Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
DAVIS VISIT TO FAIRYLAND.
BY W. C. RINGwALT.

in a shining gilt house to match, for Davy
was canary bird.
Now. although Davy had not travelled
in fact, had never been away from home
in his 1ife-he knew that there was a
fairyland. On warm days, after his dear
little mistress. Dorothy. had climbed up
on a chair on the porch and carefully
hung his cage on a big. strong hook. won
derful weird bird notes would come to
him from the trees. Time and again he
almost fell over backward peering UP at
them to discover who was singing to him.
but as he could not see anything except
leaves. he finally made up his mind that
they were the voices Of fairies. and, wax
ing and sleeping. a consuming desire to
visit fairyland took possession of his little
soul.
But Davy knew that small birds could
not always have what they wished so. in
stead Of being cross and fretful becau use
his longing was not at once fulfilled, he
cheerfully made the best of being kept
In his home. and good-naturedly twittered
and practiced his singing all day long.
Then one morning a marvellous thing
happened. After Dorothy had given him
breakfast and gone away from the porch
Davy found his front door wide open! Too
excited to chirp, he fiuttered down from
to search for the fairies
AT first the great waves Of air almost
beat him back, for he was only accustomed
to the little ripples that flowed into his
cage between the wires, but, like all ex-
plorers. Davy was brave, and soon was
courageously breasting the breakers
as they bore him away from the porch.
He had to pause for breath, though, and
he alfghted upon a rosebush. He had
never been on so fascinating a perch, for
II swayed in the breeze. yet was very diff
ferent from his clumsy swing. Then he
made a new discovery. Just beyond him,
most gorgeous thing ina ginable. 1t
seemed to be made of rolls and rolls of rich
crimson velvet. Davy cautiously slid to-
ward it. A delicate fragrance filed his
nostrils. His head bent low, then timidly
drew back At last summoning all his
courage, he put his face down into the
crimson mystery. 1t was soft and sweet,
and with its caressing touch came a rev.
citation to Davy, for, as he smelt his first
rose, he knew that he had reached fairy
land.
The longed-for fairies must be very
near. Timidly Davy called to tfrenr-one,
two. three chirps For several moments
he breathlessly waited, then a mysterious
knocking attracted his attention. and as he
turned his head in the direction from
which the sound came Davy beheld a.
fairy at last! -
The fairy was a most exquisite being! It
was almost twice the size Of Davy. and
combination Of black, white and soft gray,
with jaunty red cap on Its bewftchtng
head. But what amazed Davy most OF all
was the feat that 1t was accomplishing
walking up the straight trunk of tree.
and, at the same time, knocking and knock
ing with its Bill. 1t all delighted Davy so
much that he chirped little giggle out loud,
and instantly another fairy hurried toward
him on the ground This fairy was even
more beautiful than the first for it wore
so brilliant blue costume that Days
eyes ached with envy. and he could hardly
believe hts ears, when this heavenly crea-
ture Invited him to come down and play on
the green.
Davy, accustomed to the smooth hard
floor Of his cage. was like city child who
had trodden only on paved streets, and he
found walking on the lawn too amusing
for words. for the grass came up to his
blade tickled his cheek. The fairy smiled
at Davys giee. az the two merrily played
together. Davy was too awed to talk much,
but the blue fairy told him wonderful things
about fairy life in the great out-of-doors.
When the fresh air and exercise had
made Davy very hungry. the blue fairy
pointed out some enchanted food. This
looked like bird seed only darker. and had
funny springs in 1t, SO that 1t hoped every
time Davy tried to grasp 1t, adding the ex
element OF the chase to the joy Of eating.
The blue fairy called the enchanted food
bugs" and they slipped down DAVIS
soned for they made Davy's throat ex-
tremely thirsty So the kind blue fairy led
him away to get a drink Of water. And
they few and they few until they came
into the very heart Of fairyland.
Here all the trees had low branches, and
the ground was carpeted with moss. And
in the midst ran tiny creek with Its
waters playing an accompaniment to the
songs OF the fairies lowering near. There
were more fairies than Days wildly beat
ing heart could number-smah fairies in
xo,l0 e-,1sHC lo,-
fairies in black satin gowns with long
trains; fairies in brown velvet coats and
red wafstcoats But to Davys adm1ring
gaze the dearest OF all was the pet Of the
green plush dress. Its quick, cunning ways,
and its wonderful humming music!
Davy was so absorbed in the novelty
and beauty Of everything that he did not
notice that the fire In the sun had gradual
ly died out, and that the blue sky was
filled up with little cold gray ashes of
clouds. But suddenly he felt something
wet splash in his face. He thought that
the creek was roguishly throwing water at
him, and he tried to laugh the matter of
In a chirp. as he hoped farther away from
the stream. Then came splash; splash on
! longer make a joke out of so serious
thing. He turned to ask the explanation of
the fairies. They were all gone. At last,
the awful truth dawned upon Davy. 1t was
raining. and he was lost!
Terrified, he futtered from tree to tree,
his feet slipping the wet leaves He
thought of Dorothy's kind way OF talking
to him whenever he had been frightened or
nervous The rain came down faster. He
shivered with the cold. He remembered
all the comforts of his dear little home.
and how until now he had looked upon them
as matter of course. The great drops OF
rain peIted him SO hard that they made
his head ache. He had never had to think
before-soIne one had always watched over
him. He grew dizzy and staggered as he
tried to walk along the rail Of fence.
How silly he had been to allow even fairies
to tempt him to run away! A blackness
came over his eyes; there was q catch In
his throat. a pain In his heart. He knew
that death must be near. Then, suddenly
he felt something soft and warm under
him. over him, around him, and he was
lifted up slowly, gently, tenderly. He gave
chirp Of thanksgiving. The soft. warm
thing enveleped him, parted an instant
above his head. and, in a bewilderins Joy,
| he looked up into Dorothy's kind face
'Davy!" she cried, with g. sob. Eve
found you at last! To think that you might
have lost your life because I was SO care
less as to leave the cage door open-oh, my
poor. darling little bird!''