FREDA'S CHRISTMAS JOURNEY.

Evening Star, Issue 13003, 24 December 1906, Page 5

FREDA'S CHRISTMAS JOURNEY.

A PRETTY STORY FOR CHILDREN. [Br Het.en Bboadbevt.] Freda felt very lonely. The wintry afternoon was quickly drawing to a tlose, and everything was very quiet, stilled by the touch of a very hard frost. The noisy brook which tumbled headlong down tho hillside was frozen in its bed, and hung in icicles from the big stones ovor which it generally 6wept with a roar. HiU and valley alike ley quietly sleeping under a deep bed of snow, and in the woods in the hollow every tree bent beneath its weight.

Freda opened the little cottage door and looked out to see if her grandfather, Ben Rowland, was in sight. The ruddy light from the wood firo streamed across the snowy pathway, but no one. could be seen. Freda closed tho door and sighed again. " How empty tho room looks without them," she saii wistfully. "On this shelf stood the jumping frog, and hero Kit four wooden dollies all in a row, and nest I set out those cunning little cups and saucers and teapot and tho milk jug and sugar basin. 0, dear! I wish we had not to sell them at all. How clever grandfather is," and she looked curiously at tho few tools with which the clever old ioymaker carved and fashioned the. wooden toys which wero so eagerly bought by the children in tho villages lying about the hills. In his vounger days Ben Rowland had been a shepherd, and had whiled away many a lonely hour on tho hillside carving little trifles with his sharp penknife. In his old age this hobby had stood him in cood stead, and he was able to keep him self" and his grandchild quite comfortably on the money earned by tlie sale of his homely toys. Now all wero ready for the village shops for Christmas, and several baskets stood u!l neatly packed for the different villages. But Freda missed her littlo friends who had stood so patiently waiting on shelves and in cupboards—the room looked quite empty and dull without them, there was uti doubt of that. ■ Freda, busied herself putting tea ready, spreading the coarse cloth neatly, and Arranging the cups and saucers with care, and finally placed a fine spray of holly in a little brown jug and put it in the centre of the table. " That/ came f rorn ' Fairy Hollow, she said, talking aloud for company, "and that's where tho hill fairies live. Dear woo folks all dressed in green, and they, ride on field mice for horses, and dnnk out of acorn cups. Grandfather's told me so low of times—l would like to see ono of Here the cottage door opened, and oid Ben Rowland came slowly in, leaning heavily on his stick. "Eh, lassie! I began to tbrrrk I should never get bruk from I.osmere. The, cold has fairly got into mv bones this trine, arid ho sank down with a- siah of relief into tho Grandfather's cbair by the fireside. '• M\ <o<d, grandfather*" asked Freda, peeping into the basket, half hoping to find some old friend had reformed. "Everv man jack of 'cm, nnd tho old man gleefully. "We'll have a. tine Gbrrtmas, i fat turkey frpnt the farm, mv girl, or a nice piece of roast beef and ™ and a pudding, Freda. We. 11 have a pudding this year, with a b.g piece of holly —same as tha', yonder—stcckm it. " That carao from Fairy Hollow, laughed Freda, thinking she wold rallicr have socio of her wooden friends homo again than all the tuxkevs or puddings he could offer her. "Fairy" Hoilowr «iid the old man. "Then I don't think I'd pat that piece en ths pudding. Happen the. .'?Ho foto wouldn't like it-they bo dainty fwdew themselves ; honey to eat and dew to dnnk, that's tire food of the little I^pk- •• Tell mo about them," coaxed Fred.i, for her frrandfather knew all the good old rtoricl of the doings of the lull fairw, but that night he only shook his bead and complained of feeling very tired. The next day he seemed no better, nor the nest, and the "basket of toys stood ready for the village shops, and' there waamo one to the woman who enme ibreo or f«nr times a vreAto bak« Did d££ and mead for them, fihcofc her; bead. "He'll no' be oat this side o Cbrastmas, she said, solemnly. "j** ** »& his bones, dearie. And likely to at bis thus o' life. I'll take this lot homo wit; mo and leave- it~M the toyshop as I pass. ThevTl-eesid yon the money right enough. So saying, she shouldered ono basket and departed. Bat tlie-re moaned two mere still unsold. "Oh, deario me," groaned Rowland, as tho Tirenmatics gave him painfui twinges. "It will be bread and chcrse come Christmas Day, Tnt thinking." Freda- lifted ore basket thooghtfully—it waa rather heavy—then she darted into her own. little room, and m a few roomctntß came bade with sdow oboes-on fnrt ~~i bpgrrl^P^^^PU^Slg-.

