Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-12-11
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the kind old man guarding the tunnel.
What's your name, little girl?" In.
quired the man. Who's your Nam
MAJ"
I'm Eunice, and my Mammals a
fairy godmother."
Miss Fay's child" said the man.
She told you to come for her. eh?'
Eunice did not know what she an
swered, for she was running down the
tunnel along well remembered pas
sage toward a star of light that shcne
! in the distance. And then there
| burst upon her eyes the dazzling spec
tacle of the Christmas play.
| She did not understand that those
rows of ghost-like faces stretching
away into the distance were the au'
dience, and to her the setting Of the
stage was reality. Her eyes were
fixed upon the beautiful woman who
stood and bowed and smiled, won
derful being illumihed by a great
shaft of light from overhead, which
followed her every movement The
fairy children had gone, and IIilda
Groves bowed finally and withdrew
toward the palace threshold.
She had needed all her concentra-
ton to play successfully that night,
and in spite of that more than one
of the newspapers commented dis.
paragingly the next day upon her per.
Torrance 1t was unreal. they said,
and lifeless. Gould they only have
seen her after the curtain fell!) To
Hilda it was agony, The mothers
heart was aching, but she did not
know the cause, or that her child
could cure her malady; she thought
of Eunice only as hateful and repug.
nant duty to which she must return
after her evening task. She turned
and entered through the palace por'
tails, which gave upon the wings.
Now she was only tired woman
again, anxious to divest herself of |
her tinselled trappings. But to the
little figure that stood before her she
was an Olympian. Eunice stood lost
in amazed admiration at this wonder
full Seing who was her mother
Mamma! Mammal" The arms
were outstretched.
"Eunice!"
The harsh tones broke the spell.
The child remembered her last visit
and the disillusionme1A that followed
it. She clutched at her mothers
gown.
who brought you here? Tow
dared you come? You shoSld have
been asleep hours ago"
The little arms were clutching at
he fairy gown frantically and the up
turned face was one Of piteous en-.
reaty.
Don't scold me. Mamma. want
ID Thanta Clauth. He gives most
to good boys and girls"
The tragedy in the child's face ar.
ested Hilda. The cold crust of self
shness was breaking.
Il wanted him to make you love
ne like the fairy children, Mamma"
Love conquered. If only the critics
ould have seen Hilda now! Sudden
Y she understood the infinite sorrow
f the childs mind, the tragedy Of
he little life which she had created,
he loneliness, the craving for
lother's pity and love. Tears gushed
'om her own eyes and mingled with
he child's as she drew her to her
reast
The doorkeeper came hurrying up.
Miss Fay" he cried excitedly, you've
OF your little girl then? thought
he was waiting beside mel just
Kissed her. There's a gentleman"
He gave way to John Groves. Mrs.
dimes had discovered the empty bed
We minutes before, and, frantic with
arm, had rushed up to the lonely lit
e room on the third story. John
roves had shrewdly guessed his
lughter's objective
you've got her, Hilda. Thank
od" he began, and then stopped,
itonished at the look of happiness =
his wife's face.
"She came to find Santa Claus"
i'd Hilda "She wanted something Z
him, and / guess he's heard her
aver. But think It must be Santa
mt her to me. John. I've found
netting tonight that | never knew
lost, and I'm going to keep tt
with me-us-always.'
Copyright by w. @. chapmanl