My secret this time has something to do with fairy godmothers, because I have just been reading about the Princess Alicia and the Fairy Godmother in “The Magic Fishbone” by Charles Dickens, only the Fairy Godmother in this book is called “the Fairy Grandmarina” — I like the sound of it, don’t you? 

For a long time my little house, with its white dinity curtains and bright geraniums in the windows seemed too good to be true. At first I was afraid I should wake up and find that it was a dream, but it seemed that I 

”Dreamed it, dreamed it in a dream,
And waked and found it true.” 

Then I was afraid I might touch some magic spot, and the house would shiver and tremble and disappear like a bright soap bubble. It seemed as if the magic spot might be the very middle of the little gray and green and black rug in my living room. It was very foolish, but at first I used to take particular pains to step over that spot, but one morning I decided I must find out about it. I just couldn’t wait any longer.  

I ran downstairs, stood right in the very middle of the rug, and blindfolded my eyes with my hands. 

When I took my hands down nothing had happened. There were the sheep going over the bridge on the wallpaper. There was the rose-colored wing-chair, and there was my writing table with all its fixings. My! but I was happy, and I knew there was no magic spot at all.  

It was after that that I picked up “The Magic Fishbone,” and read about Princess Alicia and her Grandmarina. Let me tell you the story. 

One day the King happened into Mr. Pickles’ fish store to buy a piece of salmon for the family dinner; and such a family as he did have to provide for, too — NINETEEN CHILDREN. No wonder he was so worried and did not notice the little old lady who was there at the same time, for the children had to be fed and clothed, and pay-day was a long way off.  

However, the panting little errand boy soon overtook him as he was going down the street, and close behind trotted the little old lady herself, rustling in silk and smelling deliciously of dried lavender. Of course you know it must indeed be a fairy who would dare to stop a king on his way to the office, and before she was through with him, tell him to not to be greedy, and above all, not to ask silly, grown-up reasons for things. She even stamped her foot and said “Hoity-toity me!”

What she had really stopped him for, after all, was not to scold, but to send a message to the beautiful Princess Alicia, who took the best of care of her eighteen brothers and sisters. 

The message was about the fishbone she would find on her plate that day at dinner. She was to dry it and rub it and make it shine like mother of pearl, and then she could wish one wish it, provided she asked for it at the right time.  

You must read about all the nice things that happened to the Princess Alicia because she was good and beautiful and knew just when to wish her wish.  

Why I should have a fairy godmother I don’t know, but I am quite sure I have one, and that is my secret. Perhaps some day she will come driving up to my door in a chariot drawn by fine peacocks, and then all the children in Boston will come running to me.

From the March 1925 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.