“‘If you wish it hard enough you may be. Now follow me very closely for we aren’t the only fairies abroad Christmas Eve. The air is full of them.’
“Anna Belle looked about her, and sure enough, it was almost like June bug season. She felt them whizzing past her, and at times their whirring wings fairly brushed her cheeks.
“‘Oh, how lovely it is!’ she exclaimed. ‘How different it all looks from above!’
“‘Yes, dear, everything looks different from above. Do you see that wee brown house far over in that meadow, all alone?’
“‘Yes,’ replied Anna Belle; ‘are they poor as crows?’
“‘Poorer, they haven’t even any feathers,’ laughed the Fairy, as they gently floated down, down, till they could peer into a window of the little house.
“A mother sat by a table sewing. Anna Belle watched to see that she was making dolls from bottles.
“She fashioned heads by placing a wad of cotton in a piece of muslin. Giving the cloth a twist, she had a perfect round ball which she shaped and tied down over a cork. On this she skilfully painted a face, then tied a trim little bonnet about it, and behold, there was a smiling bit of a creature awaiting the next move.
“She then made petticoat, dress and coat, and stood it in a corner while she made another. As she worked she smiled so sweetly the whole room seemed aglow.
“‘Come and see who will have these gifts,’ whispered the Fairy.
“Anna Belle followed and peeped in another window. There she saw a number of little children all snuggled up fast asleep.
“‘Look!’ whispered the Fairy, and pointed to a stand where were a few gifts. A pin-cushion made of bits of ribbon from a scrap bag, and a workbox made from a cigar box. This was a work of art indeed. Pockets had been tacked inside, and on the bottom of the box lay a spool of thread.
“‘Looks lonesome, doesn’t it?’ whispered the Fairy.
“Anna Belle nodded as she thought of her own beautiful workbox of carved ivory with gold thimble and all sorts of beautiful fittings.
“Then she remembered another laid away in the attic, one of the things she didn’t want.
“These two crude gifts were marked in childish hand, ‘For Mother with much love.’
“‘Love is sticking out all over those things,’ said the Fairy. ‘Come down and see how she is getting on with her bottle family.’
“They went below, to find the dolls nearly finished, and a fine ready-made family it was.
“Father, mother, children, and even a weenty teenty pill bottle doll, dressed as a baby in long clothes, was pinned to the mother, the tiny head nestled close to the spot where her heart should be.
“‘They are lovely!’ declared Anna Belle.
“‘They are, indeed, and they can do what many of the finest dolls you buy cannot. They can stand and you can have great fun with them.’
“‘I’m going to make some,’ said Anna Belle. ‘I think they are cute. What is she doing now?’
“‘Why, don’t you see? Some one has given her a branch from a Christmas tree. She is fastening the dolls to it. Now she’s poking the coals, she’s going to pop corn and string it for the tree. That cost one penny. She’s also going to make molasses candy. See it bubbling in that kettle? Molasses is very cheap and it will be the only candy they will have, but they will be wild over it, just because only at Christmas time they have it.
“‘Now come and I’ll show you crow number two.’
“Anna Belle was loath to leave this interesting window, but she obediently followed on.
“‘Look in here,’ whispered the Fairy, as they paused by another humble home.
“Anna Belle looked, to see an empty stocking swinging from the mantel. On it was pinned a paper, and Anna Belle read the large printed words:
“Dear Santa Claus—If you have enough things to go round won’t you give my sister a music box and a readin’ buck. She’s lame and can’t play like me. You needn’t give me anything. I can hear the music and read her’s.
“Jamie.”
“Anna Belle’s eyes filled as she read, and followed the Fairy to see two children fast asleep, dreaming of what they hoped they might find in the morning.
“‘They have no mother. The father isn’t much good, but does his best to feed them. In the morning those stockings will be as empty as they are now.’
“‘Dear! Dear! Why doesn’t some one know about it?’ asked Anna Belle tearfully.
“‘Some one does know now,’ replied the Fairy with a wise nod as they floated on.
“‘I hope they’ll do something then,’ said Anna Belle.
“‘I hope so,’ whispered the Fairy. ‘Look in here,’ and Anna Belle peered in a window.
“Here a child of perhaps twelve or fourteen was seated at a table, working busily. Anna Belle watched to see her making paper dolls. She cut them out, painted faces and hair, then made a number of cunning dresses, coats and hats, placed them in envelopes and marked the outside.
“They watched till she had three ready, then slipped them into the stockings, hanging waiting.
