The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-24
THE EDGE OF FARMLAND.
<<KM ARJORIE, Marjorie. Oh,
Marjoriel Where IS Mar
iorie3s Nobody knew hut a

ARJORIE! Marjorie! Oh,
~" Marjorie! Where is Mar
jorie?" Nobody knew but a
great gray toad, and ne diunt .ell.
"Ma-a-r-jo-riel The little mischief has
run off again.' Nurse would ave to
call louder orelse come closer, for Mar
jorie really had u away, and it was
no the first time. That very moment
she was at the edge of the pond,
perched on top of a big toadstool.
Even if she had heard nursie calling
she might not have answered.
The truth is, Marjorie was having
the time of her life.
Don't you ever go near the pond
alone,'' nurse had said in slow, solemn
tones, and Marjorie had asked.
why mustn't 1, nursie?"
Because there are cattails and toad
stools there"
Are there fairies, too, by the pond,
nursie?"
you might see ever so many things
you wouldn't like If you went there
alone said the nurse.
Marjorie's eyes opened wide. and she
declared with great emphasis, Il just
love the fairies"
Nurse took hold of her shoulder, Civ
ing her a little shake as she remarked.
Nonsense, child Don't be so foolish"
SO the little girl said nothing more,
but the very first chance she had she
ran away straight to the forbidden
pond.
1t was one of those enhancing eve
nings when everything after sunset
looks just like fairyland. Marjorie
pumped herself fiat on the ground
right in front of a clump of cattails.
II wonder if there are any fairies
around here she said to herself. aloud.
There were plenty of t~oadstools, and
she bent her head this way and that
way to see if any of the little creatures
were hiding under them.
Presently there was a great whisper
ing among the fairies. Here is the
little girl who says she loves us. Let's
entertain heri"
The big gray toad who had sat blink
ing in the grass heard the rustling and
hoped nimbly to the top of a toad
stool, where he might see better.
What are the fairies up to now
That is what he was wondering; but he
hadn't long to wait. for while he looked
there was a great fiat toadstool coming
out of the ground exactly under Mar
iorie. II was the largest n he had
ever seen.
Of course, the old toad would know, If
any one did. what was going on. If
anybody at all could see a whole hun
drM bright-eyed laughing fairies under
the toadstool lifting 1t straight up out
of the ground, and Marjorie on top. 1t
would be the old gray toad. living. as
he did, right outdoors among them.
He gave a chuckle or two, just for his
own amusement, and then he called to
Marjorie:
'Quok, quok! They are lifting you
up! Quok, quok. quok."
Marjorie listened. but didn't quite
dare look around. She was too much
absorbed in what was happening.
With a little squeal that was part
scream. part laugh. she stuck her feet
out straight to balance her, n held
her arms close down by her sides.
"Oo-oo,, she cooed. How FUNNY 1t
must be the fairies. coming to take me
for q ride. Maybe I'll be carried clear
across the pond! Oo-oo! This is the
incest seat. and it comes up so easy, like
something growing"
Higher and higher it grew. Farther
and farther out popped the eyes of the
big gray toad. Then suddenly some
thing came up from behind, like a
whirlwind. and spoiled it all.
1t was MISREPRESENTATION Star.