Part 1

CHO-CHO _and_ THE HEALTH FAIRY

_Six Stories by_ ELEANOR GLENDOWER GRIFFITH

_Illustrated by JESSIE GILLESPIE_

[Illustration: CHILD HEALTH]

_HEALTH IN EDUCATION EDUCATION IN HEALTH_

New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1922

_All rights reserved_

COPYRIGHT, 1919

CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

DEDICATED TO THE FAIRY GODMOTHER OF CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

_Mrs. Frederick Peterson_

[Illustration: [Child]]

[Illustration: _Keep up your courage little Fairy_]

The House the Children Built

Once upon a time there lived a good and beautiful Fairy named Health, and she was very happy, for all around were flowers and trees and birds and in the midst of these, her house.

Now Health’s house was built of bricks and shingles and lovely colored glass. One day when the sky was blue and the sun shining, down the road came an ugly old Witch. Her face was hard and her eyes were very cruel. She stopped in front of Health’s lovely garden and from her pocket drew forth a yellow ball and threw it with all her strength toward the house.

It settled on the roof, and where it fell there sprang forth fire, which spread and spread over the house, until it was a mass of flames. Fairy Health ran to the well for water, but before her tiny hands could draw the water up from the well, her house was burnt beyond all help.

When the Witch, whose name was Ignorance, saw the harm she had done, she laughed a cruel laugh and hobbled down the road.

Poor little Fairy Health sank upon the grass in her garden and cried. At last she was conscious of a voice and looking up, saw in a green bush quite near a lovely Bird, who said: “Keep up your courage, Fairy, for I will tell you how to build your house anew.”

Health dried her eyes upon a sweet geranium leaf, and asked him how that could possibly be done.

The Bird replied: “It can be done by the hands of Children alone. Every time a Child learns to eat the right food, a brick shall be added to your house, every time a Child learns to sleep in the sweet fresh air, a shingle shall be put upon the roof. And every time a Child learns to play and be happy, a colored glass shall be added to the windows.”

“But alas!” said Fairy Health, “How shall we teach the Children these things?”

“I will go to the Teachers who are wise and good,” said the Bird, “and tell them what to do.”

So the Bird, whose name was Education, started on his journey. He took his brother Rumor with him to help tell the Teachers, because there were a great many Teachers to be told about the Children’s health.

Far and near these wise birds traveled, to little towns and to big cities, and everywhere the Teachers listened to their story, until in all that great country, the Children were taught to eat wholesome food, to sleep in the sweet fresh air, and to play and be happy.

And as the Children grew healthy and happy, the bricks were added to the Fairy’s house, and shingles were put upon the roof. Lovely colored glass filled up the broken windows, and once again there stood among the trees and flowers a house so beautiful that strangers, passing by, paused to admire it. Health often invited them to rest in her garden, and as she refreshed them with sparkling water from the well, she told the story of her house, and how Children had rebuilt it for her.

[Illustration: [Birds]]

[Illustration: _What is that. O powerful Witch._]

The Magic Oat Field

One day as the Fairy Health sat within her Rose Arbor, there came walking down the road a tiny Elf. He had a merry face and a bright smile, and pausing beside the Garden Gate, he asked:

“Does Health live here?”

“I am Health,” said the Fairy, and rose to greet him. The Elf drew from his pocket a little card, on which was written “Cho-Cho, the Friend of Children,” and presented it to the Fairy.

“I come,” he said, “to view the wonders of your Garden, and to learn from you the secrets of a Child’s Heart.”

The good Fairy took Cho-Cho’s hand and leading him by many lovely paths, came at length into a Field of ripening Oats. On the borders of the Field grew flowers of many colors, and the air was filled with perfume.

Health paused and said: “As long as these beautiful Oats flourish I know that everywhere in all this great country Children can eat Oatmeal for their breakfast and grow strong and healthy, but if the Oats should wither and die, something dreadful would happen to the Children.”

Even as she spoke, a strange light settled on the Oat Field, and the beautiful waving grain began to shrivel and wither away.

A look of terror came into the Fairy’s eyes. As Cho-Cho turned to clasp her hand in sympathy, suddenly there stood beside him a handsome Persian Cat.

“Don’t lose heart, little Fairy,” said Puss, “I will help you. Last night, as I was walking in the moonlight, I saw an ugly old Witch creep into your garden.

