The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-02-13
,ad suddenly gone mp in his comrades.

had suddenly gone mp in his comrades
good opinion on account Of this new
wonder. for until then few had cred
tied the story of the Transformation,
and rather inclined to believe he had
helped himself from his fathers
money-box.
"who? ~" said the boy, turning
very red.
"well. well," 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 some
what uncomfortable sense of obliga-
ton to Arnold. nrSl they resolved to
let their playfellows share in the
riches he had heaped on them. So
they planned 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 IT meant, a lovely fairy appeared
before them. Her garments were be-
sprinkled with dewdrops that sparkled
in the sun; her snow-whitc hair fell
to her feet, and was even brighter and
| more glossy than the threads of fax
on the distatf she held in her hand.
| though each of these shone like silver.
and was rs delicate MS 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 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
ly, and they came to lovely spot
where they had never been before.
1t was a wide meadow, shut in by
beech trees, and with a brool<let
forming waterfall on the one side.
The ground was so thick with flow
ers their brilliant colors almost daz-
zled 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, "and 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. Before
each guest was placed a rose-leaf
containing a tiny patty, very tiny,
thought the children, for their good
appetites, but they did not like to
say so. Another fight of birds
brought little silver spoons, and squir-
Nls followed, bearing acorn-cups full
OF nectar that had so exquisite a per-
fume and tasted so good the children
regretted the diminutive size of the
goblets even more than that of the
rose-leaf plates with the fairy-patties.
Nov fall to, my little friends, and
do justice to my fnre." 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. They ate and drank,
and yet the rose-leaf plates were
never empty, the acorn-cups were al
ways full of nectar.
Care, too, was taken that their
banqucting hall should never become
too hot. Splendid peacock butterflies
and great blue moths, bigger and more
beautiful than any the children had
eyer seen before, kept lowering round
them, tanning them, and setting the
air perpetually in motion with the
beating of their wings. When all the
patties were eaten, birds came and re-
moved the rose leaves, and more fol-
lowed, carrying beech leaves and oak
leaves filled with all sorts of delicious
little cakes and tarts. And it seemed
as If these would never be done. for
no sooner did any one think to him
self, 81 should like little more of that
cake" than fresh slice was before
him. And the squirrels fetched fresh |
milk in campanula-flowers, and bum |
biebees brought honey in nutshells
skillfully followed out by the squir-
rels. The water, too, was ineXhaust- |
ible; the nutshell pitchers were al
ways full however much one drank, |
and the water in them remained as !
cool as if it We're just drawn from
a spring. Then came fruit of all sorts,