The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-10-19
THE GRAPE GIRL.

who would not pay the peasants work
ing IN them enough wages to enable
them TO buy food.
You may he very sure that Borgo
was not loved by tho poor mon and
women 0nd little children who topcd
during the long. sunny hours IN order
to fill his baskets with cluster upon
cluster of the beautiful purple fruit.
but Borge lid not care whether they
liked him or not, SO long as he con-
tinucd 10 grow richer every year.
Among tho peasants in Borgo's vino
gard there worked n little girl named
Bettina. who was compelled to sup.
port her poor old mother by gather
ing the grapes. Nobody knew better
than she how hard IL was to live on
the miserable wages which Borgo
paid. One day. cmboldcncd by her
mothers suffering and her own hun
ger, Bcttino went 10 see the wicked
old man, and asked him 10 do better
by the peasants, 10 add few more
copper coins, which he could readily
spare, to their scant wages.
Borgo laughed aloud at Bcttina, and
told her the vineyard workers were
well enough paid, and that he should
soon reduce their wages still more.
Tho poor clild went away full Of
sorrow, aud impaired lie news TO the
others, whcrcat they all began TO weep
and pray that the saints would soften
Borgo's misery heart
That same evening as the peasants
took their way home over the green
fields, they noticed an old woman sit
ting beside the wooden cross at the
roadside. The vineyard workers often
paused before this cross TO say u
prayer on their way TO and from their
labor, but they did not stop this time
because the old woman had one arm
outstrctchcd as though asking for
aims, so they all went 10y and pretend
cd not to see her.
Only Ecttina waited n bit, for the
woman looked hungry, and Bcttlna
knew just how that felt. Presently
she went M 10 her and She saw then
ihnt the old womau's trodblc was quite
of another Kind. ON The ground be-
side her was an overturned basket of
beautiful grapes. and as fast as thc
dame tried to put the fruit back in
the basket it nil fell out again.
Let me help you, Signora," cried the
little girl. ana bent over to assist her;
but the old woman called out shriily:
go away, 20 away! | know what
your helping means. You will want
ME TO repay you when YOU have re-
placed the grapes. know know
how selfish everyone is
Bcitina shrank back at the cross
words, but her Kind nature soon
prompted her TO offer hcr services
again, which she did, explaining mean
time that she asked 10 reward.
Soon the grapes were piled carefully
into the basket and Bcttlin turned 10
go. The old woman had watched her
silently as she worked, but now she
spoke.
my child" she said, and her voice
had changed suddenly TO the sweetest
of tones, my child, / thank you for
your assistance. You are Il dear, I'M
selfish little girl, and You have made
it possible for me 10 aid the peasants,
although they nearly forfeited my help
by their refusal 10 do kindly act.
Know that am not an old woman NJ
all. | am the Fairy Grapetta, ana
watch owe" the vineyards.
Bcttina had never heard of her he
fore, but she was sure she must really
be fairy, for as she spoke her ragged
garments fell away, ANA she stood
there clad in a long gown of purple
silk, just the very color OF ripe grapes.
Her face was quite young now, and
her hair fell about her shoulders like
silver shower. In one hand she held
long wand twined about with clus-
ters OF grapes and their glossy, green
leaves.
Now" continued the Fairy Grapetta,
"hold out your hand, and | will give
you the power 10 make the wicked
Borgo repent" Bettina held out her
right hand and the fairy slowly low
cred her wand aud touched the fore
finger and the little finger with 1t.
whenever you please" she declared
"yOu can touch the grapes with your
forehngcr they win ill with rich
est wine"
Bettlna looked surprised, but she
was polite child, so she tried not to
show that she doubted the falry's
word
"Whcuever you please" repeated
Grapetta, shaking her silver curls and
smiling kindly, you have only to
touch the grapes with Your little finger
and Immediately they will be filled
with earth"
As soon rs she had said these things
she flew right up in the blue sky and
vanished.
Bettina stood staring after her and
then down at her small brown hand,
which she held closed, excepting her
forefnger ana little finger, and this is Il
position in which some OF the Italian
people hold their hands to this very
day when they wish TO ward off evil.
Il give you power TO make the
wicked Borgo repent!" that was what