Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-12-02
Letter No. 3
THE FARM FAIRY

Bessie, Lne0Cnln DfOWH COW. SfOduSu
as she staggered to her feet; it was
less uncomfortable standing up. jim,
the old gray horse, groaned as he
shifted his weight from one tired foot
TO another and shivering Rover also
groaned as he curled up a little closer
on a pile of dirty rags. Tippytoes came
out Of her snug, little nest in the straw
and groaned loudly.
There" she said GROSSLY, that
makes it unanimous. And now, my
dear new friends, will you please tell
Inc the reasons for your groanings"
Bessie turned her mOurnful eyes
towards Tippytoes You have only
been with us a few days. Ii you had
lived here longer you would not need
90 ask that question. Do you think this
cold, dirty barn is fit place for we'll
bred cOw-aS l am? The master hasn't
put down clean straw in my stall for
IL week The hay is mJlsty. The water
was so cold tonight that | could hard
Is swallow il, and l am still shiyerlng
from its effects and from the blow the
master gave me with the milking stool
because | hadn't much milk for him.
Now do you wonder that / groan"
Too bad, old Bessie" sympathet-
ically purred TippytOes, as she rubbed
against Bessies forelegs, Il wish you
liked rats to eat. Id bring you one Ill
a minute, for there surely are plenty
Of them around here. That's why l
came. And you. old jim what are
your trOubleS?"
II have lived here five years, sighed
old Jim, land / have hardly had kind
word or a square meal in all that time.
! work for nothing but my board and
my board is nothing. Ha that is
Joke but ! do not care to laugh. | am
getting old and [ expect the master
will soon turn me out to die. | shall
not care"
AT least he will not sell you to the
soap factory for there isn't enough fat
on your bones TO make sample cake
of SOAP commented the cat not nm
kindly. And now, Rover, tell us your
story"
Rover grudgmgly uncurled and sat
up. It's very little / have TO tell.
was brought here when puppy ana
have never been outside the farm gate.
For all | know the rest OF the world
is lust as miserable as we are. y dog
has to love someone and | suppose
have some affection for the man who
has done nothing to make life pleas
ant for me-"
We'll, I'm glad cats can get along
without love, and I'm sure | Wouldn {
STAY where | was treated as Ola Teh-
Denny Jones CHATS what the neigh
bors call him. treats you and Bessie
and Jim. I'll be moving on when the
rats and mice are gone"
And it will be perfectly right for
YOU to do So" agreed'a soft little voice
above their heads Tippytoes arched
her back and Rover growled little.
Don't be frightened, dear animals.
[ am the good Farm Fairy ana IA
sorry | have neglected you SO long
But alas. there are so many places
where l am needed even more IMAM
here. though doubtless you viii ihd
< hat hard TO believe
Inst then they heard a little ruStllng
Of wings in the hayloft and the falfy
seemed 10 be consulting someone. 1heE
heard her say, II will go at once"
"Oh. do not leave US" they cried
I'VE need your help SO much.
You may curl up on my shaggy coa'
# Won are cold,' offered Rover.
YIvn
drink" offered Bessie.
Il thank YOU" cOoed the falry III iler
sweet little voice, but the little Drown
bird tells me that my opportunity 10
holm Won has come. Your master III
main NAV be taught his duty toward
Won. Good night, dear animals, you
NAV expect to see me again
II wonder what she meant. | am
Snrc The master cannot he more III hee'l
Of pity tonight that We. unused olo
Jim. r.,
II would go TO the house and ma
ont thc matter. but the door is tightly
lacked" said Rover smiling at me
door.
AS if anyone would take the tr""-
hlo 70 steal u.s., grumDled beSsic.
IF YOU will listen to me- SAID the
cat I'm tell you that | think the faifF
only meant to puzzle YOU But, SINCE
Won choose to worry about that miser-
" Old Tenpenny Jones. ! will investi-
cate and report"
So saying Tippytoes climbed up i
MOLE into the hayloft and then they
couId hear her no more.
They waited a long time for hef re-
turn and it grew colder and colder
Rover. uneasy, whined at the door I'M
iii the cold drove him to his poor p'F.
where ne curled mp shivering and trled
10 sleep.
Morning came at last though lltie
Of its light peeped through the diffN.
PATCHED window and then they heard
The scratch of Tippytoes' claws ON the
pole.
Dear friends" she began, as she
came down backwards, eat fashion
.1our mo1rnful Society of GrOan2rS