Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-03

an speaking to the shepherd. Tie
Young fellow looked at Henda. then
looked at the stick which lay on the floor
beside the old woman Then he slowly
shook his head. saying: Nay. mistress.
i will herd your fiocks. and obey YOU in
things pertaining 10 my work but ! VIII!
not lay hands on this poor little child
slave"
"Ah. she has bewi;ched him. too.'
shrieked the old man. Then. turning his
livid face toward Henda he screamed:
Leave this place at once. or I'll have
you burned at stake. for you are
WITCH,
But before Henda could turn 10 depart
the door was darkened by form. and
glancing about. she behe.d the same beau
tiful young peasant woman who had visit
ed her the night before and who had
darned the old couples stockings. The
woman entered. and smiling on those as
sembled, said Il think ] would better
explain something before this little maid
departs from this roof forever. | am
responsible for the bewitching OF those
stockings. II you wish TO call it by that
name | have woven into every stitch OF
darning double and twisted pain. and
you must suffer those pains-eyery one or
them-before you can remove those stock
ings Then. after you have been able to-
take them Off you will continue to sui
fer the pains as long as you are mean.
cruel, stingy and oppressive to those IN
your employ. / am not a peasant woman.
as you suppose me to be- but am the fairy.
Good-Friend. who goes about befrlending
such unhappy little orphans as this dear
maid Henda And more than this. 1
know where the child's aunt ia good.
motherly woman-lives. and to her [
shall this day lead this little girl. But
before / go. let me warn you that every
word / have said about those stockings.
and the pains you must suffer before YOU
can remove them. viii prove true. Sd
you'd better make up your minds to turn
over a new leaf and to learn kindness
and sympathy, for so long as you remain
selfish and heartless and cruel you VIII
suffer Just as you are now suffering.
Then turning to Henda. the fairy took
her hand. saying: Come little one. l
shall take you to home. where you VIII
be happy and well loved
.'Oh, you are not a fairy: you are
WITCH" screamed the old woman. shaking
fist toward the fairy.
Suddenly the room became dark, then
light again, but during that instant OF
darkness the peasant woman had disap-
peared. and in her place stood a beautifuI
fairy with a wand i'm her hand. And wav-
ing the wand over Hendas head she
caused the childs ragged clothes to fan
away and new. beautiful ones to adorn
her. Now. my bad old woman, what
say you to my identity? And look you at
your threatening fist which you so saw
agely shook at me a moment ago.
All eyes turned on the old woman
clenched fist, to see it shriveled up and
lifeless The old woman. now under
standing the power of the fairy. began to
whine: "Oh, mercy. good fairy
You should not ask me to have mercy
on you till you have learned to be merci-
full to others. If. in the future. you re-
pent of your sins-you and your wicked
husband--I shall return and make your
hand whole. Till then, goodbye
And the good fairy led Henda. happy
and smiling, away from the place where
she had known only misery. taking her
TO a home of happiness and love