Year: 1871

FAIRY TALE.


As an honest woodman was sitting one
evening, after his work was done, talk
ing with his wife, he said, 81 hope the
children will not run into that grove by
the side of the river; it looks more
gloomy than ever the old oak tree is
sadly blasted and torn and some odd
folks, am sure, are lurking about there,
but who they are, nobody knows" The
woodman, however, could not say that
they brought ill-luck, whatever they
were; for every one said that the village
had thriven more than ever of late {;
that the fields looked gayer and greener;
that even the sky was of deeper blue,
and that the moon and stars shed a
brighter light. SO, not knowing what
TO. think, the good people very wisely
let the new comers alone, and, in truth,
q seldom said Or thought anything at all
about them.


That very evening, the woodman's
daughter Rosebud, and her playfellow
Martin, ran out to have game of hide
and-seek in the valley. "Where can he
be hidden? p said she: g he must have
gone toward the grove; perhaps he is
behind the old oak tree;" and down
she ran to look. Just then she spied a
little dog that jumped and frisked
round her, and wagged his tail, and led
her on toward the grove. Then he ran
into it, and she soon jumped up the
bank by the side of the old oak tree to
look for him; but was overioyed to see
81 beautiful meadow, where flowers and
shrubs of every kind grew upon turf of
the softest green; gay butterflies flew
#Dout the birds sang sweetly; and,
What was strangest, the prettiest little
children sported about like fairies on all
siles some twining the flowers, and
others dancingin rings upon the smooth
:urf beneath the trees: In the midst of
ine grove, instead of the novels of which
.iosebud had heard, she could see pal
zee. that dazzled her eyes with its bright
ness.


For while she gazed on the fairy
scene, till at last one of the little
dancers ran up to her, and said, "And
so pretty Rosebud, you are come at last
to see us? We have often seen you
play about, and wished to have you with
u.s." Then she plucked some of the
fruit that grew near, and Rosebud at the
first taste forgot her home, and wished
only to see and know more of her fairy
friends. So she jumped down the bank
and joined the merry dance.


Then they led her about with them,
and showed her all their sports. One
while they danced by moonlight on the
primrose banks, at another time they
skipped from bough to bough, among
the trees that hung over the cooling
streams, for they moved as lightly and
easily through the air as on the ground;
and Rosebud went with them every
where, for they bore her in their arms
wherever they wished to go. Some
times they would throw seeds on the
turf, and little trees would spring up;
and then they would set their feet upon
the branches, and rise as the trees grew
under them, till they danced upon the
boughs in the air. wherever the breezes
carried them, singing merry songs.


AT other times they would go and visit
the palace of their queen; and there
the richest food was spread before them.
and the softest music was heard; and
all around grew flowers, which we're al
ways chang their hues, from scarlet to
purple, and yellow, and emerald. Some
.. times they went to look at the heaps of
treasure which were piled up in heroyal
ores ; for little dwarfs We're always EN-
T. Dyed in searching the earth for gold.
: aall as this fairy land looked from
without, it seemed within to have no
end mist hung around it to shield it
nom the eyes of men and some of the
little elves sat perched upon the outer
most trees, to keep watch lest the step
il man should break in and spoil the
charm.


"And who are you?" said Rosebud
one day. "Weare what are called elves
in your world,' said one whose name
was Gossamer, and who had become her
dearest friend we are told you talk
q great deal about us. Some of our
tribes like to work you mischief but we
who live here seek only to be happy ;
we meddle little with mankind, and
when we do come among them it is only
to do them good" "And where is your
queen?" said Rosebud. "Hush hush
you cannot see or know her; you must
leave us before she comes back, which
will be now very soon, for mortal step
cannot come where she is. But you will
know that she is here when you see the
meadows gayer. the rivers more spark
Ing, and the sun brighter"


Soon atterward Gossamer told Rose
bud the time was come to bid her fare
we'll ; and she gave her a ring in token
OF her friendship, and led her to the
eige OF the grove "Think of me-"
said she; "but beware how you tell
what you have seen, or try to visit us
again for if you do, we shall quit this
grove and come back no moren Turn