Marjorie's Three Gifts

Marjorie sat on the door-step, shelling peas, quite unconscious what apretty picture she made, with the roses peeping at her through the latticework of the porch, the wind playing hide-and-seek in her curly hair, whilethe sunshine with its silent magic changed her faded gingham to a goldengown, and shimmered on the bright tin pan as if it were a silver shield.

OldRover lay at her feet, the white kitten purred on her shoulder, and friendlyrobins hopped about her in the grass, chirping "A happy birthday,Marjorie!"But the little maid neither saw nor heard, for her eyes were fixed on thegreen pods, and her thoughts were far away.

She was recalling the fairy-talegranny told her last night, and wishing with all her heart that such thingshappened nowadays.

For in this story, as a poor girl like herself satspinning before the door, a Brownie came by, and gave the child a goodluck penny; then a fairy passed, and left a talisman which would keep heralways happy; and last of all, the prince rolled up in his chariot, and tookher away to reign with him over a lovely kingdom, as a reward for hermany kindnesses to others.