Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-19
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The Story Of the
Fairy Tree



low tree. In fact. when this story hap
peued he had lived there only about
an hour. Before that he lived in
0use like other sensible people, but
one sunshiny day, when all the birds
in the wood Were calling. he felt that
II was great trial to have To live in
house and wear collars, and SO. with
out saying anything 20 his parents who
were much too settled to fall in with
his idea, he stocked cardboard box
with cakes and good things that he
found in the pantry and set out 70
make his home in the woods He had
this very hollow tree in mind. for he
had often played about il and rested
under its shade of cool Sunday after
noon when he walked there with his
father.
II was 4 beautiful morning The
trees We're fresh and green, and the
leaves whispered softly 10 one anoth.
er, ana the little brook rippled merrily
over the smooth pebbles.
Since there was no one there to tell
him he mustn't, Tom pulled off his
shoes and stockings and went wadiLg
in the brook After that, the sun being
high, he sat down on the bank and ate
some of the good things he had
brought with him for luncheon. Then
At last he made his way to the hollow
tree and climbed inside TO inspect his
new home. Then what do you suppose
he found? Something he had never no
liced before A tiny little staircase
carpeted with green velvet and wound
its way up inside the tree trunk
Tom was utterly amazed. He had
never seen or heard of a staircase II
side of 4 tree, and he gave low aud
expressive whistle of surprise. As II
in answer, a tiny voice above him
cried Boys must not whistle in the
house, and, looking up Tom perceiv
ed the daintest little fairy in green
dress coming down the stairs This so
astonished him that he got his mouth
al fixed for another whistle. but re-
membered in time that he mustn't
We'll, boy creature said the fairy
what did YOU come here for?"
Il came here to liye,' answered Tom
I'm tired of houses and cellars and
brushing my hair
'Nery well" said the fairy. that's
easily arranged and she waved her
wand and recited the two table back. |
ward. Tom thought she was jus
showing off, but when she had finish
ed and remarked Presto, change," he /.
suddenly discovered that he had
changed to the size of the fairy her
self
Come on up she said holding out
her hands with a welcoming smile !
and Tom eagerly ran UP the little
staircase and joined her. The stairs
led up through the darkness that was
lighted by tiny lamps made of acorns.
suspended on spider webs. At The
head of the stairs the fairy opened a
little door and led Tom into a tiny
room, the walls Of which were draped
with rose leaves, and in which a num-
Der of fairies were playing Oats, peas
beans"
Come and play with U.S." they cried !
holding out their hands to Tom.
So Tom ran up and took his place |
in the circle. Merrily they began !
marching around, singing the old song
Of Oats, peas, beans But when they
came to the partswhere the farmer /
stamps his foot and clasps his hands,
and Tom stamped his foot with the |
rest, the whole tree shudiered and |
swayed, and with tearing of roots it
fell to the earth
1t was a very astonished small boy |
who crawled out from the broken
branches.
What has happened! What made
it fan like that" he asked the ruff !
fled company Of fairies who same
climbing out of the wreck of the tree !
why, You see,' they explained
when we made you our size, we for
got to make you our strength, so Of
course when you stamped your foot
you knocked down the whole tree.'
I'm very sorry" said Tom. Il didn't
know / was so strong
ooh, WELL it doesn't matter said the
fairies, Eve can easily get another tree
But first we'd better make you your
own size again. You are much too
dangerous as you are"
SO the first fairy raised her wand
and recited the two table forward this
time, and so soon as she had said
Presto! changed Tom found himself
his own size again,
Then, with farewell wave Of their
wands, the fairies rose in the air like
d cloud of butterflies and flew away
in search of new home.
Tom felt rather lonely to see them
20, but he thought he would see II he
could still use the fallen tree as q
house. But he found that the whole
trunk was split in half. The fairy stair
case was still there, though, but when
ne touched it it vanished under his fir
gers like spider web.
Since he had now no place in which
to live, Tom decided to go home,
where, even IL there were collars to
be WON, there were other good things
to make up for them SO he left the
woods whore the evening shadows
were falling, and arrived at his own