The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-02

Hazel and her cousin Gypsy are or
phans who live with their grandmother
in the big noisy city of New York.
They are both very fond of fairy
stories. and though they had never
seen a real gnome or goblin. they are
old-fashioned enough TO achieve that
some day they will come face TO face
with one of these little creatures; not
in the city, of course, but soma sum-
mer evening in the quiet country. That
they should themselves even become
real fairies was quite beyond their
widest dreams, and yet to-day it is true
that in the magic hours after night
fall they don, for a space shimmering
wings and float through the air or
dance or tiptoe with fairy wands and
jewel-lit hair.
And the way it came about was this:
One recess time at the Forty-seventh
Street Primary School some weeks ago
they were discussing the absence of a
certain fellow student, Elsie BrCwn 10y
name, and wondering what had kept
her from school for the past week.
II know" said Tot, a young lady
of summers. Her father died the
other day and her mothers very sick
-and-and she can't be "a fairy any
more-'least not till her mother gets
better so she can leave her"
"A fairy?" gasped Gypsy, she of the
velvet eyes. What do you mean,
Tot?"
Why. didn't you know about it?-
it's this way: Elsie dresses up as a
fairy, with gauze wings, every night,
in the pantomime of The Beauty and
the Beast Her folks are awful poor
and Elsie earns so cents every tir1e
she is a fairy. And the money has
gone to buy medicine for her father.
Now, her mother is i'll, and Elsie can't
leave her to buy the medicine She
needs. Isn't it too bad?"
Dreadful" said Gypsy and Hazel,
who had meyer wanted for anything, al
though their granmama was far from
being rich.
What do you have to do to become
real fairy?" asked Hazel.
Easy as pie said Tot. KNOCK at
the stage door and tell The man who
sits inside that you want t. be a fairy,
and he VIII fasten wings upon you;
then you can fly wherever the long
stick in the orchestra points,
Il am tired of reading and talking
about make believe fairies" said
Hazel, let's me real ones"
IN show you the play house" said
Tot, and she led the children several
blocks out of their way, to a little
green door at the side of a great big
building covered with gay pictures.
"SNe want to be real fairies said
Hazel, holding tight to Gypsy's hand
as she explained to the stage door
keeper.
and what would you do We're you
a fairy?" he asked, a merry twinkle
in his china blue eyes.
Take Elsie Browns place and give
her the money for her sick mama"
said Hazel.
Then you'd be an angel" he said
and the twinkle went out of his eyes
A wiry little woman with a mop Of red
curls now came tripping out of a dark
place, beyond the stage door
Ready for the third act" she cried.
Down a spiral staircase came a troop
of children in pink silk tights. Some
wore short gauzy skirts others had
great wings or long green tails, while
others carried punches of peoples. As
they tripped onto the stage the music
playedS and everything was as magical
as fairy Land.
IT'S dress rehearsal" said Tot, who
had been once behind the scenes with
Elsie Brown.
Madame TroHy," said the door
keeper, here are two little girls that
want to be real fairies" and he laugh
ed as did the Madame.
I'VE want to take Elsie Browns
place" said Hazel. Take turn about
you know. Gypsy one night and l the
next"
We'll, you are ambitious, my dears.
Elsie's the best fairy in the panto-
mine. Poor child"
That's why we want to take her
place said Gypsy, because she is so
poor"
God bless you" said the ballet
mistress. Ever been on the stage be-
fore?"
The children shook their heads.
l thought not" smiled the Madame,
ana her red curls danced.
1 20 let US come" pleaded Hazel.
we want so much to be real fairies.
- "ont take US long 10 learn. We