“The love light in her eyes was sweet to behold and as she stood over the lamp to put it out, Anna Belle noticed the rare delicate beauty of her face.
“When all was dark the Fairy moved on.
“‘She didn’t even hang up her own stocking,’ said Anna Belle.
“‘No one to fill it. She mothers those three little ones, and it’s all she can do to make things go, but did you ever see any one look happier? See the card on this door knob?’
“Anna Belle paused to read:
“Dear Santa—Please bring me a sleeping doll. Even if you can’t spare one, if you would just let me hold one a moment and sing it to sleep once I will be glad. I am a good girl.
“Elsie.”
“‘See her! Isn’t she dear?’ cried Anna Belle, as she peeped in the window to see a beautiful plump little girl fast asleep.
“‘She looks like a sleeping doll herself. Will she get the doll, do you think?’
“‘I hope so. It all depends,’ said the Fairy.
“They floated along for some time, and presently went down to hover over some children looking in the window of a toy store.
“Wistful little faces they had, and their clothes told Anna Belle they must get their fun out of just looking.
“Farther on in front of the candy store huddled a shabby crowd, gazing at the sparkling goodies.
“‘Come away, please, I don’t want to see any more. Surely they aren’t happy,’ cried Anna Belle.
“‘They are as happy as they can be. Each one of them had a penny in a tightly closed fist, wondering what to buy to take home and put in an empty stocking.
“‘Let’s stop here a moment,’ whispered the Fairy, poising on the top of a Christmas tree in front of a big store.
“Anna Belle, standing beside her, noticed that as she held on high her wand the star shone out so bright and beautiful the people below paused and gazed in wonder. The happy faces beamed even brighter and the unhappy ones changed instantly.
“‘What does it mean?’ whispered one and another, while one little girl cried:
“‘Why, Mother, it’s the Star. Don’t you know?’
“‘Yes,’ whispered the mother, clasping more closely the little hand and passing on.
“‘What made the cross ones look so glad, and the happy ones look more so?’ asked Anna Belle, as she watched the throngs below.
“‘Don’t you know really?’ asked the Fairy.
“Anna Belle pondered a while, then looked at the sky to see it thickly dotted with stars, and saw that One shone more brightly than any of the others. She then turned to look at the star on the end of the wand, but behold, it had vanished.
“‘Where is it?’ she asked in surprise.
“‘It came down and did its work and then went back where it belongs,’ replied the Fairy with a roguish twinkle, and Anna Belle stared for a moment at the splendid bright star, then said softly:
“‘I understand it now, and why it could do it, but I had forgotten what Christmas really means.
“‘For a long time it has seemed to mean only things. Gifts, and not only gifts, but certain kinds of gifts.
“‘Oh!’ she said wistfully, ‘I wish I could do something to help. Was that what you meant when you kept saying, “That depends”?’
“‘That was just what I meant. Now you have seen the Star, and I know all will be well.’
“Anna Belle seemed busily thinking, and the Fairy waited.
“‘The-attic is full of presents I didn’t want, and I have a lot of money I was going to use for the bracelet.’
“‘If you didn’t get it,’ laughed the Fairy.
“‘I don’t want it now. I’d rather use it for these poor little children. Elsie must have a doll. I have one, and a music box, and many “Readin’” books with pictures, but how can we get them to the places?’
“‘Fairies are stronger than you think. I will summon my helpers.’
“Anna Belle then heard a sound as of wind whistling around the corners. In a moment there appeared fairies without number. Such silvery sprites they were Anna Belle longed to take one to her heart and keep for ever and ever.
“‘Come!’ cried the Fairy, who seemed to be the leader.
“As she floated away all followed, and Anna Belle found they were headed straight for her own home and the attic.
“As she wondered how they would get in, she found herself flying easily through the tiny bird window high up in the tower.
“‘How lovely!’ she cried. ‘I never knew it was for fairies!’
“‘Show what we are to take,’ cried the Fairy. ‘We must hurry.’
“Anna Belle pointed out a music box, books, dishes, balls, skates. In fact, toys of every description. Then she opened one large box to find a beautiful doll with eyes closed in slumber. ‘For Elsie,’ she whispered, and watched to see each fairy gather up a gift and press close to its shining bosom.
“‘Are we really going to take them?’ she asked.
“‘We wouldn’t miss the joy of it for anything,’ replied her fairy friend.
“They floated away; Anna Belle holding to her heart the sleeping doll. She tried to recall why she hadn’t wanted it, for it was so pretty. Then she flushed, for she remembered that she had been cross over this very doll because she had asked for a brown-eyed doll and this one had blue eyes!
