Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-04-04
had suddenly gone up in his comrades

and rather inclined TO believe he had
helped himself from his fathers
money-box.
"Who? ~" said the boy. turning
very red.
"Well, we'll" said Arnold, "let us
say nothing more about it; you need
not tell us anything, we all under
stand Only tell the truth next
time!"
These boys always retained n some
what uncomfortable sense of obliga-
tion to Arnold, and they resolved to
let their playfellows share in the
riches he had heaped on them. So
they planned a days excursion in
the woods, and all set out with their
specimen-cases, filed with bread and
butter and sandwiches, slung over
their shoulders, and with Arnold as
guide, for he knew every inch of the
way and all the shady little hooks
and corners and freshest streams.
Just as the children were about TO
stretch themselves on the grass, to
picnic comfortably, there came a
sound OF wind signing through the
trees like tones of sweetest music.
and before they could ask one another
what il meant, a lovely fairy appeared
before them. Her garments were be
sprinkled with dewdrops that sparkled
i'm the sun; her snow-white hair fell
10 her feet, and was even brighter and
more glossy than the threads of flax
ON the distafr she held in her hand,
though each of these shone like silver.
and was as delicate as the petals of
ncwly-opened flowers. She was
neither young nor old-she was sim
ply beautiful; and the children stood
with their eyes fixed upon her, wait
ing to hear what She would say. And
when she began TO speak her voice
was softer than the breeze, and sweet
er than music, and low as the hum Of
bees. and clear as silver bell. All
could hear her; IL was as if she spoke
TO each one alone.
you have come into my woods
without waiting for an invitation,
that is why YOU have not found the
table laid. Follow me now and ! will
lead You 10 the banquet which ! have
prepared for my guests"
They all readily followed the beau.
tiful fairy who invited them So kind
~, and they came 10 lovely spot
where they had never been before
II was wide meadow, shut i'm 10y
beech trees, and with broollet
forming a waterfall on the one side
The ground was so thick with flow
ers their brilliant colors almost daz.
lied the eyes, and the trees were So
full of birds their branches fairly
bent beneath the weight.
"Sit down, all Of YOU" said the
fairy, land the feast shall be served
in a trice'"
She waved her hand and the birds
came flying toward her carrying rose
leaves in their little beaks. Befor,
each guest was placed rose-leai
containing a tiny patty, very tiny
thought the children. for their gooc
appetites, but they did not like e
say so. Another fight of birds
brought little silver spoons, and SPUR
rels followed. bearing acorn-cups full
, of nectar that had 50 exquisite a per
fume and tasted so good the children
regretted the diminutive size OF tn,
goblets even more than that of tn,
rose-leaf plates with the fairy-patties
Now fall 10, my little friends, anC
do Justice To my fare" At this in
slant the fairy waved her distaff, anC
Il. IL nd D..
branches overhead began to sing s.
sweetlv many of the children forgo
the food and drink before them ant
could only listen. They ate and drank
and vet the rose-leaf plates wer'
never empty, the acorn-cups were al
ways full of nectar.
Care. too, was taken that thei
banqucting hall should never becom
too hot. Splendid peacock butterf1ie
and great blue moths, bigger and NOR
beautiful than any the children ha'
ever seen before, kept lowering roun'
them, tanning them. and setting tn
air perpetuallv in motion with tn
beating of their wings. When all tn
patties were eaten, birds came and re
moved the rose leaves, and more fol
lowed. carrying beech leaves and GA
leaves filed with all sorts of delciou
little cakes and tarts. And il SCENE
as il these would never be done, 70
no sooner did any one think to him
self should like a little more of tina
cake" than a fresh slice was befor
him And the squirrels fetched fires
milk in campanula-fiowers. and bun
blebees brought honey in nutshell
skllfully followed out by the squii
relS The water. too. was ineNhaus'
ible: the nutshell pitchers were a
WAYS full however much one dranl
and the water in them remained a
cool as if il were just drawn fror
a spring. Then came fruit of all sort
in and out of season. cherries an
raspberries. strawberries and peache
pears and mulberries. apricots an
grapes, all piled up on little wicke
carts pushed along 10y deer. who keI
running up behind them and givin
little pushes with their forehead
At that sight the Youngsters brok