ith a wisp of grass, she said:
"Look up, boy. What is the matter?"
"I've lost my father's pocketbook," sobbed the boy. "I drove ten sheep
to market and the man paid me for them. But I dare not go home because
I've lost the money."
"Do you believe in fairies?" asked Maisie.
"What good are fairies?" replied the boy.
"Maybe they would bring you good luck," said Maisie.
"I don't believe it," said the boy.
"Suppose you try them. Close your eyes."
The boy closed his eyes.
"Now repeat after me:
"Bright eyes, light eyes! Fairies of the dell,
Come and listen while my woes I tell."
The boy did as he was told.
"Now open your eyes," ordered Maisie.
The boy opened his eyes and within six inches of his hand lay the
pocketbook. Eagerly he took it and opened it.
"Is the money all there?" asked Maisie.
"Every cent!" cried the boy with joy.
"You had better believe in good fairies," said Maisie, as she ran away
laughing.
"Ah, you are the good fairy!" called the boy after her. "Many, many
thanks for your kindness."
THE LITTLE PIONEER'S RIDE.
BY ANNA E. TREAT.
"Whoa, Buck! Whoa, Bright!" called out Stephen Harris, pioneer, and the
glossy red oxen halted in the forest opening. "This shall be our dinner
camp to-day, boys," said he. "See what a fine spot."
The pair of stalwart lads, with rifles on their shoulders, who had been
walking all the forenoon beside the big covered wagon, thought it was,
truly, a fine spot and began to make camp for dinner, unyoking the oxen
and turning them out to graze, kindling a fire with dry twigs and moss
and fetching water from the clear brook that rippled by.
Meanwhile, children of all ages began to climb down from the wagon.
There were ten of them, fine healthy children; the youngest, Martha, was
a little yellow-haired girl of three, the pet and pride of them all.
The wagon, which had been their traveling house for a month was well
fitted up for the comfort. The seats were built along the sides and so
contrived as to hook back at night; then the bedding, tightly rolled up
by day, was spread out on the wagon bottom. Under the wagon swung the
large copper kettle, the most important of all things in the households
of those early times.
After dinner the oxen were yoked up, and in great spirits the pioneers
scrambled to their places in the wagon, and the oxen started on at a
good pace, and they had gone a mile or two before the fearful disco
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