The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-05-12


Off falling, the sun shone out brightly,
and the wind blew the black clouds
right away. They had nearly reach
ed the tree when Bob stopped and
looked all about him. Where was the
rainbow? There wasn't a bit of it to
be seen anywhere! The sky was as
blue as ever it could be, and all the
lovely colors were gone.
How disappointed they were! Dot
began to cry, she was so sorry, and
Bob looked all about to see If he
could find ever such little bit of
rainbow left behind; but there wasn't
a scrap.
Presently he came creeping back
again, his eyes so round and big.
Come quick, Dot, there's some
thing SO funny behind the tree, but
don't make noise, walk on tip-toe."
Dot dried her eyes on !, her pima
fore and followed Bob as,quietly as
possible. At the back Of the tree
where the buttercups and daisies
grew thick among the grass, and
clumps of primroses dotted the messy
mound, at its great root, she saw a
mushroom-such a big one-and Bob
pointed to 1t and whispered:
Just peep underneath, but don't
speak. else it may go away"
Dot looked and saw such funny
little creature sitting under the
mushroom. just as if it were an UNI
brella to keep off the rain. 1t had a
Drownish, mottled skin, long doubled
up hind legs and very short front
ones. a square head, with pair of
the brightest, most sparkling black
eyes the children had ever seen; they
glittered like the raindrops when the
sun flashed on them.
How they looked at 1t and watched
1t. the little creature watching them,
too, with its jet black eyes.
Dot caught tightly at Bob's arm.
81 know what it is" she whispered
excitedly. ITS the Fairy King! Don :
you member in my picture-book
where the pretty fairies are dancing,
there's a big mushroom and a thing
like that sitting on it? 'spects he's
got under cos it rained. It's q real
fairy, Bob. Let's wait, and p'r'aps
some pretty ones will come, too"
So they drew back from the spot
and waited patiently, hoping to see
the pretty fairies fit down from the
green boughs waving about in the
soft wind. But they were long time
coming; and then, all at once, the
Fairy King gave great leap with his
strong hind legs, and jumped out right
in front of them. Oh, how frightened
they were!
Bob turned and ran off as fast as
ever he could go. Dot screamed and
somehow let go of her pinafore, so
that the poor little kitty rolled down
on the grass, as close as could be to
the Fairy King.
my kitty, my kitty!" Dot cried, pit
eously. 'Oh, Mr.. Fairy King, please
don't hurt my baby kitty"
She was so frightened she would
liked to have run away, too; but she
couldn't go and leave her kitten in
such dreadful danger.
The Fairy sat upright and looked
shyly at the little tabby ball, and the
kitten mewed and looked back at him.
If the Fairy had opened his square
mouth and swallowed the kitten, Dot
would not nave been in the least sur
prised; but, instead of that, he only
gave another hop and went back I'M
der the mushroom again.
Then Dot caught up her kitty and
ran away home as fast as ever sfe
could, like Bob had done.
That night Dot had a lovely dream.
She thought there came soft white
| light into the room like moonshine,
and in the middle of it stood fairy.
1t must have been the Fairy Queen,
for on her forehead glittered bright
star; her little wings were like silver,
and her dress was blue and green and
gold.
She stretched out her hand to Dot
with a smile, and Immediately she
found herself fitting along by the side
of the fairy without having to walk,
and they foated down the garden
path, through the field, right up to
| Tie DlS tIt6 WACi IAC
grew. Dot saw a lot more fairies with
wings and shining stars, blu tnot one
was so beautiful as the Fairy Queen.
Then. all at once, Dot remembered
she had come out with nothing on but
her white nightdress, and she felt SO
ashamed, till she found nobody SEEM
ed to notice It. She didn't feel bit
cold, so she sat on the grass with
| her bare toes cuddled up under her,
watching the pretty creatures flying
about like birds. Then they all join
ed hands and danced round the mush-
room. The Fairy King was sitting
upon it this time-not underneath;
but then there was no rain falling,
and the stars were cleaning like lit
tie silver dots up in the clear sky.
They grew tired of dancing after a
while. so they all sat down round the
mushroom. The Fairy King said ne
would sing to them. He did so; but
| a. xvas uteh nueer song Dot cOuld