THE PAINTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 102, 1 May 1937, Page 20

THE PAINTERS

(Written for Autumn-in-thc-King by "Buster Boy," 13.*

"pENEATH. a large tree, several persons were grouped.' It was midday, ;and •■*-*■ the warm Autumn sun, filtering through the. leaves;;fell-across;.the kindly face of an old man, who was smiling at several children sitting around him. 'His eyes passed foyer each of them in turn—Billy; with.blue eyes.Naida ■pf>ttie *'da'fk eyes,';'idlden-Haired; felicity;.^serious-feted-:little Colleen, 'and Iris,' the eldest-Bf' the 'group! In'the'field "next to Where, they sat the golden corn was ripe and swaying in the .breeze. .. .- ~;■■, .; ~ . ~ . ■ "- "Now, do tell us a story, a fafry tale," begged Felicity. "We've waited all"the week, and as I was the first to see you coming over*the hill.l am going to choose what sort. Please, a fairy story." ...- ; - ... . "Just as you say"—the old man shrugged, with a twinkle in, his. eyes. "I have'been thinking out. this story for you all the week-while I; was^ on my way to Balmacewan. As I tramped along,.; I thought, /that•;.as this season was Autumn, the most, welcome of the .year, what: would, be .more fitting than an Autumn story." ' . ' . ,'■"''■_■'" -.'.,'■ , "Do start,", laughed Billy. "We are getting more impatient. , Even I love your-fairy stories.'.' ■'■: : .■' :' ' '■■: "■'.'' •■''■- ■''.'■ '■ ■■' ■''■■■'" ■■- ■-; \ "•■■.■■.'■.'':"-■:■)-.■■■'-1 "7.' - .--'-■ "We .ah love them,""said Colleen., ~.-/ ' :/■■-:,/. , ; ... ; ;.r ■;, _ ' . ' The old man commenced: Fairy families are quite 'large ones and each family has its own special work to do .about.-the -world, in the 'different seasons. The family about which I ani going to tell you is named' Autumn. ■■. As summer merges into Autumn each'year, Father, and Mother. Autumn bring their large-family .to earth, and/giving each elf paints and-brushes, tell'them which leaves to paint and just how much pamt toputjon. As the children started on their way. one Autumn, Goldie, -who^pamtedtheoak; trees, called to her twin brother, "Now, Nuttie, don't get up; to your tricks down here,-as you have been doing- all the summer. Those holly trees must be: painted red; ;Now look, here's an oak ; beside; a; holly, sojI;I1. keep ah eye on you. - * '■"' ..■'■■.'■•■■ '"■ '■ : •'•:•'••!-",."■■';"' ~'■-.■.■• :.>:'-J:":'''----,: 'v.y'''-;t'*-':';.^'. ■ "Poof," scoffed Nuttie, "I'll be finished before you are.'^ He,-perched on a bough of the holly tree and 'dipped his brush; in the paint poti.. Just at . that ■momenUa butterfly sailfd past,;.a; gloriously coloured butterfly. ■: '■- V . • "Now," murmured Nuttie to himself, ,"what; is thatthmg? .M -have ;not seen anything like, that in Fairyland. See, what 'gorgeous colours. How I would love to have my pot full of that bluey colour on Its wings—wouldn t this tree look well with blue leaves?' ; I think I will follow, it and see wh«re it goes. : Perhaps' it will take me to where, it stores its .colours.". •-;;; ',-,, . ■ V ■ Goldie,. at, thatmbmerit. was vefy busy painting, and did ;not ■see Nuttie fly off after the butterfly. . ■ ■ - ■!;■■■ '■•'■;, !\ -.';.. ' The butterfly saw the little elf following him, and:.knowing :that;>Nuttie should be at work, thought, he would teach him a; lesson; " ,On and :£n. flew :the,.butterfly,-until the little.elf wondered when it would jS top. ;;He ; began to; wish hVhad stayed at his painting, for the unknown^did not^ seem to be heading: for its home, and he, Nuttie, was so tired. He^began. to ■ lag behind,-and the butterfly, seeing this, chuckled. Nuttie was left further ; .and further; behind,'^ :uhtil::the ; butterfly, flying faster, was soon-out^of, sight : Poor little Nuttie sobbed :with disappointment, and.seeing that, the Jest.;thing to"do;,was.to.;Teturh,;to/his /.painting, fluttered sadly;back to;the liolly .tree, -;ai;d'isillusionedMittle""elf."-";';:,. .■".'■■■• . ; ■'"■:;,■.■;;': .'■■'..-■, :^ ■■•',,"'"■ ."-'V^ ■'■ •'. ■,:-__ ■■■>• On-arriving back,; he^saw that his parents and, brothers' and,, :sistert '.were:-.-gathered, around; Goldie, all talking at once. When;4heyf;saw;/him youlnaughty: elf? '; We've aIT finished :our-work, vit-iT-iiin^v^.-IgsrßbnJe:""MßK-at--lhat,HolV Tree! You haven't /done a spoti of work, you .ashamed of yourself? >Next ; 4ime■w^wine *wn here you: will not be allowed to work by yourself, but will help; Goldre to paint the oak' trees. 'The holly trees will always remain green, .and .every "time; you: see one it will, remind ;you of your disobedience.; Come'let rus ; ; aU go back to Fairyland. You have been punished enough. •:.;.;.;. ---: : ■;, ■:,;-- .■-.-.,-;.-.■; "OhV cried Felicity,'"l did^enjpy that." : ■■ ;,,:; ~:,.. :: , V <;, ; "I've often wondered why the hony trees were; green in' Autumn, : ;whea all the other; trees1 -wore-gold and brown gowns,'? said little Colleen. ■ >,