Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-27

me I0dL a req CROSS having Nhito ChiN'
made on the sign board at the cross
roads always brought the fairies ana
that If one would hide in the brush
near to it he could see the fairies.
And then he might make wish ana
the fairies would grant It,"
Let us try It." said Anna. 1T can
do no harm and might do much good.
We must have an early spring is pos
sible. for the cattle are going hungry
and our father has not enough grain
to last till the grass grows unless 1t
come very early And our own pro-
visions are giving out, and we must
get the early warm weather to grow
our garden vegetables. And the sheep
folds are much damaged by the long,
severe winter. Yes, brother, let us
try fetching the fairies"
On the last day Of January little
Roger and his sister Ann went to the
crossroads, where sign board was
stationed on tall pole. Upon this
sign board little Roger drew cross
with red liquid made from dried ell
derberries and touched the ends with
bit of white paint that he found In
his fathers workshop. In order to
reach the sign board little Roger was
obliged to perch himself on his sister
AIMS back, she, brave little maid, sup
porting the burden without word of
complaint although 1t was very
heavy one for her frail body
"Now tomorrow is the list of Feb
ruary and we'll come here and hide in
the bushers and wait for the fairies
said little Roger. But that night while
little Roger and his sister Ann and
their parents were sleeping in their
rude house, keeping warm under
sheepskin robes on beds Of dried grass
there passed along the highroad q
wicked spirite, an enemy to the good
fairies that lived in the mountains
Seeing the sign board with the red
cross drawn thereon the wicked spirite
paused in her flight to take better
look. "Ah, some Of the poor peasants
trying to catch the attention of the
fairies" she said. Then she began tt
grin maliciously. "Ah have it. II
come here on the morrow and make
believe to the peasants, who will sure
5 ly be here to meet any chance fairy
! that am a fairy myself. And theI
I'll promise to grant any with o
: theirs. All, see some mischief il
: store for me-" Then away flew The
: wicked spirte, laughing over the antici
8 pated deception planned for the MOI
b row.
G But scarcely had the wicked spirit
n gone when along came real tru
r fairy, and, seeing the red cross wit
the white tips on 1t, paused as til
wicked sprite had done. "Ah, som
poor person in trouble who wants m
help" mused the good fairy. We'll
{ shall come here tomorrow mornin
II and grant any wish that may be mad
5 by the distressed one" So saying, tn
s good fairy flew away towards tn
4 mountain where she lived.
o Bright and early on the morning
Il the LIST of February little Roger an
IT his sister Ann went to the crossroac
to await any fairy that might chant
to come that way Their parents ha
gone to the village to carry SON
geese to market and little Roger ar
his sister Ann would be alone t
near nightfall. So they were free
pass their time in watching for tt
fairy whom they had summoned
Is means of the white tipped red GRO
Is on the sign board at the crossroad
There In the cold snow they waite
for the fairy whom they hoped to s.
o soon. After about half an hour
waiting a soft sound as of win
- caught their ears and they looked I
IS to see lowering near them in a tt
tree dainty form. OF course tn
mistook it for fairy and felt t.
30 greatest Joy. But the truth was t
form was that of the wicked spr1
~ and she had come before the real tr
fairy. "Ah, my little ones, what is 70
:" wish?" asked the wicked sprite, spes
y, ing in the assumed voice Of a re
fairy.
in ooh, good fairy" said Ann. risi
and looking lovingly up into the wiz
ed sprites face, eve have come he
to implore you to use your influen
y bring US cloudy moro
= TIL late in the evening. We desire tt
the grounding shall not see his sh
ow. We want an early spring, so II
we may have pasture for our co
and gardens for ourselves Grain a
provisions are giving out and we q
ere our cattle and sheep will suffer unlt
NJ we have an early spring
go. "Ah, my little ones, 1t shall be
ley you say" cried the wicked sprite. A
'as she waved little stick as though
OF were a wand. And little Roger a
vas his sister Ann did not know the diff
ru- ence. "Now you may go home at OF
Ind and I'll attend to your wants. WI
his ON the wicked sprite. you shall hi
to cloudy day tomorrow"
md Of course little Roger and his
be ter Ann went to their home in
happiest of moods. They had seen
to talked with fairy and she had prt
nm ised them an early spring. That me
ary a great deal to the poor peasants
Md that part of the country, for eve
ow where the last years crops had b'
Of short and there would be much W
,rl,, should the winter be prolonged.
~ When the father and mother of
tho tie Roger and his sister Ann return
sis' from the village they found the
q. u Eve