Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-02-05
kA.AAAAAAAAAAAAhAAAAAAAAALl
FROM HOME TO /
FARMLAND
"a Story Of Childhood.)
s-=-------------------s-------
"a Story Of ChildhoOd.)
By Henry EDwARD ROOD


window halfway up the stairs From
their bedrooms above came the chill
drens voices.
Bless their baby heartsl' cried
Ethel in subdued voice. Il wondered
what they we're up to this afternoon
when they came to me twice and
asked so seriously whether they was
weally faiwies
And what did you say?" | inquired.
81 told them to find out for them
selves" she replied, promptly I
didn't have the courage to disillusion-
lie them utterly"
And they're going to find it out, If
possible
u wish we could help them she
remarked
Maybe we can" ] replied, hopeful
ly
Thereupon we turned our attention
to dinner We were sitting there
nearly an hour later, finishing our
coffee when we heard the stairs creak
dismally.
Then Ethel put her hand on one
side, and listened intently. There
was no mistake this time; the stairs
certainly did give out continuous
series of creaks. Likewise did we
hear a faint pattering, as Of chubby
bare feet, and hard breathing, and
halfstified giggles and grgles.
Mercy" Ethel exclaimed under
her breath Those babies are actual
ly going outdoors in their night
clothes!"
"Sh!' | warned. Don't be alarmed
Maybe they'll put on their coats and
hats. Anyhow, wait until they get in
to the back hall; then we can creep
upstairs and see them through the
window at the landing
In another minute the door separat-
ing the front from the back hall
closed, and a little later we heard ex-
cited whisperings from the clothes
press far in the rear.
"Nows the time!" Ethel cried.
Let's hurry up to the window while
they're putting on their coats and
hats" We tiptoed out of the dining
room, and up the stairway. For a
long time we looked and listened anX-
iously at the little window, and ] was
about to go down again when the
back door creaked, and an odd little
! figure appeared in the moonlight just
| below us BUYERS fluffy golden hair
| was hidden by an old hat of mine, a
shapeless gray felt. When he had
CONC yard or two from the door he
tu acd around and called, in loud
whisper Come on. sister! Hurry up,
= III faiwies II get away"
There was a brief pause and the
next moment Ethel strangled in an
effort to stihe laugh.
Just look at the baby" she cried,
softly Moonlight summer night,
and she's got On her rubber boots
And Nora's sunbonnet! Wonder
where she found it,
didn't answer, for just then Buzz
ger spoke again.
Wen go quietly pas Jason's house
an tn barn. he explained, down tn
lane TO where tn faiwies is, in tn
wall"
Quietly, 50 not fwighten EN- ?"
Beeby inquired, in anxious tones
Yep, said Buzzer; and away they
toddled, hand in hand through the
moonlight
Quick. Ethel" said, running
downstairs as rapidly and as noise.
lessly as possible. Follow me, and
Wen see the fun!'
Poor little chaps" she responded.
1T doesn't seem fair TO take advan-
tage of their innocence"
we won't take any" | said, hold.
ing open the door. so she could pass
through. Wen find out where their
fairy land is. and then Wen people II
for them
What a splendid plant" the dear
girl cried. giving my shoulder a pat
of approval How did you think OF
it? And which way shall we go?"
Around the house here, and
through the orchard back of the corn
crib and wagon shed--then wei
reach fairy land ahead of them"
So on we ran as fast as we could.
through the shadows Of the apple or
chard, and hid near the stone wall
lust as the little folks came down the
grassy lane 1t is a long march and
a hard march from home to fairy
land when one wears a mans big
slippers, that persist in coming of
every FIVE yards or when one is al
most lost In fathers coat and Nora S
sunbonnet But they came on bravely,
indeed. hand in hand, Buzzer shut
fling on ahead little, Becky dragging
her weighty rubber boots with slow
er steps. All al once they stopped,
with admonitory Hush from Buzz
ger. Don't make any noise!' he add
ed, kicking the slippers from his feet
and tossing aside the big hat.
Me, tool" Beeby exclaimed, sitting
plump down in the lane and pulling
OF her boots. Then she slid out Of
my coat, the sunbonnet fell to the
earth, and on they came to the stone
wall. half in ruins, In very truth a
/ nafr of anTit0a danciup enflv in tha