Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-02-18
THE MAGIC SHOES

One sister was very bad, for she took
all the money the father and mother
left to support the little girls and gave
the other sister very little. She
would give her bread and cheese and
4 cup Of goat milk in the morning and
tell her that was all she could have
that day. But the other sister was
very good and did not complain; she
would go into the fields and gather
berries when she was very hungry.
One day little old lady knocked at
the door of their home, and the bad
sister opened the door. "Will you
please give me a cup OF water, my
DEAR said the little old lady.
No. will not" the bad sister re-
piled Go away; we do not want any
beggars here" And she closed the
door on the old lady.
S Put the good sister heard her, and
ran to the door. Il will get you wa
ter, she said. "Sit down under this
tree till get some fresh from the
wei And she led her to seat.
You should not speak so unkindly
to old people, she told her sister,
lyon will be old some day yourself"
That time is long way off," re-
piled the bad sister. tossing her head.
After the little old lady had drunk
the water, the good sister brought her
some cheese and bread and the milk
she had saved from her breakfast.
This is all can give you" she told
her but you are very welcome to IT.
The little old lady thanked her and
ate some of the food. But when she
had finished there seemed to be just
as much left as the good sister had
brought to her. Then the good sister
saw that the little old lady's shoes
were old and worn on the soles, 30
pair that had belonged to her mother.
and put them on the old ladys feet.
When the bad sister saw what she
had done, she was very angry and
said
What foolish girl you are. Those
shoes could have been sold for money"
But the good sister did not notice her,
and babe the little old lady wear the
shoes. The old shoes she threw into
the road, but the old lady told her to
get them and keep them, and If ever
she should be in trouble to put them
on To please her the good sister.
picked them up. The little old lady
thanked her again for her kindness,
and told her they should meet again.
After while the bad sister married
q man who was as selfish and greedy
as herself and they treated the good
sister very badly One night they
told her she could not live with them
any longer. The poor girl went to her
room to gather her few belongings.
and in the back OF the closet she found
the little old lady's cast-off shoes. Then
she remembered what she had told
her, and feeling that she was in trou-
BILE now, she slipped the shoes on. To
her surprise they just fitted her. and
now there were no holes in the soles
She walked along the road with her
little bundle under her arm, wonder
ing where she should go, when she
noticed she was in very beautiful
park A little fawn ran up to her, and
she gave him a piece Of bread, which
she had in her pocket. He ran along
beside her. and soon they were in
front OF very handsome mansion.
Then the good sister noticed that she
was not touching the ground. that she
seemed to glide on the air. She glided
ur Jew up the steps of the big house,
and as the door opened beautiful lit
lie gil appeared and took her by the
hand Come" she said, " my grand
mother expects you"
The good sister was very much sur
prised. but she did as the little girl
said. and soon she was in a brilliantly
lighted room, where table was spread
with all kinds Of dainty things to eat
and there at the head of the table sat
the little old lady to whom she had
been kind But how differently she
was dressed! Her hair hung in little
white curls beneath a dainty lace cap,
aud her gown.was of heavy black silk,
and upon her hands were beautiful
Jewels.
SO they turned you out?" asked the
old lady well. the shoes brought
you to me just as intended, and now
YOU never will be treated unkindly
again. for you are to live here with my
granddaughter and me-"
Then she told the little girl to take
her to her room, and there the good
sister found nice soft bed. beautiful
furniture, and everything girl could
wish for In the closets were lovely
dresses. and there we're shoes and
stockings and hats. And she lived with
the little old lady and her grand
daughter ever after.
One day when she was riding in her
carriage. drawn by four beautiful