The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-11

a search throughout the entire county for the old witch who had stolen away Let ties tongue. For days the search con tinued, but no trace of the old witch could be found. Every cave and noun tain-top was thoroughly searched, and even the interior of old hollow trees were looked Into. sometimes fire being started at the trees roots to make the old witch come out should she be hidden there. But nowhere could she be found.
 At last, after days of frutless search, the parents and friends of Lettie were on the point of giving up in despair, believ- ing that the little girls tongue was for. ever lost to her. Lettle, who had been accompanying one of the searching par ties--the party conducted by her mother became very dejected. and as the search CTS turned their faces homeward she begged to be allowed to stop beside clear, sparkling brook to rest bit and take a nap that she might overcome the exhaustion of the tlresome search before starting for her home. The request. of course, was made in writing, branch of learning Lettie was not very prohcieDt in us she had whispered and played so much in school that her studies were sad ly neglected.
 And It was during this time of horrible suspense and grief over the loss of her tongue that Lettie realized her need Of writing and spelling. And she made the VOW that whether or not she ever recov- cred her tongue she would devote her school days to serious study. And in all her after years she never broke that vow or violated the pledge she had made ln writing on the day her tongue was stolen.
 Lettie's mother granted her little daughter's request to rest a bit beside the pretty shaded stream, telling the others of the party to continue their journey slowly and that she and .Lettie would soon oyertake them. Then. that Letue might not be disturbed in her much needed sleep, the mother went few paces away from her, sitting down on a fallen tree-trunk out of Letties view.
 Lettie, stretching herself on the messy bank to rest, looked up at the beautiful sky so full of floating clouds. As she watched the clouds flying across the blue background she felt more keenly than ever the loss of her tongue, Tor she wished so much to call out to her mother to look up at them and to admire their beauty. Then, tears binding her. she thought over a little prayer that some fairy would chance that way aud bring her the dear, precious lost tongue Even as she breathed the prayer touch as soft as down fell on her eyes, which closed ia slumber. Then beside her knelt little fairy that had been flying as fast as 1t could all morning to over take the party of searchers. This little fairy had, on the night previous, over heard the plaipt of Lettie and her mother as the search for the missing tongue seemed to be fruitless. Listening from tree-top the fairy had learned the full particulars of the witch and the stolen tongue, and discovering that the little girl was fully repentant of her willful de- sire to cause her mother grief and her teacher anxiety by wishing to lose her tongue, she set off as fast as her wings could carry her to cavern near the sea shore where she knew the old witch-with her family of witches-lived in secured hiding from the great world. Before dawn the fairy had reached the Witch s cavern. Listening at the little dark and obscure entrance the fairy overheard the