Neighbors passing the house of the little Fairy Health, one lovely
summer day, noticed a most unusual stir and bustle. Large and small
packages were continually arriving and the neat little housemaid was
kept quite busy opening and closing the door to receive them.
The Fairy, flitting here and there among the flower beds, was accosted
by one curious neighbor and asked what it all meant.
With her hands full of flowers the Fairy paused to answer him:
“I am giving a party this afternoon,” she said, “to friends from a
distance, and we are all very busy.”
Cho-Cho, arriving about this time, was told to leave his bag in the
house and hurry back to help gather roses.
The curious neighbor departed, and Cho-Cho and the Fairy worked for an
hour, gathering flowers and vines, to make the beautiful house more
beautiful.
At last it was all finished, and the Fairy hurried upstairs to don her
party gown before the guests should arrive.
When she came down the stairs a half hour later, Cho-Cho, waiting in the
hallway, held his breath in admiration, for the little Fairy was so
lovely that words can scarce describe her. Her gown fell in graceful
lines about her slender figure—neck and arms were bare, and her
flower-like face crowned with its shining hair was radiant with joy.
Forget-me-nots were twined among her curls, and she carried a bunch of
them in her shapely hands. No jewels adorned the Fairy, but in every way
she expressed simplicity and grace.
Cho-Cho, coming forward, dropped lightly on one knee, and taking the
Fairy’s hand, raised it to his lips.
“You are wonderful,” he said.
“You like my gown, Cho-Cho?” she questioned, and smiled upon him, for
these two were old and tried friends.
A noise from without told of the advent of a guest, and Health went
forward to greet the visitor.
It proved to be the Persian Cat, looking quite handsome in a soft-gray
hat, which he gracefully doffed to the Fairy, and he carried a
gold-headed cane.
One could well imagine him a great favorite with the ladies, for he was
indeed a finished dandy.
“You rival your flowers in beauty, Fairy,” he said, as he took her hand.
At the noise of the garden gate closing, they looked up to behold the
Wonderful Dog and his wife coming toward them.
The Wonderful Dog had on a smart new collar, and came forward with
dignity to present his wife to the Fairy, for they had never met.
Mrs. Dog was a fluffy little thing, who seemed really to care more about
her new dress and the latest style than any other subject.
The next arrival was the little Boy from the Farm. He came timidly
toward the group, looking rather frightened, but when he spied his old
friend, Cho-Cho, all his fears vanished and he smiled with pleasure.
They were busily chatting in the Rose Arbor, when the little Vegetable
Men came softly in and stood beside the Fairy.
She welcomed them with kindness, for these were modest little people and
felt rather strange among the handsome company.
With a whirr of wings and a flash of color, the Lovely Bird and his
brother Rumor were among them and congratulated the Fairy on the perfect
weather she was having for her Fête.
The company were all assembled now except the Red Brown Squirrel, and
the Fairy asked if anyone had seen him on the high-road as they came
hither. But no one had heard of him, although the Persian Cat had come
from that direction.
An hour slipped by. The Fairy was growing anxious and Cho-Cho repeatedly
looked at his watch.
At last he said:
“With your permission, Fairy, I will go look for the Red Brown Squirrel.
He was my friend and I greatly fear some evil has befallen him.”
“I, too, will go,” said the Cat, “there are many dangers upon the
high-road, and a comrade may be needed.”
“I am with you,” said the Dog. “Lead on, Cho-Cho.”
“Friends,” said the Persian Cat, “I believe I can find the Red Brown
Squirrel. Between his home and the Fairy’s garden there lives an evil
imp, called Jealousy. I passed him today as I journeyed hither and he
scowled upon me with a look of rage. He was afraid to attack me, but the
Squirrel is small and not a match for this cruel imp, and has doubtless
fallen a victim to his malice.”
“Hasten, hasten,” said Cho-Cho, and passing through the gate he started
briskly toward the Squirrel’s home.
The Cat and the Dog followed and all three were soon lost to the view of
the anxious company in the Fairy’s garden.
The friends covered the ground rapidly and were nearing the home of the
Red Brown Squirrel, when Cho-Cho’s sharp eyes spied a half-eaten nut
lying in the roadway.
There were no trees near, and they knew that it must have been dropped
by their friend.
Looking eagerly upon the ground, they discovered the tiny footprints of
the Squirrel and the larger ones of the flat-footed imp, leading into a
field of tall grass.
Here the Cat went forward, for his sharp eyes could distinguish the
footprints with great ease. Following these signs they crossed the field
and came out upon an unused road that sloped downward, until they found
themselves beside a deep river which seemed impossible to pass.
“Get upon my back,” said the Wonderful Dog, “the River is my comrade, it
will not harm you.”
With ease and confidence he swam forward, and carried them to safety on
the further bank.
Cho-Cho and the Persian Cat stepped from the Dog’s back and turned to
thank him, when from behind a large rock, the ugly imp darted out and
sprang toward Cho-Cho, trying to push him into the river. But the Cat,
catching the imp by the neck, held him firmly, and he was powerless to
do aught but scream.
Binding him fast they went behind the great rock and found the Red Brown
Squirrel in chains.
The Cat set him free and the friendly Squirrel stood up before them
brave and unhurt.
Then they hurried back to the Fairy and were received with relief and
pleasure.
And now, the Fairy with the Wonderful Dog leads the way to the
dining-room. The Persian Cat gracefully offers his arm to little Mrs.
Dog. Cho-Cho and the Boy come hand in hand, followed by the Lovely Bird
and Mr. Beet. The Red Brown Squirrel is telling the story of his
adventure to Mr. Onion, and Rumor and Mr. Carrot bring up the rear.
The dining-room is a mass of roses and smilax, and in the center, a
table full of all the delicious things that children like.
Mrs. Dog remarks that the decorations are lovely, and the Persian Cat
replies that the ladies are more beautiful than the flowers.
The little Fairy flits here and there among her guests, seeing, with
charming courtesy, that all their wants are well supplied, and when at
last they can eat no more, Cho-Cho rises, and with a glass of sparkling
lemonade proposes a toast:
“To our charming hostess, the Fairy Health.”
With a right good will the company drink the toast, then led by the
Persian Cat they leave the house and with laughter and jest pass by
lovely garden paths out to the fountain—and so the fun goes on, ending
at last with a dance in the dell, and joy and happiness in every heart.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Macmillan Company has arranged to publish a series of health books
for the CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION of America
[Illustration: _Health in Education_ _Education in Health_]
THE CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION has undertaken a nation-wide campaign to
raise the health standard of the school child.
The following books are now ready:
_Rosy Cheeks and Strong Heart_
_Rhymes of Cho-Cho’s Grandma_
_Cho-Cho and the Health Fairy_
_Child Health Alphabet_