them.'