The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-05
Brave Jack and Rosebud are Rescued by the Fairies

monster in human form before him, he
brought down his wooden blade with all
his might across the hairy neck. The
sword was splintered into a hundred
fragments The old man put his hand to
his neck. saying: "a fly must have lit
on me-" Then he cackled loudly, leaning
over and speaking in Brave Jacks face:
You thought to hurt me with that toy?
Why, lad. I'm a wizard Only one power
can do me harm. The fairies alone have
that power As they fear me, I'm pretty
safe. | have lioness and a dragon for
my comrades. ON your little weapons
made by human handsvcould not hurt
mel Come, return with me to the dragons
cave, whera you shall remain while | go
on after my lioness'
AS the old wizard said this he took
bold of Brave Jack with one hand and
Rosebud with the other and helf dragged
them up the mountain PATH steep and
rugged. The poor little ones begged and
wept, but the wizard only cackled the
more "Ha, Hal my pretty ones" he
cried, "I'll turn one of you into witch
aud the other into dragon"
They reached a dark damp place on the
mountainside, and from the draft of cold
mir that struck them Brave Jack and
Rosebud knew that they must be near to
the cave. And so It proved to be. Yawn-
n
corner in the path was n dark hole in
the earth. Beside this hole the wizard
sat the now almost falnting children
down upon n stone, tying their hands
and feet securely to fallen tree that
stretched behind them. "Now, be patient
till | return on my lioness," said the
wizard. Don't be afraid, for my dragon
has gone up the mountain In quest of
birds to eat He'll not return till after
dark" Then the old creature went off
at n run, cackling he went.
An hour passed and Brave Jack and
Rosebud were worn out with weeping
and calling for help. They had ut last
given up in despair. They must die there
with the wizard. the lioness and the
dragon to kill them slowly Oh, why had
they entered this terrible woods?
Just as little Rosebud was ending n
prayer that some good fairy would come
to their rescue hutter of wings was
heard above their heads. Then through
the branches came three beautiful fairies,
their faces full of sunshine. 81 heard
your prayer, little maiden" said one Of
them. Come quickly If you would be
saved, for the wizard is now coming as
fast as his lioness can carry him up the
mountain. We can help you, but we can
not battle with that monster. So hasten
but we are tied" walled Brave Jack,
struggling with the thongs which held
him."
One OF the fairies waved n wand and
the thongs dropped from the children $
ands and feet. They sprang up and, be-
hold, they found themselves on wings
Come quickly" urged the fairies, and
they led Brave jack and Rosebud up, up
into the sky over the mountain top. Then
as they flew toward the foot of the noun
tain the children looked down into the
woods and saw the old wizard at the
cave. He was screaming and tearing his
hair Hereupon they told the fairies
what he had said about their power to do
him harm. "Ah," said the fairies. IF he
admits so much he has not the power we
feared he had. We shall now drive him
from thu mountain and We'll dry up the