a warm bdod arid "cJoak of red—looking like. a. living Bed TSidinghaod"l'm going l . to Mazshootc'e," she said gleefully. "En! But yo» sever can!" said her grandfather, taming in Ms chair, and groankig with pain.

"Oh, but I can if I start now. I can go slowly, and perhaps get a lift. If this lot is sold w© need not mind the rest, need we?'

"Ko, happen not," rsid the old man. " Don't come home by Fairy Hollow now; keep to the road." But Freda had goce. ' The basket was heavy, and it did not grow lighter. Freda struggled on bravely, but tears came into her eyes as she Ktw how far away Mansbcotes VxUage eeemed. in spite of the haste she tried to make. "I'll tako the footpath through the Hollow," she thought. "It will save such a lot of time, and I know the way so well." She turned from, the road to climb the stile, and there stood a boy much about her age, but iaHar, and he offered to lift ber basket over for her. "Thank yosi," said Fieda, shyly. "It is rather heavy." And she slipped over the stile quickly' and held out her hands for the basket. "I am going to Maiahcotee," eaid the boy, " and FIT carry it far you if v<ni Eke." " You are very kind," said Freda, nevir thinking that sho had said nothing about where she was going. " I told grandfatho • I might get a help, and I have, yon see."' *-So you iave," laughed the boy, an.i they trudged on sido by side over the hard frczen snow and soon became great friec<K The little girl told him all about her grand father, the ioymaker, and why she v taking the basket of toys to sell. "And whafs your name!" she said, v childish curiositv, "and where do lire?" "My name is Colin, and I lr»» ft'" : the hills," replied the boy. "Then you know about the. hill fairies! laughed Freda, clapping her hands. " <J. wouldn't I liko to see them." "Would yoiT' said the boy, loohin;; earnestly at her. " Yes ; wouldn't you J" "Here is tbo beginning of the villaeo. Good-bye, Freda," and again the cliii<l never remembered she had not told him her name.

"Thank you very mnch," said!" Freda. '" 1 hope I shall see you again." "Oh, yes, you shall see mo afiain." replied the laughing gaily. "Good-bye, Fr«la."

Froda trudged on from ono end of the village to tho other to the two toy shops and readily sold all the toys, then, gaily swinging: the empty basket, she- set oat for home. As she did so, a few flakes of sno«fcll from tho skv.

