Show I I IThe The Sandman Story FOR TONIGHT THE FAIRIES' FAIRIES BALL The Queen of the Fairies was going to give give- a a. big feast in In another week Everything in the glen was excited The glow worms had been engaged to light the occasion the buttercups promised plenty of ot honey dew while the insect band was all ready in new uniforms For the only daughter of or orthe I the Fairy Queen was to give a ball I I i Blossoms swung on every green vine and the air was heavy with perfume Over the white stones the brook sang under the mossy banks Everyone seemed happy especially May the fairy princess The night before the ball Princess May sat on a leaf looking down into the pool at her feet Not far off oft under a broken stick there lay an earthworm brown and furry turry of coat ugly to the eye but noble of or heart Longingly he looked at the dainty fairy maid perched lightly on the glossy leaf lear And kindly the maid looked at the worm I I How I wished I were as beautiful I as thee fairy maid he said in a aI timid voice But I am so brown so ugly so tied down to the earth I wish I had wings of golden hue to fly with thee But the gentle maid only smiled her er pity Little brown worm she said bending low toward the damp earth dont despair A quiet dress in nothIng nothing nothing noth noth- ing of at f which to be aS ashamed amed and your words show you have a beautiful soul I am to give a ban ball tomorrow night Could you ou not come I am sure you would enjoy the he sight even evex though you might not care to dance Oh no sighed the worm I would be be out of place In such a bright crowd Let Let me keep leep on my humble way through life Ufe doing the best I can and maybe some day things will be bo different Who can tell teU Farewell If fate were kinder I would indeed be gl glad d Ito to to dance with you beautiful Princess Ma May flew i away w y to her home in the he heart rt of Of Ofa f it a a. wild tulip and th the earthworm earth eart worm burr burrowed wed down In ln the soft mould r for a bell bed bed there dreaming of f the f fairy try princess who h had d so kindly noticed him Th The next next- day clay the Princess May l was busy day arranging for the ball but her thoughts were with were with the little worm in his brown earth home And the little worm was busy too In Jr th the h earth warm rth he felt a a. very queer sensation first hot then cold then a feeling as as' as if his skirt skin were werf corning coining off oft Then a flush over oyer his whole body and slowly the furry skin did begin to s slip p off Then he fell asleep It was moonlight when he aw awoke ke Elfin music came softly through h the swinging flowers glow worms lighted up up- the velvet sod fairy y forms in Jn silver sliver or or golden sheen sheel flitted rutted through the waving grass On 01 every vine glittered the evening dew Far away on a tiny throne thron sat tho the Queen and on her right hand was th the Princess ess' ess May wow tiow beautiful she looks tonight I sighed the worm If it only I I. I might be permitted to bow at her feet The I Princess rose to step down among the dancers dancers- And with a leap of joy the little worm sought to meet her And Anel stra strange ge to say as he lie put forth his strength he felt himself r rise se lightly then poise gracefully on n. n two gossamer gossamer gossa gossa- mer wings Off he floated till he rested light as a feather on the ground before the Princess What a beautiful golden butterfly exclaimed May I am the litte earthWorm earthworm earth earth- worm sung the butterfly and now I am worthy to dance with you My Iy patience has won So the butterfly and the fairy danced all night and on the following night there was was a wedding for there was a marriage of one who had been teen an earthworm and of or the Princess May |