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Show ? DADDY'S MM f) MM- MELTING ICE. "Tho Fairies," said Daddy, "thought that they would go skating for the last time. They knew that tlie warm days of spring had driven away the winter's winds that helped the snow and Ice stay hard and firm. " 'We shall have a good old time the last good old winter time,' said Fairy Ybab. " 'Oh well,' said Fairy Princess Twilight Twi-light Bell, 'we shall have just as good times when the spring and summer are here. There- is always so much to do in this jolly old world.' " 'Indeed there is,' said Ybab. 'Every day there is something to do something some-thing to enjoy someone to help.' "So all the Fairies thought they had better start right away. Of course they are not afraid of falling through the Ice for they have wings, and even , if the ice were not very strong they could fly over the bad places. "They went to the river where the ice still was quite strong. Mr. Sun was looking down at them. " 'Hello, Mr. Sun,' called the Fairies. 'What are you up to, today?' " 'The ice is going to take a journey, said Mr. Sun. T must help it melt.' "'Oh must you?' said the Fairies, just a wee bit sorry. " 'Yes,' said Mr. Sun. 'It's just as kind to help the ice melt when it Is " ' " " "Hello, Mr. Sun," Called the Fairies. ready to leave for the summer as it is to help folks pack when they want to go away. It's just the same idea . exactly !' " 'How good you are !' said Fairy Ybab. : "'Not so very,' laughed Mr. Sun. 'When I get mad I sometimes make; things pretty hot for people. But I do1 like to help all I can. I really do. And I can't pack trunks. It isn't the work; of the Sun. I am not expected to help' pack trunks and I wouldn'-t know how to in the first place. But as for helping help-ing the ice melt well that's different I' And Mr. Suniooked so happy. ' "'Can we see you do it?' asked the Fairies, for they thought it would be lots of fun to see the Sun help the Ice go away for the summer. I " 'Where Is it eoine?' asked the: Fairies. "'Ah,' said Mr. Sun. 'That is a secret ! The ice w;Ill not be back until next year. I know the secret. I under- ' stand the summer trip of the ice and I always start It off on its journey. All the little ice cakes and Icicles I help too. Ah, I'm a great old fellow I And the North wind knows the secret of its arrival ln the winter tlie South wind knows the secret of its going away in ihe spring. And we all work together Sun, Clouds, Rain, Winds all of us!' "As the Sun was talking the ice began be-gan to melt faster and faster. " 'We're going away for the summer,' sum-mer,' said the ice as it cracked with laughter. 'A long rest for us. Ha, ha !' And again it cracked and divided' into smaller pieces. "Before long there was hardly any; ice left at all. It had almost all melted melt-ed and floated away. " 'The Ice is just about gone,' said . the Fairies. " 'Yes,' said Mr. Sun. Tm a pretty good packer or melter, I should say. I can help them hurry when they are off for the summer. And now what can I do for you?' " 'We'd like to float away with some of the pieces not entirely melted.' And as they flew along and landed ever so gently on the few remaining cakes of ice they whispered : " 'Come again next year.' "And the ice whispered : 'We'll be back for the winter season and we'll c-surely c-surely be back for the skating. We wouldn't miss that for anything In the world for there couldn't be any without with-out us !' ' " 'Ah, that's true,' said the Fairies,. 'and if we don't know your secret of' going away in the summer, and lots of the wonderful things that happen In this world, we live in Fairyland andi can enjoy everything and help others' enjoy things too and we know ninny,-many ninny,-many secrets !' And as the ice melted! quite completely, Mr. Sun smiled I" |