One summer day when the city streets were full of heat and dust, and all
the world seemed tired, Cho-Cho’s thoughts turned longingly to the
country and to the lovely Garden of the little Fairy Health.
Packing his bag and locking the door of his house, Cho-Cho started on a
visit to the Fairy.
Within the Fairy’s Garden, screened from the road by trees and bushes,
was a lovely dell, and in the center of the dell a Fountain, so
beautiful that all who saw it paused to admire its sparkling waters and
the beauty of its sculptured figure. This figure was of white marble,
carved with rare skill into the form of a little child, and from its
uplifted hand the waters of the fountain sprang.
Cho-Cho found the Fairy resting in the cool shade and sank into a seat
beside her.
“Fairy,” said Cho-Cho, “I am grieved about my Children.”
“What is wrong, Cho-Cho?” said the little Fairy.
“There are two Imps,” said Cho-Cho, “going into all the houses where
children live. One is called Dirt, and he leaves upon the Children’s
hands and faces and in their hair and on their clothes ugly black marks.
The other Imp is called Neglect, and he whispers to the Children not to
clean their teeth, or brush their hair, or bathe their bodies. I saw
these Imps from my Magic Window, Fairy, and I came to ask your help.
What shall we do?”
“I have a strong friend,” said the Fairy, “a Lovely Bird, called
Education, and he will go to the Teachers, and they will teach the
Children how to be cleanly, and to love the cool pure water.”
As she spoke, they heard a noise of wings, and the Lovely Bird fluttered
to the ground. Then the Fairy told him of their trouble.
“Courage,” said the Bird, “I will go to the Teachers, but my way will be
full of peril, for these Imps are powerful and they will try to hold me
back. Each day you must watch within this dell. If I am hurt, you will
find beside the fountain a Blue-Gray Feather. Then, Cho-Cho, you must
hasten to my aid.”
As he said this, the Lovely Bird rose into the air, and mounted higher
and higher, until he was lost to their view. Day after day Cho-Cho and
the Fairy sat beside the fountain watching for the Feather, and after
many days had passed, they began to hope that Education had safely
reached the Teachers.
Then one day, slowly circling downward from the sky, came a Blue-Gray
Feather, and rested at their feet.
“Oh, Cho-Cho,” said the Fairy, “the Lovely Bird is hurt,” and laying her
head upon the fountain’s edge, she sobbed with grief and disappointment.
“Courage,” said Cho-Cho, “I have a noble ally, a Wonderful Dog, who can
travel like the wind. His name is Publicity, and he will help Education.
His home is not far distant. Be brave. The Lovely Bird shall soon be
free.”
Then Cho-Cho hastened to the home of the Dog. Arriving there, he rapped
smartly on the door, which was opened by the Dog’s wife, who said he was
just finishing his breakfast—that he would be out immediately.
In a few minutes the Dog appeared. Then Cho-Cho told him of the Lovely
Bird.
“I shall be glad to help,” said the Wonderful Dog, “but how shall I find
the way?”
Taking from his pocket the Blue-Gray Feather, Cho-Cho held it before the
Dog’s nose. He sniffed it eagerly and then throwing up his head, laughed
with glee. “Get up quickly, Cho-Cho,” he said, and Cho-Cho sprang upon
his back.
The great Dog bounded through the door and out into the road, and with a
sharp bark was off like wind.
The Children scurried from the roadside, and people standing in their
doorways gazed with wonder as the Dog rushed by. Through villages and
towns he went, and everywhere the people ran out to see Publicity pass.
They left the houses far behind, and still the great Dog did not slacken
his pace, until they came to desolate fields and a countryside where no
trees grew.
On all sides stretched these lonely fields, with no signs of life,
except where far away to the right rose the dark outline of a house. A
rough path led toward it, and following this road the Dog went forward.
As they drew nearer they could see the house was of stone, and had no
windows on the lower floor. Up near the roof were narrow windows set
deep in the wall. Only a great door in the front, made of iron, gave
entrance to the house, and this was tightly locked.
Sitting on the ground, the Dog took from his neck a stout collar made of
heavy leather and brass, and opening a pocket on the inside of this
collar, he took out a Golden Key.
This key fitted the lock, and entering a large room they found the Imps
asleep before a fire. As the great door creaked upon its rusty hinges
the Imps awakened and sprang to their feet.
“What have you done with the Lovely Bird?” Cho-Cho demanded. “I have
seen no bird,” said the Imp called Dirt. “You may search this house from
dark cellar to dusty garret if you doubt my word.”
Cho-Cho turned to his friend the Dog. “Watch here,” he said, “and see to
it that these Imps do not escape.” Then holding his Magic Magnet in his
hand he looked about the room. The Magnet turned toward the door at the
far corner, and Cho-Cho following the Magnet entered a dark and narrow
passage, that seemed to lead on and on. He could not see, but Cho-Cho’s
stout heart knew no fear for he possessed magic power, that protected
him from all evil—so he called to his friend the Moon and asked for
help. Mr. Moon had not yet risen, but he sent for his chief Clerk and
gave an order, “Send down to my friend Cho-Cho one of our latest
flashlights,” he said, “one of Golden Light, that will turn the darkest
dungeon into the light of day.”
So in the shortest possible time Cho-Cho held in his hand a powerful
flashlight that showed him every corner of the dark passage, but no
matter how carefully he looked he could find no trace of the Lovely
Bird.
Standing there thinking, he heard a faint sound that seemed to come from
within the wall, and looking at his Magnet found that it pointed
directly opposite.
With his ear at the wall, he heard the sound clearer—then suddenly his
eye caught the glint of steel, and he saw a small bright spot about the
size of a pea. Cho-Cho pressed the spot and the wall opened showing a
tiny room. The Lovely Bird lay on the floor, too weak to fly—so Cho-Cho
carried him forth and helped him on the Dog’s back.
The wicked Imps knew that their punishment was near and cowered in the
corner.
Then Cho-Cho bound the two Imps with strong cords. Standing them back to
back he tied their arms together and also their legs, so that they could
go neither forward nor backward, and mounting the back of his friend the
Wonderful Dog, he started homeward.
They could hear the cries of the Imps far down the roadway, for each one
blamed the other with ugly words for what had happened.
When Education felt stronger he flew forward with his Message to the
Teachers.
And everywhere the Teachers received him with the deepest interest, and
now all over this great country Children are being taught the beauty of
cleanliness and the love of fresh air and pure water.
As the Children learn these wholesome health habits, they in turn teach
others, and in every home tooth brushes and soap and pure water are to
be found, and busy mothers go about their work with cheerful faces, for
their Children are healthy and clean and happy.
[Illustration: _The company was all assembled_]