United States or Ireland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I'd like to do something very nice for father and mother that would be a sweet surprise," said Sprite. "I wish I knew what to do." "Your wish is granted," said Iris. She wrote a few words on a slip of pink paper. "Look at this to-morrow morning and you will know just what to do," she said as she placed the tiny folded paper in Sprite's hand.
The lilac grapes of the acacias sparkled in freshness, the June rose-tree looked like a small blooming heaven hung with red lamps, the white stars of the jasmine glowed palely, sadly, and poured out their perfume as if, in this one hour, to make a gift of their all. Maya was dazed. She pressed the sprite's hand and looked at him. A light of bliss shone from his eyes.
It became almost impossible for parents to get husbands for their daughters unless the girls had suffered the severe pains of foot-binding. And even to this day we find that many of the people are still under the influence of Fox Sprite's magic, and believe that a tiny, misshapen foot is more beautiful than a natural one. But let us return to the story of Fox Sprite and the wicked Emperor.
Sprite made no sound as she tried to pass him, but was just a bit too slow, and he caught her. "Ah, I know who I've found!" he cried, "because no other little girl but Sprite has such long, silken braids." He lifted the handkerchief, and laughed to see her blushing cheeks. It was now Sprite's turn.
They were talking of Lena, and Leslie, when Sprite asked: "When have you seen Gwen Harcourt?" "They haven't seen me for ever so long!" cried an answering voice, and Gwen appeared around the corner, laughing saucily, because she had been listening, and had heard Sprite's question.
"She is to act under direction now." "Not at all only under safe control," he said, laughing. "I am very glad of the difference, Mr. Carleton," said Fleda, with a grave and grateful remembrance of it. "If you think the sprite's old office is gone, you are mistaken," said he.
"She is to act under direction now." "Not at all only under safe control," he said laughing. "I am very glad of the difference, Mr. Carleton," said Fleda, with a grave and grateful remembrance of it. "If you think the sprite's old office is gone, you are mistaken," said he.
So Oddo carried on shore, at the first stretch of white beach they came to, the brandy-flasks, the bearskins, the tobacco-pouch, the muskets and powder-horns, and the tinder-box. He scattered these about just above high-water mark, laughing to think how report would tell of the sprite's care in placing all these articles out of reach of injury from the water.
Meanwhile the old weaver had been sadly preparing the loom to weave a small stock of yarn, which he had received in payment for some work. He had set up the warp, and was about to fill the shuttle, when his son came in and told the story, and repeated the water sprite's song. "Where is the lock of hair, my son?" asked the old man.
They admired the plumpness of Fox Sprite's body, the fairness of Fox Sprite's complexion, the fire in Fox Sprite's eyes, but most of all they wondered at the smallness of Fox Sprite's feet, for, you remember, the supposed Ta-ki now had fox's feet instead of those of human shape. Thus small feet became the fashion among women.
Word Of The Day