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. In happy far-away land . e that they saw aright. There, on the foot ofher bed, stood a little fairy, lovelier than any she had ever seen in books, forits dress sparkled like snow, and, when it spoke, its voice was like the soundof a silver bell. Wake up, Bessie Bell, said the fairy. Our Queen has sent me tobring you to her ball to-night. Bessie scrambled out of bed as fast as she could. Then she rememberedhow large she was and how tiny the fairy was. O, I cant go to a fairy ball, she said, greatly disappointed. u Im toobig. The fairy laughed a tinkling little laugh and waved her wand. Now, s
. In happy far-away land . e that they saw aright. There, on the foot ofher bed, stood a little fairy, lovelier than any she had ever seen in books, forits dress sparkled like snow, and, when it spoke, its voice was like the soundof a silver bell. Wake up, Bessie Bell, said the fairy. Our Queen has sent me tobring you to her ball to-night. Bessie scrambled out of bed as fast as she could. Then she rememberedhow large she was and how tiny the fairy was. O, I cant go to a fairy ball, she said, greatly disappointed. u Im toobig. The fairy laughed a tinkling little laugh and waved her wand. Now, see how large you are, she said. Bessie looked all around, and to her great surprise found that she was 3ESSJE BELL 73 now no larger than the fairy herself. But then another thought crossed hermind, and she was as downcast as before. O, she said, this is worse than before ! Im so small now that I cantwear any of the clean frocks Mary, the laundress, ironed to-day, and I couldntgo to a Queens party in a night-gown, could I ?. The fairy laughed again. No, she said, you couldnt go in your night-gown, but some of yourfriends will lend you something to wear. Heres one of them come to carryyou on his back to the ball. Then Bessie saw beside her a beautiful brown and gold butterfly. Why, said she, thats like the butterfly I begged Brother George notto catch when it flew into the garden yesterday. It is the very same butterfly, said the fairy, and because you were 74 3ESSIE BELL kind to him yesterday hell be kind to you to-night. Climb on his back, andthen well be off to see the friends who are to o-ive you something- to wear. O J O Bessie seated herself on the butterflys back, which was covered with softthick fur, and when she looked at liis wings, she saw that they were coveredwith the most beautiful plumes. The fairy took a seat behind her, and outthe window they flew, but Bessie could not imagine which of her friends couldlend her a dress, for she knew that no little girl among all
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidinhappyfaraw, bookyear1902