Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-21
Nortje's Fire airy.
BY NJ. s. HANDY.

Nortje was a little Norwegian girl, and
like all boys and girls in her cold, snow
bound country. could skate almost as soon
she could walk Nortje was never hap
pier than when Swimming ever the smooth
frozen ponds. She seemed to forget thar
such things as benumbed fingers and FROST
bitten toes could exist, until someone would
call her to the blazing fires, which burn all
along the courses where the people gather
for their fascinating winter sport.
No time for skating now, since mother
had been taken away to the hospital at
Christiania. Instead. Nortje had to stay all
day alone in the little cottage, trying, by
her gentleness and care. to bring comfort
and cheer to her sad-faced father. Each
day he grew more worried and anxious as
the news came from Christiania that his
wife would never return to him and their
little Nortje.
Hour after hour, when Nortje had finished
the preparations for her fathers simple
supper. she would sit by the open fireplace
and dream and think and talk to the little
people who lived within the shining, glow
ing palace walls. No one could convince
Nortje that the people she saw in the fire
were only creations of her own thoughtful
little brain Didn't they talk to her, and
comfort her. and advise her. continually ?
How else could so young a girl have so
mucn sense and W1SdOmI
One day Nortje stood at the window
watching the village boys and girls pass.
their clumsy Norwegian skates strapped
over their shoulders. How she wished she
might go with Them and just for one short
afternoon be little girl again To forget
such stern realities as soup and bread bak-
ing and darning and-a dying mother!
"Oh, 1 wish l mightl' sighed the eager
Nortje. speaking in her excitement aloud.
why not? asked a voice. which came
Enthusiastically from the chimney corner.
Il couldn't leave the fire, and father $
Cruel" replied Nortje.
Nonsense" returned the voice. which
Nortje now saw came from a queenly look
Ing fairy, clad IN golden and crimson robes
with crown on her forehead and scep-
ter In her hands
who are your asked Nortje, her voice
trembling with excitement.
II am the queen of the fire fairies and
the fairy who watches over you-dear I'M
selfish little Nortje. I know how your
hands tire with your coarse, heavy wash
ing. and how your heart aches for your
mothers gentle kiss. Many time have
kept the fire aglow when your tired head
had fallen asleep, and many a time have
slain the fire denpns who determined to
burn your fathers cruel when your back
was turned away for moment Go,
say, to the ice pondsl Mingle for one after
noon with those of your own age. Forget.
everything. save that life Is glad. youth Is
strong and happiness to be had for the
asking
Before Nortje knew how 1t all happened
she was out on the frozen waters Swimming
like bird over their CLASSY surfaces The
moments flew and hours came to take their
places The afternoon waned, night crept
on; still Nortje skated. No thought of
home or superiority the mad excitement
of twirling and whirling and being free
hearted child again.
At last Nortje realized that the pond was
deserted and night was upon her. Like an
awakening from beautiful dream came
the fire the fairy offered to tend With
this thought came the knowledge that she
herself was freezing. She staggered to-
ward one of the fires (the only one that
had not burned ouO and seating herself
upon the stump of a fallen tree the little
girl tried to get some feeling in her hands
which lay dead in her lap. Soon a great
drowsineSs came over her. She felt con-
seriousness fleeing from her, and Nortje
needed no one to tell her that she would
never see her father again. In her ex-
hausted state, with walk of miles before
her through the intense cold. the little
girl knew that she would succumb to Jack
Frost and be found In the morning by the
wayside frozen to death.
When King Frost and his subjects had
about finished their cruel work Nortje was
aroused by a sharp hiss from the dying
embers. As from a rattlesnake came the
hiSS-s-s-S, long, loud and drawn out With
the hiss arose a cloud of fame so varied,
30 beautifully colored as to cali forth
delighted All from the almost uncon-
Bcious child. Following the flame upward
Eortje saw arising from 1t a beautiful
fairy. Ike the one she had left upon the
hearth in her own home. With voice of