Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-31

SNiHSS AANui' SSsio hNNAN RNNH NhSN w
herself, rs she patted into better shape
the head OF the snowman she was max
ing, Ruth had habit of talking to
herself when she was playing,
would you like to know where the
snow comes frcm?" came in a small,
clear voice near her,
4 Ruth started and looked around her.
at first seeing nothing except the snow,
but as the question was repeated in
the same ringing tone she became
aware of little being standing before
] her,
1t was dainty little creature, as
white as the snow on which II stood,
! Its little white coat, which reached
down to its feet, looked like snow.
flakes sewe6 together with golden
thread Its little cap, which at first
seemed like white fur, upon second
glance was found to be OF heavy white
| frost, such as is often seen on the heads
of nails in the sidewalk early winter
mornings. The earlaps of the cap
were two sparkling snowfakes tied I'M
/ der the chin with bow of ice, Upon
the little creatures shoulders were two
large snowfiakes which served as
wings.
Ruth's breath was quite taken away
! by the strangeness and beauty of her
little visitor, but as she had often
heard of fairies before she was not
, afraid and quickly answered. Yes,
should like to know where the snow
comes from"
! IL am one of the snow fairies, and II
you win let me make you smaller
will take you to my home" the fairy
answered
Ruth readily consented, and with
wave Of his tiny wand, made of snow.
flakes laced together with gold, he
made Ruth grow gradually smaller un.
til she was about his own size Then,
taking from the folds Of his coat
two large snowtlakes made into wings,
he fastened them on her shoulders,
Nov come" he said; and Ruth felt
herself rise from the earth and sail
gently upward
Who could describe that journey or
the swaying motion as they foated
easily upward, above the roofs of the
houses and the tops of the tallest trees
till they were mere specks beneath
them; on up through the clouds till in
the distance large white palace came
IN view, The sun was Inning upon
it, lending new beauty to the sparkling
cpnm Hal nf xybfnh hntlt
Ruth and the fairy lighted on the
steps of Ice which led to the double
doors of the palace. Ruth thought she
had never seen anything as beautiful as
these doors, which were decorated with
frost pictures and swung noiselessly
on their hinges of ice. Her companion
led her through the palace, through Its
many rooms carpeted with thick white
hoar frost, so thick their feet sank in II
as in velvet. Upon the sparkling walls
hung beautiful frost pictures In frames
of ice, while the little chairs and sofas
were upholstered with the softest, fin.
est frost imaginable, and the icicles
which formed the legs of the furniture
were carved in artistic shapes. The
whole scene was made more beautiful
by the lights taken from the glow.
worms tails which cleaned in the Ice
chandeliers.
A soft humming filled the air, which
Ruth found, when her companion open.
ed the door into room larger than all
the others together, was made by the
fairies voices who were all assembled
IN this room and working busily. They
were dressed more daintily than the
fairy with Ruth. Their dresses had
full white skirts made of the finest
snowfiakes, and their wings, too, were
made of prettier shaped flakes than
his, while their long. golden hair fell
over their tiny shoulders.
The fairy led Ruth TO the kings
throne, where he sat directing the
fairies work. A majestic little figure
he was in his long flowing robe made
of snowiakes and trimmed with beau.
tiful lace OF frost work; and the crown
OF brilliant snowfakes upon his head
seemed to receive more dignity from his
long white beard. The ice throne. with
It's soft covering Of white frost and sides
of delicate frost work, was fitting
seat for the little man.
His greeting to Ruth was kindly.
Welcome, Mortal Child, TO the pal.
ace of the king OF the snow fairies. We
and our fairies are buster today than
Is our wont because Of more orders re-
ceiyed for snowiiakes than we expect
ed; but come, Mortal Child, sit by me
on the throne and watch the fairies
make the snowfakes"
Ruth took her seat beside him, and,
J looking down, saw the fairies at little
Ice tables rolling out white substance
into thin sheets with ice rolling pins.
Then they cut out the pretty snow.
fakes with ice cutters OF all shapes,
as Ruth had seen her own mother cut
out fancy cookies. AS the fakes were
| finished other fairies gathered them
from the tables in baskets of ice which
they placed when full at one cad Of ,ne