The Newtown bee., 1904-11-11

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 "But I do not care to dance to- night!" replied Lulea, with little frown.
 "We might create something, by virtue of our fairy powers," suggested one who reclined at the feet of the queen.
 "Ah, that is just the ideal" exclaim. ed the dainty Lulea, with brightening countenance. ''Let us create some thing. But what?" 1 II have heard,' remarked another member of the band, ''Of thinking cap having been made by some fairies in America And whatever mortal wore this thinking-c cap was able to conceive the most noble and beautiful thoughts.
 "That was indeed a worthy crea- tion," cried the little queen. "What became of the cap?''
 "The man who received it was so afraid some one else would get it and be able to think the same exquisite thoughts as himself that he hid it safe ly away-so safely that he himtelf never could think afterward where he had placed it,"
 "How unfortunate! But we must not make another thinking-cap, lest it l meet llKc late. CdlQOU you suggest something else?"
 "I have heard," said another, "ot certain fairies who created pair Of enchanted boots, which would always carry their mortal wearer away from danger-and never into it.
 "What a great boon to those blun- dering mortals!" cried the queen. "And whatever became of the bOotSi"
 "They came at last into the posses sion of great general who did not know their powers. So he wore them into battle one day, and immediately ran away, followed by all his men, and the fight was won by the enemy"
 "But did not the general escape dan ger?"
 "Yes-at the expense of his repu- tation.
 l So he retired to farm and wore out the boots tramping up and down a country road and trying to decide why he had suddenly become such coward. | "The boots were worn by the wrong man, surely" said the queen; "and that is why they proved curse rather than a blessing. But we want no en- chanted boots. Think of something else."
 | Suppose we weave magic cloak, " proposed Espa. sweet little fairy who had not before spoken.
 "A cloak? Indeed, we might easily weave that," returned the queen. .'But what sort of magic powers must it possess?"
 ''Let it's wearer have any wish in- stantly fulfilled" said Espa, brightly.
 But at this there arose quite a mur- mur of protest on all sides, which the queen immediately silenced with a wave of her royal hand. CiCfnr mi ir1 nf hn probable consequence of what she sug- geSted," declared Lulea, smiling into the downcast face of little Espa, who seemed to feel rebuked by the disap- proval of the others. 'An instant's reflection would enable her to see that such power would give the cloak $ mortal wearer as many privileges as we ourselves possess. And l suppose you intended the cloak for mortal wearer?" she inquired.
 "YeS," " answered ESpa, Shyly; "that was my intention"
 'But the idea is good, nevertheless continued the queen, "and l propose we devote this evening to weaving the magic cloak. Only, it's magic shall give to it's wearer the fulfilment of but one wish; and I am quite sure that even that should prove a great boon to the helpless mortals.
 Suppose more than one person wears the cloak" one of the band said; fulfilled?"
 The queen devoted a moment to thought, and then replied:
 "Each posSesser of the magic cloak may have one wish granted, provided the cloak is not stolen from it's last wearer. In that case the magic power will not be exercised on behalf of the thief.'
 r. "But shall there not be limit to the number of the cloak's wearers?" asked the fairy lying at the queens feet.
 'I think not. If used properly our gift will prove of great value to mor- tals. And if we find that it is mis- used we can at any time take back the cloak and revoke it's magic power. So now, if we are all agreed upon this novel amusement, let us set to work"
 At these words the fairies Sprang up eagerly; and their queen, smiling upon them, waved her hand toward the cen ter of the clearing. At once a beauti- full fairy loom appeared in the space. It was not such loom as mortalS use. It consisted of large and small ring per. The entire band danced around it thrice, the fairies carrying in each hand a silver shuttle wound with glOs- sy tilaments finer than the finest silk. And the threads on each shuttle ap- peared different hue from those of all the other Shuttles.
 At a sign from the queen they one and all approached the golden loom and fastened an end of thread in it's warp. Next moment they were glee- fully dancing hither and thither, while the silver shuttles flew swiftly from hand to hand and the gossamer- like web began to grow upon the loom.
 Presently the queen herself took part in the sport, and the thread she wove into the fabric was the magical one which was destined to give the cloak it's wOndrOuS power.
 Long and swiftly the fairy band | worked beneath the old moons rays, while their feet tripped gracefully over the grass and their joyous laugh ter tinkled like silver bells and awOke | the echoes of the grim forest surround ing them. And at last they paused l and threw themselves upon the green with little signs of content. For the shuttles and loom had vanished; the work was completes; and Queen Lulea stood upon the mound holding in her hand the magic cloak.
 The garment was as beautiful as it was marvelOuS-eacha and every hue of the rainbow glinted and sparkled from the soft folds. and whj1o if Uoc |