St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-02-22
"WhoY I?'' said the boy, turning

| well, well" said Arnold, "let u
say nothing more about it; you nee
not tell us anything, we all under
standl Only tell the truth mex
time!"
The treasure was too large for tn
children to keep it secret, so they al
accompanied the boy who had jus
been saved from drowning to hi
hone, and there related what ha
happened. Many questions were pu
to Arnold, but he knew no more tha1
the rest. The glass splinters too wer
shown, much to the confusion of tn
little miser, and no one ever learne
how much he really had in his hand.
Arnold was now made much of, an
for a long time people were Away
| expecting that some new marve
would occur. Many thought it a yer.
fine thing to have among them a la
of such wonderful powers that b
could at any moment turn pence int
gold pieces-and also gold pieces int
glass, some of the shrewder folks oh
served. Meanwhile the wonder di'
! not repeat itself.
The little dog Fluff was always clos
at his masters heels, except whe1
they happened to meet his forme
owners, and then he took care to e
well out of the way to avoid them
These boys retained, however, some
what uncomfortable sense of obliga
ton to Arnold, and they resolved tt
let their playfellows share in thu
riches he had heaped on them. 81
they planned a days excursion il
the woods, and all set out with thei1
specimen-cases, filled with bread ani
butter and sandwiches, slung ove1
their shoulders, and with Arnold a.
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 tc
stretch themselves on the grass, tc
picnic comfortably, there came q
sound of wind signing through the
trees, like tones of sweetest music
and before they could ask one another
what it meant, a lovely fairy appeared
before them. Her garments were be-
sprinkled with dewdrops that sparkled
in the sun; her snow-white hair fell
to her feet, and was even brighter and
more glossy than the threads of flax
on the distaff she held in her hand,
though each of these shone like silver,
and was as delicate as the petals OF
newly!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 a silver bell. All
could hear her; it 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 to the banquet which have
prepared for my guests"
They all readily followed the beau
tiful fairy who invited them SO kind
~, and they came to lovely spot
where they had never been before.
est down, all of you," said the
fairy, land the feast shall be served
in trice!"
She waved her hand and the birds
came flying toward her carrying rose
leaves in their little ,beaks. Before
each guest was placed a rose-leaf
containing tiny patty, very tiny,
thought the children, for their good
but they did not like to
say so. Another fight of birds
brought little silver spoons, and squir-
rels followed, bearing acorn-cups full
of nectar that had SO exquisite per-
fume and tasted so good the children
the diminutive size of the
goblets even more than that of the
rose-leaf plates with the fairy-patties.
"Now fall to, my little friends, and
do justice to my farrell" At this in
slant the fairy waved her distaff, and
with one accord the birds in the
branches overhead began to sing so
sweetly many of the children forgot
The food and drink before them and
could only listen.
And when they did begin to eat
md drink, very discreetly at first,
taking only little wee morsels and lit
lie tiny sips of nectar, so that their
Kind hostess might not perceive that
The portions she had provided would
oe rather small even for birds, being
a mouthful for hungry chill
lren after a long walk-when they
lid begin, why then they found there
vas no end to the good things set
before them. They ate and drank,
md yet the rose-leaf plates were
lever empty, the acorn-cups were al
Ways full of nectar.
Care, too, was taken that their
hall should never become
90 hot. Splendid peacock butterflies
nd great blue moths, bigger. and more
than any the children had
yer seen before, kept lowering round
hem, tanning them, and setting the
lir perpetually in motion with the
'eating of their wings. When all the
'atties were eaten, birds came and re-
moved the rose leaves, and more fol-
owed, carrying beech leaves and oak
caves filed with all sorts of delicious
title cakes and tarts. And it seemed |
8 if these would never be done, for
10 sooner did any one think to him
elf, II should like little more of that |
AXE" than a fresh slice was before
i'm. And the squirrels fetched fresh
milk in campanulaflowers, and bum
lebees brought honey in nutshells
followed out by the squir-