Queen Magi's little people

Introduction

CHAPTER H

How They Went to Clarabelle’s Party . CHAPTER III

How They Went Fishing

CHAPTER IV

How Mr. Roc Carried the House Away .

CHAPTER V

Marietta and Carlotta Visit Fairyiand . CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

Stella and Ralph Visit Big Folks Land CHAPTER VIII

The Four Sisters Who Could Not Walk,

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

Ralph Proves Himself a Sailor ....

CHAPTER XII

Marietta and Carlotta are Changed Into Fairies

CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIV

Principal Illustrations

Mr. Roc Carries the House Away Frontispiece

Mr, Roc Arrives from Fairyland Page -5

Marietta and Carlotta in the Streets of Dimi . . . Page 41

Stella and Ralph Visit Big Folks Land Page 65

Wagon Loads of Bread and Jam for Luncheon . . Page 77

Ralph Sails the Toy Boat Page 93

Ascending to Queen Magi’s Palace Page 109

Foreword

ELL me a story, please?”

In thousands of homes this petition to mother or father is heard every evening. If the request be granted by a recital of the tales which have been handed down from an age when nearly every narrative, for both old and young, appealed to the passions of men, “Jack the Giant Killer,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Bluebeard” will be told and will haunt the sleep of the juvenile listener. In “Queen Magi’s Little People” the author has endeavored to present a series of bedtime stories, each chapter independent, if read in sequence, which will interest the children, yet not over stimulate their imaginations.

Mr. Roc Carries the House Away

See Page 32 w I

.jm »

0 i 4b ^ i

I - t * J9

* - l«r

Vi

I fLi-f* S*

.V f;

I M?.

“I

1 ^.

It '

V

4 i

• i

-* •

* Ir ■ sT

T Ah

A I* e 'J

V 1

-

Vk

«k

CHAPTER I

AIRYLAND is over the hills, over the mountains, over the valleys, over the rivers, over the lakes and over the oceans. That is what Stella and Ralph say, and they should know, because they And that is what Marietta and Carlotta say, and they should know, because they have been there. Of course, it takes Mr. Roc less than half an hour to fly from Fairyland to Big Folks Land, but nothing in all the world travels so fast as does Mr. Roc. Marietta and Carlotta say he goes as fast as lightning, and they should know, because they have been his passengers.

Ralph and Stella are brother and sister, and the house in which they live in Fairyland is no larger than your mother’s dresser, and yet it is one of the largest houses in that country.

Ralph is about the size of my second finger and Stella as big as my first finger. Stella is quite tall for her age and is only onesixteenth of one of our inches shorter than her mother. Ralph, also, is a good size for his age, his father being only one-half a fairy head taller.

Fairyland is ruled over by a queen, who lives among the clouds and only comes to the ground when called, or when she live there.

thinks it necessary. She has no palace on the earth, no court and no army. But the little people love Queen Magi and try to please her in every way. She always is dressed in white and carries a wand made of gold, with which she does wonderful things. The queen’s only companion is a great white bird, the largest bird in the world, whose name is Mr. Roc. He also lives among the clouds and comes to the ground only when told to do so by the queen. There are no trains running between Fairyland and Big Folks Land, nor any steamships; everybody who goes from one country to the other is carried by Mr. Roc and he will not take anyone without Queen Magi’s permission. I would be afraid to say how big Mr. Roc is, for fear you would doubt the statement, but he is too big to ever enter any of the cities in Fairyland and when he comes down from the clouds he settles to the ground on the country-side. He has large, violet colored eyes, is very kind and never has been known to injure anyone. Mr. Roc understands everything that is said to him, but he cannot speak. Instead, he nods or shakes his head, by way of answer, and the people of Fairyland, especially the children, know what he means.

CHAPTER II How They Went to Clarabelle’s Party

NE AFTERNOON in winter the telephone rang, and Stella, answering, heard the voice of a girl friend.

