The Fairy’s Party

Neighbors passing the house of the little Fairy Health, one lovely summer day, noticed a most unusual stir and bustle. Large and small packages were continually arriving and the neat little housemaid was kept quite busy opening and closing the door to receive them.

The Fairy, flitting here and there among the flower beds, was accosted by one curious neighbor and asked what it all meant.

With her hands full of flowers the Fairy paused to answer him:

“I am giving a party this afternoon,” she said, “to friends from a distance, and we are all very busy.”

Cho-Cho, arriving about this time, was told to leave his bag in the house and hurry back to help gather roses.

The curious neighbor departed, and Cho-Cho and the Fairy worked for an hour, gathering flowers and vines, to make the beautiful house more beautiful.

At last it was all finished, and the Fairy hurried upstairs to don her party gown before the guests should arrive.

When she came down the stairs a half hour later, Cho-Cho, waiting in the hallway, held his breath in admiration, for the little Fairy was so lovely that words can scarce describe her. Her gown fell in graceful lines about her slender figure—neck and arms were bare, and her flower-like face crowned with its shining hair was radiant with joy. Forget-me-nots were twined among her curls, and she carried a bunch of them in her shapely hands. No jewels adorned the Fairy, but in every way she expressed simplicity and grace.

Cho-Cho, coming forward, dropped lightly on one knee, and taking the Fairy’s hand, raised it to his lips.

“You are wonderful,” he said.

“You like my gown, Cho-Cho?” she questioned, and smiled upon him, for these two were old and tried friends.

A noise from without told of the advent of a guest, and Health went forward to greet the visitor.

It proved to be the Persian Cat, looking quite handsome in a soft-gray hat, which he gracefully doffed to the Fairy, and he carried a gold-headed cane.

One could well imagine him a great favorite with the ladies, for he was indeed a finished dandy.

“You rival your flowers in beauty, Fairy,” he said, as he took her hand.

At the noise of the garden gate closing, they looked up to behold the Wonderful Dog and his wife coming toward them.

The Wonderful Dog had on a smart new collar, and came forward with dignity to present his wife to the Fairy, for they had never met.

Mrs. Dog was a fluffy little thing, who seemed really to care more about her new dress and the latest style than any other subject.

The next arrival was the little Boy from the Farm. He came timidly toward the group, looking rather frightened, but when he spied his old friend, Cho-Cho, all his fears vanished and he smiled with pleasure.

They were busily chatting in the Rose Arbor, when the little Vegetable Men came softly in and stood beside the Fairy.

She welcomed them with kindness, for these were modest little people and felt rather strange among the handsome company.

With a whirr of wings and a flash of color, the Lovely Bird and his brother Rumor were among them and congratulated the Fairy on the perfect weather she was having for her Fête.

The company were all assembled now except the Red Brown Squirrel, and the Fairy asked if anyone had seen him on the high-road as they came hither. But no one had heard of him, although the Persian Cat had come from that direction.

An hour slipped by. The Fairy was growing anxious and Cho-Cho repeatedly looked at his watch.

At last he said:

“With your permission, Fairy, I will go look for the Red Brown Squirrel. He was my friend and I greatly fear some evil has befallen him.”

“I, too, will go,” said the Cat, “there are many dangers upon the high-road, and a comrade may be needed.”

“I am with you,” said the Dog. “Lead on, Cho-Cho.”

“Friends,” said the Persian Cat, “I believe I can find the Red Brown Squirrel. Between his home and the Fairy’s garden there lives an evil imp, called Jealousy. I passed him today as I journeyed hither and he scowled upon me with a look of rage. He was afraid to attack me, but the Squirrel is small and not a match for this cruel imp, and has doubtless fallen a victim to his malice.”

“Hasten, hasten,” said Cho-Cho, and passing through the gate he started briskly toward the Squirrel’s home.

The Cat and the Dog followed and all three were soon lost to the view of the anxious company in the Fairy’s garden.

The friends covered the ground rapidly and were nearing the home of the Red Brown Squirrel, when Cho-Cho’s sharp eyes spied a half-eaten nut lying in the roadway.

There were no trees near, and they knew that it must have been dropped by their friend.

Looking eagerly upon the ground, they discovered the tiny footprints of the Squirrel and the larger ones of the flat-footed imp, leading into a field of tall grass.

Here the Cat went forward, for his sharp eyes could distinguish the footprints with great ease. Following these signs they crossed the field and came out upon an unused road that sloped downward, until they found themselves beside a deep river which seemed impossible to pass.

