_Ethel_. So tired! So tired! Shall I ever get rested? To-morrow is a holiday, but for me a sad one. I have no nice dinner for mamma and Elise. I hoped something would turn up. But nothing has. After all, things don't turn up. You have to wade right through things. It's foolish to expect, for instance, a nice dinner to drop from the clouds for us, mamma and Elise and me; yet unless one does we shall not stand much chance of anything except bread and tea. Here are my car fares, though. I will buy an orange for mamma, and two apples for Elise. They've got to be content with that. What time is it? (_Clock strikes outside._) Twelve, I do declare. Well, I'm too tired to undress. I am sleepy--and hungry. To-morrow is--Thanksgiv-- [_Falls on the bed, and sleeps._] _Enter two_ Fairies. _They stand, one on each side of_ Ethel's _head, wave wands over her, and sing "The Fairies' Sleep Charm_." Sleep, dear one, sleep, and close thy tired eyelids; Good angels wake and watch till morning light. Love sees the trouble and the brave endurance, And soon, for thee, dear child, will all be bright. _First Fairy_. She seems quite exhausted. _Second Fairy_. She does indeed. _First Fairy_. A brave little struggler? _Second Fairy_. She is. _First Fairy_. But she is trying to carry too big a burden. _Second Fairy_. Much too big. _First Fairy_. I love to see her rest. _Second Fairy_. She is smiling now, and reposing. [_The_ Fairies _walk away from the bed and sit down_.] [Illustration] _First Fairy_. Do you know why she is so late in getting to bed? _Second Fairy_. No. _First Fairy_. She carried a bonnet to Miss Van Noir, with strict orders to see the lady herself, and find out whether the bonnet suited. Miss Van Noir was at dinner with a party of friends, and the maid would not disturb her. It was ten o'clock before the lady saw the little girl and tried on the bonnet. After that, to save her car fare, Ethel walked home. So, no wonder she is late and tired. _Second Fairy_. I see no preparations for a Thanksgiving dinner in this house. _First Fairy_. Ethel's mother is ill. She has lain in bed some weeks, and may never get well. If she could go to the hospital and have good nursing, she might recover. But she will not leave her little girls. She thinks she can look after them, although so ill. But there is no prospect of a Thanksgiving dinner here. That is plain to see. _Second Fairy_. What does Ethel do to earn money? _First Fairy_. She is cash-girl and errand-girl in a milliner's establishment. Every one in the house wants her, and sends her on countless errands, so that madame herself is not so tired sometimes at night as my little Ethel there. _Second Fairy_. Poor little soul! How much better off she would be if she were a fairy! I never heard of a sick or tired fairy. Did you? _First Fairy_. No. But though we never feel fatigue nor suffer hardship, we sympathize with mortals. _Second Fairy_. Oh yes, we do!