The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-11

l NOW, skip and bring 1t home.
 Nell ran to her brother, exclaiming Bertha says we may go, and she says too that there's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and we're to bring her a fifty-dollar coinp
 Mercy me, I'm so tiredp' walled lit- tie Nell. trudging wearily along the country road. Are we most there. brother?"
 T think grandma.s off that way an- swered Fred, stopping and pointing down a lane, bordered on each side by tall trees, their bare, winter branches standing out bleak and black against winter sky. Though no snow lay on the ground the air was full of frost. and 1t bit the noses, fingers and toes of the two little wanderers who were in search of the rainbow, the road to Fairyland.
 They had taken Bertha at her word, and putting on their wraps had slipped unnoticed from the house and set off merrily toward the long line of wooded hills which pronounced the beginning of that country they were in quest of.
 Hand in hand they had gone on and on till at last they got beyond the bor- ders of the town and were surrounded by woods and country, with only here and there house to denote life. The sky was getting bluer and bluer, the light of day dinner and dinner, and the cold bit fiercer and fiercer into their tender flesh. And wearier and wearier became the two pair of little feet, for they were not accustomed to walking so far on rough country roads. They turned into the road, or lane, rather, which led in the direction of the place where Fred thought their grand ma lifed On they pushed a little furth9 when Nell gave out ''Oh, I'm so til Id, so tired, brother cried the poor aehlld, dropping on the road side to rest. T wish we'd stayed at home, so 1 do."
 Fred paused and looked about and above him. Wish the rainbow hurry up and drop down. he ventured, feeling for the first time in his short life of eight summers that he had perhaps act ed unwisely. Could it be possible that they would fail to find the coveted l prize 1.-the beautiful path to Fairyland and the pot of gold.
 Let's go back. home," pleaded Nell. her little body shivering with cold. Let's go back and come sometime when its warm I don't like the winter time 1 to travel to the rainbow in. Let's go | home.'
 Nell, I'll go for your sake," said Fred, as anxious to retrace their steps as Nell l was, but not wishing to betray his feel I'd just keep, right on. But if you're | cold we'll go back.
 Nell rose from the road and the two | grasped hands-hands cold and red and turned their faces about For sev- i eral minutes they pursued their way in l silence. Then they came to a place | where two roads led off from the one they travelled, one right one left. Fred l hesitated in taking one, not remember | ing which road had led them thither. l 'I believe It's this one," he said, point r fnO h
 "No, it's that one" said Nell, desIg- hating the road to the left. T remember that big tree with the warts on it.
 And I remember that bunch of dead grass" declared Fred, pointing to a tuft of weeds and grass which grew near the side of the road leading to the right. "Thatll surely take us home"
 q want to go this way said Nell starting down the left-hand road. Then she began to cry. "Oh, I wish I had my mamma; I wish had my mamma!' And
 "oh, don't cry, sister, begged Fred, putting his arm protectingly round his little sister, who was still quite baby. being only six. I'll take you straight home, so I will"
 .Which way shall we go?" sobbed Neil, letting the 'bg brother" decide.
 q think this Is the right way, sister" | and the poor fellow, on the point or tears himself. turned the weeping Nell into the right-hand road. 1 They walked wearily along, Nell's fears steps. The darkness of early winter was coming down very fast, and to | Fred's astonishment and terror the stars began to peep out of the heayens; ;,l B4tn t,,a cold and fear was taking possession l of them. Through Freds mind flew the tales of terrible wild animals that inhabited the woods and hills,. and he looked cautiously about him, half ex necting to see the burning eyes of panther ready to spring from the bushes which grew along the roadside. Occa- sionally the wind would sigh through | fhe bare branches, or stir the dead weeds and grass. causing the children sudden fear Then they would cling the | more tightly to each other. and Nell's tears would flow afresh.
 Just as Nell was again on the point of falling down with fatigue. the sound of wheels behind them caused them to look back with hope. Maybe it's somebody | from town" eagerly said Fred "Well 1 ask em to take us in with 'em. if there's | Both children stepped outside the beat en road to let the coming vehicle pass. It came flying along in cloud of dust, and as 1t drew alongside the little way farers, they heard a familiar voice ex- | claim: Why, there're two little chll- | dren by the roadside! Stop, please"-to the driver-'and let's ask them where | they are going. so late as this and so far
 Oh. the joy of itl There was the | MrS. Smltn. The carriage came 10 q | standstill and the instant it's occupants | saw who the children were, the driver was on the ground in an instant, and in another instant Nell was in her mothers arms while Fred was on the seat by the driver.
 My darling babiesr' exclaimed their mother, as soon as the little ones were seated" where on earth were you going? How came you here? Why. you're fully three miles from town"
 We were going to find the rainbow, explained Fred. But we'd rather go back home"
 'Yes, Bertha said we might go, and there's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" added Nell, cuddlng close to her mother. But I'm glad you came just now, mamma, for we were awful cold and-and--scared. too"
 "Yes, and I thank fortune to have found my little birdies who have stolen Then turning to Mrs. Smith, she con tinued speaking: How strange that advised our taking drive over this un- frequented road. Something seemed to | lead me this way"
 | Tt was us that called you mamma" | said Fred, looking back from his front | seat; i've didn't call your name in our | mouths. but we called for you in our | hearts. you know, and a good fairy must | have heard us and sent you to us."
 "Yes the good fairy was mothers love said their mama anaTs tbs in tender os der | little ones."
 And so ended the journey toward | Fairyland by the rainbow route, started on so joyously and so innocently by the two little would-be explorers of un- known lands that exist only in the imag- nation of children.