One day as the Fairy Health sat within her Rose Arbor, there came
walking down the road a tiny Elf. He had a merry face and a bright
smile, and pausing beside the Garden Gate, he asked:
“Does Health live here?”
“I am Health,” said the Fairy, and rose to greet him. The Elf drew from
his pocket a little card, on which was written “Cho-Cho, the Friend of
Children,” and presented it to the Fairy.
“I come,” he said, “to view the wonders of your Garden, and to learn
from you the secrets of a Child’s Heart.”
The good Fairy took Cho-Cho’s hand and leading him by many lovely paths,
came at length into a Field of ripening Oats. On the borders of the
Field grew flowers of many colors, and the air was filled with perfume.
Health paused and said: “As long as these beautiful Oats flourish I know
that everywhere in all this great country Children can eat Oatmeal for
their breakfast and grow strong and healthy, but if the Oats should
wither and die, something dreadful would happen to the Children.”
Even as she spoke, a strange light settled on the Oat Field, and the
beautiful waving grain began to shrivel and wither away.
A look of terror came into the Fairy’s eyes. As Cho-Cho turned to clasp
her hand in sympathy, suddenly there stood beside him a handsome Persian
Cat.
“Don’t lose heart, little Fairy,” said Puss, “I will help you. Last
night, as I was walking in the moonlight, I saw an ugly old Witch creep
into your garden.
“In her hand she carried a large strong box. I hid behind a bush and saw
her open the box. As she raised the lid, out sprang swarms of tiny
insects and flew toward the Oat Field. The Witch laughed a harsh laugh,
and said, ‘Go, little imps—work quickly, for your time is short.’
“I understand magic, Fairy, and can change at will into any shape that
pleases me—so in the twinkling of an eye I became a Witch too, and
walking slowly forward, I said, ‘A fine night, Madam Witch. What do you
here?’
“The old Witch jumped when she heard my voice, but seeing it was only a
Witch like herself, she grinned horribly and said: ‘I have persuaded
hundreds of children to stop eating Oatmeal, and every time a Child
refuses Oatmeal, one of these little imps is born. Before tomorrow night
the Fairy’s Oat Field will be withered and dead. One thing only can stop
these imps of mine,’ she chuckled.
“‘What is that, O powerful Witch?’ I asked.
“‘I must be bound fast with chains of steel. If such a thing could
happen my imps would quickly die and the Children would eat Oatmeal
again and the Field regain its beauty, but ha! ha! no one can bind me.’
“‘You must be very clever, Madam Witch,’ I said, ‘But it grows late and
I must away.’
“So I left her there and went to my home.”
“What shall I do?” the little Fairy cried. “What shall I do?”
“Be not discouraged, Fairy,” said the Persian Cat, “I am your friend,
follow me.”
Down the road the cat led them for fully half a mile, until they came to
a forest of fir trees. Quiet reigned within the wood. It was so very
still that even their soft footsteps on the pine needles could be heard.
There was no light except from far above their heads, where the blue sky
shone through the green branches of the trees.
Puss went on and on, until Cho-Cho and the Fairy were growing quite
tired. At last he stopped before a huge tree whose branches touched the
ground. Parting these, the Cat entered, and followed by his two friends,
stood beside the Tree.
“Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful Tree,
Open, Oh open your door unto me!”
Slowly the trunk of the great Tree opened and they beheld a narrow
stairway leading down, down, farther than their eyes could see.
“Come,” said the Cat, “the Witch lives here. Step lightly or we may
rouse her.”
Softly, very softly, they crept down those narrow steps, until at last
they entered a dark room. Its only light came from a fire of coals, and
before this fire the Witch lay sleeping. Springing upon her, Puss bound
her arms and feet with chains of steel, and she lay helpless before
them, uttering cries of hate and wickedness.
“Wonderful Cat, who are you?” said Cho-Cho.
“I am Knowledge,” said the Cat, “and this cruel Witch is Ignorance, who
spends her life plotting against the health of Children. Between us
there is always war. Lie there, Ignorance, while the Children you wish
to kill grow strong and healthy. Fairy, your Oat Field is beautiful
again.”
Leaving the dark home of Ignorance, they traveled through the sweet
scented forest, back to the garden of the Fairy Health. There they found
that the Cat had told them true, for the Oat Field was beautiful beyond
words. The blue sky smiled above, and the summer wind blew over it,
carrying the perfume of a thousand flowers, and all the world seemed
full of peace.
“Cat, dear Cat, what can we do for you?” said Cho-Cho.
“Only this,” said Puss, “help me to fight Ignorance.”
From his finger the Cat took two tiny rings. One he gave to Cho-Cho and
one to the Fairy.
“If ever again this cruel Witch arises to destroy the Children’s
Oatmeal, turn this ring upon your finger twice and say:
“Knowledge, Knowledge,
Wherever you be,
Come, Oh, come,
The Children need Thee!”
And as he said this, Puss waved a gay “Good-bye” and walked gracefully
away.
[Illustration: [Cat]]
[Illustration: _He saw a little boy thin and pale._]