THE PIXIE KING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1926, Page 26

THE PIXIE KING.

"Heigh-ho!" sang a small pixie, clasping a largo pixie cake in both of his small brown hands. It was a great day in Toadstool Land. As you know, every mushroom and toadstool is really a watch tower for tlio little underground folk. They push them up through the earth at night, and especially when it has been raining, for the ground is soft and this makes it easier for the little pixie men. They can see everything that goes on around them through tiny holes which they pierce in the toadstools. Last night the pixie King had climbed a watch tower and had been so tired when he reached the top that he had fallen asleep. None of his subjects had dared to waken his Majesty, so he slept on till morning, when a mushroom gatherer had ignorantly broken off the toadstool in which he lay fast asleep, and had carried it away to 'be cooked for breakfast. Now, in Toadstool Land there was a certain pixie who hated the King, and as soon as that person was out of the way he set about making himself King of Toadstool Land. Pixies are very greedy little people, and so when this wicked person invited them all to a great feast at which he would be acknowledged King the stupid pixies accepted readily, for they knew that there would be many nice things to eat at the party, and this was why one little pixie was saying '"Heigh-ho!" as ho ate the sweet cake. "Now!" cried the host in a loud voice, "no one shall touch one scrap more until he acknowledges mc as King. The old King has gone for ever. Now come! I shall make a good King." The pixios looked lovingly at the sweet eatables, then cried in chorus: "We will! We shall have you for King." "Then crown mc!" ordered the scheming one, and a crown of gold was placed upon his head. "Now I am the crowned King of Toadstool Land, and anyone who disobeys mc shall be locked in the dark dungeon beneath the jewel rooms. Now go!"

The pixies looked up in consternation. "But what about the feast I" called someone, in tones of dismay. The newly-crowned King gave a harsh laugh. "You've had all the feast you'll get," he announced, "and if anyone is left in this room in two minutes they shall be imprisoned in the' dark dungeon." Stumbling over one another in their haste, the pixies ran helter skelter out of tho cavern. Outside their indignation gave vent to great anger and a crowd of red-faced brownies met in a mushroom ring to talk it over. "We won't put up with it," said Pixie Pop indignantly. "I wonder where the real King is? I vote we try to find him before long, and drive out the false monarch down below. The other pixies showed their agreement by 'bursting into loud cheers. "Pixie Pop shall go to find the King," they cried loudly. '*Quick, brother, lest the evil one should discover our plan and lock you below in the dark dungeon." "Good-bye, then," called Pixie Pop. "You'd better all go down again or he'll see that I am not there." The pixies obediently disappeared and the brave little brownie started on his quest. There was a small hole in the ground -where the watch tower had disappeared, and also a path of crushed grasses, where the mortal had walked. "Aha!" cried Pixie Pop in glee, "I shall soon find him now!" and he ran as fast as he could, where the path let him. By and bye he came to a small gate in the side of a tall hedge. Behind this was a house with a red roof, for Pixie Pop could see the roof above the hedge and the chimneys, too. He could not undo the latch of the gate, but there was something that was easier. This was to slide in between the thick bars of wood. He now found himself in a cobblestone yard. A few ducks and turkeys were parading around making a loud noise, and they favoured the small visitor with arrogant stares and loud "quacks!" A dairymaid clanged the milk pails merrily as she sang. Pixie Pop felt slightly nervous in this noise and bustle, but something seemed to tell him that he must get inside the bouse, and he ran quickly to the back door. Alas! Terror of terrors! A large furry animal was seated in state upon the doorstop and looked at the pixie with hatred in his great, deep yellow eyes. For one second did he stare, and then ! Pixie Pop had never had the pleasure of seeing the inside of a cat's mouth before, and he never wishes to again. There was a terrible noise, and Pixie Pop fled blindly over the cobble-stones and climbed the straight -wall of the cottage "as only a frightened pixie can. Making sure that Bob, the kitchen cat. was at a safe distance, he started an interesting tour around the roof. Suddenly a bright idea came to him and he gave a jump of joy, while below in the kitchen tho cook complained loudly of "tbose there boys throwing stones upon the roof." He would go down the chimney and find the Pixie King, for this was the house to which he had been taken for sure. So he scrambled up the outside of the chimney and looked down. Nought was to be seen save a large black pan in which something was sizzling merrily. Suddenly Pixie Pop caught his breath with horror, for he saw the cook's hands dropping mushrooms into the dish and he heard the Pixie King's cries of alarm. Quick as lightning he slid down the inside of the chimney and, stretching downwards, was able to pull his Majesty from his undignified throne in the frying pan. There was no time for thanks. The cook -was already screaming something about black magic, and the two little pixies fled for their lives. They had just escaped in time, and the King was too grateful for words. Pie was full of righteous anger when he heard what had been going oo in his kingdom while he was away. "Come." he cried as he met the rest of the pixies, "we shall drive out this wrongdoer!" And the pixie army shouted, "We will!" LOST OR STRAYED. Kitty! Where"s Kitty? O. what shall I do? There's Kitty, fast asleep in Daddy's shoe !