TWO FAIRY SPONGES 35 
little fairy whose works abound in meadow, wood, 
and copse, and which any of us may discover if 
we can once be brought to realize that our imp is 
visible. Then we must not forget that ideal type 
of the true " fairy " a paragon of beauty and 
goodness, with golden hair and dazzling crown of 
brilliants, with her airy costume of gossamer be- 
gemmed and spangled, her dainty, twinkling feet 
and gorgeously painted butterfly wings. And we 
all remember that wonderful 
wand which she carried so 
gracefully, and whose simple 
touch could evoke such a 
train of surprising conse- 
quences. 
And who shall say that 
our pretty fay is a myth, 
or her magic wand a wild creation of the fancy? 
May we not see the wonder - workings of that 
potent wand on every hand, even though our 
fairy has eluded us while she cast the spell? 
There are a host of these wee fairies continually 
flitting about among the trees plotting all sorts of 
mischief and leaving an astonishing witness of 
their visitation in their trail as they pass from 
leaf to leaf or twig to twig. But these fairies, like 
those of Grimm and Laboulaye, are agile little 
atoms, and are not to be caught in their pranks if 
they know it, and even though our eye chanced 