“‘I didn’t deserve any doll, nor anything,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know I was so bad.’
“‘Forget it!’ laughed the Fairy. ‘We can’t afford to be thinking over our wrong-doings. If we have started on the right track we will have enough to do to keep within it.
“‘Here is the candy store. I know you want some. Give me your money; I’ll get it for you. I know the man well. He’ll double what he gives me, for he well knows what I’ll do with it.’
“In some mysterious way Anna Belle found in a moment each one was carrying a basket of bonbons on a tiny arm as they floated on.
“‘Here is Elsie,’ whispered the Fairy presently.
“Anna Belle placed the doll in Elsie’s arms, then filled the stockings with other toys and sweets. In the toe she placed a shining gold piece.
“The music box, books, and other toys were left in the home of the lame child; also a gold piece shone in the toe of each stocking hanging there.
“The paper doll girl was generously remembered, and the bottle dolls smiled gratefully at the load of gifts left at their feet.
“Anna Belle’s eyes shone as she thought of the joy this Christmas was to bring to so many hearts.
“‘How many?’ asked the Fairy, who seemed to know what she was thinking.
“Anna Belle pondered as they floated homeward. Presently she cried: ‘Why, just think, it’s twenty-four!’
“‘Only twenty-four? I counted twenty-five.’
“Again Anna Belle went over them, then said: ‘I can’t remember the odd one.’
“The Fairy sent forth a bubbling, rippling laugh, which puzzled Anna Belle for a moment, then she twinkled and cried:
“‘Why, I’m the odd one. I never was so happy. When did it begin? Oh, I know; it was when I saw the Star, wasn’t it?’
“‘Yes, indeed,’ replied the Fairy, ‘and not only when you saw the Star, but when you remembered the meaning of it.
“‘The love that came in with the Christ Child and His spirit of loving and giving, not only of gifts but of Himself, has come down with the ages, and will go on and on.’
“‘I’m so glad I found it out. I really don’t care now whether I get the bracelet, or not,’ declared Anna Belle, as they floated into her bedroom window.
“‘No, but see!’ and the Fairy pointed with her wand, on the end of which Anna Belle again saw the shining Star sending a glow of light over her dresser, and there lying on its velvet bed she beheld a beautiful circlet of dull gold.
“Much excited, she whispered: ‘Is it plain? I really wanted it jewelled.’ Then she laughed and added: ‘No, I don’t care how it is. Just so it’s a bracelet, for I’m afraid I do kind of want it. Is it wrong to want it? If it is, I’ll try till I don’t.’
The Fairy gently caressed her, then touched the golden circlet with her wand.
“‘No, it isn’t wrong to want it now that you remember the true meaning of Christmas, and want to keep it with the true Christmas spirit. See!’
“Anna Belle looked to see a starry jewel embedded in the gold, then she noticed the Star had vanished from the wand.
“She looked quickly out at the sky, where the steady light of the Star shone straight into her eyes.
“‘I’m glad you didn’t take that Star,’ she whispered. ‘We couldn’t get along without it.’
“‘My, no. I couldn’t take that Star. That’s the Star of Bethlehem, you know. This is just a weenty teenty shadow of that Star, that’s why it isn’t quite so bright.’
“‘It’s bright enough for me, and means a lot. How can I ever thank you for this night’s work?’ asked Anna Belle.
“‘Never again lose sight of the Star and I will be more than repaid. Good-bye.’
“Anna Belle watched her out of sight, then turned and—dear me! she opened her eyes; the sleighs were still flying past, for she could hear the bells ringing so merrily.
“‘How much sweeter they sound,’ she cried. ‘They seem to be saying, “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” I wonder why I didn’t notice it before.’
“She ran down-stairs to find Mother busily wrapping packages. She looked at Anna Belle and cried:
“‘Why, child, what makes your eyes so bright, and why do you look so glad? I heard you saying all sorts of things as you slept.’
“‘Oh, Mother! If you only knew,’ and thereupon she told the whole story of her dream, omitting the part about the bracelet. When she had finished she drew her mother to the window, where together they gazed at the Star.
“Mother’s eyes were full of tears, as she said gently, ‘Ring the bell, dear.’
“The maid appeared, and Mother asked that John bring out the double sleigh at once, adding:
“‘Then come to me; bring Annie also. We have work to do.’
“Wonderingly the maids followed to the attic and brought down many boxes lying there, waiting for they knew not what.
