THE STORY OF DAWN AND SUNSET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE STORY OF DAWN AND SUNSET.

A long time ago there lived a little prince who had no brothers and sisters, and so sometimes when he was lonely he used to play games with the little son of a peasant man and woman who lived near the castle where lie lived. Very often they played in the wood near Lars' cottage—for that was the peasant boy's name. JSlanv hours they would spend together playing hide and seek and with their bows and arrows among the trees.

One day. iJter they had been playing for some time, the little prince said:

"Let's see who ran hit the highest. Let's try and hit the sun." So they both tried very hard. Tlie arrows shot into the air. and it seemed as if thov were going straight to the sun, they went so far out of sight. After a few moments the little prince's arrow returned, and

then after a while Lars' arrow came hack —with a golden feather on its tijv—a golden feather with a spot of biood on it. "That's my arrow.'' said the prince. "No. it's mine:" shouted Lars. They got cros-er and crosser. and so at last the prince ran t<> hi- father, the king, and told him all abuiit it. Of course, he believed the arrow with the gulden feather was his son's, and not Lars at all. "Well," he said to Lars, "we'll see who's it is. It ymi can bring me the golden hen whose feather this is. then I own it's yours, but if you don't you'll be buried alive in a barrel of tai l" Poor Lars, what a terrible thing might happen to Jiiin. But he knew that the arrow was his. so, armed with a stick and some food in a bag. he set off from the castle to tind the golden hen. AH day lie walked up hill and down, but he never met the golden hen. When evening came, and he found himself at. the edge of a forest, he lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep. After he had slept some time he woke with a atari, ior lie felt someone pulling his leg. Looking tip, he saw a fox sitting in front of him. "Why did you want to wake me':" asked Lars. "Oh, well," replied the fox. "1 wondered what you were doing here, and 1 wanted a little chat."

Lars told the fox all about the hen with the golden feather. After thinking hard for a few minutes Mr. Reynard said:

"I think I know where there are some golden hens. Come with me, and I'll show von."

Lars was delighted, and together they set off through the forest. When they came to the open again, there on a hill in front of them stood a castle.

"This is Sun Castle."' said the fox, "and the Sun's sister. Dawn, lives here and, if I am not mistaken, in the farm yard is one golden hen who has lost a feather. If you want to get it, walk straight into tho farm yard yonder and look for the hen. When you have caught it, come straight out again, and don't stop to look to tho right or to the left." "Thank you so much," said Lars. "It seems so very easy. I'll go at once." When he got to the castle gate in he walked right up to tbe farm yard, and there in front of him stood the golden hen. He caught it easily, and put it under his arm.

But as lie passed Lv he noticed a window which was open. "Surely."' he said to himself, "there can be no * harm in looking iA now I have caught the hen. I must see what Sun Castle is like." .So he went to the window and looked in. What do you-thing he saw inside? A beautiful princess asleep! Never had Lars seen anything so beautiful and, charmed bv her spell, lie went nearer and climbed in. but in hi.~ eagerness lie let go the hen —the golden hen.

All. veil; ' lie said, "the a en was so easy to catch. ] can do it jigain." When he had taken a pood look at the beautiful maiden he left the iooin by the way he had come. But the hen was not so easy to catch the second time as the fust, and the more Lars tried to catch it the moie it rail away. I lie others in the farmyard joined it. the dogs rushed out. the >oldier at the nates came forward, and lie fore very long the whole e«stle ,Xi,< nstir. \ cry hot and verv tired Lars

chafed the golden Ihii, but could not catch it. At last the Princess Dawn herself came out, there was such a noise. She inquired of Lars what lie was doing, and when she learned what he wanted she said: "You may have the golden lieu if you do one tiling for me—that is to rescue my sister. Sunset, from the gnomes who carried her oti' a lung time ago." Lars promised, and with tin- thought "f the golden hen in his mind he set off from Sun Castle. With Mr. Reynard for company Lars travelled 11 ijrht and day towards the west tmtil they found the gnomes' ear-tie where Sunset was imprisoned. -You wait here,'' said Mr. lleynavd to l.«irs. "You know 1 am very sly. so perhaps 1 shall Ih> aide to bring the beautiful prinee-« out." As soon as Mr. Reynard entered the castle he saw that a ball was in progress. "Kxcellent!he cried. "Sow I shall have a chance to let Sunset escape." He went in and joined the gnomes. W hen his turn came round to danec with Princess Sunset he was delighted. Round and round they danced, and each time that they passed a candle Mr. Reynard gave a puff and out went the light. At last, when it \\ dark, Mr. Reynard whispered : "N'.iu'r our chance. Quick!" And (atcliiii'j hold of Sunset's hand they ran out of the hall. Jn a moment they were at the "In n- U Princess Sunset." said Mr. He> •! t" T-ar«. "Take her and run ii- i.-si a» >uii can: I'll lock after the gimmes." So Lars and Sunset were off in a twinkle, just before the gnomes came running out.

ott let her go!" they shouted to Mr. Reynard. I; \Ve'll catch you!'' And tluy tried, but it was not so easy as they thought.

Mr. Reynard was sly again. and ran in tLie other direction to that which Lars and Princess Sunset bad taken. So the mure they ran the further away from the Princess they went. At last Mr. Reynard led them into a bop. There thev struggled and shouted all night long, while Mr. Reynard stood by and laughed. After some hours Mr. Revnard shouted: "Here comes the Sun's lister!" meaning, of course. the coming cf Dawn, but the pnomes. thinking it was Sunset, stood still and looked up. and immediately the first rays of dawn struck them they all turned to stone. Then Mr. Revnard ran as fast as he could after Dawn and Lars, and he caught them up just as they were entering the Sun Castle. How pleased the Princess Sunset and Dawn were to see each other once more! Lars was pleased, too, for he got the golden hen. Fie lost no time in taking it and showing it to the king. It, of course, proved that Lars had shot the highest. so that Lars and the Prince ma do friends sicrain. One day Lars took him to Sun Castle, for Lars had fallen in love with Princess Dawn, and went there to claim her as his bride.

Not lrnp after, when the w-dding took nlaee. tlioro Mas meat rejoicing. and Mr. F.eynard was chief guest. T believe tlio Prince and tlic Princess Sunset were charmed with each other, and in the and they manned, sc. everyone was happy except, of course, the gnomes. If ever you po jo Lapland you niu=t try and find them, for T helieve thev are still there—at least, so I'm told.