Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-10-27
A Story of One Ugly DuckIing.

Flora, who was so poor-looking that she
had come to be known by the other chill
dren as "The Ugly Duckling."
"Oh, | do wish was beautiful" she
cried one day, it is so dreadful to be ugly"
"You can be beautiful"
Flora, who was then standingin wood
near her home, turned round 10 see who
had spoken. She had often run away for
shelter from the other children's tongues
into that wood. She saw no one as she
looked around her. Again came the
voice:
"You can be beautiful. Twill help you
if you wish"
Flora got quite nervous. Then looking
into bush near by, she saw tiny fairy
perched there.
ooh, do, dow cried Flora.
Come with me-" said the fairy.
81 would do anything not to be ugly"
Flora said.
Then hundreds OF other fairies sur
rounded her and carried her off.
Suddenly they set her down in bare,
comfortless, dull room. There was only
an old woman sitting there in stffback-
ed wooden chair who looked stern, but
spoke kindly.
Good morning. Soyou are to be my
little servant, my dear ?"
Flora burst into tears.
"T won't be your servant" she said,
81 will 90 home. It's shame to cheat
me like this"
"You must be my servant, for you can
not find your way home, and as can not
leave this chair, if you do not work we
will both Starve."
Poor Flora How bitter she felt against
the fairy. She had to 60 to work, how
ever, in spite Of her feelings, but as time
went on she grew sorry for the old wom-
an. There she was prisoner, always
in pain and unable to get out OF her chair
in that dull room.
Flora could go outside, but only about
fifty yards, and then she came to high
wall. But every morning she found food,
water and fuel just outside the door; how
it came there she did not know.
AS Flora lived there she grew to pity
the old woman so much that she forgot
all about her own troubles, thinking about
the old woman.
81 wish could make her cushion" "
she said, and, strange as it may seem,
bag of feathers and piece OF woolen
stuff, and all the other needed things for
the cushion, were waiting for her next
morning. The cushion was made.
When the old woman saw it she kissed
her, and pulling mirror out of her pock-
ct said, "Look, my child" Her crooked
eye was now straight.
81 wish | could wheel her out into the
sunshine" said Flora.
Next morning there were wheels on
the chair, and she wheeled the old lady
outside.
Again the woman kissed her, and held
her up the mirror, and oh, what pretty
new curve Flora saw in her mouth.
81 wish could take away her pain, "
said Flora, and she rubbed the poor, stiff
limbs for hours.
The old woman kissed her again and
held up the mirror. Flora saw two beau-
tiful dimpleS in hercheekS that had never
been there before.
"You can go home now, you are beau
tiful, my child" said the old woman.
In an instant the room was full of fair
les, and she knew no more until she was
set down in the woods again just where
she had wished to be beautiful. Then
all but one left her.
81 have kept my promise, you see, "
said the fairy. "See thou lose not that
which thou hast gained. Farewell" ."
ooh, STOP" cried Flora; "the poor
old woman, who will take care OF her ?"
81 was that poor old woman"
"But size was all crippled with pain"
"Yet bore that pain that you might
grow beautiful"
Then she, too, vanished, and Flora
awoke. She had been asleep and dream
ing. But surely dreams like that are in
spired by God or the angels Anyhow,
she set about living the life pointed out
in the dream. She soon found out that
every kind deed was as good as kiss
from beauty itself, and her looks became
prettier, and her life sweetness itself.
That is the beauty OF all service rem
dered with love for others; it makes us
nobler, finer, sweeter, pretter in face, in
heart and in life. Try ii, young folks.