“‘Help me to tie them up separately in white tissue paper. Use the prettiest ribbons.’
“They worked busily, and soon a more Christmasy lot of bundles it would be hard to find.
“They placed them in baskets, together with warm clothes, beautiful dresses of Anna Belle’s that were hardly worn.
“Presently Anna Belle, Mother, and the baskets were packed in the big sleigh, dashing down the street.
“One stop they made, at the candy store, then on they went.
“‘Do you think you can find Elsie, and the little lame girl, and the house where the bottle dolls are?’
“‘I’m sure I can,’ replied Mother. ‘I happen to know them all.’
“And find them they did, and many others who were not in the dream.
“‘Oh, Mother! isn’t it sweet to do?’ cried Anna Belle, her bright eyes shining up at the Star.
“‘It is, indeed, dear. I’m very glad you had the dream, for I fear I also was forgetting the real meaning of Christmas and almost entirely losing sight of the Star.’
“She held the child close till the joy ride was over, then kissed her, saying:
“‘I don’t know when I have been so happy!’
“‘Nor I, Mother dear; and we owe it all to the Good Fairy.’
“‘We do, indeed. May she never cease to wave her starry wand. Good night, my child, good night.’
“Soon Anna Belle slept, and as she slept the starlight beamed on her sweet face, and presently it shone also on a golden circlet lying on its velvet pillow on the dresser.
“The dream seemed really coming true, for there embedded in the gold gleamed a starry jewel.
“When Anna Belle found it the next morning, she ran to Mother’s room crying earnestly:
“‘Mother, do you think the Fairy left it?’
“‘No doubt,’ replied Mother with twinkling eyes, ‘at least she must have touched it with her wand, for you see she has left her messenger:
“‘and the Star is shining.’”
The story ended, the Sprite vanished, and in her place the light of a beautiful star shed a halo about the little heads.
The tiny creatures sat spellbound, dreaming again with Anna Belle, till they were suddenly awakened by Cinnamon Stick who cried:
“Well! Well! Wasn’t that a grand Christmas story! I almost felt as though we too were flying fairies playing Santa Claus, but since we are just plain mince pie elves playing school we better go on with our game.
“Now I am most anxious to hear from the black and white pair of twins. Allow me to introduce Salt and Pepper, both of whom seem very necessary in this world of ours.”
Salt and Pepper now teetered forward. A cute little pair, indeed. Salt, all robed in frosty white, first began, and saucily cried out her big name of Sodium Chloride.
“I haven’t much to say except that I look so like sugar you can hardly tell which is which. For that reason I am used very extensively as an April Fool and am most popular on that day.
“I come principally from the United States, of which you all know without my showing you; from Michigan, New York, Ohio, Louisiana, West Virginia, California, Kansas, and Utah.
“Michigan and New York gave in 1888 about three quarters of all the salt produced in the United States.
“The salt of California is made by evaporation of sea water. That of Utah from water of Great Salt Lake.
“That found in Louisiana and Kansas comes by mining rock salt.
“I’ll give you a riddle. What is it that has to be in most everything we eat, or else it isn’t good? I’ll answer because you couldn’t possibly guess. It’s salt.
“You could hardly enjoy a meal without me. What would a table be without the salt box? And as for birthday parties, they just couldn’t have them if I vanished from the earth.”
“‘Tisn’t true,” cried Orange. “A party I was at once was almost ruined because of you. You worked into the ice cream, and what’s a party without ice cream? No one could eat it and the children cried!”
“That’s true,” said Salt. “I forgot to tell you that while a little of me is most necessary, too much of a good thing is worse than nothing.
“Now my twin brother will tell you of himself.”
Black Pepper, dressed in a black velvet suit and cap, politely bowed as he removed his hat.
“Kechoo! Kechoo!” sneezed the audience.
“Put your cap on quickly,” whispered Salt; “don’t you see you are making them sneeze?”
“Oh, pardon me!” apologised Pepper. “I didn’t think that politeness would cause such distress. My story is very short.
“I come from all damp tropical countries, and my tree is a joy to behold, when hanging full of scarlet berries against the background of green leaves. The spikes are gathered when the berries begin to turn red. The berries are rubbed off and dried and form then the ordinary black pepper.
“The white pepper consists of the seeds of the same fruit allowed to ripen and deprived of their pulp. The white pepper finds its largest market in China, which is right here.
“There is a plant of the genus Capsicum. From those pods come Cayenne or red pepper.
“That’s all,” he cried, with a funny quick bow.
