THE FAIRY OF THE WOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE FAIRY OF THE WOOD.

A fairy was walking about the country one day when she met little Michael, the woodcutter's son. The boy stopped, much amazed. "Beautiful lady." he said, "who an you?" "I am the fairy of the wood. - ' sh. answered. "Can I do anything for you. little man?" Michael, who was getting over his surprise, replied: "Ob. please. Mistress Fairy, will you help my father and mother? They are very poor, and we have little to eat.'' "Very good, my friend." said the fairy. "Do not fail to come to the end of the wood to-morrow morn, to the spot where the high road lies. You will lind a white wall there; inside the door is the Garden of the Fairies. In the garden stands a fine tree, with apples of gold as big as your two lists. I will srive you one big enough to make you rich. Only be careful; the entrance to the garden is not free: three magic expressions are needed to obtain the apple." At dawn the next morning Michael stood at the end of the road where the high road lay. The door was there, but closed and locked. He raised his voice: "Open: It is I. Michael. I have come to fetch the gold apple." But, cry and knock as loud as ha would, the door did not open. The next day. at dawn, he appeared asain at the door, much worried in his mind. "I was wrong to make a great noise," he thought, "when I might have spoken gently." He knocked quietly, and said: •'Open, if you please. It is little Michael, who has come to fetch the gold apple." ! The door opened wide before him. What a lovely garden: The child was dazzled with so many gay flowers and birds and sweet scents. The gold apple tree stood proudly there with its ruddy apples. Yet at the foot of the tree sat no fairy, but an old dame, spinning busily, with a hood on her head, and just the tin of her pointed no SC sticking out. Michael went up to her and spoke. "Madam. I-come for a gold apple."' Xo answer: not a sign. He repeated his w-ords. The old woman never moved. Undaunted, he stretched out his hand to the tree. But the ell women was neither deal r.;.r blind. "Beware, child, or woe to you:" The bey drew back, and was gone. more and more disappointed. He nevertheless returned at dawn the next day and neared the tree, thinking: "I shall "be more civil to the old dame." "Good day, ma'am," he said; "will you please give mc one of your apples?" [ Tht old woman rose, picked out the

finest fruit, and handed it to Michael. who seized it and ran away. j Alas! no sooner had he left the garden than his hands were empty. The more he wondered the less he found the chip to the mystery. But the next -day he bethought himself. "I was careless indeed and ili-bred not to thank the kind old dame who troubled to get mc the apple." He returned to the sarden and for an apple, which the spinner gave him readily. This time h" did not run away. He bowed to the dame and said: "I thank you. mistress, for your beautiful present has made mc very happy."' At the same moment the old dame turned into someone whom Michael knew- immediately. She was no other than the fairy of the wood. She smiled and looked at him. "You have at last found the magic words." she said. "Take the apple to your father am! mother: you have earned it well. But in future remem- | )er these '''.roe thing-: Good day. If you Please, ai.l Thank you. .They will open every door. I am the Fairy Good Manner?.'' and she vanished. A CHRISTMAS STOCKING GAME. What is Christmas without a stocking? Can you tell what was in Tommy's stocking?? Although Tommy's stocking is rcay.y quite Mad- up of eight letters, as plainly you se'\ Yet in it Sue says that she found a small be* ili. The tooth of a wheel (2) and a Government's head t. 3». A nautical mile (4) and something to (5). A metal quite often most easy to bend iG), Violation of duty entire and complete i"). |An article man has to wear on the feet (SI. The spirit to blame for most sorrow and An outfit with soldier or sailor to =o (101. The i>-at ■■:' a watch ill), a poem set to tune il2 i . Wha- nightingales do by the light of the ir.,..,- 113 i. i d-iin without which we would not be c.>:i:»b: i 14. And something by which we uj things represent il-"n. | A no'ch such as boy with penknife may make <!■'■'. Then strane-iv enough, our heaviest I we-i-ht 117*1. Next a i-rs.-:i indifferent to joy or to ?rief I Who admits no affliction, hence needs no lAn instr-.im r.: with which we rr.ay handle .1 fire To :i.ak- i: burn lower 'or blaze up much higher 110 i A natural covering endowed with a sense And lastly a weapon, a bee's great defence • 211 \s th sleeking- for Christmas han? up by til- flue. Spy ■nit, .:' you're able, the same tlilnss as Sue. The contents as found in the word "Stocking": 1. Cot: 2. Co?: 3. Kin?: i. Knot: 5, Coin: 6, Tin: 7. Sin: S. Sock: 9. Gin; 10, Kit; 11. Tick; 12 Song 13, Sin?: 14. Sink: 15. Sign: 15. Nick; IT. Ton; IS, Stoic; 19, Tongs, 20 Skin; 21, Sting.