The Hattiesburg news., 1916-12-04

and his mother would have no food,
One night he was lying on his bed
Of straw in the barn, thinking abouta
his hard luck. when he saw a little
light flickering at one Of the barn.
at must be firefly.g thought Tom,
"or it might be-a fairy; have hearad
that they come to folks sometimes
when they are in trouble in this part
OF the country, but I have never seen
Them"
While he was thinking this the
light came nearer and Tom saw al
tiny man with a FREELY on his shoul-
der
"Ah! here is poor Tom" said the
little man. "I have been looking for
you. ~ want to help you" ss'l
Tom sat up and rubbed his eyes
for he was sure he must be dreaming,
but the little man laughed and said:
DNo. Tom, you are not dreaming; II
am a goblin come to help you with
our garden" I'd
What can do for you?" asked
Tom. Surely you will not help me
for nothing, and may not be able
to pay you for your work.
ooh, we don't ask for pay" said
the goblin VITA a laugh; all YOU
have to do is watch and not speak
until we finish. That iss why l was
sent ahead to look for you to tell
you not to speak, no matter what
happens or what you sees1 a
Tom promised he would not speak,
and the little man disappeared. Tom
could see the little light go right.
through the side of the barn.
Tom tried to keep awake, but he
fell asleep and the next morning he
saw nothing different in the garden;
and Tom concluded that he must have
dreamed it after all.
The next night Tom was awakened
suddenly by noise that sounded like
| wings of many birds near him, and
when he looked around he saw hun
dreds of little creatures he knew must
be fairies fitting around the barn.
Nov you must hurry said one
"ar the goblins will beat us w;in theii
work. and without noticing Tom they
flew over to the COW and began perch
ling on her horns and ears, and ali
over her back.
Tell her there is plenty of sweet
4 hay, and that she must give Tom ant
Ibis mother rich milk and cream" said
the fairy who seemed to be the lead
| er, tell her she must not kick ant
/ be cross ever again, and that she will
never want for her supper as she hal
in the past
Tom saw the little fairies get close
to the ears of old Molly, and ever
though she was asleep she seemed t,
hear them.
"Now we must take Poor Tom,
: said the fairy leader, and the mex
thing Tom knew the little creature
were all about him. "He is asleep,
said the leader, and while Tom fel
sure he was awake he did feel yer
drowsy.
, Tom felt the little creatures touel
ing his lame leg, and funny, prick
feelings came into it, but he remen
bered his promise to the goblin, s
\ he did not speak, though he did fe
/ strong desire to ask what they wei
/ doing to his lame leg.
The next thing Tom knew it wi
morning and the first rays Of the 81
we're streaming through the windo
Tom thought the sun came throul
: the cracks in the barn, but to b
surprise there were no cracks to
seen; instead the barn was qui
I tight and the loft was filled to t
top with new hay.
. Old Molly stood mooing at hi
{ waiting to be MIXED, and then To
d saw that he had not dreamed it
1 all.
: But what he had not notieen "
!. that he did not limp, His lame 4
! was straight and strong as the othe
i but Tom was so happy to think Il
Z. old Molly was to have plenty to
y and warm place to sleep in the W
& ter that he had not thought Of hi
n. self at all.
ss When he went into the house
n mother dropped the dish she was 81
u ring the breakfast pudding in a
n. said, "Oh. Tom, you poor boy. "
II leg is straight"
n. Tom set down his pail of milk q
an jumped for Joy. 1T was the fair
-er that did it." he said. 4 wonder
ne that goblins fixed the garden, too
y His mother thought he must hi
ne lost his senses, but when she iool
~ lat the garden she knew the fair