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THE FAIRY'S NEW YEAR GIFT

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      BY EMILIE POULSSON (ADAPTED)

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      Two little boys were at play one day when a Fairy suddenly appeared before them and said: “I have been sent to give you New Year presents.”

      She handed to each child a package, and in an instant was gone.

      Carl and Philip opened the packages and found in them two beautiful books, with pages as pure and white as the snow when it first falls.

      Many months passed and the Fairy came again to the boys. “I have brought you each another book?” said she, “and will take the first ones back to Father Time who sent them to you.”

      “May I not keep mine a little longer?” asked Philip. “I have hardly thought about it lately. I'd like to paint something on the last leaf that lies open.”

      “No,” said the Fairy; “I must take it just as it is.”

      “I wish that I could look through mine just once,” said Carl; “I have only seen one page at a time, for when the leaf turns over it sticks fast, and I can never open the book at more than one place each day.”

      “You shall look at your book,” said the Fairy, “and Philip, at his.” And she lit for them two little silver lamps, by the light of which they saw the pages as she turned them.

      The boys looked in wonder. Could it be that these were the same fair books she had given them a year ago? Where were the clean, white pages, as pure and beautiful as the snow when it first falls? Here was a page with ugly, black spots and scratches upon it; while the very next page showed a lovely little picture. Some pages were decorated with gold and silver and gorgeous colors, others with beautiful flowers, and still others with a rainbow of softest, most delicate brightness. Yet even on the most beautiful of the pages there were

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