“In her hand she carried a large strong box. I hid behind a bush and saw her open the box. As she raised the lid, out sprang swarms of tiny insects and flew toward the Oat Field. The Witch laughed a harsh laugh, and said, ‘Go, little imps—work quickly, for your time is short.’

“I understand magic, Fairy, and can change at will into any shape that pleases me—so in the twinkling of an eye I became a Witch too, and walking slowly forward, I said, ‘A fine night, Madam Witch. What do you here?’

“The old Witch jumped when she heard my voice, but seeing it was only a Witch like herself, she grinned horribly and said: ‘I have persuaded hundreds of children to stop eating Oatmeal, and every time a Child refuses Oatmeal, one of these little imps is born. Before tomorrow night the Fairy’s Oat Field will be withered and dead. One thing only can stop these imps of mine,’ she chuckled.

“‘What is that, O powerful Witch?’ I asked.

“‘I must be bound fast with chains of steel. If such a thing could happen my imps would quickly die and the Children would eat Oatmeal again and the Field regain its beauty, but ha! ha! no one can bind me.’

“‘You must be very clever, Madam Witch,’ I said, ‘But it grows late and I must away.’

“So I left her there and went to my home.”

“What shall I do?” the little Fairy cried. “What shall I do?”

“Be not discouraged, Fairy,” said the Persian Cat, “I am your friend, follow me.”

Down the road the cat led them for fully half a mile, until they came to a forest of fir trees. Quiet reigned within the wood. It was so very still that even their soft footsteps on the pine needles could be heard. There was no light except from far above their heads, where the blue sky shone through the green branches of the trees.

Puss went on and on, until Cho-Cho and the Fairy were growing quite tired. At last he stopped before a huge tree whose branches touched the ground. Parting these, the Cat entered, and followed by his two friends, stood beside the Tree.

“Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful Tree, Open, Oh open your door unto me!”

Slowly the trunk of the great Tree opened and they beheld a narrow stairway leading down, down, farther than their eyes could see.

“Come,” said the Cat, “the Witch lives here. Step lightly or we may rouse her.”

Softly, very softly, they crept down those narrow steps, until at last they entered a dark room. Its only light came from a fire of coals, and before this fire the Witch lay sleeping. Springing upon her, Puss bound her arms and feet with chains of steel, and she lay helpless before them, uttering cries of hate and wickedness.

“Wonderful Cat, who are you?” said Cho-Cho.

“I am Knowledge,” said the Cat, “and this cruel Witch is Ignorance, who spends her life plotting against the health of Children. Between us there is always war. Lie there, Ignorance, while the Children you wish to kill grow strong and healthy. Fairy, your Oat Field is beautiful again.”

Leaving the dark home of Ignorance, they traveled through the sweet scented forest, back to the garden of the Fairy Health. There they found that the Cat had told them true, for the Oat Field was beautiful beyond words. The blue sky smiled above, and the summer wind blew over it, carrying the perfume of a thousand flowers, and all the world seemed full of peace.

“Cat, dear Cat, what can we do for you?” said Cho-Cho.

“Only this,” said Puss, “help me to fight Ignorance.”

From his finger the Cat took two tiny rings. One he gave to Cho-Cho and one to the Fairy.

“If ever again this cruel Witch arises to destroy the Children’s Oatmeal, turn this ring upon your finger twice and say:

“Knowledge, Knowledge, Wherever you be, Come, Oh, come, The Children need Thee!”

And as he said this, Puss waved a gay “Good-bye” and walked gracefully away.

[Illustration: [Cat]]

[Illustration: _He saw a little boy thin and pale._]

The Wonderful Window

Cho-Cho, a tiny Elf, built his house upon the roof of a tall office building in a great city. He chose a sunny corner of the chimney, and there with sticks and strings, brought to him by his friends, the Sparrows, he erected a cozy little Home.

On the outside, it was quite pretty, but after you entered the door and saw the fire on the hearth, and Cho-Cho’s armchair and books beside it, you decided that it was the most charming little house in all that noisy city.

Now within this house was a Magic Window, and from this window Cho-Cho could look into all the homes where Children lived.

Sitting beside the Magic Window one day, Cho-Cho beheld a sight that filled his heart with pity. In a dingy room he saw a thin, pale little Boy, sitting beside a rough table, on which the only food was some cheap buns and coffee. As Cho-Cho looked, he saw the Child try to raise the heavy cup to his lips, but his little hands were far too weak, and it fell with a crash upon the floor, breaking into many pieces, and spilling the coffee. Now this Child loved coffee, because all his life he had been used to drinking it. As he saw the coffee wasted on the floor, he laid his head upon the table and cried and cried and cried. Presently he fell asleep.

