Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-01-16
The Sugarbush Fairy.

Tommy's father had been talking to
Tommy's mother very seriously. Finally
TOmmy'S mother said
I'm afraid the only thing we can do
is 10 go to the fairy in the sugarhusl."
Really, the "sugarbush" was grove
of soft maple trees that were tapped for
their sap every spring, and this sap was
boiled down into maple syrup. some Of
which was made into maple sugar Why
the grove was called "sugarbush" I'm
sure | don't know. but SO farmers always
call groups of maple trees that see
tapped for their sap.
Now, for about two years there had
dwPlt in the Sugarbush Il fairy He was
nearly three feet tall. and he always
wore Il green suit, the color Of n green
maple leaf and ii was trimmed with tas-
scls of red. yellow and brown--iust the
shades of Jack Frost turns the maple
leaves in the autumn. This fairy had
Il most surprising way of appearing and
disappearing before you could say
christopher Columbus" That WINS be-
cause he could make himself invisible
whenever he chose An he had to do
was to whistle two notes. very softly
and presto, he was instantly ont Of
sight never saw him myself. but the
people in Tonnmys village told me all
about him.
Tommy couldn't bear to use the door
mat or 10 wash his hands and face and
never did when he could possibly get
out of it, Ills big brother said TINT
Tommy must have chronic hydrophobia.
and 80 was afraid of water; but his
mother said that that couldn't be, be-
cause he was just as afraid of soap as
of Water--and who ever heard of dog
having fits AT the sigh Of piece OF
soap. Of course. Tommy didn't have
them. either hut he nearly drove the
family into fits because they 81 seldom
saw any signs of soap and water about
him. lie would come 10 the table with
2rimy hands and with black streaks
across his pink cheeks. Then either his
father or mother would say;
Tommy, leave the table aud wash
your hands and face,
Tommy always went chccriully. put a
little dab of soap and water on his face
and hands. and wiped them on the towel
shat would then he quite SOiled. while
Tommy's face and hands would he u
little less 81. lie would 20 back to The
table and his father or mother would OK
claim
''Go back and wash your hands aud
face clean And Tommy would 20
again. repeat the performance and
usually looked fairly clean after having
rubbed another layer Of dirt on the
towel He was always SO good naturcd
about il that it was rather hard to scold
him. However, after having told him
twice at each of the daily three meals.
and for three yearS-that Is. ever since
he was big enough to wash his own face
and handS-his parents did this sum:
3GXG equals 2190; 213x3 equals 600
Then TOmny's father said that j.:
made him feel very tired 10 think Of tell
INK his boy 600 times moro-plus six on
leap yeario wash his fare and hands:
and when Tommy's mother suggested
the fairy in the sugarbush, his father
said that seemed about the only thing
left to do-t0 ask the fairy 10 help. SO
he wrote letter 10 the fairy. telling
how much trouble Tommy gave his
parents-hoW he never noticed the door
mat. and never used soap and water ex-
cept when told to. and then sparingly:
that it was a good thing for boy not 20
be- wasteful. but that he was not only
willing, but anxious to have Tommy
waste considerable soap and water. This
letter he nailed to "a tree in the sugar
bush.
Wen, Il day or two afterward Tommy
came rushing no to the front door and
srasped the d0orknob, without a thought
81 his very muddy feet Then a queer
thing Unopened. The front doormat rose
from the ycraBda and slapped Tommy's
legs.
.Ow." said Tommy. for it hurt liftln.
Then the door mat lay down before
him. Tommy looked ut it and was really
afraid Of IT. He took hold Of the door
knob again. when mp flew the mat and
whacked his legs again Then again it
lay flat before Tommy, WHO looked down
at u IN surprise. you may be sure Sud
denly the thought came 20 him that the
door mat wanted To be nsed. lie wiped
lIis muddy feet carefully, and the door