THE TALE THE COURT HISTORIAN TOLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 32, 8 February 1928, Page 18

THE TALE THE COURT HISTORIAN TOLD.

(By WYCLIF REED.)

"And a very nice day it is, too,' said the strangely familiar cheery little voice. I looked up in surprise, and there was my old friend Peter Pipkin. It was so long since I had last seen him that I had almost forgotten about liim. Yet there he was, dressed the same as of yore, except for his cap. This was gone, and in its place he wore a magnificent hat with one side of the brim curled up and a beautiful fantail feather stuck rakishly in the band.

He noticed immediately that I was looking at it. People always did look at it first. "Yes," lie said, "It suits me, don't you think? Of course it's my badge of office as prime minister."

"Oh, yes," I replied, "and how do you like your new position?" He laughed happily. "Well, It's not bad, you know. Everything is all right except for the work. I'm nearly done to death with overwork—that is to say, I would be, if I didn't have a lot of secretaries who did it all for me. But it's such a jolly day, and you remember you promised once you'd write more about Elfingdom. I wouldn't like to have you disappoint anyone, so I've come to take you there for the second time."

"But I'm busy, Peter." "Busy? Fiddlesticks! There's no such word, so come along and leave your work." I sighed. I have discovered by now that the only way to stop Peter talking is to give in to him, and even then he usually keeps on talking. Therein lies a difference. I like :to hear him talking to me, but I do not like to hear him talking at me." "Heigh, presto Abracadabra!" The magic words uttered, I shrank into the same size as Peter, and together we flew through, the window. By now I could .fly qpit.e. qomfiortably so Peter suggested that we fly over the sea. We left the land behind and just skimmed over the tops of the waves. It was a beautiful day, and music was in the air, and the sea was singing. The sea is always singing. Sometimes you may think it is sleeping, but then, if you listen very carefully you will hear the distant lullaby strains of the mermothers singing to their merbabies.

Just then the water was very clear and we could gee. the mermaids far down with their combs of gold. I would love to visit them and see their palaces, but I think Peter looks down on them just a wee bit.

Presently we left the sea and flew inland, and I soon recognised the entrance, the giant kauri tree. Peter knocked three times and the door opened. When the kauri gnome saw Peter he bowed profoundly,; and Peter nodded most majestocratically. Ido hope Peter isn't proud, now that he has been made prime minister. "Peter the Proud" It doesn't seem right, somehow, does it? Ah well, we shall see.

We descended the stairs, and I noticed as we passed the little windows set in the tree trunk that a big crowd had collected to see us. When we emerged into the bright sunshine and once more stood at the foot of the tree, the elves set up a loud shout of welcome and escorted us to the palace. Every visitor has first to pay his respects to the king and queen. The tea-tree gnomes saluted Peter respectfully as we passed the portals. When we came to the grand reception chamber King Redcap nodded affably and bade "Sir Peter" a right good welcome. "And you too, ! ' Man, he continued, "It rejoices our hearts to see you here. First -we would thank you for your report. One of my elves secured a copy or the budget and we have read your report. Would you like to tell the Earth Mortals more of our doings?" "It would give me great pleasure, sire," 1 answered respectfully.

"I have no doubt it would," said he. "Weil, now, Sir Peter has had conferred upon him several high offices, and one of these is Court Historian. It is our royal wish that we adjourn to the promenade, and there Sir Peter will read us one of his tales of olden time."

We all followed the king through the hanging grass curtains to the promenade. After the king and queen were seated we sat down on cosy little rustic seats. It was glorious. In front a little pool sparkled in the sun as though it were a piece of blue sky dropped to earth. The grass was covered with wild flowers and the melodious bush was all around. In a, minute of two Peter appeared wit I an elfin pushing a wheelbarrow which contained an enormous leather bound tome. Peter opened it carefully, propped it against a giant mushroom and sat in an imdignifled heap in the wheelbarrow. right," I thought to myself. He s not prouc." Then Peter started to read in that silvery clear voice of his, and I will let him tell you what he said*! rnfnint mS ?J v f!" 6 Ws WOrds »> the quaint elfin dialect:—

th « d /y s after king Manuka the Mighty had been gathered to his ancestors, there lived in faeryland an elfin man and maid. When the man gazed into the eyes or the maid the stars paled and the wind grew still. Ch,. most Wonderful, ye who list to this tale, hei heard

110 longer the sigh of the wind, the life that is faery, the wind in the bush, nor the music of the sound. He could not tell why. Their music ceased, yet it ceased not, for music unborn was singing m his elfin soul—and only the maid knew why."