As he slept, Cho-Cho stood beside him, and taking his hand, led him far, far away from the great city and all its noise and danger. When the little Boy woke, he was walking down a quiet country road and Cho-Cho was with him. Wild grass and violets grew along this road, and far away on either side stretched fields of lovely clover, whose pink blossoms swayed in the wind.

Passing through a gateway, they entered the field. And now they saw an old farm house surrounded by trees. In the door stood a Sweet-faced Woman, who looked at them with kindly interest.

“Lady,” said Cho-Cho, “this little Boy has no Mother. Will you give him a glass of your good milk? He is very faint.”

Then a strange thing happened. Cho-Cho vanished. He had been standing right beside the little Boy and then suddenly he was gone.

The little Boy began to cry, and the Farmer’s Wife, whose heart was full of love for children, and who had none of her own, gathered him up in her strong arms, and carried him into the large kitchen.

Here she gave him fresh Brown Bread to eat and Milk that was sweet and cool, and he ate and ate, until he could eat no more.

As the days went by, the good Woman learned to love the little Boy as if he were her own, and he grew so strong and healthy that no one would have imagined him the same lonely Child that Cho-Cho had brought to the Farm House. All day long he played in the sweet clover-scented air, sometimes with the little calves in the field, but more often beside the Dairy, where the Sweet-faced Woman spent so much of her time.

The Dairy was built of stone, and the walls were thick and deep. A little stream ran through it, and in a stone trough stood great crocks of Milk, Milk to make Children strong and healthy, for nothing in all the world is so good for Children as Milk. The stream sang among the Milk crocks, and the little Boy played beside the Dairy, and the good Woman smiled and was happy.

Then, one day while the little Boy was playing in the clover field, down the road came an old Witch. She smiled at the Child, and spoke pleasantly to him, but in her heart was hate and ugliness.

“Come walk with me, my dear,” she said, “and I will give you coffee to drink.”

The Farmer’s Wife had often told the little Boy never to drink coffee for it was very bad for Children, but he liked coffee, so he took the old Witch’s hand and followed her far, far away.

As the sunlight faded from the fields, and night came on, the Sweet-faced Woman missed the little Boy, and anxiously looked for him, but nowhere could he be found.

Now Cho-Cho from his Magic Window in the great city had never ceased to look each day toward the country and the Farm where the Boy lived, and as he saw the Child grow strong and healthy, he smiled with pleasure, for Cho-Cho was the Friend of Children.

But today as he looked, to his great surprise, he saw the Sweet-faced Woman sobbing on her doorstep, and he knew that something must be wrong. After putting out the living-room fire and locking the door of his house, Cho-Cho started at once for the Farm. The Woman still sat on her doorstep, sad with weeping.

“Lady,” said Cho-Cho, “tell me your trouble.”

Then she told him that the little Boy was lost.

“I will find him,” said Cho-Cho, “for I have in my pocket a Magic Magnet, and when I hold it in my right hand, it will draw me toward anyone whom I wish to seek. Have courage, I will bring back your little Boy.”

As he spoke, Cho-Cho drew out the Magic Magnet and held it in his right hand. Slowly the Magnet turned toward the sunny road, and Cho-Cho walked on.

The path was very rough and full of sharp stones, and ended at last in front of an enormous rock. In this rock was an iron door, so stout and heavy that it could not be opened, unless one had the key, and Cho-Cho had no key.

As Cho-Cho rested for a bit, feeling rather discouraged, he heard a voice, and there sat a Red Brown Squirrel.

“What is wrong, Friend?” said the Squirrel.

“A little Boy is lost,” said Cho-Cho, “and I know that he is behind this wall, but I cannot open the door.”

“I can help you,” said the Squirrel. Stooping, he picked up a small stone, and began to rub it between his paws. As he rubbed, the stone turned to iron, and quickly into a key that fitted the lock on the huge door.

“I thank you,” said Cho-Cho. “What is your name?”

“I am Friendship,” said the Squirrel, “and I will go with you on your journey.”

Through the great door they went, and on again up the mountain, coming at last to the top, and there on the ground lay the little Boy. His clothes were soiled, and torn in many places, for the Witch had dragged him up the mountainside by one small arm, and the rough stones and briars had caught his garments as she hurried him onward. He was asleep where the Witch had thrown him. Cho-Cho’s heart filled with pity when he saw the little figure lying there. Bending over, Cho-Cho gently touched the tear-stained face and the little Boy awoke.

