PATU AND THE ENCHANTED KIWI.

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

PATU AND THE ENCHANTED KIWI.

By ALICE KENNY J

"Who are you?'' said the enchanted kiwi in a gruff voice. He was just digging up a few grubs for his tea when he caught sight of a tiny brown fairy standing on a fern-lear near him. "I'm one of the patupaiarehe, the Maori fairies,"' replied the little creature, "but I've been turned out of Fairyland for having hiccups just when the Fairy Queen was saying a spell. You know we fairies of New Zealand are as white as dressed flax, but as scon as they turned mc out I became as brown as a little Maori boy. and I've got the flattest little nose you ever saw. I may as well stay with you as I've sot no friends. You can call mc I'atu for short. "I've got no friends either," said the kiwi, "'because I happen to be enchanted. Have a grub, they are very crisp and delicious. It's awkward being enchanted." "I should think it was," said Patu, "you may say I'm in the same position myself. Can you do anything about it':" "It I do a good deed it will lift the .pell,"' -aid the kiwi gloomily, wiping hi. beak with his claw. "The same with mc." said I'atu. ''and I that being the case suppose we form a |-ocrct society, an outlaw band, and go j and be wicked together." I "But." said the kiwi. ••_ d'.n't want to j do any good deeds now. I was the nicest bird you eotiid meet before, but ever I since I became enchanted. I've only wanted to do wicked deeds." "Very wicked?" asked the enchanted | kiwi. "Very wicked." said Patu firmly. "All right," said the kiwi, "shake claws on it." That night the kiwi perched on the branch of a kowhai tree, and little Patu j curled up close at hand under the warm. , brown crook in the heart of a fern-tree where a new flower was uncurling. Next i morning they breakfa. ted on grubs and dower honey, and delicate young lear shoots, and then set off together to get into mischief. Soon they saw a little barefooted girl sitting on a gate all alone. She had a rough head, and a thin blue frock, and she. curled and uncurled her bare toes as if they were cold. "The same with mc," said Tatu. "Now we can he wicked." said Patu sleetully. "We will lead this child away into the bush with spells and lose her." "I don't know any spells myself," said the kiwi. "I do," said Patu. and he becran to ; -kip about and turn somersaults near j the little girl, while he sang shrilly: — "Little girl, little girl, come away ! In Fair.vland it is always gay.; " i liipe, brown chocolates dr..p from the trees. j children can pat all tbe cake they please. I There's raspberry syrup, and nut- and I toy.. | Everything nice for girls and boys I ; The little girl turned round and looked and listened as if she found it hard to 'see and hear the fairy. It was hard at

first, but soon she could see the little bounding brown boy, and hear his small voice as if it were a cricket's song. "She's coming," said Patu to the kiwi, "you dance, too." So the kiwi danced, and Patu danced and sang, and the little girl followed them away and away into the bush. When they got back to their fern-tree home they stopped, and the little girl stopped and looked all round her. All -he could see was tae kiwi bird, and s> little brown mannikin jigging up and down and laughing at her. "Where are the cakes and chocolates?" she asked. "There aren't any, ha, ha!" cried Patu. and stood on his head. "Where is Fairyland?" "A long way off. I'm a wicked fairy, and this is an enchanted kiwi, and you're lost in the bush. Now what will you do ? " "I shall stay with you," said the little girl, sitting down on a ferny log. "I'm not a good little girl. I'm an orphan, and a Bad Child and no ot» wants mc. so I will stay with you and be enchanted and wicked, too." Patu's face fell, and he took the kiwi aside. "What are we to do about it?" he said. "You see if she's a Bad Child. There is no fun in stealing her." "I suppose shell have to stay with us then." the kiwi, "and become a member "f our outlaw band."