Industry is a good teacher , and money can not buy happiness , as I know to my sorrow . '' The old gentleman still seemed to be talking to the frog , and as he spoke he took his hand out of his pocket with less in it than he had at first intended . `` What a very queer person ! '' thought Marjorie , for she had not heard a word , and wondered what he was thinking about down there . Jack walked out of the brook just then , and she ran to check him up ; not an easy task for little hands , as he preferred to nibble the grass on the bank . But she did it cleverly , smoothed the ruffled mane , and , dropping another curtsy , stood aside to let the little carriage pass . `` Thank you , child -- thank you . Here is something for your bank , and good luck to it . '' As he spoke , the old man laid a bright gold dollar in her hand , patted the rosy cheek , and vanished in a cloud of dust , leaving Marjorie so astonished at the grandeur of the gift , that she stood looking at it as if it had been a fortune . It was to her ; and visions of pink calico gowns , new grammars , and fresh hat-ribbons danced through her head in delightful confusion , as her eyes rested on the shining coin in her palm . Then , with a solemn air , she invested her first money by popping it down the chimney of the scarlet mansion , and peeping in with one eye to see if it landed safely on the ground-floor . This done , she took a long breath , and looked over the railing , to be sure it was not all a dream . No ; the wheel marks were still there , the brown water was not yet clear , and , if a witness was needed , there sat the big frog again , looking so like the old gentleman , with his bottle-green coat , speckled trousers , and twinkling eyes , that Marjorie burst out laughing , and clapped her hands , saying aloud , -- `` I 'll play he was the Brownie , and this is the good-luck penny he gave me . Oh , what fun ! '' and away she skipped , rattling the dear new bank like a castanet . When she had told granny all about it , she got knife and basket , and went out to dig dandelions ; for the desire to increase her fortune was so strong , she could not rest a minute . Up and down she went , so busily peering and digging , that she never lifted up her eyes till something like a great white bird skimmed by so low she could not help seeing it . A pleasant laugh sounded behind her as she started up , and , looking round , she nearly sat down again in sheer surprise , for there close by was a slender little lady , comfortably established under a big umbrella . `` If there WERE any fairies , I 'd be sure that was one , '' thought Marjorie , staring with all her might , for her mind was still full of the old story ; and curious things do happen on birthdays , as every one knows . It really did seem rather elfish to look up suddenly and see a lovely lady all in white , with shining hair and a wand in her hand , sitting under what looked very like a large yellow mushroom in the middle of a meadow , where , till now , nothing but cows and grasshoppers had been seen .
Before XXXXX could decide the question , the pleasant laugh came again , and the stranger said , pointing to the white thing that was still fluttering over the grass like a little cloud , -- `` Would you kindly catch my hat for me , before it blows quite away ? ''
Brownie Jack Marjorie birthdays curtsy dandelions first grammars hat-ribbons minute