“Your stories are short, but you are both about as necessary an article of food as I know of,” said Mr. Cinnamon Stick, “and now let us hear from this apple-cheeked maid, all about her lovely fruit, the Apple.”
The Apple-faced Doll tripped forward in the greatest of haste.
“I shall sit while I talk,” she said, seating herself and smoothing out her snowy apron. “I have a long story to tell which, I am sure, you will all love.”
“A story! A story!” rippled through the audience, as the dolls crept close to the speaker, and with clasped hands awaited this treat.
Little Allspice placed herself in the rosy-cheeked maiden’s lap, and a pretty picture it was to see her upturned face in the golden gleam of the dancing flames.
“Well,” began the maid with the jolly smile, “the apple is to be found most everywhere in mild climates. It first came from Avella, a town in Campania, right there.” As she spoke she pointed with a long pointer standing near by, to a place in Italy.
“It was introduced into America from England in 1629 by the Governor of Massachusetts Bay.
“There are many varieties of apples, sweet and sour, hard and soft, eating and cooking apples.
“The cider in the mincemeat is made from the juice of the apples. They are crushed in a cider mill and the juice is strained. Some apples would delight a child’s heart with their beautiful colours of gold and crimson, and some grow to an enormous size.
“And now for the story:
“Once there was a man who was very, very poor. He had been a farmer and no one raised such fine crops as did he. By and by, in some way, he lost his farm and was left all alone.
“He had always wanted to do some grand thing, something that would make many people happy, but what could he do? He had no money. All he had was a small boat.
“As he trudged along one day he saw some old sacks lying under a tree. As he looked at them he had a splendid thought. A thought that seemed to have wings and came flying from far away. Oh, it was a beautiful thought, and seemed to be singing a little song in his heart as he picked up the sacks and placed them in his boat, jumped in himself and floated away.
“As he rowed down the stream the man watched the shore with keen eyes. When he saw an apple orchard he rowed to land, tied his boat, hastened to the homes near the orchards and asked for work.
“He cut wood, carried water, and did all sorts of odd chores. In payment for this work he asked for food, and what else do you suppose?
“The people were so surprised at what he asked for they could hardly believe him. He asked that he might have the seeds from the apples on the ground under the trees—only the seeds.
“Of course they gladly gave him such a simple thing, and as he cut the fruit the neighbour children swarmed about him.
“From one place to another he went, always adding to his store of seeds.
“Some generous farmers gave him also cuttings of peach, pear, and plum trees, and grape vines.
“Day after day, day after day, he cut up the fruit, while the children sat at his feet and listened to thrilling tales of what he had seen in his travels. Of the Indians with their gay blankets and feathers, of their camps where they lived in the forests.
“Of their dances and war paint; their many coloured, beaded necklaces and jingling, silver chains and bracelets. Of their beady-eyed babies strapped to boards.
“Of the wolves which came out at night to watch him as he sat by his fire; of the beautiful deer who ran across his path.
“He sang funny songs for the children and taught them all sorts of games.
“When it came time to go on, they begged him to stay. Never before had they been so amused, but on he went, and when his bags were full, and he had a goodly store of food, he started on to carry out the splendid thought. Oh, it was a grand thing he was going to do.
“The little boat went on and on, till houses were no more to be seen. Splendid forests lined the banks here and there. Then he paused, for this was what he was seeking—a place where no one lived.
“He landed and went about with a bag of seeds, and when he reached an open place in a forest he planted seeds and cuttings of the trees and vines; then wove a brush fence about them to keep the deer away. He then hastened back to his boat and drifted on.
“In many, many places he landed and planted seeds, and all the orchards of the Ohio and Mississippi Valley we owe to this man.
“Years after when settlers came looking for a place to live they chose these spots where, to their great surprise, they found all sorts of trees loaded with fruit.
“This man’s name was John Chapman, but he was nicknamed Johnny Appleseed.
“The settlers were glad indeed when he appeared and told them the orchards were the fruit of his labours, and they were all eager to entertain him.
“And so he ended his life in this land of fruit and plenty.
“I must tell you a story of one certain little tree.
“In one of the houses of the settlement where Johnny Appleseed loved to stay there lived a dear little boy, just a wee toddler, named Jack.
“Dearly did the child love to follow the old man about as he worked, for Johnny Appleseed’s work was by no means finished when the trees were bearing fruit.
“Those trees had to be pruned; that meant all the dead branches had to be cut off. In the spring the blossoms had to be sprayed to keep the bugs out of the cores of the fruit; the trunk had to be watched to see that it was not marred in any way, as a small gash might mean the loss of the tree in time.
