New-York tribune., 1908-05-17

surprise her mother presently began 10 sing
and TO her still greater amdZement the minutes
heightened into hours without any sign from
above that anyone was caring or thinking
about her
1t was dusk now and children from the park
were calling farewellS to each other or shouting
plans for the morrow as they hurried away TO
their homes. The electric globe across the way
suddenly tiared into 4 great white ball OF hight
which sent shadows fitting along the walls OF
the parlor. 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 Spr1teS-
Il wish thev were real fairies said Betty
Id Just ask them to keep mothers from being
mean TO their little girls
A Nd then a strange thing happened Betty
saw the shadows shape themselves INTO
faces Is they went dancing over the wall,-trny
faces. sweet smiling faCeS.-and she Sh1vered
a little rs she thought that perhaps her wish
had been granted. She had begun TO grow
nervous. and 70 think that. after all. she would
have TO 90 10 her mother instead of waiting for
her mother to come TO her. when one Ot the
faces peepcd at her from behind b.g bunch
of roses on the wall paper. Ii was such a lollv
face. with such bright eyes and such merry
and infectious smile that Betty'S anger and
dread vanished on the instant. MI her small
troubles faded away, and She was happy AGAIN
Who are you2" she whispered. smiling
back at the face above the flowers.
Betty saw the spriteS eyes open wide IN sur
prise; and then came the answer, which was
surprising too, for while 1T voiceles~ II
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, written
there; my sisters tell me
Are they Good Fairies too asked Betty
Yes. indeed. the best in the world said
Good Nature. Don't YOU know them,
i don't think 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
VIII they ever come To see me-. asked
Betty.
Why, they're here now" replied Good
Nature, smiling We are ALWAYS together
Don't You them dancing here on the wall
beside me-,
Oh" SAID Betty: g.sspiug, thought they
were Just shadows
No. indeed said Good Nature. We're
al very real And We are al very busy too
You see. there Is a great deal of sorrow and
suffering and wicke,ineSS IN the world and We.
must work all the time To- them where We.
can. and t. prevent them from spreading
Shadows can I do that, YOU know.
Oh erred Betty guIltilv. Then YOU came
u Just beCduSe-IuSt bcCatISc-'
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 - YOU do now and were.
going u remain with YOU Just aS long - We
can
Really and truly" asked Betty. Delighted
Md 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 10
have YOU. She stammcred. but navbr
mama won't know how 10 take s,r,. so of many
You see. shes never had any Good Fairies
come To see Us before
Oh. We can take care Of ourselves" said
Good Nature. Smtling our mother Will
suspect that We are here. but She won I see us
We live with al good people. and We know how
To- make ourselves At home and our stay pleas
ant those live among
Betty looked lovingly and langlnglv ~ th,