Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-08-15
!. THE STORIES THE
DEWDROPS TOLD
Written for .the United States
School Garden Army, Depart
ment of the Interior.)
MARIA METTs THE DUSTY FAIRY


Motherminc and Dolly and Maria
MaeDougall were taking an early wall
in the q. $. $. G. A. garden. Dolly trot
ted along by the side of Mothermine
holding her hand but Maria seampered
about as if she couldn I be in enough
places at once. Maria was very pret
ty Maltese cat. Her coat was as smooth
as velvet. Hex eyes were a bright yel
low Her tail was long and she held il
up very straight Sometimes she waved
it, like a flag.
Maria seemed very much excited
about something. She made funny little
side.wise jumps. She would run as fast
as She could for minute and then
pretend to fall down in the grass. She
chased butterfly. She put her paw on
toad, but she didn't like the feel of
his cold skin so she ram away again.
'Mothermine, said Dolly, do you
suppose Maria could see Dewdrop
Fa'ryN
~ don t know Dolly" said Mother
mine. "What made you ask thatg"
'Why, she acts just like she could
see something over there in the corner
Don't you see how funny she isl She
runs up to that bunch of dusty looking
plants aul dances around and then she
lays her ears back just like she does
when | rub her head | IN sure She sees
something therc.N
"Well. suppose You 60 Overland look
/ will 20 hack into the house. Fairies
hardly ever come to SEE grown-ups
Perhaps you viii be more likely TO see
one if ] 90 away.
"Oh, no-please stay. cried Dolly
But NIotbsfmiae had many things to
do and She went into the house Dolly
followed Maria into the corner Of the
garden Maria certainly was "acting
up. Her tail was all fuzzy on hei
back and her tail was twice as large
as usual.
"R-rg r-m- I" said Maria.
Now Dolly knew "cat talk pretty
well. She was sure that Maria was
pleased about something. She looked
AZ the spot upon which Maria's yellow
ewes were fixed. II was just as she had
thought there was a Fairy, and Maria
could see her. More than that the
Fairy was talking to Maria. ] won
try to tell you how Maria 5 talk sound
cd. | win only tell you what it meant
'q am SO glad you have come into
the gardes' said Maria. $50 many
people forget about cats when they
plant garden. Did Billy bring you
herel"
nsNo." said the Fairy. "Fhe wind
brought ne. / came very near being
torn np for a weed, but Fatherbob saw
me and told them TO let me stay. He
said I wouldn't make any trouble and
that I would be good for YOU If vog
should get sick. Fathefbob said that
more herbs should be grown IN garden!
for instance Thyme lavender ane
rosemary
"Fathcrbeb is nice man. said
Maria. "He lets me sleep on the sush
ion on his chair in the library pn'
lav when I was asleep there he pick
ed up the cushion and put il on another
fhH1f Anu Ht NAf 1T Nto thai Nttf'A'
any cushion 80 I5eonld so on sleping
I like him.
Dolly thought thai was very good Of
her father. She was much interested "
this Fairy. The Fairy was not quite ss
pretty as some she had seen but shs
had = very bright. snaprv expression
Her dress was rather dull shade Of
green with a good deal Of fringe ou u
nj Locked as if il had been spriHkie9
over with fiac dust "Mafia - said th,
Fairy. 81 hope yoe aye Eoed eat aut
40 not trv 10 catch ihe garden Ae5
or any OF his familyin
ssNo indeed. said Maria shn
nav catch the field mieri'
"Yes-if von viii not make then
suffer BY PLAYING WITH them. Thes
make great deal Of trouble II a gar
dcn-rcs. you may catch The field
mice. :.
"0k. Tn iust trazy about xou.
said Aaris she termed over On hei
back and began = rol sheut aa ~.
dnsty.l0oking leaves q The plant
ssNaria-N Naria-'' cried Dolly. tOh
what Is the matter with hcr, She acti