Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-27
The DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE FAIRY GODSON
by MARY ISABEL, RoySToSp

t'oR years Jane Judson had lived ION
tne tail-end Of nothin'," as one Of her
neighbors expressed il, and might still
nave contrived to keep her old home II,
on her SEVENTEEN birthday. she had not
ialen down the cellar stairs and broken
hes hes Ms, Then, with no money and no.
ally agreed to be the sensible thing for
Dixville.
The interest on the mortgage on her
rSlne psaeon being considerably in arrears,
donating $50 OF the sieo necessary for
ner admittance to the institution, the
neighbors contributing the other $50,
ana In September Jane became an in
mate or the home.
" course II was the sensible" thing
to do: nobody realized that more than
Jane herself only for the kindness OF
ner old neighbors she must have gone
20 tne poorhouse. But oh how her old
heart ached for the weather -beaten old
where Billy, her only baby. had been
porn and died; where, later her hus-
band had died the spot where all her
memories had once had life.
Two graves there were just outsie
the south pasture lot" under huge
as she went about her work she could
see them As she sat In her little room
they gave her a small room, she was
so little and fragile she could At In any
leaves turning to gold and red and rus
set, and then falling--falling gently as
tender thoughts on the dust OF the two
VINO had lain there 80 many years.
EVERY one was kind to Jane, but II
was such an impersonal, sort of profes-
sional Kindness 1t left an ache in her
lonely heart: but she never complained
and Miss Boggs, her tablemate, often
remnded her of how thankful they all
should feel to be in "the place where
Providence had seen At to place them"
When spring came Jane spent long
hours gazing in the direction where,
sixteen miles away, she knew her be-
loVed nome was. In imagination she
saw the buds swelling on the maple
above the roof; saw the lilac bushes
tulips and daffodils pushing their tiny
heads out of the brown earth by the
Kitchen door.
Then came the event, SO great an
event event that i shook the home to its
very foundations. The great limousine
rolled majestically UP the modest drive
and, coming to stop before the front
door. dlsgorged big man with flaming
RED hair showing from beneath his
glossy silk hat. and with merry Irish
steps fairly trembled. He asked in a
booming voice for Mrs. JaEe Judson,
and Jane. big eyed and wondering and
a little trembly, came.
,oonoa DOT You Sr,vsI' know me?" the big man
red headed devil (Mrs. Boggs, listening
behind the door, gasped) who lived on
the poor farm, and you helped out of
'"n'' =" scrape? The boy who never
knew home nor father nor mother, only
Mmdt you gave him? ran away and I've
lived In wild times and wild places, but
the memory of you kept me clean and
decent, J. struck It rlch--in oil-and I
come back to let you know the black
sheep had grown some white wool, and /
find you here -
''Timmie Duanne - the old woman
cried. She tottered and he caught ner
in his arms, kissing the silvery hair as
he swung her clear from the floor in his
strong arms
'"rimmie Duanne himself.' he cried
"I came back a week ago, and I've
bought the old place back and it's ready
and waitin' for ye. Even the old cat is
there. Nobody could catch him. He's
life, ! guess. but we'll feed him up
There's salmon and cream in the larder
for him. Hurry, get your belonglns g.
Mother Jane, and we'll go home. When
come home for my vacation every year,
you've got to squeeze me in somewhere,
for sure we belong together !"
It was like a dream riding along In
the swiftly purring car, with one fragile
hand held close in the big fist of Tim
mie Duanne, and when at last the old
gray house came In sight it was through
mist Of happy tears that she saw it.
It was quite unchanged as she wished
1t. only fresh and sweet from recent
scrubbing.
Jane sat before the open fre-for
there was a chill in the air--in the old
rocking chair with its patchwork cover
that she had made herself, and the cat
thin but contented, purred on her Jap.
Timmie came In softly and knelt beside
her chair
This Is the happiest day of my life -
he said, and his big voice was soft and
tender. Mother Jane reached out her
hand and let It fall gently on his head.
Heaven can hold little better for me, u
she said happily. Then with a sobbng
little laugh: "i've heard often of the
fairy godmother. but, Timmie Duanne,
you're the first fairy godson I've ever
heard off,