Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-22

Patti and JUL saw a little mountain
waterfall dashing over a deep preci
pice. It appeared to be only shor
distance from the road and they rar
towards 1t with all their might, think
ing to return within a few minutes
and follow the caravans again.
But the waterfall was farther away
than at first appeared and the chill
dren, in their excitement and anxiety
to get very close to 1t, did not realize
the time spent in reaching it. After
holding their pretty little hands under
the spray Of water at the edge of the
first fall, they turned about and start
ed to rejoin the band. But there hap
pened to be two rough paths leading
away from the waterfall, evidently
made by sheep herds on the mountain
side. Which one to take, the children
were at loss to know. But Patti AT
last decided on the lower one as look.
ing like the path they had come over,
so they took it and hurried on and on.
But they did not find the wagon road,
nor did they see their caravans and
horses and sheep. And the faster they
ran the sleeper became the path, now
going down and down.
At last the afternoon shadows
heightened into evening shade and the
sun sank behind the mountains, and
twilight soon fell over the land. Patti
and JUL became very much frightened
and began to cry. They knew they
were lost and feared that some wild
beast might overtake them and de.
YOUR them. And for their parents
they wept still more. Oh, perhaps
they would never see them again!
After awhile darkness fell about
them and they could go no farther
What should they do? They knew
their parents and all the other Gypsies
would be hunting for them, but feared
they would never find them.
Lets hide somewhere" whispered
JUL, holding tightly to Patti, the dark
ness making her afraid.
Tired and frightened and full of
grief the two little Gypsies crept into
the mouth Of q small cave. They
thought the end of all things for them
had come. Patti, like a brave little
nan, attempted to soothe and reassure
lis little sister. But his heart held
10 hope. Just as they were crouch.
ng in this fashion, afraid to move or
o speak aloud, a slight noise at.
racted their attention. It came from
yer their heads. CHANGING up they |
ehe1d sitting on the edge OF a huge
oulder. a tiny white-draped figure.
hey at once knew 1t was fairy.
'"Ah, my little Lost, Babes on the |
fountain, you are in sore distress!
Would you like me to take you to your
ather and mother right away!" So
poke the fairy.
ooh, yes, dear Fairy, yes cried
'ati JUL was too timid to speak and
at with eager eyes on the fairy's
'retty face. Eyes take us to our papa
nd mamma and we'll be SO happy"
Then wait moment till get my
hariot from the Clouds" said the
airy. Loudly she clapped Ave times,
hen she called out like bird, her
,oice reaching to the clouds. And OF
sudden light appeared just over
heir heads and down came golden
hariot with two great eagles hitched
o 1t. At the sound of her voice the
eagles lowered their mighty wings and
he chariot gently dropped to the
ground just in front of the place
where the two children crouched.
Come with me- said the fairy, her
self jumping into the front of the
chariot. Patti and JUL did not wait
Tor second invitation, but jumped to
their feet and hurriedly got into the
back of the chariot. They found soft,
lowny cushions to sit upon. The fairy
stood, waving her wand over the
eagles. They raised their wings,
aapped them three times and rose
gently into the air. Then they few
IS swift as flash Of lightning up
wards, over the side of the great
mountain. Hardly had they been fly
ny Ave minutes when the fairy called
,ut to them in her bird-like voice.
they began to drop to earth again,
and soon the chariot, which, by the
way had no wheels, touched terra
irma. "There, just ahead Of you, round
hat ledge of rock, you will meet your
father and several of his men. They
nave lanterns and are calling to you,
making a search of the roadside for
heir little ones. Run to the good
father" So spoke the fairy.
Patti and JUL did as told and ran
round the curve in the road, and sure
enough there came several tall dark
figures toward them, swinging Ian
terms. And then their dear fathers
voice called out: "Pati, JUL, where
are you? Here's pa a coming to you!"
Here We are, papa!" they cried out
in the fullness Of their Joy. And in
another minute they were clasped to
their fathers heart, and he, great,
strong man, was crying over them like
a child. Come, we must hasten up
the mountain to the camp and let
mamma see that we have you back
again. Her heart Is heavy over her
little ones having strayed away. My
heart! how anxious we have been ever
since we discovered you were not fol
lowing the caravan. We missed you
at camping time, just as the sun had
dropped behind the mountain. And
the men and have been searching for
you ever since. Where could you have
been lost?"
Then Patti told in straightforward
way all about their going to the water
fall and getting lost, and how the
night made them afraid and how they