“Get upon my back,” said the Wonderful Dog, “the River is my comrade, it will not harm you.”

With ease and confidence he swam forward, and carried them to safety on the further bank.

Cho-Cho and the Persian Cat stepped from the Dog’s back and turned to thank him, when from behind a large rock, the ugly imp darted out and sprang toward Cho-Cho, trying to push him into the river. But the Cat, catching the imp by the neck, held him firmly, and he was powerless to do aught but scream.

Binding him fast they went behind the great rock and found the Red Brown Squirrel in chains.

The Cat set him free and the friendly Squirrel stood up before them brave and unhurt.

Then they hurried back to the Fairy and were received with relief and pleasure.

And now, the Fairy with the Wonderful Dog leads the way to the dining-room. The Persian Cat gracefully offers his arm to little Mrs. Dog. Cho-Cho and the Boy come hand in hand, followed by the Lovely Bird and Mr. Beet. The Red Brown Squirrel is telling the story of his adventure to Mr. Onion, and Rumor and Mr. Carrot bring up the rear.

The dining-room is a mass of roses and smilax, and in the center, a table full of all the delicious things that children like.

Mrs. Dog remarks that the decorations are lovely, and the Persian Cat replies that the ladies are more beautiful than the flowers.

The little Fairy flits here and there among her guests, seeing, with charming courtesy, that all their wants are well supplied, and when at last they can eat no more, Cho-Cho rises, and with a glass of sparkling lemonade proposes a toast:

“To our charming hostess, the Fairy Health.”

With a right good will the company drink the toast, then led by the Persian Cat they leave the house and with laughter and jest pass by lovely garden paths out to the fountain—and so the fun goes on, ending at last with a dance in the dell, and joy and happiness in every heart.

The Macmillan Company has arranged to publish a series of health books for the CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION of America

Health in Education       Education in Health

The Child Health Organization has undertaken a nation-wide campaign to raise the health standard of the school child.

The following books are now ready:

Rosy Cheeks and Strong Heart

Rhymes of Cho-Cho’s Grandma

Cho-Cho and the Health Fairy

Child Health Alphabet

Price list furnished upon application

Order from any of the following addresses of

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

New York

64 Fifth

Avenue

Chicago

25th St. &

Prairie Ave.

San Francisco

609 Mission

Street

Boston

Huntington

Chambers

Dallas

330 S. Harwood

Street

Literature published separately by the CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION of America

Weight Card—Tags—Posters

Health in Play—My Health Book

Standards of Nutrition and Growth

The Demonstration and Its Application

The Nutrition Class

Alphabet Cards. A to Z

Health Plays for School Children

Four Plays Dramatizing “Cho-Cho and Health Fairy” Stories

Happy’s Calendar

Milk, the Master Carpenter

Cho-Cho’s Health Game

Price list furnished upon application

Order from the CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION of America

Penn Terminal Building, 370 Seventh Avenue, New York City

THE U. S. BUREAU OF EDUCATION

has arranged for the sale of the following Reprints:

Class Room Weight Record

Right Height and Weight for Boys

Right Height and Weight for Girls

Wanted! Teachers to Enlist for Health Service

Diet for the School Child

Summer Health and Play School

Teaching Health

Child Health Program for Parent-Teacher Associations and Women’s Clubs

Further Steps in Teaching Health

The Lunch Hour at School

Suggestions for a Program for Health Teaching in the Elementary Schools

Your Opportunity in the Schools

Health Training for Teachers

Orders for these should be sent to: The Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing

Office, Washington, D. C. (Remittance must accompany all orders.)

CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION of America

Board of Trustees

Dr. L. Emmett Holt, President

Dr. Thomas D. Wood, Vice-President

Dr. Frederick Peterson, Secretary

James G. Berrien, Treasurer

Mrs. John Collier

Clinton H. Crane

Dr. Samuel McC. Hamill

Dr. Royal S. Haynes

Dr. Victor G. Heiser

Owen R. Lovejoy

Mrs. Frederick Peterson

Dr. Bernard Sachs

Mrs. Frank A. Vanderlip

Dr. Philip Van Ingen

Allan Wardwell

Miss Florence Wardwell

Dr. Herbert B. Wilcox

Dr. C.-E. A. Winslow

STAFF

Sally Lucas Jean, Director

Associate Directors: Marie L. Rose Anne L. Whitney Anne Raymond, Field Representative

Assistants: Grace T. Hallock Margaret C. Carey Alice F. Loomis

Advisory Directors: J. Mace Andress Lucy Oppen Mabel Bragg

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES