Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-27
.cHILDREN's EVENING STORY
., . . . . . . 4
Grandma and the Jumping Fairy.

Grandma and the Jumping Fairy.
Grandma Lightfoot was quite sur
prised when grandpa came home that
afternoon, walking spryly along and
even taking a jump now and then.
matter with your" she asked, looking
at him over the tops of her spectacles,
Nothing, except that I feel fne,"
answered the old gentleman squirrel,
with a laugh, and, just to prove 1t, he
turned a somersault, a thing he had
not done in years and years.
And look at your tall" cried grand.
ma; tits silver gray, just as when
you used to be a young fellow. Come,
Jennie Chipmunk, look here! Would
you ever believe it?"
NO" said Jennie Chipmunk, 81
nev would"
"My tail isn't white any MORE said
grandpa. 'and / haven't any pain in
back. Whoop!" and he hollered
real loudly, he felt so fine.
"Who did it?" asked grandma.
"Who changed your tail?"
"A purple fairy" answered her hus.
band.
"Oh!s Oh! Obi" cried grandma, TAX.
ing off her glasses. "Why, the very
idonical idea! What do you mean?"
That's right, 1t was a purple
fairy" went on Grandpa Lightfoot,
billie and Johnnie found her and
brought her to me when I was asleep"
ooh, nut crackers!" exclaimed
grandma, who was very odd at times,
"You dreamed it, that's all. You. fell
asleep in the woods and dreamed It,
mo, I didn't" declared grandpa. 81
feel ever so much Younger" and he
danced a little Jig and sung this little
verse, which you may sing II you wish,
as long as the baby isn't asleep:
"Oh, hi-diddle- Observation-Disclosures
Sing potatoes, tomatoes. too.
! feel as fine as a fiddle-de-dee.
Won't you come and dance with me?'
NO" said grandma. very decided.
ly. 81 won't dance. I'm too old, and
besides, supper Is ready. Now, don't
tell me about those purple fairies
again, for l simply won't believe it!'
Oh, wasn't she the odd old lady,
though, but she was a. nice as could
be, if you only knew her.
II wish I could get the purple fairy
to make your tail silver, gray again"
spoke grandpa, as he was eating his
supper.
"Humph! I'd like to see a fairy!'
cried grandma. when I was a girl
folks used to say there were such
things. But I never saw any, and.
what's more, I never will"
Well, the next day Billie and John
ME Bushytail came to e how their
grandma and grandpa were getting
on, and they told about the purple
fairy, but still grandma didn't seem
to think such a thing could really
happen. But now wait. something
strange is going to take place in about
a minute.
A few days after this, oh, maybe
three or so-yes, | guess twas about
three days-Jennie Chipmunk was
taken sick. She couldn't do'the work
and Grandma Lightfoot was very
busy, and they had company, too, Mr.
and Mrs. Wibblewobble, the ducks
Well, there was quite a lot to do, dust
ing and sweeping and cooking and
making the beds.
Well. after the company had gone.
Grandma Lightfoot tried to do the
work. but she found it quite a task.
She was rather old, you know, and
not as spry as she ice a Grand
pa had to go to the postoflce, or he
would have helped her. So poor
grandma, after she had washed the
dishes. had to sit down to rest, she
was so tired, and there was the sweep
ing to do yet, and the busting, and the
beds to make, and, oh, l don't know
what all!
II never can do it," thought grand
ma. 81 shall have to go out and hire
some one"
Just then there was a little noise in
one corner of the room, and, bless me,
If a little creature didn't jump right
up and down in. front of grandma's
chair. and exclafm:
where's the broom? Where's the
dust rag? Quick! Quick! Quick"
"Why%' asked grandma, who are
your"
II am the jumping fairy" answered
the little creature. Il am always on
the jump and she jumped some
more. 81 must jump right at this
work" she went on. Where Is the
broom? Where is the dust rag:
Quick! Quick! Qnick!"
Then, before grandma could an
swer, If the jumping fairy hadn't
jumped into a corner and got the
broom, and then she began jumping
all around the room, sweeping as fast
as the wind blows. Then she jumped
to another corner. and got the rag, and
began busting, jumping, from chair
chair, and from the piano stool to