“Is that you, Stella?” it said.

“Yes. Who is that? Clarabelle?”

“Stella, I’m going to have a party to-night. Can you come?”

“Wait a minute, Clarabelle. I’ll ask mother,” and Stella ran away from the ’phone, into the front room.

She was back in a minute. “Yes, I can come, Clarabelle. and I thank you ever so much for inviting me. What’s that? Have Ralph come, too, I know he will be delighted.”

So, a few minutes later, Stella telephoned her brother, who was working in his father’s office that day, and told him to come home early.

Children, you should have seen those telephones. One of them would easily have fitted inside your mother’s thimble, and the connecting wires were the size of a thread in a spider’s web.

Ralph reached home at 5 o’clock, and the first question he asked was; “What are you going to wear, Stella?”

“My white party dress, blue sash and a blue ribbon on my hair,” she answered.

“Then I shall wear my blue neck-tie, to match,” said her brother.

They got out their clothes, placed them carefully on the bed, then went down to an early supper. When this was finished Ralph started to leave the dining room, but on the way he lifted the shade and looked out the window. “Oh, Stella,” he called. “I’m afraid we can’t go.”

“Why not?”

“Because it has been snowing, and the ground is covered. You know our horse is lame and is down in the pasture.”

Stella’s face clouded for a moment, then brightened again. “I think that I can fix it. First, let’s' get dressed; then I’ll try.”

Ralph hurried into his clothes and was waiting at the foot of the stairs when Stella came down.

“What are you going to do, sister?”

“Come with me, out on the front porch.”

How They Went to Clarabelle’s Party

Once outside Stella went to the uncovered part and called, “Queen Magi! Queen Magi!”

Very soon something white was seen coming down from the clouds, something very much larger than the snow-flakes and then the beautiful queen stood before them.

“What is it, children?” she asked.

Stella explained about the party, the snow and their horse, and how disappointed they were.

“Well, I think I will help you. You have been very good children and deserve it. Ralph, go down in the cellar and see if you can find a mouse. And, Stella, you bring me a red apple, a half dozen empty spools and a piece of thread.”

Ralph was the first to return. He had a mouse in a trap — a mouse that was no larger than a flea in Big Folks Land. Then came Stella with the apple, the spools and the string.

Queen Magi opened the trap and out jumped the mouse. But before it had a chance to run away the queen touched it with her golden wand, saying, “Presto! Mouse, change into a pony!” and there stood a little brown pony.

“Hold it, Ralph,” she commanded. Then, taking the apple, she said, “Presto! Apple, change into a sleigh!” and instantly a little red sleigh stood there, into which Ralph backed the pony. Then Queen Magi turned the string into a harness and the spools into sleigh bells, and when this was done, she said: “Now you may go, children. I hope that you will have a pleasant time.”

And as the children were thanking her she rose and disappeared into the clouds.

“ — how swiftly the pony did go over the snow!”

Ralph helped Stella into the sleigh and took a seat beside her. Then they started, and how swiftly the pony did go over the snow!

They could see Clarabelle’s house a long way off, it was so brilliantly lighted, and when they neared the front door they heard sweet music. Clarabelle, herself, ran to meet them, and while she took Stella upstairs, to lay aside her

How They Went to Clarabelle’s Party wraps, Tommy, her* brother, showed Ralph where he could place his.

When the children returned to the hall and entered the large front room, they saw about thirty fairies present, nearly all of whom they knew. Just then the orchestra which was hidden behind some palms, struck up a lively waltz. Tommy asked Stella to dance with him; Clarabelle was taken by Ralph; the other fairies paired off and all tripped gracefully over the smooth floor.

After the dance they played a game, then had another dance, then another game. The games and dances were very much the same as those enjoyed in Big Folks Land. Then they heard the tinkle of a bell and Stella said that supper was served.