“One day Johnny, with little Jack, went to the village post office, and there found a letter and a package.
“It was the child’s birthday, and he was most interested in the small parcel thinking it might be for him.
“‘Jack,’ cried Johnny after reading the letter, ‘what do you s’pose is in it? Look!’ and he disclosed a mass of brown glossy seeds. ‘The letter says they are from a wonderful new kind of apple. How would you like an apple tree all your own for a birthday present?’
“‘Yeth,’ lisped Jack, ‘an apple tree all my own.’
“‘Then let’s pretend you are another Johnny Appleseed, starting an orchard. Bring your cart.’
“Jack’s eyes shone at the word ‘pretend,’ for he dearly loved it, and soon came drawing the little red cart, in which Johnny placed the package of seeds.
“‘Now we’ll go and get a lunch,’ said the old man as they walked to the kitchen door.
“Jack rapped on the door, and Mother appeared.
“‘If you please, Marm,’ said Johnny, ‘we are going on an expedition. We have a birthday and we want to celebrate it, for we have a wonderful gift. Some seeds which when planted will bring forth a very unusual apple tree. May we have a lunch for this journey?’
“Mother’s eyes twinkled as she hastily placed in a small basket sandwiches and gingerbread.
“Johnny thanked her and away they went. After what seemed quite a walk for the small sturdy legs they halted in a grassy nook beside the brook.
“‘Here,’ said the old man, ‘is a grand place for your apple tree to grow.’ And together they bored a hole in the rich earth.
“Jack knelt down and from his chubby hands dropped the beautiful brown seeds. Then he kissed his tiny palm and waved it over the hole as he cried:
“‘Good night, little seeds. Send me a little tree by and by when you wake up. I’ll be waiting for it and will take good care of it.’
“They covered the seeds with the dark rich loam, then ate their lunch. Presently Jack was thirsty, and the old man fashioned a cup from a broad leaf and filled it at a near-by spring. Jack drank, and the little seeds also drank.
“Then the old man built a picket fence about the spot so no harm could come to it. As this was finished the bell on the corn barn told them dinner was ready.
“‘Mudder,’ cried Jack, bursting in to the house, ‘we planted the seeds and the tree will be my own. Isn’t that fine?’
“‘Fine, indeed! I never heard of a better birthday present. It will last for years and years, and think of the fruit it will bear!’
“As the child ate he dreamed of the tree as it would be some day; full of rosy apples, and he was very proud of that magic spot beside the brook.
“Each day he ran out to look at it, and one morning he found the ground above the seeds humped up just a little. Another day the earth was cracked open, and soon after that to his great joy, he found a dear little sprig peeping up at him as though crying, ‘Here I am! How do you do?’
“He danced about shouting for joy, and each day after that, could fairly see the little sprig turn into a tree.
“Johnny told him how the seeds sent tiny roots down into the earth and pushed the stem up through the ground, and Jack could hardly leave the spot which had now grown so dear.
“When the little tree was thirsty, the rain gave it drink. The kind wind blew and blew, bringing fresh sweet air for it to breathe, and with every whiff it seemed to swell.
“The spring sunshine warmed it down to its roots, and in time there were twigs with leaf buds, which presently uncurled and opened wide.
“‘See!’ said Johnny, ‘as the wind blows them they look like baby hands throwing kisses!’
“‘Yeth!’ cried Jack, ‘maybe they are the kitheth I planted.’
“‘To be sure,’ Johnny replied, and together they watched it grow day after day, week after week, month after month.
“Jack’s next birthday found the little tree a picture to behold. The trunk was sturdy, and on it there were many branches appearing here and there.
“Jack was quite a boy by this time, and soon after his little dresses were replaced by tiny trousers. His baby talk was no more, and he was now old enough to help care for the little tree.
“He dug about its roots with his wee spade, and Johnny showed him how to enrich the soil, and told him many things about the care of trees.
“It was so splendid to know that as the tree spread its branches in the air, so it spread its roots under the ground, giving it such a firm support the wind would have to be very strong indeed to blow it over.
“‘How does it drink?’ the boy asked one day.
“‘Oh, such a fine way. It is a story all by itself,’ replied Johnny. ‘At the end of each root there are wee spongy mouths. When the rain comes they drink it and whisper “Run fast to the trunk.”
“‘As it rushes through the trunk, the trunk cries in a gruff voice, “Run along to the branches.”
