The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-02-15
BEDTIME STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
Why Witches Ride sroomsticks.


twins. And this was a very strange
thing, for it was seldom that twins
were born in fairyland But Tina was
maze Queen, and as she always wore
her golden crown on her head except
when sleeping, it was easy to tell the
sisters apart. Besides, Tinas face was
rosy and kind, while Rina, who was
always mad because she was not
queen, was yellow and cross.
or course, Queen Tina knew more
magic than any of the other fairies,
out there was one curious thing-she
could not do any magic at all if her
eyes were closed. She never knew
that Rina was angry about wanting to
De Queen, for the bad sister kept a
smiling face when talking to Tina, and
pretended to be very devoted to the
queen. Every morning Rina would
lave to sweep the red velvet carpet
mat led to the jeweled throne and ey-
cry day she got madden and madden at
inc TACT that her sister, and not her
sell, sat in state as Queen. So she
made plan to be Queen herself.
One night, when the Queen was
sleeping, Rina crept softly into the
oval bed chamber and stole I'D to the
queen. Selling her sister suddenly.
she tied a silken scarf swiftly about
ne Queens eyes; then, taking Tina in
Ter arms, she rushed to the stables
md saddled two of the swiftest ponies
the stalls. On one she placed the
queen, having tied Tina's arms behind
Ter back, and on the other she mount
"a herself. Then she struck the ponies
With a whip and they dashed out Of
he courtyard and across the wide
lawn
Tina could feel the night wind sweep
Ter cheek and knew that her sister
meant to get rid of her and be Queen
aerself, but there was no way she could
help herself. Suddenly she remem-
)ered that at a short distance from the
,astle there was a low tree with sweet.
write flowers that she often plucked,
ina she was sure the pony would go
here if she gave command. So in a
oW voice she whispered to him to go
oy the white tree on the edge of the
lorest-the limbs grew low and they
would rub off the bandage from her
eyes and all her magic power would
return.
SO the Queens pony dashed over the
moor toward the wood and Rina came
'aiIoplng on behind, calling to the
)ony to follow her steed. For the
wicked sister meant to throw the
queen into the sea when they got 20
Inc shore. But Tina's pony kent on
ana when he got under the tree, STOP
ped short. Tina could feel the bough
brushing lightly over her brow So
she quickly rubbed her forehead and
he bandage fell off,
Then she sprang to the ground lust
Is Rina, white with anger. came gal
oplng up. The bad sister saw that
he queens eyes were unbandaged,
lnd knew that her power over Tina
vas gone. So she fell at the feet of the
queen and asked for pardon. But her
pea was useless, for the Queen intend
"a 10 punish her properly for her de-
'eit ana wlckedness. She touched Rina
with her hand, and the bad sitser he.
IAN to shrivel up. Little by little she
grew old and wrinkled, and into her
Vlthered hand came a knotted cane |
ana on her head appeared a long neak.
"a black cap, browning her scraggy.
gray hair. Then she touched the pony
ma 1t became broomstick.
And now for a thousand vearo van
snail ride a broomstick through the
hght and sweep the cobwebs from the
Ky, said the Queen. And with a
oud Shrek Rina sprang on the broom
tlck and rode out into the dark Ever
ihce then on stormy night you can
ee witches sweeping the cobwebs off
he moon and sailing past the clouds
ust before dawn.