TOLD BY READERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 154, 2 July 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOLD BY READERS.

THE CHANGEABLE DIAPHENIA. (By Dorothy Brooke, Old Lake Boad, Devonport, age 14.); "Do tell us "bout the lovely Princess who pushed the Ogre over the cliff," cried Mary, as her aunty came to loss her at night, '•Well, Mary, it is late, but if you do not interrupt I will tell you. Now, once upon a time there lived an Ogre—" "In the most wonderful castle 'way up 'mong the hills," put in Mary. "Yes, but listen! He was very, very bad tampered, but he had a most beautiful castle and in thia castle he would 'keep an old, old woman who waa also very wicked. Now, living at this time there was another person who knew of the cruel Ogre, and the cross woman, and this was a most marvellous fairy called—" "Diaphenia," put in Mary. "Hush! Diaphenia lived in a great clear pool below the hill where the castle stood, grim and forbidding. One day when the messengers from the Ogre's household went to the pool for their daily supply of water, Diaphenia changed into a piece of grass and slipped into the wonderful crystal pitcher and sank to the bottom. Now when the messenger arrived at the scullery door a cook met him and told him that the Ogre wanted to see him immediately. Diaphenia changed herself into a lump of mud now and stuck to the messenger's boot. When the poor boy reached the Ogre's court room he was very afraid. Diaphenia changed herself into a mosquito and whispered to the boy to have courage. When the Ogre came out Diaphenia settled on his shoulder, and sat quite quietly. "Do you know that the pool from which you get my water is enchanted?" said the Ogre. "N—no," aaid the messenger, "I didn't." "Well, it is very enchanted; there is a fairy living there," said the Ogre darkly. "But it's the beautiful Diaphenia, sir—and she would not harm you—she is the spirit of joy," said the boy. "That is the trouble," said the* Ogre. Then it waa Diaphenia saw her chance. Sha changed quick as a flash of silver lightning into a grizzled old man and came to the Ogre. "I know how you can rid yourself of her." "How?" asked the Ogre in amazement. "Just summon the Prince of Jordan—Prince Almond Is his name—he will solve this difficulty," said the fairy in disguise. "That is great news," cried the Ogre, and he sent his private messenger off immediately. "Moreover," went on the man, "meet me on the highest rock above the pool at midnight. Bring your old woman of misery—she is a cheerful friend." So * saying, Diaphenia changed into a fly and disappeared. "At midnight, however, the Ogre and the wicked ladv went to the place and Diaphenia changed into a huge rock and rolled them over the cliff. This dona she flew to the palace and made it full of the spirit of joy, and Prince Almond fell in love with her and they lived happily ever after." "Oh, auntie, you've forgotten the'fishes,"' cried Mary sorrowfully. "Oh, yes, so I have. The whole pool was full of fishes who were really people changed by this old Ogre, so when he died they came back and lived under Prince Almond and Princess Diaphenia for ever." "Thank you, aunty. Good night," cried Marv "Good night, dear. Sleep well," said aunty*,'going away.