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Show Fciirtj Tale DANCING IN SHADOWS 'Lei's have an iiflernoon bull for a change," the falrlcH shouted. "Kino," n gr 1 Yhab. And the Kiiiry Queen waved her magic wand, and said : "The ball will be this afternoon, no hurry and make ready." The fables ran and Hew this way and that, anil old Air. (ilant came along, having heard the sound of ninny voices, anil iinIkmI if ihero was anything any-thing he could do. "To be sure," the Fairy Queen said. "You blow on jour great and powerful trumpet the call of the fairies, and for those you cannot roach by the call of Ihe trumpet, ask Hie robins if they'll take niosHiges for us. "We want nil our usual friends, the elves, gnomes, brownies, goblins, the bogey family and of course old Witty Witch." "I'lne," said Mr. Giant, "I'll attend to the Invitations at once." So he went, walking almost a tulle n minute! it was afternoon, and the fairies were all ready for their guests. Mr. Sun was peeping through the tall trees and telling secrets to the trees and the ferns and the mossy ground which made them sparkle and laugh. The shadows had come, too, and they were already dancing with Mr. Sun's children, the Hays. The I'lilry Queen was dressed like n big red sun and the little fairies looked like tiny golden suns. They wen? the most daz.Iing and sparkling costumes ever seen in 1 alryland, and that Is saying u great deal. Soon all the guests arrived. The gnomes won? beautiful tnoss green suits, with tall lints of moss, the brownies wore orange velvet suits Soon All the Guests Arrived. with hats of bright orange velvet very tall with a tassel on top of each hat. The elves wore dresses made ol wild roses. The bo'ey family wore dresses of moss trimmed with forget-me-nots, and old Witty Witch wore a new frock of daisies, with a tall hat made out of buttercups. Of course the Fairy Queen was delighted de-lighted with all the ccstumes, as well she might be, nnd all t lie guests thought the fairies were quite too wonderful for words. Soon the birds came to help the music, and though they were wearing their usual suits they had been smoothed and washed and brushed und looked very handsome indeed. "We didn't change our suits," Mr, Woodpecker said, "as we were practicing prac-ticing nil morning to play the drums on the trees around." "We didn't change our suits as we were practicing our songs," said the orioles, who were so brilliantly dressed anyway that they really need not have made any excuse. "Then, too," added the robins, "we couldn't have changed our suits ii we had wished to do so." All the birds burst into song then singing : The dear little robins so truthful and d ea r, We're so very glad that you have come here. You add with your voices, you adc with your charm. And we'll take good care that you'll ne'er come to harm. The robins were much pleased witr the song, but they didn't want to have all the attention, so they sang this song: When the Fairy Queen gives a ball, It's for all. ves. it's for all. Kvery one then has a chance, To sing, to chirp, to play, to dance. So a cheer went up for the Fairy - Queen and then the music began, and every one danced all that wonderful summer iiflernoon in the sunlight and among the afternoon shadows. And Fairy Ybab led the fairies' or-cliesl or-cliesl ra. Never had such a lovely party been given. The shadows were so fascinating, the lights through the trees were so beautiful, and the costumes were so gay, while the music was really just perfect. |