Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17
MARJORIE'S LESSON.

Marjorie came rushing into her mother
room to tell her about the lovely time she
had been having at Phyllis home all that
afternoon.
I'm glad you had a good time. dear"
said her mother. Now. 1 wonder il you
can help me solve a mystery"
Marjorie's eyes opened wide at this.
Il think" went on her mother gravely.
that a very wicked and careless fairy has
been in my room this afternoon. When I
came in from calling found that some
little sprite had been rumplng up the rib
bons in my bureau drawer. had been throw
ing your everyday dress and shoes all over
the floor in my room, and had been play
ing havoc with my dressing table Can you
imagine who the culprit is?"
oh said Marjorie, looking crestfallen,
Il dressed in your room. 1 like your glass
and I forgot to pick up after myself. was
in such a hurry"
so it wasn't a fairy after all. Well,
since I have been sitting here wondering
what would be the most effectual punish
ment for the untidy fairy that left my room
in disorder. 1 have had some suggestions
from good fairy, and I am wondering
if the punishment this fairy mentioned
would help you to be more tidy, since you
are the culprit.'
What was it?' asked Marjorie. She
and her mother often played make-believe
with the fairies, but she was little doubt
full about its always being fun.
This is her plan and I have decided to
carry it out until you are cured of all your
untidiness. Hereafter when you mislay a
thing you will not be able to find 1t again
unless you get 1t before the fairy does. II
she finds it first she will keep 1t. and you
may find it very inconvenient to do without
that very particular thing
Marjorie listened carefully to the plan.
rho Ior
decision. while her brown eyes flashed
"All right. but she'll have hard work to
catch me mislaying things" and off she
ran.
fairy for day or two, but after that her
interest began to flag.
On Sunday morning as the children were
getting ready for Sunday school Marjorie
Mamma" said she, did I leave my
best gloves here last night?"
IF you did said her mother quietly, II
fear the good fairy has fou..d Them"
and then left the room without word.
That day she wore her school gloves to
church, and she furned inwardly for the
gloves were shabby and did not look we'll
Marjorie was vain little body and liked
to be well dressed. However, she kept her
hands in her pockets as much as possible
and vowed to herself that the fairy should
1t was only the next afternoon that Mar
jorie was coming out of her mothers room
where she had been to have some buttons
sewed on to the shoes which she carried in
her hand.
The sound Of the hand-organ came I'D
from the street below. Marjorie dropped
the shoes where she stood and ran down
to the door. There was a monkey with
long time watching him. when she came
back upstairs her shoes had disappeared
Marjorie searched for them, and failing to
ind them went to her room to think 1t
ordinarily, but now her other shoes had
been taken to the cobbler's to be repaired
and she had nothing except the pair of
slippers she had on her feet.
the next morning, just before schooltime,
Marjorie went to her mother. Mamma,
what shall 1 do? 1 can't find my best
shoes"
Wear your other ones" said her mother.
They're at the cobbler's." explained
Marjorie.
Mrs. Chesborough reflected minute. then
she said. slowly. We'll, / don't see but you
VIII have to stay home until they are
mended."
Marjorie jumped for joy. A vacation right
in the midst of school year was what She
dearly loved. Whenever she had stayed
home before 1t had been because she had
been SICK but now she was we'll what fun
she would have A sudden thought struck
her
May l go outdoors, mamma?" she asked
Not In those slippers said her mother,
decidedly.
1t was a subdued little girl that went
alone into her room to play with her dolls
till lunchtime
When Helen came home at noon It was
to tell of an interesting visitor who had
entertained the whole school in assembly
with accounts of his wonderful adventures
in Greenland Marjorie thought sorrowfully
of her solitary morning. The next day was
even more lonely and on the third she went
boldly to her mother and asked for some
thing to do. That lady gave her some silk
rags to sew for portiere she was to have
woven, and gay little Marjorie sat and
sewed very soberly for hours every day
after that Her cup of sorrow was filed to
overlooking when Helen came home on Fri
day with note from the mother Of their
most particular friend at school inviting the
children to go to the circus with her chill
dren and herself on the following afternoon.
"Oh. l can't CO." she walled in despair
Il have no shoes. Oh. can't Helen 20 over
to the cobblers to see II my other shoes are
mended?"
Her mother gave her the permission, and
while Helen was gone. Marjorie trembled
between hope and despair.
mo, they aren't done" reported Helen
when she came in. He has been very
busy and says that Marjorie said he needn't
hurry"
"Oh. so 1 did," walled Marjorie. and she
dashed out Of the room, slamming the door
behind her.
For whole week after that she was very
careful not to mislay anything else, and
though she was not entirely cured of her
carelessness. just a word about the fairy
would remind her of the discomfort of the
time when the fairy seized her shoes