GOOD NEWS
“LISTEN!” she said, coming back after a few moments. “Listen while I
read my letter:
[Illustration: “Dear Mary Frances.”]
_Dear Mary Frances:_
_How glad you will all be to hear that father is so
much better that Aunt Maria and I are planning to bring
him home some day next week._
_What dear good children you and Billy have been, and
how we have enjoyed your splendid cheerful letters._
[Illustration: Aunt Maria.]
_I am pleased that you have been practicing on your
crocheting lesson. It pleases Aunt Maria, too. Every
girl should be able to crochet and knit. I wish I had
been taught when I was little—but I had no Aunt Maria._
_Now, my dear, be brave a little while longer and not
too lonely, for the sake of your loving_
_Mother and Father_.
“Now, isn’t that a lovely letter!” said Mary Frances, as she finished
reading.
[Illustration: “Lovely letter!”]
“Lovely letter!” said Crow Shay. “Lovely letter, but it means a
hurry-hurry to get through our lessons!”
Mary Frances looked at Fairly Flew.
“Yes,” the fairy acknowledged, “the Queen of all Fairies told us that
we must finish the lessons before your parents——”
“And aunt,” interrupted Crow Shay.
“Yes,” laughed Fairly Flew, “and aunt, come home.”
“Oh, dear,” cried Mary Frances, “I love my lessons so much, and yet I
do want my father and mother home.”
“Never mind,” said the fairy, “never mind; let us finish the lessons
as soon as we can; and afterward if you need me very much, and call me
with the magic rhyme when no real people can overhear us, I will come
sometimes to help you.”
[Illustration: “Never mind.”]
“Oh, will you?” exclaimed Mary Frances, drying her tears. “That is a
real comfort to think of.”
“Now, go take a walk,” continued Fairly Flew; “you have been indoors
long enough for to-day.”
“Take me walk, Mamma?” asked Mary Marie.
[Illustration: “Take me walk, Mamma?”]
Mary Frances looked at the fairy.
“Shall I take her?” she asked; “and may I leave her sweater on?”
“Take her, by all means,” answered the fairy; “and, if you wish, you
may leave her sweater on.”
“But suppose someone asks me who made it?” Mary Frances said.
“Just say that some dear friends of yours helped make it,” the fairy
told her.
“Will Mary Marie stay alive?” Mary Frances asked.
“The Queen of Fairies told me that she would be real while you are
learning to crochet and knit, except when any other person than
yourself looked at her. Then she will turn into a doll again.”
[Illustration: “She will turn into a doll.”]
“Oh, isn’t this wonderful!” exclaimed the little girl, putting on Mary
Marie’s cap. “I’ll try to take a walk where no one will notice us—and
I’ll come early for a lesson to-morrow. I love my lessons so much that
I never want to stop learning.”
[Illustration: “All work and no play.”]
“All work, and no play
Will make you dumb as me, Crow Shay,”
sang Crow Shay as Mary Frances went out.
[Illustration: Mary Frances went out.]