The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-02

returned to her house, The Fairlyland
Gates" as Laura whispered to Joe as
they passed through the yard all glorious
In green, crimson, pink and white. for
everywhere on the velvety lawn blossoms
grew In profusion. And how little Joe
did open his eyes and look and look, al
most believing himself In dreamland
Then, forgetting the strange and kind
companion, the child broke out with "Oh,
II only papa and mamma could see tbisl
Amt 1t g-r-a-n-dr'
Once inside the pretty cottage the chill
dren's delight knew no bounds. The
dear old lady brought forth picture books.
old dolls. carefully kept and every sort
OF toy one could imagine. Then. after
Laura and Joe had seen and appreciated
everything they were led to the dining.
room, where q dainty aud appetlzng
luncheon was spread on a snowy cloth.
During the meal the old lady drew from
them the story of their poverty. Then
she told them that she had recently lost
a little granddaughter who had made her
home there In that dreamland place with
her grandmother. The old lady had been
so lonely ever since, for she had no living
children, and the little granddaughter
had been the light of her life.
SO the day, all SO glorious out there In
the beautiful country, was passed In and
around that delightful home where there
were cows, chickens, pigs. dog and
fine old driving horse. An old gardener
and his wife attended to the work about
the place, their mistress experimenting
everything. At last, when the time came
to go, the children's hostess sat down on
the porch between them and said:
Tomorrow l shall come to your home
To- hsa oft far n
mamma to come and make their home
here. My old gardener and his good wife
feel that they are now past the time Of
work and mean to settle In a little home
of their own. ! shall see about installing
your parents In their place. What do
you little ones say to such a proposition !"
"Oh, how lovely that will be-" cried
Joe. clapping his hands In JOY. Papa
and mamma here In this beautiful out
of-doorsl Oh, shall be 30 happy--so
happyl"
And SO shall l." said Laura In a calmer
voice than Joe's. For she was thinking
that there might be drawbacks and that
1t might not be possible for all this sug-
gested happiness to come about. Then,
turning to the dear old lady. who was
watching her face closely, she went on:
Maybe my papa and mamma could not
do the work right; maybe, too, Joe aud
y touiu uot w ahJ thtuB u pay wi Jul
board. Perhaps we'd better not plan on
1t till you've tried papa and mamma and
found work for us children
The old lady bent over Laura, tears in
her blue eyes, and as she caresssd the
child's hair she said: ANY papa and
mamma who have raised such a perfect
little gentleman and lady as my two little
guests here will prove themselves perfect
ly competent to look after my little home.
and they will he worthy m Qh0re ton
As for you two-why, bless your precious
hearts, you are to love me a little, make
my home bright by your presence and go
to the school half a mile AWAY. Well
Just be the happiest family. won't wei"
And Laura. her own brown eyes moist.
looked into the misty blue eyes Of the
dear old lady and said: "How could we
help loving your You are so good" And
Joe. In his impetuous way. said: "Sure,