“‘The branches wave and in sweet tones cry, “Welcome, run along to the twigs, they need you.” The twigs drink it and whisper, “Run along to the stems; they are just waiting for you.” The stems send it out to the tip end of the leaves as they wildly wave and laugh aloud over their sweet gift, for this water in the tree is sweet food that nourishes every part and is called sap.’
“This was a fine story, and every time it rained Jack watched the little tree, and thought he could almost hear the voices sending the moisture on and on.
“As time passed the tree became stronger and larger, and finally one spring day when Jack was quite a big boy he found buds on the branches.
“‘Buds!’ he called in great excitement, and real buds they were, which the whole family came out to admire.
“The buds blossomed, and as the petals snowed down the air was sweet with their fragrance.
“When Jack found baby apples on his tree he wanted to celebrate, and Mother told him that when they were ripe he could invite his friends and have an apple party.
“An apple party! That would be something new, and he hastened to tell the good news at school.
“‘They are wonderful apples,’ he said. ‘No one in this part of the country has any like them. I tell you we’ll have the fun at that party. They are turning crimson; you never saw such a pretty apple tree!’
“A pretty tree it was indeed, and looked just like a Christmas tree all dressed up.
“One day Johnny pronounced the fruit ripe and ready to eat.
“‘Hurrah! To-morrow we can have the party,’ cried Jack, tossing his cap into the air.
“Now the fun began. Mother baked all sorts of goodies, and the little home was made spick-and-span; even the door yard was swept for this occasion.
“The day dawned sweet and clear. After breakfast Jack ran out to take one look at his beloved tree, but alas! What do you s’pose?
“‘What!’ cried the audience in one breath.
“A cow had broken into the orchard, tramped the fence down, and was feasting on the rosy fruit! A few branches were broken, and a sorry sight it was, to be sure.
“Jack shrieked and threw himself on the ground sobbing:
“‘My dear little tree I planted with my own baby hands! I loved it so! Now it is ruined!’
“Johnny Appleseed heard the wail and hastened to the scene.
“‘It isn’t ruined, Jack; it can be made almost as good as new. See!’ He skilfully cut the broken branches, covered the wounded spots with a paste made of clay, talking the while to the little tree as though it were a person whose wounds he was binding up so carefully.
“‘See!’ he said. ‘This clay paste will harden and keep the bugs out of the wood until it can heal over. It will soon be all right again, but it is too bad. Such a picture as it was, and the apples are most all gone!’
“The apples!—Jack suddenly remembered. ‘The apple party was to be to-day! What can we do?’
“‘Well, my boy, don’t you worry. The apple party will be to-day just the same. We’ll take this basket and I’ll show you something I’ve kept as a surprise.
“‘I planted the seeds that were left over in the far corner lot, and those trees are as pretty a sight as you want to see. I have been watching them as we have this. Come along.’
“The two trudged on, Jack wiping away his tears and beginning to wear a rainbow smile after the shower.
“‘It’s a joke, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘That cow had an apple party all by herself. I s’pose she didn’t like it because I didn’t invite her.
“‘Oh!’ he exclaimed suddenly, ‘there they are. How beautiful!’
“And indeed they were beautiful. A number of trees exactly like his own, all looking so thrifty, and the branches dotted with rosy fruit.
“‘We’ll pick the apples and tie the stems to the branches of your own little tree, because that is where you planned to have your party,’ said Johnny.
“Together they picked the apples, and with green string tied the stems to the branches of the little tree.
“‘You’d hardly know it happened!’ cried the boy in joyous tones as the work was finished, and both stood back to admire; and true it was, for the apples really seemed to be growing, and so the apple party was a success after all.
“The children had their lunch under the little tree, then each picked his own apple and ate it before you could say, ‘Jack Robinson.’
“‘I know a great thing to do,’ cried Jack, as they were about to throw away the core; ‘save the seeds and plant them, and we’ll all be Johnny Appleseeds. You’ll each have a grand orchard started on your farm.’
“‘Splendid!’ laughed the old man. ‘If every seed brings forth a tree there will be great rejoicing when you take the apples to market, for they are certainly the best apples I ever tasted and should bring a good price.’
“Wild with excitement, the children trooped home, and before long the glossy seeds were covered up in the ground, waiting for the wonderful thing that was to happen to them.
“In time there were many trees bearing the rosy fruit. All through one little boy having such a fine birthday party.
