The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-09

with their arms around each other.
'"F'rafd catsi" declared Margaret
Well, stay If you WANT to: m going
to find the brook"
So saying, she pushed on, carefully
picking her way, and after While,
creeping on her hands and knees, she
drew near an eXpanse of cedar trees,
their branches sweeping the ground.
Lifting them, she passed under, and
to her surprise found herself IN q
small messy dell surrounded by
fringe of the trees, in the midst of
which was n pool Of water. Tiny
lights sparkled in every direction,
and, on tiptoeing up TO them, she
found they were firefies circling
about, each in his own orbit. Under
each light sat a grasshopper on "A
mushroom, playing on little fiddle,
and on a smooth, level spot danced
the Queerest little creatures in bright
colored dresses! AS Margaret ga2ed
in establishment, she saw that they
were torn and trayed at the edges
and were shaped like flower petals.
There could be no doubt that they
were flower fairies nasturttums.
larkspur, marigold, feverfew--pre~
cisely like the flowers she had been
playing with that afternoon and had
tossed aside--all taking hold of hands
and dancing happily in spite of their
on the pool of water, some opened
peapods, and In them were little crea-
lures with round heads precisely like
peas. They were bubbing them up
and down, rowing with blades of
grass with all their might and they
were coming straight towards her.
Each had something white in his lap;
and. when they reached the bank Of
the pool, they fastened their boats to
pebbles and came trooping up the
path right towards her, firing the
white fluffy balls in their hands at
her.
"Oh. helpl help" she screamed.
MARY Mollie. come"
Her cries brought the children, who |
bravey hurried to the aid of their |
friend. They were astonished at the
sight which met their eyes az they
crept under the cedar trees--the
bright spots of light, the music, the |
dancing flower fairies. and the white
balls flying through the air.
Suddenly there was hush as a faded !
rose fairy advanced toward the stump |
of q tree, and. followed by six white |
daisies, each with missing petals. |
climbed TO the top and sat down up !
on q throne of yellow giistening
quartz, waving a wand Of golden |
rod tip, crying in a sweet voice. Isl |
lence Attention all"
Instantly the grasshoppers ceased |
playing the flower fairies arranged
themselves in a circle around the
stump, and the pea manikins drew
themselves up in lines on each side |
of her, bobbing their heads in such !
a funny way that the children could |
but smile.
This is a great OCCASION" began /
the Rose Queen in a stately way. Our /
happy home, the home of departed
flower spirits from the farm house
garden and fields, has been invaded
wholly their fault. for a dandelion
puff led them here / have decreed.
however. that he must lead them |
back again. But first we will give
them some food. Come, buttercups. |
buttercups, she called; and the chill |
dren saw. to their joy, troops of lit |
tie buttercups running towards them, /
holding up their satin slzits daintily, /
each one carrying a tray on which i
were slices OF bread and honey and (
glasses of sparkling dewdrops, which /
the gracefully placed before them.
THANK you, thank you" the chill /
dren said, in voices as gentle as pos /
sible.
After eating this lunch, which /
strange to say, seemed to them like a
hearty meal ut home, the queen blew /
three blasts on n red Columbine horn, |
saying q" Attention, puff mdgetsi"
Immediately the white balls that had
been aimed at Margaret by the pea
soldiers began to float up in the air. /
tiny hands stretched out on either
side of each one, and with these
they beckoned TO the children while
they sang
Come. come, come,
We will lead you home.
Follow. follow, through the dell.
For the way we know so well.
Come, come, come,
We will lead you home.
Take. take, take,
For tits getting late,
Catch us, children, just for fun,
Try. and do not fear to run.
Take, take. take,
For It's getting late
Thus the dandelon seeds sang. and
Mollie and Mary, after taking a re-
luctant look at the, fairy dell, follow
ed them: and then, strange to say, in
stead of a rough. crooked, overgrown
path. they found themselves slip
ing down a smooth road laughing
and chasing the seeds.
But Margaret stamped her foot and |
said what silly children to run af-
ter dandelion seeds! 1 shall not go
their way, but my own. | don't be- !
lieye they know where to CO." and /
she ran off in another direction.
Half an hour later Mary and Mol |
lie found themselves in sight of the I
farm house, and their guides. noddtng |
goodbye, began to float higher in
the air.
garrett the children said. "Oh, dear I
y,4,ffS find her and helm her home