The Washington times., 1913-12-29
For the Children
Just at Bedtime
The Fairy Of the Water-Spout.
Part /.

1
of baking fruit cake fioated on it:
j air Ia clouds that came drifting
upstairs. The odor was so good
that Dorothy warfeld ran down and
| took her seat right by the stove. II
was raining hard-a drizzily rain tina,
drowned the yard and wrapped the feidi
| III mist. Down the long avenue 1t was
Just curtain of gray. But the kitchen
was warm. the stove bright, the kettle
singing away as il il was alive. And
over at the side table Aunt Sarah was
nlckirg another cake a wonderful one
OF raisins and apples and dozens of other
good things. all for Christmas.
Let me help beat the eggs" said
Dorothy. ''it Is lonesome up In my room
and l want something to do"
So the girl put an apron OIL and be-
San to work at the cake. Great fun il
vas to whip the eggs till the white
stood stin and get the whiffs of the
baking every timethe oven opened.
Aunt Sarah," said Dorothy present.
~, II am going to have the finest
Christmas of my life. Papa is going to
give NE watch, mother bracelet with
= pearl setting. and grandpa a gold
mesh purse. Aunt Emma has promised
me a party. and Uncle Jack $5O-won t
that be a great time"
Just then the door opened and i'm crept
tiny child. She was dark like Sarah.
but her face was thin and clothing
seant Around her, head she wore a
shawl r. - g.. ". ~ :.
Dorothy" said Sarah, this is my
little orphan grandchild. Alice. Poor
little thing. sit right down. dry your
aaf
from my lunch
Without noticing Alice except by a
glance. Dorothy kept on talking about
her presents. her fine clothes, the par
ties she would go TO and her rich
friends.
Yes" she kept ON to Sarah. this is
going to be the best Christmas of my
rs that So" said Sarah, slowly. 1T
seems to me that the best Christmas
thing for some one else. Amt you go
ing TO give any poor children anything
out of all you have?"
Stuff sneered Dorothy. Il mean to
ents and money than any girl l know.
d! don't know anything about poor chill
dren. and don't care"
Sarah's skin was brown. but her heart
was white. for 1t ached for the little
orphan intrusted to her care Sarah
was poor and had to take the expense
OF an invalid husband, so she had very
little, but what she could give to the
child she did with willing hand
Outside the window the water gushed
from the spout and ran down in tor
rents over the window.
Did you ever hear about the Fairy of
the Water-Spout?' asked Sarah: an
be about it,
THE story is that on the day before
Christmas Eve the Fairy of the SpSut
appears sometimes. My old aunt saw it
once. Sometimes it appears to people to
teach them a lesson. especially folks
what's rich and proud"
The cakes were done and set away.
Sarah and Alice took their umbrellas
and went out down the lane and left
Dorothy alone in the warm kitchen.
Outside the wind howled. the rain
gushed down the spout and washed
down the window in heavy splashes.
Dorothy sat In a big rocker, watch
ing the kettle lid bob w. and down. 1t
began to grow dark, SO dark the girl
could see the red glow in the stove
crate. Far down the lane the man be-
gan TO light the lamp, whose rays flick
cred in the dancing pools that shone in
the street. People walked rapidly with
their capes over their heads.
Il wonder If there is any such thing
as a Fairy of the Water-Spout," said
as she swayed gently to and
fro Il certainly would like to see her
lust once But ! don't believe it would
be an interesting thing after all-she
would be Just a goody, goody, tiresome
person, | guess. with no style at all.
''If YOU will look around. young miss,
said a voice from the table, maybe
YOU can see me. even il j have no style.
Dorothy turned. There on the kitchen
table was quccr little woman stand
inc with her head up in the air. She
= ore a waterproof coat. whose peaked
hood came well over her head: rubbers
Of a silver gray, and carried tiny gray
silk umbrella.
II am the Fairy of the Watcr-Spout,'
said she. My rome is in the spout Just |
outside the window. and there | have |
lived for years. ever since your great |
grandfather came here years ago. when |
his town was 4 forest. He was poor |
and worked har1 his son. your grand !
atner, made moLcy, and now you think |
you have no duty but pleasure and |
spending this wealth. You are wrong. |
You 40 not realize that you could help |
SOME poor child 10 happiness by Il little !
lirdness Christ mas-well. | will show |
YOU life as many see it. Come ,
She took Dorothy by the hand. The |
,ir was frightened and tried 10 hold |
back. But the Fairy held her tightly, I.
and pulling hard. went right out of the |
v inilow, which flew open at touch |
,ut out into the wind and rain. with no |
:oat and her pate head flooded with the |
fuTnpour.