“A tree is the dearest of treasures. I mean any kind of tree. It does so many things. It gives fruit and shade. It gives the birds a place to build their homes, and in return you have their beautiful music all through the summer. It gives the squirrels a place to hide their nuts. From the trunk many insects find their food.
“If it were not for the trees there would be no mince pies. From the trees are built the ships which bring from foreign countries these many goodies. How could we have any houses, or any furniture to put in them, if there were no trees? See that splendid back log. It has kept us warm all the long night. It came from a grand old tree that furnished fuel for many a winter fire.
“And now I must stop, for I fear my tale has been too long. If it has, please excuse me.”
“How splendid!” chorused the audience. And little Allspice begged for another.
Nutmeg cried: “I know a grand one! It happened right in a forest near where I grew.
“You know those woods are full of monkeys, and they have great times. One of their traits is to mimic. They usually do what they see others do, and a good thing it was for the boy I’m going to tell you about.
“The boy’s name was Enrico. He lived with his widowed mother at the edge of the forest. They were very poor and had tried in many ways to earn money without success.
“The mother was handy with her needle, and one day a neighbour child came in with her naked doll.
“‘I’ll dress it,’ said the mother, and from her scrap bag produced cloth which she soon fashioned into a quaint gown for the doll.
“‘Mother!’ cried Enrico, much excited, ‘there are many dolls in the town, without clothes. Could you not make them and I will sell them? I know I can.’
“‘We’ll try,’ said Mother. She emptied her purse, ran to the store, and soon returned heavily laden with gay materials, from which she fashioned coats, gowns, petticoats, bonnets, hats and all sorts of things for dolls.
“Enrico could scarcely wait for the time to come when he could go and try his luck at selling them. One morning he started with his basket well filled.
“His eyes shone, and his heart beat fast as he hurried along. He had to pass through the forest to reach the town. It was a long walk, and a hot day.
“‘I think it is time to eat my lunch,’ he presently said to himself as he sat down under the trees. He was obliged to empty the basket as the lunch was underneath the garments.
“He laid them in a neat pile and found the sandwiches and fruit which his mother had carefully prepared. He had barely finished when his head toppled over against a tree and he was fast asleep.
“And now comes the best part of the story. What do you think happened to those lovely doll clothes?”
“Don’t stop!” cried Allspice. “Do tell us!”
“As the lad slept, there came a chattering and whisking about. In a moment dozens of monkeys came down from the trees. They gobbled up the crumbs, and then turned to the doll clothes. Almost before you could say ‘Jack Robinson,’ they were robed in the tiny garments, and such a sight you never saw. They looked like a lot of gnomes dressed for a party. They played all sorts of games and raced wildly about in the greatest glee. Suddenly Enrico opened his eyes on the scene.
“‘The doll clothes. The doll clothes,’ he wailed. ‘Give them back!’
“The monkeys saucily nodded their heads and quickly climbed into the trees. Swinging from the branches with their tails curled about the limbs, they chattered as though crying, ‘Get them if you can! Get them if you can!’
“This was serious, and Enrico sat watching and wondering what he could do, for he must have the clothes at once.
“Suddenly he remembered the monkey’s desire to imitate. In the long ago his father had told him how they did just what they saw people do.
“It was worth trying, and the boy arose and threw off his cap.
“At once hats and bonnets were snowed down upon him. Enrico gathered them up and placed them in his basket.
“Then off came his coat. Coats of all sorts now dropped about him.
“Chuckling to himself, Enrico now removed his other garments, and immediately tumbled down the gay-coloured gowns and snowy underwear.
“Enrico gathered them up as fast as he could, fearing the monkeys might descend upon him and once more rob him of his treasures.
“He then dressed himself and hurried on. He found a ready sale for his wares in the market, and with a purse full of money, and requests for many more garments of the same sort, he hastened home to tell his mother of his good fortune.
“There was great rejoicing in the little home, and the day came when Enrico was selling doll clothes in his own little shop in the heart of the city.
“A dear little shop it was with a home in the back where his mother cooked and sewed on the dainty garments.
“Enrico never tired of telling the children who came to buy, how he almost lost the first lot of doll clothes he ever started out to sell.”
General applause followed this interesting story, while the chairman cried, “Splendid! Splendid! It was most entertaining, and now I think the hour has arrived when we should hear from Beef and her creamy companion, both of whom remind me of Mary and her lamb, because where one goes the other follows.”
The odd Brownie now came forward, with the creamy toddler holding fast to her hand. They both bowed, and the Brownie began:
“I am commonly known as Beef, and I come not from the sheep or hog, but from the cow.