The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-07

ed the bat. II wish you would let me
try. Won't you tell me what il isT'
MY two little children are under a
magician's spell and Il can only be
removed by sprinkllng them with the
silver tear drop from the moon" ex-
plained Martha. II cannot fly up
there, aud the nightingale refused 10
go for me, so what am to do;'
II will co." announced the bat, proud
IS, "if you will grant me one favor
when rettfn."
Indeed, ] will" cried the Burgo-
masters wife, gratefully.
"Will you promise 10 spare wee
portion Of the tear drop for meY' he
begged. II am not bat, really; ]
am mortal like yourself, though /
have been under this charm five years
now"
"Of course, | will promise" said
Martha. gratefully. "See, here is the
King cup all ready. May / tie IL round
your neck And then you shall start"
II have not n moment 10 lose" said
the bat, nervOusly. II must return
while II Is still dark, otherwise / shall
be blind ana unable 10 find this win
dow again. Farewell DO not fret,
for shall bring back the moons silver
tear, ! know"
All through the night the BurGomas-
ters wife waited at the window for the
little bat TO return, but there was no
sign Of IL in the sky; aud at last, with
an aching heart she was forced 10 be-
lievc that she had again been deceived
She watched the first streak Of dawn
spread over the sky, she heard cock
in the yard growing vigorously. while
the birds in the adjacent trees an
swered II cheerily; ana then she pro-
cceded 10 dress herself, for she was
obliged TO work hard, even If she was
unhappy.
As she returned from milking the
cows she was surprised TO see n girl
she did not know walking over the
dcwy grhss toward her.
"Who can this be-" said Martha 10
herself, but when she approached
nearer the stranger she threw down
her milkpail and rushed forward to
meet her.
"Why, Gretchen" she cried In amaze
mcnt, "where have you come from?
For five years | have searched for you,
knowing you were under an evil spell.
and now | find You In my own field"
II come from the moon" answered
Gretchen merrily; ~ was The little bat
you sent last night The distance was
so tremendous that | knew IL would be
light before | returned TO your win
dow, 50 | sprinklcd myself with n little
of the silver tear when | reached the
earth. so ! might resume my original
shape and need not delay further. See,
here Is the king cup with the remains
Of the drop in IT, Let ms 90 and release
your children, which ! am sure are in
your possession disguised as roscbuds.
But before we go | have n favor to ask
you"
What is III" asked the Burgomas-
ter's wife, impatiently. for she was
frctting To get to her little ones
MAY ! be your children's nurse once
again" pleaded the girl. Even when
the magician turned them into rose
buds did not desert them. | followed
them here, and | VOW ] will guard them
from all dangers If you will only give
me another chance
"Of course, | will, dear Gretchen"
cried the Burgomaster's wife, throwing
her arms around the girls neck and
embracing her warmly; "and now come
with me and remove the charm"
Directly they emptied the contents
Of the king cup on the rosebuds, the
children sprang from the pot and stood
by their mothers side in their natural
form; and | am sure you can imagine
what rejoicing there was in the house
at their return.
Even the Burgomaster was pleased
when he saw how pretty his little son
and daughter had grown, and he did
not grumble at the extra expense they
would mean To him, but went out and
bought them some toys iustead.-Cas'
sells Magazine.