"Now," thought I to myself, "Fcler, you are a poet. It was love, and you ■an itll ci it, but do not know what it

Peter shifted a little and went on in the silence that had fallen:

"Then, thought the man; life is good, and he remembered the words of wisdom that every elfin must learn, yet which may not be written. When the silver moon retiring had lifted the veil of night, and yet ere the sun smiled upon the earth, in the expectant hush when all fair things are born, his elfin soul burned with high endeavour and he set forth with his thoughts borne upon the silent music of his soul. Daring deeds did he perform, courteous and generous and upright was he. At length he came to the confines of the Elfingdom domains and fain would have lie returned to tbe maicen but some force drew him on, till he entered the Kingdom of Sand that lies whits and glistening between Elfingdom and the sea. And here he was like to have forgotten his Elfingdom home, for the white 6ands quivered in the sun and shook with the waves as they thundered, thundered, thundered on the shore. Blue sky and sea, white sands! The thunder of the sea and the ripple of the tiny wavelets —• all these are the life of the Sea-fairies. But still the unseen music sang in his soul the notes that cannot be drowned by wind or sea.

"There he waited, as every Elfin knight must wait for the summons of the Wind when his courage is proclaimed to all Elfingdom. The sea laughed and sang in its thundering, till at length it was hushed and the summoning voice was heard from the distance and the Elf felt the power to follow. His heart leaped within him and gladly he faced the sea-wind." 'For know, O Stranger," said Peter, turning to me, "that it is dishonour to fail to follow the summons. 'Tis the call of glory which comes but once. Only then does the Elf become a knight." He turned to his book again.

"The unseen forces surged around him and the song of the sea was stilled by the song of his heart. But, hush! He has heard a cry of pain, and turning, he sees a bird with a broken wing. He stops. Binds the wing with his scarf and fetches water, and the bird gratefully flutters away. Again he turns to the Wind. But, alas! the sun is hidden behind the grey clouds, the wind is shrill, the waves still thunder and yet the vision of the wind has faded, and the far-off voice has died away. His heart sings no more. Then turned he back, and the wind moaned. The call had come and he could never be a knight, and he was in no-wise worthy of the. maiden fajr. So he journeyed on in sorrow till once more he came to Elfingdom.

"A mighty crowd had collected before the palace and he asked of one nearby why it was gathered. 'Know ye not that the Spirit of the Wind is here to choose our ruler?' 'Ah, no,' said the Elf. 'And who will it be, • of all tho nobles?' We know not. Listen.' The crowd was hushed and the far-off sweet murmur grew till once more the vision came, and th? Beauty of the Wind sat upon the great couble throne. 'All ye Elfins,' sang t'ic- Beauty of tho Wind.. 'I am here to c'ioose your king and queen from among you. A king b-av? tnd kind, a queen tender and true.'

'There fell silence and a tui was heard far away. , The Beauty of the Wind sighed 'Come forth he who thought more of a hurt sea-bira than his honour.' ani the Elfin was drawn to the throne by the unseen forces or the Wind. He looked into the wondrous eyes and was lost in their depths. He gazed and gazed until he saw lie was no longer looking at the Beauty of the Wind but the maiden of his heart, who was now the queen. The elfin people cheered and joyfully welcomed their king and queen and happily returned to their homes." "That," said Peter, with a sigh, "is the tale of the choosing of King Rata and Queen Dewdrop—known as the King and Queen Beloved."

Every one was silent, and Peter knew how they loved that tale from their ancient history by their silence. "Now," said King Eecrcap briskly, "we have kept you longer than we should, O, favoured mortal. Please tell the story to the Earth Mortals, and now, farewell."

Before I had time to reply I found myself sitting at my desk again, but with the woncrrous music of the sea and wind in my heart.