"Mother Shipton is plucking her goese. and sending tho feathers over," rang Freda gaily, but presently sbo sobered down, for tli© snow began to fall thick and fast anil the air was full of whirling flakes. "Oh, dear," said Freda, robbing thflakes out of ber eyes, "bow quickly it i: getting dark," and she began to run. " ! ought to bo at tho stilo soon now,' Fhc thought. "I can seo a light in front <>! me—oh!" She suddenly came to a stand, and the basket fell from her chilly fingers. Fairy Hollow was a mass of twinkling lights, for it was full of green-clad fames, and each one held a silver lantern; then there was a burst of gay music, and all the fairies stood with bent beads as a slim youth stepped forward and held out his hand to Freda. To her groat surprise she saw it was none other than Colin. "Come," he said. "You {**& *» °« fair country, Freda," and tho bttto errl felt his fingers clasp hers and he led her the fairies foDowmg behind them laneumg and talking gaily- -L&f v climbedloSt rf tho hollow and began tho there was an opemng which Freda hao never seen bcforJTaßd «id» a- bngfc^ light Earned from it! On they went, to the sound of tho silvery music and then she S the sound as of groat gates closing. Freto found herself in a Targe, .V**^ rafters of gold and ***%?£ from overv rafter swung lamps of precious stores? which sent forth floods of «£ ■Hint Everv pillar vr*6 wreathed Mith gkating berried holly., and <m tie a>m fable wto piles of lnsckoisfmit and crysttl I dear 3«mm of honey. When Freda «nM TiTher eyes fromjiio fairy see no to the. fi-mro by lwr side she saw that Cohn.v, a* dressed "in green too, and wore a short dSk/pSliwd wito _wbito, and on bfebead glittered a crown of emeralds. ! *he cried, breatbtarfy; "you are Kin" Col of the Hills?" ! "I am, Freda," said tho Kmg, with a smil,,. "but now for tho banquet" And he tedher to the seat by his oae at tho heart of tho tabic. , 1 Freda had never tasted roch BtrawborI rics or such honev in her life, and the water from the costal .-tin* was real nectar. _- ( , ■ After the banquet was over, Xing Lol turned to Freda and said -. "Wo very seldom allow any strangers to «o us in our lioine, but when wo do. before tbcv depart we allow them thrco wishes. Is not that so, my friends? "It is, it is!" cried tho company. "Wish, Freda, wish." Freda's ovcti sparkled joyfully. " I wi«h grandfather to bo quite better "Good wish! Oocd wish!" cried th. fairies, ami King Col nodded approval. " One wish gone," h© said, soJUy. "And that he can always be able to to I everv tov ho makes." "Good wish! dood wish:" cried th.-. fairies again. "Two wishes gone." said Kmg l.oi. "I Tcally cannot think oi anything csv that I want," laughed Freda gaily. "Then ke-ep vour last wish for future reed " raid Kin? Col gravely. "And now wo will take you home. Bid the trumpet* sound." , \ lonn- blast from the silver tram parang down tho hall, and Freda beard tlgreat gates roll open again, and the nKr:;. fairies swarmed about her and kissed In i and cried "Good-bye. Freda.'; Then all fell back, and Kir-; (ol her hand and led bor to tie cottago <!<•• - There he kissed her liaiid like a court: r and left her standing in the blinding snow. Froda pushed open the door eagerly. "Oh, grand-dad. I've- sold every try: 4nd I've seen tlio fairies!" "My gracious child!" said lite old nun. startled out of his doze. "It is over so late and I thought vou were lost m tho F now ami T couldn't" mov<> for rlif-mnat ui> to como to look for you. If you fell asle. p in tho raov it's ■' mercy you ever wok<> up again." . "But I didn't." cned Freda, :ind fhr came and knelt by tho fireado awl him all sibout it. The okl roan d.d riot contradict her any more, but watched her flrttin"- a-bout the room with an intent <:*/<•. "Her mother had Kv-the second sight I" lie muttered. "Well, well!" Needless to say, the old mart had wished-foi- Christinas dinner, and he i to enjov many othoi.s quite as good, foi toys were even more easily disposed of t

liefore. . lint nt length there came a tSinrtu • when the busy okl fingers rested. ;■■• Freda was quito alone. It was a fro.-:y Christma«U<le, followed by a snow.stoitu. acd the girl openod the cottoge door ;u.<i peeped out.. "Just like that Christmas." said .-h-. with a .vul little smile. "I wish I amid see the. hill fairies again."

" There was one wish left. Freda." siid voice, and Kin<j Coi rmd his fairies _(■•■<■- besid© ber. " Come; and if von wi>ii vera shrfl never leave irs avstin." And Freda w«ru, with jus* one rejT fill glance ;it the lonely littJo coltaji" trli.-;' she had epent her not unhappy child lioi-'l. Ae King CoF« da*ightea- she lived happily wiri the liifl folks, and everv Christmr- •-. Eve she quietly visited th© villages round about, and fcrund many opportunities of cheering lonely old folk and bi*y hoarwives with large families, a-nd it Li certain she never forgot all the littlo boys and girls ■who so eagerly look for a "Merry Christinas."