Part 6

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.”

Then Cho-Cho hastened to the home of the Dog. Arriving there, he rapped smartly on the door, which was opened by the Dog’s wife, who said he was just finishing his breakfast—that he would be out immediately.

In a few minutes the Dog appeared. Then Cho-Cho told him of the Lovely Bird.

“I shall be glad to help,” said the Wonderful Dog, “but how shall I find the way?”

Taking from his pocket the Blue-Gray Feather, Cho-Cho held it before the Dog’s nose. He sniffed it eagerly and then throwing up his head, laughed with glee. “Get up quickly, Cho-Cho,” he said, and Cho-Cho sprang upon his back.

The great Dog bounded through the door and out into the road, and with a sharp bark was off like wind.

The Children scurried from the roadside, and people standing in their doorways gazed with wonder as the Dog rushed by. Through villages and towns he went, and everywhere the people ran out to see Publicity pass.

They left the houses far behind, and still the great Dog did not slacken his pace, until they came to desolate fields and a countryside where no trees grew.

On all sides stretched these lonely fields, with no signs of life, except where far away to the right rose the dark outline of a house. A rough path led toward it, and following this road the Dog went forward. As they drew nearer they could see the house was of stone, and had no windows on the lower floor. Up near the roof were narrow windows set deep in the wall. Only a great door in the front, made of iron, gave entrance to the house, and this was tightly locked.

Sitting on the ground, the Dog took from his neck a stout collar made of heavy leather and brass, and opening a pocket on the inside of this collar, he took out a Golden Key.

This key fitted the lock, and entering a large room they found the Imps asleep before a fire. As the great door creaked upon its rusty hinges the Imps awakened and sprang to their feet.

“What have you done with the Lovely Bird?” Cho-Cho demanded. “I have seen no bird,” said the Imp called Dirt. “You may search this house from dark cellar to dusty garret if you doubt my word.”

Cho-Cho turned to his friend the Dog. “Watch here,” he said, “and see to it that these Imps do not escape.” Then holding his Magic Magnet in his hand he looked about the room. The Magnet turned toward the door at the far corner, and Cho-Cho following the Magnet entered a dark and narrow passage, that seemed to lead on and on. He could not see, but Cho-Cho’s stout heart knew no fear for he possessed magic power, that protected him from all evil—so he called to his friend the Moon and asked for help. Mr. Moon had not yet risen, but he sent for his chief Clerk and gave an order, “Send down to my friend Cho-Cho one of our latest flashlights,” he said, “one of Golden Light, that will turn the darkest dungeon into the light of day.”

So in the shortest possible time Cho-Cho held in his hand a powerful flashlight that showed him every corner of the dark passage, but no matter how carefully he looked he could find no trace of the Lovely Bird.

Standing there thinking, he heard a faint sound that seemed to come from within the wall, and looking at his Magnet found that it pointed directly opposite.

With his ear at the wall, he heard the sound clearer—then suddenly his eye caught the glint of steel, and he saw a small bright spot about the size of a pea. Cho-Cho pressed the spot and the wall opened showing a tiny room. The Lovely Bird lay on the floor, too weak to fly—so Cho-Cho carried him forth and helped him on the Dog’s back.

The wicked Imps knew that their punishment was near and cowered in the corner.

Then Cho-Cho bound the two Imps with strong cords. Standing them back to back he tied their arms together and also their legs, so that they could go neither forward nor backward, and mounting the back of his friend the Wonderful Dog, he started homeward.

They could hear the cries of the Imps far down the roadway, for each one blamed the other with ugly words for what had happened.

When Education felt stronger he flew forward with his Message to the Teachers.

And everywhere the Teachers received him with the deepest interest, and now all over this great country Children are being taught the beauty of cleanliness and the love of fresh air and pure water.

As the Children learn these wholesome health habits, they in turn teach others, and in every home tooth brushes and soap and pure water are to be found, and busy mothers go about their work with cheerful faces, for their Children are healthy and clean and happy.

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.