“Where is the Witch?” Cho-Cho asked. The little Boy caught his hand in a frightened grasp. He was so afraid that he could scarcely speak.

“Cho-Cho, take me home,” he sobbed, “take me home, before the Witch comes back.”

“She shall not hurt you,” Cho-Cho answered. “But where did she go?”

Before the Child could speak, a harsh laugh sounded in their ears, a heavy stone whistled through the air, and fell beside Cho-Cho, barely missing his head, then all was very still.

“Stay with the Boy,” Cho-Cho told the friendly Squirrel, “this Witch shall be punished.”

The Magnet in his hand pointed directly toward a large rock. Its steep sides were very sharp and rough, and looking up Cho-Cho saw the ugly Witch standing on the top.

“So I am to be punished, am I?” she screamed, her face distorted by rage, “I will show you who has power here,” and she hurled a sharp stone at Cho-Cho. Springing aside, Cho-Cho drew an arrow from its quiver and a stout bow from his back, and carefully aiming, he pulled the bow string. The arrow sped through the air, and struck the Witch with such force that she fell forward, and losing her balance, rolled over and over down the side of the great rock. When Cho-Cho reached the place where she lay unconscious, one arm hung limp at her side, broken by the fall. Her feet were scarred by heavy chains that had once bound her, and looking on her cruel face Cho-Cho said, “She has been punished enough.”

Then taking the little Boy’s hand, Cho-Cho started back to the Farm House. The Sweet-faced Woman met them on the road and when she saw the little Boy, her face lit up with happiness and love.

“What can I do for you, Cho-Cho?” she asked.

“Help little Children,” Cho-Cho answered, and looking at his wrist watch, he saw it was quite late, and remembering a business engagement in the city, he hurried away.

[Illustration: [Clown]]

[Illustration: _Will you take me on your back?_]

The Little Vegetable Men

One sunny summer day, the little Fairy Health worked among her flowers, weeding and digging the rich brown earth to make them beautiful. She sang, as she worked, a gay little song, and tripped lightly here and there over the grass and flower beds. Stopping at last to wipe the earth from her hands upon a large lily leaf, for it made a most convenient towel, she looked up and saw Cho-Cho coming down the road and ran to the gate to greet him.

Now Cho-Cho was a tiny Elf who loved Children, and he was one of the Fairy’s oldest friends.

“Fairy,” said Cho-Cho, “in looking from my Magic Window last evening I saw the old Witch Ignorance abroad. Up and down the city streets she went and into all the homes where Children live, and on the door of every house she made a black mark.”

“Oh, Cho-Cho,” said the Fairy, “this means trouble for the Children.”

“Yes,” said Cho-Cho.

Leading him to a seat within her Rose Arbor, the Fairy brought him sparkling water from her well and bade him rest until he felt refreshed.

As she spoke, through the garden gate came three queer-looking little Men. The first had the head of a Beet, and his clothes were made from dull green leaves. His shoes and stockings were beet-colored and in his hand he carried a green hat.

The second little Man was a white Onion, and his clothes were the green of onion tops; and the third little fellow had the face of a Carrot, and he, too, was all in green.

“Fairy,” said the little Man who looked like a Beet, “we are in great trouble and have come to ask for your help. We are called the Green Vegetables and are a large and happy family. Last night while we slept, the wicked Witch Ignorance crept in among us and carried off one of our little Men. We did not know that he was gone until we were awakened by his cries, and when we rushed to help him, this cruel Witch beat us to the ground and sped far away.

“This morning, I found upon my doorstep a letter. It was from the Witch and said that unless we gave her gold she would return each night and carry away one of our comrades. Help us, Fairy, for this Witch is very powerful.”

“Courage, little Man,” said the Fairy, “Cho-Cho and I will help you.” “Fairy,” said Cho-Cho, “I must find this cruel Witch, for if she hurts these little Men, the Children will have no Vegetables to eat, and Children must eat Vegetables. This is what the black mark meant upon the doors,” and turning, Cho-Cho walked rapidly away.

Now Cho-Cho had a friend, a Wonderful Dog, who could travel like the wind, and he hurried down the road toward the Dog’s house.

Finding the Dog at home, Cho-Cho told him of the little Men, and added, “I must find this Witch before nightfall, and it is now noon. I cannot travel fast enough, for she lives far away. Will you take me on your back?”

“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.