“Fairy,” said Cho-Cho, “I am grieved about my Children.”
“What is wrong, Cho-Cho?” said the little Fairy.
“There are two Imps,” said Cho-Cho, “going into all the houses where children live. One is called Dirt, and he leaves upon the Children’s hands and faces and in their hair and on their clothes ugly black marks. The other Imp is called Neglect, and he whispers to the Children not to clean their teeth, or brush their hair, or bathe their bodies. I saw these Imps from my Magic Window, Fairy, and I came to ask your help. What shall we do?”
“I have a strong friend,” said the Fairy, “a Lovely Bird, called Education, and he will go to the Teachers, and they will teach the Children how to be cleanly, and to love the cool pure water.”
As she spoke, they heard a noise of wings, and the Lovely Bird fluttered to the ground. Then the Fairy told him of their trouble.
“Courage,” said the Bird, “I will go to the Teachers, but my way will be full of peril, for these Imps are powerful and they will try to hold me back. Each day you must watch within this dell. If I am hurt, you will find beside the fountain a Blue-Gray Feather. Then, Cho-Cho, you must hasten to my aid.”
As he said this, the Lovely Bird rose into the air, and mounted higher and higher, until he was lost to their view. Day after day Cho-Cho and the Fairy sat beside the fountain watching for the Feather, and after many days had passed, they began to hope that Education had safely reached the Teachers.
Then one day, slowly circling downward from the sky, came a Blue-Gray Feather, and rested at their feet.
“Oh, Cho-Cho,” said the Fairy, “the Lovely Bird is hurt,” and laying her head upon the fountain’s edge, she sobbed with grief and disappointment.
“Courage,” said Cho-Cho, “I have a noble ally, a Wonderful Dog, who can travel like the wind. His name is Publicity, and he will help Education. His home is not far distant. Be brave. The Lovely Bird shall soon be free.”