Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13
MARJORIE'S FAIRY GOD
MOTHER.
BY ELIZABETH WATSON IVES.


Marjorie Lane was good little girl, with
only one naughty habit, and that was SUCK
ing her thumb. No one could break her
of It, try as they would. Papa had onered
her a fve-dollar gold piece if she would
stop it for a month. and many were the
wonderful dolls clothes that mother was
going to make If it would cure her daugh-
ter. but all to purpose.
As soon as Marjorie began to read or do
anything very interesting, into her mouth
her thumb would go, and the whole family
would say at once:
Marjorie. do stop sucking your thumb!
Well, as have said, all this was useless,
and all gave up in despair and said they
could do nothing with her.
One day the Lane chilren were invited to
a birthday party. and mother said that II
she saw Marjorie suck her thumb once dur
ing the day she'd have to stay at home.
Marjorie was very careful all the morn
ing, and not once did 1t slip In between her
white teeth. But ON dear. oh dear, right
after lunch she forgot, and the first thing
she knew mother was saying:
Marjorie, dear, I'm very sorry. but you
can't go to the party.
Goodness me, what a food of tears was
drawn forth at this! But mother had spoken,
and it was useless to tease.
So poor Marjorie had to content herself
with watching the others start out in their
Sunday best. and she went down into the
library all alone and curled herself up in a
chair near the fire and sobbed and sobbed
| until-goodness. what could that be? Mar
jorie sat bolt upright.
"A fairy godmother, I do declare" and
she rubbed her eyes to be sure she was not
dreaming.
Marjorie Lane" said the old lady severely,
looking right over the top of her spectacles
in a dreadful manner, I'm ashamed Of
you. Sitting here crying, just because you're
so naughty that you aren't allowed to go
out with the other children. You deserve it.
every bit I've made up my mind to see
what 1 can do" And she waved her hand
over the little girls head, and disappeared
in an instant.
Well. now that's very queer" thought
Marjorie, and as usual she put her thumb
in her mouth and pondered over this
strange disappearance for minute. Then
she got up and started toward the kitchen
to tell the cook. and incidentally find a few
fresh cookies. But cook was down in the
cellar. so she made her way to the cake
box. and with nice handful Of goodies,
started to put one in her mouth. But some
thing else was in her mouth. and that was
nothing more or less than her thumb. And.
horror of horrors she couldn't get 1t out!
| Pull as she would, 1t stuck fast and poor
Marjorie was dreadfuly frightened and fed
| screaming upstairs, LILO lcdTS lTlChlHS
| down over her hand. until her sleeves were
quite wet Grandma was quietly darning
| stockings in the nursery. and to her Mar
| jorie went crying as though her heart
| would break. Grandma gave one look at
| her little grandchild and then said:
mo, Marjorie. don't come to me for COM
| fort until you take your thumb out Of your
| mouth
| Poor Marjorie tried to say. 81 can't take
\ IT out" but she only made queer sobbing
noise. because, you see. she couldn't speak,
and grandma went on sewing and paid no
| attention. 1t was the same in Aunt
Minnie's room. Nothing from her but a
| good round scolding last resort
| Marjorie tried mother, who was in the IL
brary.
But as soon as Mrs. Lane caught sight
Of her small daughter entering the room
sucking her thumb. she went right on read
| ing her book, and never even spoke. With
more tears and sobs, Marjorie crept back
| to her old seat by the fire and began to
wish she were dead. She looked longingy
at the cookies still held in her free hand,
| and oh, how she wanted to eat one! But
| there was no room in her mouth with her
| thumb there too, and even II there were.
she would have to eat her thumb il she
| tried to eat a cookie.
Just then she heard a slight ahem! and
| looking down. 10 and behold, there was the
| fairy godmother!
| well, Marjorie" she began, II hope you
| have learned little lesson; now you may
take your thumb out"
| No sooner said than done. and at last
| Marjorie could speak again. With a sigh
Of relief. she folded her hands meekly in
| her lap and listened to long lecture from
| her godmother. Then the little old lady
| disappeared suddenly as she had come
| and. why were the children coming so
| soon?
In they rushed, telling OF the party, and
all saying how sorr they were Ito have
| Marjorie miss it.
AS the days went by mother noticed that
| Marjorie never sucked her thumb any more,
and she was glad to think that her punish
ment had been so effectual.
| But Marjorie knew better reason than
| that why she kept her thumb out of her
mouth.