Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
DECEMBER 1o, 1909.

said Jonn, rather grlmty, from ms CUT
ner.
"Yeth. A good fairy to make us hap
by ever after, and meat for. dinner
every day.p
"Grikey!@ said the plumber, rising
from his chair, 'is that all. Tommy?
Well, l shouldn't be much of u bloomln'
magician IL l couldn't do that little lot
on my edd. Now then, keep your heyes
steady fixed hon me while perform me
lamentations. Wot OF ,Okey pokey!
NOW we shan't be longl"
With dramatic gesture he took
dingy handkerchief from his pocket,
ana, going to the table, held it an inch
or two away from the lamp.
"Nowl"9 he said; and the curious,
strained excitement In his voice COM
munlcdted itself to every one tn re-
almost. John thought subconsciously,
as If something were really going TO
happen, and this was not mere III
timed fooling. Now all of you keep
quite still and don't say wold what
ever 'appens. TINS ere lamp Is Alad-
dins lamp, though you never knew 1t.
I'm a-golng to summon the slaves"
He gave the lamp a sudden rub and
blew a piercing whistle on his fingers.
Immediately aIterward he stopped over
the lamp. and blew 1t out.
And then wonderful thing happened
"a magical, incredible, wonoerful
thing!
The door opened suddenly and two
tall men dressed in black and with
b "snining white front parts" (as Tommy
subsequently put 1t, came noiseIessiy
into the. room, carrying great silver
things, in which innumerable candles
winked and shone.
Another man followed them, carrying
a white cloth, and then, in an instant,
was followed by young woman with
great armful OF flowers
Tommy and Margaret gave a great
shrek of surprise and joy.
Ush! hall of yerl" said Mr.. Porter
sternly. Let the bloomn' cnarm do
its work."
II did. Mr.. Porter was certainly the
skipper, prime minister king, emperor
of wizards.
In two minutes the room was trans
formed. Flowers and lights scented
and irridiated 1t everywhere. A Christ
mas dinner undreamed of even In vis-
IONS OF fairyiand smoked upon the
board. Two huge stockings full of
toys appeared from NJ where, and still
the noiseless slaves of the lamp moved
in and out of the little room; the
magic and wonder and glory of 1t all
grew and grew and grew, while no o.,e
said a word.
Suddenly Mr.. Porter elapped his
hands. "Begone, minyons," he said,
with somewhat sickly smile, waving
a dismissal to the slaves of the lamp
And now, friends hail. stand hup
please. The fairy happroaches!'
Swiftly into the room came the fairy.
She was dressed in black, covered with
jewels. Her hair was as white as
milk, and star shone In it.
Tommy rushed up to her. "Oh, you
good kind fairy!" he cried. THANK
you tho much. Please let me kith
you'll"
The tall old fairy bent down and
caught up the child in her arms, COW
ering his little face with passionate.
hungry kisses.
"Yes, I'm the fairy" she said, land
l ought to have come long ago. But
l have been locked up in a cold place
for very long time, Tommy, until
Christmas and Mr.. Porter came and
let me out"
fairy?"
The fairy paused for a moment ami
her eye fell upon the little plumber.
He held bowl in his hand, one which
he had brought down from his own
part of the house an hour or two ago;
there were few raisins at the bottom
of 1t. Crockery costs money, and Mr..
Porter didn't want a portion of his
to be broken by the feet of the slaves
of the lamp.
"Do tell us what your name is,"
echoed little Margaret, clinging to the
fairy's skirts.
Again the fairy glanced at Mr.. Por-
ter.
"Why, didn't you know, my dar-
lings?" she said suddenly. II am the
Snapdragoness. to be surel"