Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
The Fairies of Now
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surprise her mother presently began to sing,
and to her still greater amazement the minutes
heightened into hours without any sign from
above that anyone was caring or thinking
about her.
It was dusk now, and children from the park
were calling farewells to each other or shouting
plans for the morrow they hurried away to
their homes. The electric globe across the way
suddenly flared into great white ball OF light
which sent shadows fitting along the walls OF
the parlor, a long procession OF them. INTO
which the pattern of the curtains was woven.
making the figures In the wall paper look like
dancing elves and Sprltes
81 wish they were real fairies, said Betty
I'D just ask them to keep mothers from beng
so mean to their little girls.
A ND then strange thing happened. Betty
saw the shadows shape themselves into
faces as they went dancing over the wall tiny
faces, sweet smiling faces.-and she sh1vered
a little as she thought that perhaps her wish
had been granted. She had begun to grow
nervous, and to think that, after ALL she would
have to go to her mother instead of waiting tor
her mother to come to her. when one OF the
faces peeped at her from behind big bunch
of roses on the wall paper. 1t was such Jolly
face, with such bright eyes and such merry
and infectious smile, that Bettys anger and
dread vanished on the instant. All her small
troubles faded away, and she was happy again.
"Who are your" she whispered. smiling
back at the face above the flowers.
Betty saw the sprite's eyes open wide IN sur
prise and then came the answer, which was
surprising too, for while it was voiceless it
made itself felt in her brain. and she had no
difficulty in understanding it:
why, I'm Good Nature, thought every
one could tell that from my face It's written
there; my sisters tell me-"
"Are they Good Fairies too?" asked Betty.
"Yes, indeed the best in the world said
No lrnoyv them ~
Il don't think l do" faltered Betty. feeling
unaccountably ashamed of her ignorance.
What are their names?"
"Well, there's Patience and Charity and
Sweetness and Sympathy and Love and Good
ness and Good Order and Obedience. We're
quite a large and happy family, you see
will they ever come to see me- asked
Betty.
why. they're here now replied Good
Nature, smiling: We are always together
Don't you see them dancing here on the wall
beside me?"
oh" said Betty; gasping. :" l thought they
were just shadows
mo, indeed!" said Good Nature. Were
all very real And we are all very busy too.
You see there is a great deal of sorrow and
suffering and wickedness in the world. and we
must work all the time to cure them where we
can, and to prevent them from spreading.
Shadows can't do that, you know"
"Oh!" cried Betty guilty. Then you came
to see me just DecauSe-luSt because
1--WE came to see you just because we like
you,'' interrupted Good Nature. We've
been here before lots of times. But You never
needed us SO much as you do now, and we're
going to remain with you just as long We
can"
"Reall, and truly" asked Betty. delighted.
And then. before Good Nature could reply.
Betty realized that her mama might have to be
consulted about the visitors before they could
take up their abode with her. I'D love to
have you" she stammered; but maybe
mama won't know how to take care SO of many.
You see, she's never had any Good Fairies
come to see us before
ooh we can take care of ourselves" said
Good Nature. smiling. Your mother will
suspect that we are here: but she won't see us.
We live with all good people, and we know how
to make ourselves at home and our stay pleas
ant to those we live among
Betty looked lovingly and longingy At the