The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-18
THE YULE LOG FAIRY.

the sheep and COW, and keep them where the best grass and herbage grow on the mountain side, either Peter or Esther shall take the cart and go with the wheat and cheese to Widow Davids cot"
 ''Ill go," offered Esther, flor Peter is helping mother in the garden They are breaking up the ground against the plant Ing of new vines In the spring"
 So 1t was agreed thnt Esther should take the dog cart and make the Journey over the mountain to the cottage of the widow David. So, as soon as the break fast was over. Esther tldied up the house and placed the noon meal-consisting of wheaton loaf jug of home made wine and small cheese-on the table. Moth CT and Peter will be hungry after the forenoon spent in the garden" she said. "Poor father always carries his bread and cheese In his pocket, and eats as he drives the sheep from pasture to pas ture. How tired poor father Is of an evening after a day spent in climbing the steep, stoney mountain sides after the sheep. And dear mother. too. Is aweary from her labors when the day closes and 1t is time for lighting the torch in the chimney-place.
 Thus soliloquizing, little Esther made herself ready for starting to the widows home. Peter had hitched the dog to the little two-wheeled cart and Adam had measured out a full bag of wheat which he had put into the cart. Esther went to the storeroom and got from a shelf a small cheese.
 "Now, before going I shall ix the Are to hold till monday, otherwise the house would be cold on mothers and Peters return" Qt must be explained that the weather during the Christmas season in Southern France was not cold at the time of this story. True. 1t was some- times frosty of evenings and mornings and cooler throughout the winter months than during the term of spring and sum- mer. But the ground did not freeze till In January; therefore. Hannah and Peter could prepare the ground for the next springs planting)
 So saying. Esther picked up a huge log that lay beside the fireplace. "Ah. this is the log father said should burn our Christmas Eve fire. Well, this is Christmas Eve and I'll throw the log on the flame and have the house cheery on the return of the dear ones." But just as Esther was lifting one end of the heavy log-the Yule log-a flash of light leaped from the farther end and caused Esther's eyes to go shut. When she opened them again there before her stood fairy. "Ah, l have come to bring you some Christmas cheer,'' said the fairy. ''Your parents are good and de- serving folk. They were robbing their larder to help the needy widow. So here is a bit of good fortune for you-and yours, little helpful maid. Take of 1t for yourselves and for those about you who are in need" Then, before Esther could reply, the fairy had disappeared. going, as she came, in a flash of light that closed Esther's eyes for a moment. When she again opened them she found herself alone and the Yule log lying on the fire, burning brightly. But greatest surprise of all was there in the shape of bag of gold When Esther behed It she gave a cry of thankfulness. "Now we may buy good farm where there Is fine pasture and a vineyard. and greatest good of all!-we shall be able to do much for the poor Widow David shall this day receive gold enough to buy herself farm. and many other poor on the mountainside shall be made comfortable. An. good fairy, you came to us on the Holy Christmas Eve And we shall do much good with the fortune you have intrusted in our care"
 And Adam and Hannah Bandeau did everything that Esther had said they would do with the gold of the fairy.