Such a supper! Why, you, my dear child, could have eaten all that was prepared for those thirty fairies and still be hungry. Yet there was more than enough for them. Take a piece of rose leaf and place it between two pieces of grass, each the size of your little finger nail, and you will have the size of their sandwiches. All the ice cream served could be placed in a tea cup, such as you use at the table. The spoons were the size of our pins, and the smallest pins at that, while the dainty napkins were no larger than our postage stamps.

After supper the fairies played more games and danced several times, then, soon after ten o’clock, Clarabelle’s mother called them upstairs, where she ‘had two boxes filled with favors, all neatly wrapped in tissue paper. When this was removed, out came fancy caps for the boys and fancy aprons for the girls. ,

“Put them on, children, and have a good night dance,” she said.

It was nearly eleven o’clock when Stella and Ralph reached home. “I wish we could keep this pony,” said Ralph as he lifted his sister out of the sleigh.

“So do I,” replied Stella, “but you know Queen Magi’s special gifts are only for the occasion.”

And as the children turned around on the walk leading to the front door, they saw a mouse scampering away in the street, while near the curb was a red apple, some spools and a piece of string.

“Anyway, we can eat the apple,” said Ralph, and picking it up, he broke it in half.

“Doesn’t our sleigh taste good?” said Stella, as she bit into her piece.

Chapter III

How They Went Fishing and Met a Man Who Invited Them to Visit His Daughters

NE BRIGHT June morning Ralph called Stella soon after sunrise. “How would you like to go fishing with me?” he asked.

“Where?”

“To Horseshoe Lake.”

“That’s too far to walk,” said Stella.

“I’ll ask father for the horse and carriage.”

But before he could make the request their mother informed them that their father had planned to drive to a nearby town on business.

*I guess we’ll have to give it up, Stella, unless you can get Queen Magi to help us again. Will you?”

“You know, Ralph,” said his sister, “that Queen Magi never grants these favors unless we have been perfectly good for at least two months before asking. Have you?”

N

“Well, I haven’t done anything very bad, and I know you have been on your best behavior. Try, anyway.”

So they went out on the lawn and Stella called : “Queen Magi! Queen Magi!”

It was a beautiful sight, on this bright day, to watch the queen come from her sky home. When Stella had summoned her for the party it was night-time and during a snow storm, and so the queen’s descent was not noticed until she was near the ground. Now, however, they could see her floating down from a height of several thousand feet. It seemed to them as if a piece of the white cloud sailing overhead had become detached and was moving toward the earth, taking the shape of a woman as it came near. Not more than three minutes after Stella called. Queen Magi stood before them, and in her sweet voice, that sounded like notes from a harp, asked; “What now, my children?”

Stella explained why she had called and said that they had tried very hard to be good.

Queen Magi told Ralph of two or three things which he had done that were not exactly right, and she reproved Stella for losing her temper on a certain occasion. In this manner the queen proved that she had full knowledge of everything that occurred in Fairyland. “But you are good children as a rule,” she added, “and I shall help you this morning. Ralph, bring me two mice, if you can. And

How They W ent Fishing

Stella, cut me two pieces of leather from an old shoe, and also bring me two pieces of string,”

The children soon returned and they both brought what Queen Magi had asked for. She quickly changed the mice into two ponies, and taking the pieces of leather from Stella she placed one on the back of each animal, and struck each lightly with her golden wand, saying, “Presto ! Leather, change into a saddle!” and when this was done she made bridles out of the strings.

“There you are children, and I wish you good luck on your fishing trip, I hear Clarabelle calling, and must say good-bye,” and she floated over in the direction of their little friend’s home.

Ralph helped Stella mount her pony, then picking up his fishing rod, he jumped into the saddle on the other, and off they started.

It took them about an hour to ride to Horseshoe Lake. You could have walked the distance in fifteen minutes, but you must remember that their ponies were the size of our baby rabbits.

When they arrived at the large body of water — large for them, but you would call it a pond — Ralph looked all around for a boat, and was quite disappointed when he could not find one. “I think we’ll have to fish from the shore,” he said.

