The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-02
THE CREAM OF THE YEAR.

On the day before New Years all the in
habitants of the village of Bramwell were
brsily engaged planning how they should
snatch the cream OF the year from ali
their friends. and especially from the long
old hermit fairy who lived in BRAIN
well woods.
For in Bramwell the luck OF the year
was buried in the first pitcherful OF water
that was taken all foaming and white
floru the spring in the valley. Whoever
got there first on New Years eve, after
the clock had struck twelve, and drew
the first pitcher OF water from the spring
got the cream of the year. and had moth
ing but luck until another New Years
day came around
But year after year, just as the clock
struck twelve and the grand rush for the
si5ring began. the old fairy hermit would
Come out from his cabin on the mount
ain and ask the GREATNESS, hurrying
throng why they ran so fast
Then the person whom ne questioned
was obliged to answer, THE cream OF the
year, The cream of the year.
AS soon as he heard this the old hermit
fairy would put on his swiftest wings or
his most ma gical boots and watt himself
over the mountain and into the valley,
where the spring was bubbling.
Now the old hermit fairy could not tell
time as mortals do. He did not know mid
Years eve church bells from the bells
CO other days. In this way the villagers
of Brarwell had an advantage over him.
But they were always SO eager to get
the first pitcherfui, each for himself, that
they rushed very fast, all together, and
made a great noise about il. so that the
old hermit fairy could not but know what
was going on. OF course as he was a
fairy the villagers were obliged TO answer
truthfully any question he put to them,
and when he heard their frenzied rush
past his door he made use of this TO COM
pei them to tell him where they were 60
ing.
On this particular New Years eve there
was particular excitement in the village
| because a desperate effort was TO be
! made to defeat the old fairy Soon after
dusk all the villagers, led by Pesonsr the
first Alderman. gathered on the green TO
make plans. But though they planned
and planned they could think of nothing.
One by one the young men OF the VII
lage made their suggestions Most or
them thought that a new way down the
/ mountain might be found which did not
/ lead past the old hermit fairy's hut.
But if the old fairy could not tell the
time of day he could at least see to the
end of the country. and all the older per-
I sons, who had tried it in former years,
! told the young men sadly that the plan
was not to be thought of. the old fairy
/ vas sure to see the crowd of hurrying
/ villagers ne matter what part of the
mountain they descended.
Even now he suspects something. said
the oldest villager. pointing TO the mount
( ain. And there. sure enough. was the old
/ fairy perched on the rim of the mount
/ ain keeping watch.
But even while they were pointing him
out to one another the sound of horses
hoofs was heard along the high road
/ Everybody turned and saw a strapping
young man in scarlet seated on splendid
white horse.
1t is the Prince of the Red Fairy
I land come to help U.S. cried some of the
villagers.
! But no. cried Peggy, the first Alder
mans daughter. 1T is only John Breen.
the village boy who went away to be
rage in the CASTLE"
| The newcomer galloped into the circle
/ of anxious villagers, jumped from his
horse and doffed his cap before the first
Alderman.
Your honor" said he, 81 have come on
purpose to help you win the cream of the
year and defeat the old hermit fairy.
| But all the villagers saw by this time
! that it was really only John Breen in his
new pages suit. and they cried out. Who
are you to be giving us advice? Have We
! not raced for the cream OF the year every
| born?''
Aye and lost it, too. said John Breen.
''If YOU will let me go while you stop
! quietly here I will be able to slip past the
! old hermit fairy without his sIspecting
/ that anything unusual is the matter
And what would you do with it when
! you got it?'' asked the Alderman
| II would bring it back to you and put
! it in the town hall. where it would bring
luck to the whole village" replied John
/ Breen.
But at this all the villagers raised
great cutlery. do not agree to this pro-
: pCsal your honor they cried. He will
never come hack if ne once gets the
| cream Of the year. He will carry ii away
With him to the castle.
But the Alderman was a bold man, and
he resolved upon 4 bold measure we
have tried your way for a good many
years he said to the villagers. "and you
have always scrambled so that we lost the
luck of the whole village. Now L am de-
termined TO try something else, but in
order that you may have no fears | my
self VIII be the one to go and bring back
luck to the village"
Everybody looked at his neighbor in dis
may. for although the Alderman was
rich and prosperous II was well known
that he was very stingy and would be no
more likely 10 share his luck with his
fellow villagers than the old hermit fairy
himself.
Very well. your honor" said John
Breen. stepping forward again with the
greatest poIiteness; IF that is your de-
cision l bid you good day" He vaulted
upon his snow white horse and was off,
leaving the villagers planning TO defy AL
derman Pegons' commands and rush away
to the spring. each for himself as usual.
when he clock struck twelve.
But just as John Breen rode away little
Peggy ran out and whispered in his ear
Here are three gifts for you" said she.
They arc partly enchanted and partly
real and you will know what to do with
them
Il may not have the old hermit fairy's
money said John Breen 20 himself: and
may not be the first Alderman. but
have learned a thing or two at court and
| VIII bring back their luck in spite OF
themselves.
And Re had his own idea OF what he
anted 10 carry away in exchange Cor
this service.
The talking and planning on tho village
green had taken 50 long that there was
10 time TO be lost. 50. putting spurs 10
his horse ne rode " the village street
Gathering for ne well knew that none
g. the villagers were at home. all hav-
ing gone to the green TO start on the
stroke OF twelve
When he reached the village town clock
he pulled out the first OF Pegeys gifts.
which proved % be pair of steel points
y kich he fastened 20 hts shoes and in AT
Instant he was climbing up the sp!re
Then he brought out the second OF the
gifts. which vas long cloth. and in a
aorrr,1 he Md this wound a~o-1rd fhe