Part 5

“With pleasure,” said the Dog, “but I do not know the way.” Leaning forward, Cho-Cho slowly passed his hands before the Dog’s eyes. Immediately sight was given to the Dog and he could see far off in the distance the Witch’s house and the road that led to it.

“Hurry,” said Cho-Cho, seating himself upon the Dog’s back, “it grows late.”

The great Dog started forward and at each step his pace quickened until his feet scarcely seemed to touch the ground. Faster, faster, and faster he went, and the wind whistled through his long hair, and his beautiful tail waved like a plume. Trees and houses flew by them as they rushed on, and the Dog laughed with glee.

Cho-Cho, clinging on with hands and feet, saw ahead of them a high stone fence. The Dog went over it in a flying leap and landed safely on the other side in a field of grass. Here he began to slacken his pace, for in front of them loomed a dark forest, and only a narrow pathway led through it.

Entering the forest, the Dog was obliged to walk, as the path grew rough and steep, and the underbrush on either side was thick and tangled. At last they came to the mouth of a cave.

“This is the home of the Witch,” said Cho-Cho. “We will hide here in the bushes.”

Presently they heard a harsh laugh and the ugly Witch came forth from the shadow of the cave. She paused a moment, dazzled by the sunlight, and Cho-Cho could see clearly the deep scars on her bare ankles, made by chains that had once bound her, and her left arm hung in a sling.

Drawing from his pocket a bright crystal ball, he flashed it directly in the Witch’s eyes.

She stood spellbound for several minutes holding one hand to her head, then her body slowly relaxed and she slipped down upon the pathway.

Cho-Cho stepped forth from his hiding place among the bushes, and stood beside the Witch.

She lay quite still as though asleep. “Lie there for two and twenty hours,” Cho-Cho said, “and when you awaken your sight shall be so dimmed that never again shall you see clearly—never again shall you molest the Green Vegetables.”

Then they went forward into the cave to find the little Vegetable Man. He lay upon the ground, bound hand and foot, trembling with fear.

“Courage, little Man,” said Cho-Cho, “we are your friends and have come to take you home,” and cutting his bonds, they led him forth from the cave.

“Who are you, Friends?” said the little Man.

“I am Cho-Cho, the Friend of the Children, and this Dog is called Publicity,” said Cho-Cho. “We work together for the Health of the Children.”

Then mounting the Dog’s broad back, they started on their homeward journey.

That night from his Magic Window, Cho-Cho beheld a strange sight, for in the fields and gardens the little Vegetable Men were dancing in the Moonlight, and as they danced, they sang with joy, for the old Witch Ignorance lay helpless in the Forest and they were safe from harm.

The Lovely Bird

One summer day when the city streets were full of heat and dust, and all the world seemed tired, Cho-Cho’s thoughts turned longingly to the country and to the lovely Garden of the little Fairy Health.

Packing his bag and locking the door of his house, Cho-Cho started on a visit to the Fairy.

Within the Fairy’s Garden, screened from the road by trees and bushes, was a lovely dell, and in the center of the dell a Fountain, so beautiful that all who saw it paused to admire its sparkling waters and the beauty of its sculptured figure. This figure was of white marble, carved with rare skill into the form of a little child, and from its uplifted hand the waters of the fountain sprang.

Cho-Cho found the Fairy resting in the cool shade and sank into a seat beside her.

“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.”