“What’s that, over there?” asked Stella, pointing to a tall object. “Why, it’s moving ! Oh, look, Ralph ! It must be a man from Big Folks Land.”

“Yes, that’s what it is,” said Ralph. “I heard yesterday that Mr. Roc intended to bring one over. Our people are going to have telephone connection with Big Folks Land and I suppose he was brought to arrange for it. See, Mr. Roc is hovering about in the clouds. Queen Magi always has him to do that when anyone is here from the other country.”

“Won’t it be jolly, Ralph, to be able to telephone to the Big Folks, and hear them talk? But won’t it sound like thunder rolling? And how will they hear our voices from so far away?”

“Father explained that to me. This man has invented an instrument which makes the Big Folks’ voices sound lower when they come over our wires, and makes ours sound louder when they go over the other wires.”

“Isn’t that wonderful, Ralph! But aren’t you going to fish?”

“Wait a minute, sister. The man is coming this way. I have ‘an idea, and perhaps we can go out in a boat after all.”

How They Went Fishing

The man was walking in their direction and soon had approached quite near. Ralph ran to meet him and called, “Oh, Mr. Man! Mr. Man!”

The giant — for so he seemed to the fairies — looked all around. At first he could not tell where the voice came from. Then, when Ralph called again, he glanced down and discovered the boy fairy. Bending lower, he picked Ralph up carefully and sat him on the palm of his hand. “Well, what can I do for you, my little fellow?”

“Oh, Mr. Man, Stella and I came here to go riding on Horseshoe Lake. Stella is my sister, and is sitting over there, near that big stone. We can’t go because there is

no boat. So, won’t you please lend us your hat for a

little while?”

“My hat? What would you do with my hat?”

“We could use it for a boat. I think it would make a .

splendid boat.”

“Ha! Ha!” exclaimed the man, and then he broke into such a hearty laugh that Ralph nearly fell off his hand, saving himself only by holding tight to his thumb. “Well, that certainly is a good one. My hat! But, why not? It might make a good boat. Let’s try it, anyway.”

He stepped over to where Stella was seated, and placed Ralph beside her. Then, turning his hat upside down, he put it on the water, where it floated, just as a boat would. “There you are! Shall I help you to get in?”

“If you please, sir. And thank you very much.”

The man lifted them into the hat-boat and was about to push them off when Ralph asked, “Have you any Big Folks’ tooth-picks, sir?”

“Tooth-picks! Why, no. What do you want with tooth-picks?”

“We have no oars,” said Ralph.

“That’s so. You haven’t. But I have something that perhaps will do better than tooth-picks,” and he took two matches from his pocket. Opening a penknife, he cut the

“ — in an hour he had caught a dozen”

How They Went Fishing ends off and whittled them so that they became flat for a quarter of their length. “There,” said he, “are two paddles. You take one and give your sister the other.”

“Oh, thank you, sir,” said Stella and Ralph, and using the paddles they soon had the hat-boat well out on the lake.

Then Ralph baited his hook and commenced to fish. It was a splendid morning for the sport and in an hour he had caught a dozen. These fish were much smaller than our minnows, but to the fairies they seemed very large, and when Ralph concluded that he had caught enough he said that he had plenty for two meals for all the family.

“Now, Ralph, if you have finished fishing, let’s paddle over in the shade of that big tree where I see some water lilies,” said Stella.

“All right; but we mustn’t stay long. Remember, Mr. Man is waiting for his hat.”

“It will take only a few minutes,” said Stella.

They found many lilies at the place she had indicated and when she had picked about twenty they took up their match-paddles again and in a very short time brought the hat-boat back to the spot from which they had started.

The man was waiting for them. He helped them out, took up his hat, shook the water from it, and placed it on his head, laughing as he did . so. Then he helped Ralph carry his big catch of fish to where the ponies were standing, and also helped Stella fasten the lilies to her saddle.

