Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-17

it was a big butterfly, and then it came
and sat down just there by my feet. and
then, while | was looking at it, it flew
away out of the window
The child had never been so bright
and Interested. Mrs. Randall brought
out the doll hut the little girl hardly
noticed il, and could talk of nothing but
the fairy.
sob. Granny, it was pretty-will it
think it willE"
What could the old lady say but:
Yes, denr, hope So though secretly
she was rather worried and told her
husband later that the child had either
had n vivid dream or was under a
strange deluSion, and it was TO be hoped
1t did not mean She was feyeriSh
Wonderful To relate. the same thing
happened the following afternoon,
Ernestine was left alone for her after
noon mp, when her grandmother went
IN later she was actually greeted by Il
hecn here again, and sat here on my
pillow"
Mrs. Randall was sorely puzzled What
could the child meanI Who or what was
this fairy" that was bringing back life
anil health to her daring2
The next morning the old lady was
busy tidying up in the greenhouse: her
husband stood in the doorway, enjoying
his pipe and reading the paper
Suddenly Mrs. Randall called to him.
GEORGE Come here quickOh. what
on earth is in Look, here in this yellow
marguerite"
Ssh. Maria Keep calm. Perhaps it
is new specimen. Where did you say?
Oh, yes. OIL"
The last exclamation ended abruptly.
rs. following his wife's pointing finger, he
saw little brown figure about five inches
high. with black hair and yellow wings
Nesting asleep among the flowers.
This is most remarkable" said the old
gentleman, rubbing his hands delghtedy.
If you'll just keep an eye on 1t, Maria,
I'll fetch nv net and killing bottle"
George the old lady nearly
screamed, you must not. you can't!
Don't you see, it isn't an insect, it's "a
what | suppose one would call fairy"
impossible! Really. Maria, | believe
You are right" said the old gentleman.
bending down again to examine it more
closely.
Pretty little thing he murmured.
taking the sleeping fairy gently up in
his hands.
OH he exclaimed, popping it quickly
down again and gazing ruefully at his
finger, ut seems TO have sharp teeth. |
shall write IN account of this to the So
Getty"
Now, George, beg you will do moth
ing of the sort; y0u see it Is such an
such an out-of-the-wny thing altogether.
pcsIdeS. people wouldn't believe you, and
suppose you don't want to look quite
ridiculous. Why. the child was right
after all, and OF course this must he FIR
rcstinc's fairy. Put where could it have
come FROM"
ia! Maria, have an idea"
H. fetched chair and standing on 1t
reached down the poor. despised bazaar
treasure from the shelf
Yes he exclaimed triumphantly, "it
is as thought. This is apparently some
kind Of cocoon. Look. you see il is split
exactly in half. Tie little creature cyi-
IDENTIFY came out Of here"
Good gracious. What n very cXtraor-
binary thing ] hope. George, you don't
think the neghbors will find out do You?
Well, I'm grateful to il for ErnestneA
sake. ! shall move her couch down here
so that size may be near it,"
Ia few days they became quite ne
cusfpmod to seeing the little brown fairy
fitting about the flowers. What it lived
on they did not know, bnt II always
seemed 10 prefer flowers with n sweet
scent and those Of the same color as lis
wings. II was very Shy and would gent
orally hide itself under The leaves or curl
down in its cocOauut Shell If anyone were
L
Alone with the little girl however. it
was never shy. II wouDd play with her.
talk to her. tell her wonderful stories Of
the beautiful fairy land il had come
from, aud 10 which II would one day re-
turn, and amuSe her in countless ways
Day by day Eruestine grew stronger the
color came back into her cheeks, she
would laugh and run, trying 10 catch the
fairy who lowered temptiugly in front Of
her. Soon she ceased to be a sckly little
invalid. and was fast becoming a bonny.
healthy little girl.
Then there came a day when the fairy
said:
II must leave you, Ernestnc. Our
queen has sent for me. DO you sec those
two swallows skimming in the air?
Those are her messengers.
Are you going straight to the fairy
Not yet There is more work for me
70 do. The queen is sending me to a
little sex boy. you want me no longer
You are we'll"
And | shall never see you again."
SAID ErneStine sadly
Perhaps, who knows? BE good. Help
others and the birds will love you, and
i Is the birds that know all about the
fairies"
Then goodby. dear. dear little fairy
said the child. stroking softly the yellow
wings and kissing the curly black head
Come back 10 Ernestine some day, and
take me with you To your beautiful fairy
land. Goodby"s
And spreading its wings the fairy
scared high into the summer mir, and.
joining the swallows few upwards and
UPWARDS till they were lost to sight
barbara Lucy, in Cassell's Little Folks.
Meet raptiioy N -. ,a4,r;o,,.t. .1-e -