The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11


Araminta, except that she spent much
more time wondering about her fairy
visitor.
One day when it had come springtime
again her little majesty was walking in
the garden and thinking of how the
voice had told her that gold and a drop
OF blood We're good gifts, but would she
stop at them? What could it mean?
I wish l knew. / wish he the fairy
with the voice, would show me- she
sighed, and for the first time in speak
ing of him her tone was sweet and
tender She had just let the words
slip from her when a voice she knew
very well answered: Look on the
other side of the thick hedge, Princess
Araminta"'
She found an opening in the hedge,
and, slipping through, saw a little girl,
one of the gardeners children, crying
over broken doll. With rumpied hair
and tear stained face the little one sat
in the middle of the garden path, try
ing to put the pieces together again.
The princess sat down on bench and,
drawing the child into her lap, tried to
comfort her. She gave the child her
own pretty scarf of blue silk to con-
sole her for the doll and when at last
the little one ran away again delighted
with her new treasure Araminta
watched her until she disappeared
among the trees and then Princess sud-
denly became aware that her own eyes
were full of tears, just why she could
not say, but somehow because the
child had been troubled she had been
troubled too and the tears had come.
There, cried a voice Araminta knew
very well, there, Princess, is the other
gift have been asking of you all this
long WHILE
Looking up Araminta saw such a
queer little man. He was stout and
wit 1npc <ra oya1 h0i
white with age and cheeks round and
red as apples. He had on a vest and
short clothes of red and great top
boots made for travelling over all kinds
of roads in all kinds of weather. Over
this he wore a long dangling cloak of
green and on his head was green
cap with red tassel. In fact he
looked likea very big holly berry and
carried with him the same air of jol-
lty. He laughed merrily at Aramintas
bewilderment
Don't you know me?" he asked
You and have taken two journeys
together, not entirely TO your salts
faction, I am afraid. But let us sit
down on the bench here and 1 will ex-
plain. The truth is, / am the Fairy
Good Will, and it is my business, when
ever | hear anybody say they want
to help other people, to give them a
chance to do it right on the spot.
Do you remember saying that twice
and what happened? When they really
have love in their hearts / Immediately
become visible and help them in what
ever kind thing they want to do but
otherwise l can not be seen by them.
That is why all you knew of me was
my voice and my hand, for you did not
really love the people you said you
wanted to help But now it is differ
eIIt-love was the new gift you gave
the child, love brought the tears into
your eyes and love made me visible
The Fairy Good Wills face was
wreathed with smiles as he made this
long explanation to the Princess Her
eyes meanwhile had wandered from the
old fairy TO the stout cane he grasped
ia his hand.
yes. my dear" said he. observing
her glance Il carry a cane, for | am
a little lame; that is the result of all
the injuries the hard hearted people
of this world have done me, but | am
not disabled, L assure you; no, / am
very brisk indeed, and my stick is a
very good companion. See what it
can do,'
AS he spoke he lifted his cane and
touched one of Araminta's tears that
had fallen unnoticed on her dress, and
10 and behold, in its place there glim-
mered new and wonderful gem.
See" said the fairy, 1T is new
jewel made from tear and holds with
in its shimmering walls a CLINT of blue,
like the scarf you gave the child, a
glimmer of gold and a drop of blood
1t is for you to- keep always that you
may never forget what are the gifts
the fairy people love best to see NOR
tails giving one another.
And now,'' said he II must be off,
for there are so many people always
calling for me that / am very busy
person. I may never be able to come
back to you myself. but you can never
forget me as long as you have the new
jewel TO look at, and if you do all that
it prompts you. you will be about as
busy as 1 and let me say, l find it a
very good way to be, my DEAR
Even with these words he was
busting off. and soon all that the
Princess could see of him was the red
ii l,o1,l