“I wish that my daughters could meet you,” he said as he held out a finger for them to shake good-bye.

“Can’t they come over with Mr. Roc some day?” asked Stella.

“Perhaps. We shall see about it. How would you like to talk to them over the telephone when connection is made between your country and mine?”

“He held out a finger —

“Oh, that would be lovely!” exclaimed Stella.

“Well, here is the number of our telephone,” and tearing a leaf from a memorandum book he wrote something on one corner, and handed it to the fairy girl. “Call that number,” said he, “and ask for either Marietta or Carlotta. I shall tell them about you to-night, so they will understand when you call.”

“Thank you ever so much,” said both Stella and Ralph, and then, after saying good-bye, they started their ponies toward home, where they arrived in time for dinner. During the noon-day meal they told their mother of their adventure, and said they would like very much to speak to the girls in Big Folks Land.

“All right, children,” she replied. “I shall be glad to let you. And I think you can do it next week, for I understand that telephone connection will be made by that time.”

Mr. Roc arrives from Fairyland and brings a note, the writing on which has to be read through a microscope.

J

M t

■•1

■ I

I

A p ^

*

Chapter IV

UEEN MAGI ruled Fairyland mainly through love, and her subjects therefore were the most loyal on earth. Occasionally she found it necessary to inflict some form of punishment, and when she did, those who suffered had cause to remember it for a long time afterward. Perhaps this was because her punishments were so different from those in other countries; and then, too, these remarkable punishments may have been one reason why the people were so good, for they never knew what might happen to them should they break any of Queen Magi’s laws.

For instance, a boy who ran away from school and played truant for three days, was compelled to ride a pig around the public square for three hours. Do you suppose he ever forgot that, or played truant again? A little girl one day told an untruth to her mother. Of course the queen knew at once what had happened and she made the little girl sit in a high chair out in the front yard, from 3 o’clock until supper time. Grown-up fairies were treated in the same way. A man was seen turning somersaults in the public streets. It was a punishment ordered by the queen for something wrong that he had’ done.

•' — was compelled to ride a pig — ”

Stella had never been punished by Queen Magi; only scolded once or twice, and Ralph had only been punished once. That was when he was ten years old and had taken some jam out of his mother’s closet without her permission.

This was bad enough in itself, but in taking the jam pot down he had broken three others, the contents of which had spilled on the floor. For this he was made to smear his face with jam and walk down to the postoffice and back.

Three days after the fishing trip to Horseshoe Lake, Stella and Ralph went for a walk. It was a perfect afternoon and the children decided to gather wild flowers in the fields beyond the town. Now beyond these fields was a forest, which extended for many miles, and was quite dense, the trees being large and close together. The children had been told never to enter this forest, not because it held wild animals, but because there was danger of losing one’s way. But this day was so bright that both Stella and Ralph agreed that no possible harm could come from venturing a short distance into the forbidden ground.

“I’m sure father wouldn’t object if he could see how light it is in there,” said Ralph.

“And when they told us not to go we were much younger,” argued Stella. “I don’t believe they would care now.”

“Of course not. Come on,” and the boy led the way.

“When they had entered the forest they found it deliciously cool, so completely was it shaded. Only here and there did a ray of sunlight penetrate. One of these stray sunbeams brought into view a brilliant red flower, some distance away; and with an exclamation of surprise at its beauty, Stella ran forward to pluck it. The blossom was even more beautiful than it had appeared at first glance, and when Stella saw another, still further away, she hastened to pick that as well. She had picked quite a bouquet when Ralph advised her to stop, saying they had gone far enough, and that they had better return to the fields.

“Yes, I guess it is time,” said Stella, and off she started.

“Where are you going?” asked Ralph.

“Back to the fields.”

“But that isn’t the way.”

“Certainly it is.”

“No, it’s this way,” insisted the brother.

“I’m sure you are wrong,” said Stella.

