Much Ado About SomethingLawrence, C. E. (Charles Edward)
Science
Much Ado About Something
Lawrence, C. E. (Charles Edward)
England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction; Fairies -- Fiction
June decided to go with Sally, to help her bear the burden. This she
managed to do by sitting upon it, using the wonderful wand, and wishing
the bundle should seem only a tenth part of its real weight. So it was
made to be; but Sally, who had not been encouraged to observe things, or
to estimate differences, did not become aware of its lightness. In any
case, the burden, even when reduced by June, was full heavy enough for a
child of her strength and years. But many another like Sally was
bearing a similar burden.
Down the stairs and out of Paradise Court went the girl and the fairy;
along a dreary, slippery pavement, passing a thousand people,
self-interested, self-centred and hurrying, who might laugh, talk,
bustle and frown in their individual ways, but who still to June, as to
Oberon and all else of the better land, were poor, pitiful shadows,
journeying, worrying, moiling for a few thousand days until the
extinguisher was put over them.
Yellow and blue tramcars went jangling by. June, seeing people get into
and out of them, was minded to make one of them stop, so that Sally
could ride; but it was better this first time for Sally to go her own
gait as usual. Anyhow, June was alert to be helpful, and handled her
wand as the infant spendthrift fingers his penny, determined to use it
as speedily and extravagantly as possible.
Sally toiled along slowly. She kept to the chief road, never daring to
relax her hold of the bundle, because of the difficulty of recovering
it.
She came to a wide crossing--a tramway and omnibus terminus--and passed
through a maze of carts and people. June began to feel frightened
because of the clamour and crowding, but soon lost her unworthy fears by
remembering that these creatures and things--in comparison with
herself--were only shadows, permitted to dwell for a little while in the
beautiful world which belongs to the fairies, and others of spirit-land.
She had more power in her wand and will than they in any or all of their
Brobdingnagian faculties.
June was profoundly impressed by the wonderful powers of the police.
The way the helmeted man of authority stood in the midst of the press
and ruled it, appealed to her as nothing had done since she had
witnessed Oberon in his majesty commanding the shapes and princes in the
Violet Valley. As Sally went slowly by the policemen, June gave each a
fairy’s blessing. They became thereafter, and are to this day, more than
usually polite and attentive to the timid.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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