The Household Fairy

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 19, 12 May 1909, Page 53

The Household Fairy

The Story of a Little Girl Who Always Grumbled

©NCE upon a time a little girl called Liza-Lu liven in a country village. She had a father and mother and Brothers and sisters and. although she Ought to have been as happy as the day is long, she wasn’t; Liza-Lu was always grumbling. "Why can't we have eggs for breakfast like the rectory children?” Or, “I hate this old red frock. I do wish I could have a pretty green one, with fur on it, like Miss May,” Liza-Lu would say. In fact, she grumbled all day long. "A disagreeable, grumbling, bad-tem-pered child is Liza-Lit,” said an old woman in the village, with a wise shake of the head. "She'll come to a bad end if she don’t mend her ways, and learn to make the best of things.” someone would add, as they discussed Liza-Lu and her shortcomings. Now, old Mrs Brown, who lived in the thatched cottage near the postoffice, was fond of Liza-Lu, in spite of her grumbling. One day. when Liza-Lu went to tea with Mrs Brown, she began to grumble as usual, and said: “Oh. Mrs Brown, don't you wish there were fairies in these days to do the ■work for us? Then there’d be nothing for us to do. If only there were fairies like there used to be! Then we’d be fine ladies, and wear fine clothes. I hate my old clothes, and having to knit and cook and sew,” added Liza-Lu, in a grumbling voice. Then old Mrs Brown said: “If I tell you a secret, Liza-Lu. will you promise not.to tell anyone else?” Then Liza-Lu said: “A secret? What is it? Do tell me, Mrs Brown. I’ve never been told a secret before.” Then Mrs Brown smiled, and said: “Come close to me here, my dear, then I’U whisper it in your ear.” Then Liza-Lu went elose to Mrs Brown’s chair, and the old woman whispered: “There are fairies even nowadays, Liza-Lu. Shall I tell you the name of one of them 2” Of course, Liza-Lu said: “Yes, please, Mrs Brown. A real fairy? Do, do, do tell me her name!” Then Mrs Brown whispered again: “The fairy is called the Household Fairy. She has another name, but I ■won’t tell you what that is to-day. Look out for her when you' go home. She’s at your house every day, and she’s as busy and happy as anything. You’d better run along home now. childie; but just you watch for her. She’s as good and as clever as any fairy-tale fairy. Good-bye. my dear! - Come and see me again soon.*' Then Liza-Lu kissed Mrs Brown and •aid good-bye, and she ran home smiling and happy.

“I can’t think what’s, come to LizaLu,” said someone who saw her. “She’s a smile in her eye and a laugh on her lip.” d. ou see, they didn't know about the Household Fairy like you and I and Liza-Lu and Mrs Brown do. That evening Liza-Lu looked everywhere for the household Fairy, but she couldn't find her. The .next day Liza-Lu looked out for the Household Fairy, but still she didn't appear. The day after that was washing-day, and mother was ever so busy: so LizaLu had to mind the. baby, and feed the hens and set the table. Liza-Lu got crosser and erosser every time mother asked her to do anything. “Why ean't the Household Fairy do it?” muttered Liza-Lu to herself. And she said: "I can't think what Mrs Brown meant. There's no Household Fairy in our house. Perhaps she’s got one, but we haven’t. I'll tell her next time I see her, that I will.” The next morning mother said: “Here, Liza-Lu. run to the shop for me and get some starch. I’m quite out of it.” Then Liza-Lu began to grumble, and she said: “Why can't Bobby go? You’re always wanting me to do something, mother.” Then she sulkily put on her hat and coat and started off. Mrs Brown stood at* her cottage door, and when she saw Liza-Lu she beckoned to her and said: “Come along in, dearie, and have a eake. I’ve just made a fine batch, and they’re done to a turn.” So in went Liza-Lu, and as she ate her cake she said: “Oh. Mrs Brown, there isn’t a Household Fairy like yon said there was at our house. I’ve looked for her all day long, but she isn’t there—really and truly she isn’t. Yesterday she didn’t help me a bit, and I had so much to do. I- minded the baby, an’ fed the hens, and got the tea, an' ” Mrs Brown smiled, and said: “But the Household Fairy was there all the time. I know she was. She must have been doing something else. Even household Fairies can't do two things at onee. yf»u know.” Liza-Lu opened her eyes very wide indeed at this, and said: ‘•Can’t they? I thought they could do everything at the same time. But how do you know she was there, Mrs Brown? I’m quite, quite sure she wasn't, and I ought to know better'n you, ’cos I was home all day.” Then Airs Brown smiled again mischievously. and said: “Who blacked your boots for you, Liza-Lu?” “Why, mother did them. She always does,” said Liza-Lu.

Then Mrs Brown said: “But the Household Fairy brought you the hot water to wash with, didn't she, dearie ?” Liza-Lu was rather indignant at this, and said: “No, mother did. She lit the fire and boiled the kettle, as she always does. Ah’ she brought me the water at eight o’clock.” Then Mrs Brown asked, still more mysteriously: “I suppose, as you’ve no Household Fairy, you had no breakfast. Liza-Lu?” "Of course I had breakfast,” said LizaLu. with a toss of the head. “And dinner and tea and supper, too?” smiled Mrs Brown. And Liza-Lu said: “Yes. yes. yes.” in a very astonished voice. She thought Mrs Brown very silly to ask such stupid questions. Then Mrs Brown said: “And who do you think got all those meals for you? The Household Fairy, of course. If she

hadn't been there you'd have to gone without.” Then Liza-Lu said: "I’m sure I shouldn’t, Mrs Brown. It wasn't a fairy at all, but mother, who made the porridge, and cooked the dinner, and brewed the tea, and got the supper.” Then Mrs Brown said: “My dear, shall I tell you the real name of the Household Fairy?” And Liza-Lu said: “Yes, please, Mrs Brown.” Then Mrs Brown said: “Come here, very close so that I may whisper to you.”

Ihe a I. z:: !.u. who was trembling witb eagernes. wen? close to Mrs Brown. She was -tire -lie win going to hear a wonderful -■.•cret. And what do vou think Mrs Brown whispered in her ear? ‘■'rite Household Fairv’s name is MOTHER!” “Mother?” gasped Liza-Lu, In very astonished tones. Then Mrs Brown said: “Yes. mother is the Household Fairy, the busy, useful Household Fairv. and if you will only stop your grunthfing and mend your ways, yon can bo one. too, Liza-Lu. But you'll have to work hard. Do you know what little girls who grumble grow into?” “Vo. What?” asked Liza-Lu, with wide-open eyes. "They grow into grown-ups who grumble.” said Mrs Brown impressively. "And grown-ups who grumble are terrible. Now will you try to smile instead of frown, anti laugh instead of grumble, and he willing instead of unwilling, Liza-Lu?” “I will. I will. Mrs Brown,” smiled Liza-Lu. “Now I must hurry home, and begin at once. Mother's waiting for the starch.” Then Liza-Lu ran home, and soon rhe was helping mother to fold and iron the clothes. "I can't think what’s come to LizaLu?” said mother the other day. “She never grumbles now. She’s such a good, useful, bright child, that we call her our Household Fairy.”