“Well, we will try your way,” and the boy walked with his sister in the direction she had taken. They went some distance, much further, so both agreed, than they had gone to the flowers after entering the forest, and yet no opening could be seen.

“Now let’s go back and start in my direction,” said Ralph, triumphantly. “I knew that I was right.”

They started on the return, but after a few steps Ralph looked puzzled and said: “This doesn’t seem to be the way.”

Stella glanced at him anxiously. “I wonder if we are lost?”

“Lost! Nonsense. We’ll be out of here in a minute or so.”

They trudged on and on, turning first to the right, then to the left, as they thought they saw a clearing; but always found that any open space was very small and that beyond were more trees.

Stella’s lips quivered and tears came to her eyes.

“Don’t do that,” said Ralph. “I’ll find a way. I once read in a book that trappers could tell where to go by looking at the moss on trees. It grows only on the north side, because it is more damp. Let’s look for the moss, and we will then know which direction to take.”

They examined several trees and could see no signs of moss on any of them. “I guess they are the wrong kind,” said Ralph, and the tone of his voice proved that he was becoming worried.

They commenced to walk again, not in any special direction, but on and on, in hope that they would reach the field. Stella was becoming tired, and she tripped several times over the roots of trees. Ralph placed his arm around her waist, to support her.

“Oh, I wish we had obeyed father,” sobbed the little girl at last.

For fifteen minutes more they trudged along, and then Ralph gave a shout of joy. “Look, Stella! We’re all right now.”

Yes, there was an opening in the forest, and green grass and sunlight beyond. They forgot how tired they were and ran toward the spot. But as they came to the border of the woods they stopped short in astonishment. That open space was not the field where they had been playing. It was only a clearing in the forest, and a short distance beyond, the trees commenced again. In the middle of the clearing was a sight that gave them fresh courage. A house stood there. “Come on,” said Ralph. “We can find out where we are.”

The house was only one story high and was built of logs, but it had a neat, attractive appearance, and the children hurried toward the doorstep. Ralph, who reached there first, tried to find a bell-knob, and then he knocked. No one answered. He knocked again. All was silent. He knocked louder and repeatedly, but there was no reply. Then he tried the latch and the door opened. “I’m going in,” he said. “Stella, you wait here.”

He soon returned and beckoned to his sister. “There’s no one at home. Come on in; I’m sure the people wouldn’t object. Let’s sit in the hall and wait for them. They probably will be back soon.”

Stella was only too glad to sink into the easy chair which she found near the door, and Ralph gave a sigh of relief as he sat down on the sofa.

The children were too tired to talk. They sat there and waited, wondering when some one would come. Soon Ralph noticed that Stella’s head had nestled back in the chair. She had fallen asleep.

“Well, I can call her when the people come,” thought the boy. “Guess I’ll lean back and rest a little while.”

A clock on the shelf in the hall struck five. Neither Stella nor Ralph heard it, for both were in dreamland. Had they been awake and had they looked out in the clearing, they would have seen Queen Magi and would have heard her call, “Mr. Roc! Mr. Roc!” Then they would

“Both were in dreamland”

have seen the great white bird come fluttering down from the clouds and settle upon the grass.

Queen Magi stepped to the bird’s head and whispered in his ear. What she said was: “Mr. Roc, pick me up this house and carry it far away, to another country. There set it down gently, so as not to waken anyone who may be asleep within.”

The big bird nodded his head three times, which meant that he understood. Spreading his wings, he hovered over the house a few seconds, caught it firmly with his talons, then carrying the house with him, he soared, up and up, until out of sight.

“Now I shall tell the children’s parents, so they will not be alarmed,” said Queen Magi, and she floated away over the trees.

Stella was the first to awaken. Her neck had become cramped by the awkward position, and while she rubbed it, she looked around in surprise. Then it all came back to her, and she saw that Ralph was sound asleep. Strange that the people had not come home! She jumped up and went to the front door.