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the worst of it was that nobody but the other fairies knew she WAS a fairy；
people thought she was just an ugly old witch。 The good fairies lived in
the dearest little houses！ One lived in a hollow silver birch； one in a little
moss cottage； and so on。 But the bad fairy lived in a horrid mud house in
the middle of a dark swamp。
Now when the first baby was born to the king and queen； her father
and mother decided to name her 〃Daylight；〃 because she was so bright and
sweet。 And of course they had a christening party。 And of COURSE they
invited the fairies； because the good fairies had always been at the
christening party when a princess was born in the palace； and everybody
knew that they brought good gifts。
But； alas； no one knew about the swamp fairy； and she was not
invited；which really pleased her； because it gave her an excuse for doing
something mean。
The good fairies came to the christening party； and； one after another；
five of them gave little Daylight good gifts。 The other two stood among
the guests； so that no one noticed them。 The swamp fairy thought there
were no more of them； so she stepped forward； just as the archbishop was
handing the baby back to the lady…in…waiting。
〃I am just a little deaf；〃 she said； mumbling a laugh with her toothless
gums。 〃Will your reverence tell me the baby's name again？〃
〃Certainly； my good woman；〃 said the bishop； 〃the infant is little
Daylight。〃
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〃And little Daylight it shall be； forsooth；〃 cried the bad fairy。 〃I decree
that she shall sleep all day。〃 Then she laughed a horrid shrieking laugh；
〃He； he； hi； hi！〃
Everyone looked at everyone else in despair； but out stepped the sixth
good fairy； who by arrangement with her sisters had remained in the
background to undo what she could of any evil that the swamp fairy might
decree。
〃Then at least she shall wake all night；〃 she said； sadly。
〃Ah！〃 screamed the swamp fairy； 〃you spoke before I had finished；
which is against the law； and gives me another chance。〃 All the fairies
started at once to say； 〃I beg your pardon！〃 But the bad fairy said； 〃I had
only laughed ‘he； he！' and ‘hi； hi！' I had still ‘ho； ho！' and ‘hu； hu！' to
laugh。〃
The fairies could not gainsay this； and the bad fairy had her other
chance。 She said；
〃Since she is to wake all night； I decree that she shall wax and wane
with the moon！ Ho； ho； hu； hu！〃
Out stepped the seventh good fairy。 〃Until a prince shall kiss her
without knowing who she is；〃 she said； quickly。
The swamp fairy had been prepared for the trick of keeping back one
good fairy； but she had not suspected it of two； and she could not say a
word； for she had laughed 〃ho； ho！〃 and 〃hu； hu！〃
The poor king and queen looked sad enough。 〃We don't know what
you mean；〃 they said to the good fairy who had spoken last。 But the good
fairy smiled。 〃The meaning of the thing will come with the thing；〃 she
said。
That was the end of the party； but it was only the beginning of the
trouble。 Can you imagine what a queer household it would be； where the
baby laughed and crowed all night； and slept all day？ Little Daylight was
as merry and bright all night as any baby in the world； but with the first
sign of dawn she fell asleep； and slept like a little dormouse till dark。
Nothing could waken her while day lasted。 Still； the royal family got used
to this； but the rest of the bad fairy's gift was a great deal worse；that
about waxing and waning with the moon。 You know how the moon grows
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bigger and brighter each night； from the time it is a curly silver thread low
in the sky till it is round and golden； flooding the whole sky with light？
That is the waxing moon。 Then； you know； it wanes； it grows smaller and
paler again； night by night； till at last it disappears for a while； altogether。
Well； poor little Daylight waxed and waned with it。 She was the rosiest；
plumpest； merriest baby in the world when the moon was at the full； but as
it began to wane her little cheeks grew paler； her tiny hands thinner； with
every night； till she lay in her cradle like a shadow…baby； without sound or
motion。 At first they thought she was dead； when the moon disappeared；
but after some months they got used to this too； and only waited eagerly
for the new moon； to see her revive。 When it shone again； faint and silver；
on the horizon； the baby stirred weakly； and then they fed her gently； each
night she grew a little better； and when the moon was near the full again；
she was again a lively； rosy； lovely child。
So it went on till she grew up。 She grew to be the most beautiful
maiden the moon ever shone on； and everyone loved her so much； for her
sweet ways and her merry heart； that someone was always planning to stay
up at night； to be near her。 But she did not like to be watched； especially
when she felt the bad time of waning coming on； so her ladies…in…waiting
had to be very careful。 When the moon waned she became shrunken and
pale and bent； like an old； old woman； worn out with sorrow。 Only her
golden hair and her blue eyes remained unchanged； and this gave her a
terribly strange look。 At last； as the moon disappeared； she faded away to a
little； bowed； old creature； asleep and helpless。
No wonder she liked best to be alone！ She got in the way of wandering
by herself in the beautiful wood； playing in the moonlight when she was
well； stealing away in the shadows when she was fading with the moon。
Her father had a lovely little house of roses and vines built for her； there。 It
stood at the edge of a most beautiful open glade； inside the wood； where
the moon shone best。 There the princess lived with her ladies。 And there
she danced when the moon was full。 But when the moon waned； her ladies
often lost her altogether； so far did she wander； and sometimes they found
her sleeping under a great tree； and brought her home in their arms。
When the princess was about seventeen years old； there was a
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