The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-08-26
Tales of the
Story Fairy.

VVV~vVvV~VVVVV
Priscilla Pennyroyal and Mamie
Witherspoon wandered Disconnected
ly about the apple orchard. The Lit
tie Old Man of the Violet had not
made his appearance, and they felt
themselves neglected, because he had
distinctly promised them to be on
hand with the Story Fairy that very
afternoon. Now they had been wait
ing for half an hour, had looked into
the pretty face of every violet they
could find, and there was no sign of
the queer little old man
81 believe we were dreaming" said
Priscilla, at last. Mother said we
were-and she said there never was
any Little Old Man of the Violet at
all"
Mamie's brown eyes snapped.
81 guess | know we'll enough when
I'm dreaming, Priscilla Pennyroyal,
and if you don't believe your own
eyes and ears, then you had better go
home. I'm going to wait right here
for my dear little old man and for
the Story Fairy"
Bravo" cried small voice, so
close beside them that both girls
jumped. When they looked around,
there was their new friend, with his
gentle old face beaming merrily at
Mamie, and his long beard whisking
about in the breeze. Beside him stood
quaint little figure-a little old
lady, with big spectacles and a long
nose, but with such smiling mouth
and such bright, big eyes that you
forgot the nose and the spectacles
the minute you saw her.
obi" both little girls gasped. and
quite as if they were dreaming in
deed, they bobbed little curtseys.
That's right, children" said the
little fairy-though she didn't look
a bit like make-believe fairy at all.
Priscilla and Mamie had always
thought fairies wore very short skirts
indeed, all frills and fluffy and with
stars in their long, fair hair and
wands in their hands. This old lady
carried short stick-and it didn't
resemble wand the least little bit.
That's right do like to see chill
dren mannerly and courteous. These
days it seems as if such small things
as politeness and gentle manners were
going out Of style along with the
fairies and the little people of the
under world. And that reminds me
i hear that one of you little girls
doesn't believe in the fairies at all.
Now which one is it?"
Il see," she said, at once "It is
PRISCILLA suppose it is that Puritan
name which accounts for it all. Any
body named Priscilla would naturally
not know anything about us. But
this other little maiden, ! see, knows
everything she can stock her little
curly head with about fairies and
such, doesn't she?"
The little old lady looked very
kindly at Mamie Witherspoon, and
Mamie thought she was the most
beautiful person-are fairies per-
sons?-she had ever seen.
But time is fast going, and my
friend here has told me he promised
you story from me and that is why
he brought me all the way from
Fairyland this fineNafternoon. l think
l shall tell you the story of the Little
Girl with the Mole"
The little old lady settled herself
comfortably on the stem of violet
and the two girls sat down on the
grass, and they heard the story of
the Little Girl with the Mole.
"Once upon time" said the Story
Fairy, there was a beautiful little
girl in the house of very rich and
powerful merchant. When the little
girl came there was great rejoicing,
for there had been no heir for all the
vast possessions of the merchant, and
both he and his lovely wife wanted
a little girl more than anything else
in the world. Gifts were sent to the
little girl from all over, and many
fairies were called upon to provide
a fine and splendid future for the
dear child. Beauty was bestowed up
on her, and wits and wealth and the
art of painting and making lovely
songs. In their anxiety to provide
the little daughter with everything
possible to make her happy the par
ents had forgotten one fairy-the
Fairy of Wisdom. So she had not
been invited to the christening, when
all these fine gifts were presented to
the little child. But the Fairy of
Wisdom, who is really very gracious
and loving fairy, came to the christen-
ing anyway, for she was wise, you
see, and she knew that she ought to