June and the Pearl

There was once a little girl who was named June, because she happened to be born in that month. It was the day before her birthday, and she had been praying for a special birthday present—something that she wanted very much, but was a little afraid that she would not have it, as it was too costly. She was a lucky girl, in that
she lived by the seaside, and from her bedroom window could look right out over a wide expanse of sea. One
night, when the sun was setting, she got into her bed and looked across the sea. Presently a fairy floated into the room, on a sunbeam, and said, "June, it is your birthday tomorrow, and I want to take you now to play on the shore with a little girl called Peggy." "I cannot," said June, "my mother expects me to be in bed." "That's
all right," replied the fairy; "I will bring you back again, safe and sound." Away they went to the shore, and
directly they arrived there, the fairy disappeared in the sea. Looking round, June saw Peggy standing near her
and said: "Peggy, at what game shall we play?" "Oh, let us play at finding things," came the reply, and quickly
they went off to see what they could find. After sometime, June cried out excitedly: "Peggy, see what I have found, a most beautiful pearl. " "How lovely!" said Peggy, "I wish that I could find one like it. " "Well, let us search again, and perhaps we shall find another."

It was not long before June did discover another, but it was smaller than the previous one. June kindly handed it to Peggy, who did not look at all pleased, and unkindly said: "I think that I ought to have the large one." June did not wish to give it up, as it was just what she had prayed for as a birthday present, and Peggy knew that it was June's birthday tomorrow. June, however, said: "Let us look again, perhaps we may find another larger one." Presently she found a very beautiful shell, just as large as the first one found, and which was covered on the inside with shining mother-of-pearl. This she showed to Peggy, who in a nasty fit of temper threw it madly into the sea, saying, "I want the one which you have."

June was very upset, and cried bitterly. Then suddenly, just from the place where the shell had been thrown into the sea, the fairy re-appeared, and asked what was the matter. June said nothing; but Peggy opened her hand which clasped the shell and saw, to her horror, that it had turned into a nasty black piece of coal. Bad temper spoils all nice and beautiful things. Peggy ran away very disconsolate and sad, but June was taken back to her bed by the fairy, as she had promised.

June awoke in the morning with a start, and heard her mother saying: "Many happy returns of the day, June, dear." June rubbed her eyes, and then looking round, saw a lovely box of sweets on the dressing-table, and on the top of it a small parcel, which she hastily opened, and found that it contained a beautiful pearl—just what she had been hoping and praying for. "Oh, thank you, mother; it is just what I wanted." "I knew that," replied her mother, "and as you have been unselfish to others, I saved up my money in order that you should have what you so much wanted."