GREEN PAINT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

GREEN PAINT.

The first time that Peddle was given a real task by the Fairy Queen lie felt very proud indeed. You sec, he was young, and no very young elves were given outeide painting jobs.

"I want you to do the green painting," the queen told him. "Touch up all the evergreen leaves, and pay particular attention to the patch in front of Crippled Danny's window, for the poor old man loves to look at greenery."

Peddle puckered up his funny little face and whistled a tune as he went along, carrying the pot of green paint very carefully. He touched up holly and yew leaves as he found them, and was particularly carefifl about the variegated holly tree in old Danny's front garden and the box-edging down the path. There were not many holly bushes in his area, and not many yew trees, so presently he returned to Danny's front garden, looking round wistfully for something else to daub with his brush. Gazing up at the window (himself invisible) he noticed the dilapidated appearance of the cottage. Nearly all the paint had cracked off the window frames And door. There was half a pot of green paint left, and he came to a big decision. "I will touch up the woodwork," said he, and for the next few days he was very busy indeed. Then he sank down on to the ground and sobbed in great disappointment, for there was 110 more paint left and only half the house was painted! He was not really quite sure that the queen would approve of this method of using left-paint, but dare he leave the house in such an unfinished state? At last he flew to the queen and said: "Please I Lave finished my task; and, please, I should like to do more painting. Can I have some fresh paint?" The queen looked at his empty pot_and asked: "How many holly bushes did you touch up V" "Tli—three," said the little elf. "And how many other bushes?"— "Eight." "How much paint did you spill?"— "N—none." Seeing that some kind x>f explanation was necessary, Peddle burst forth with —"Danny's cottage is half painted, and I—l thought I should like to finish the job." "I see," said the queen. "Take this red paint, then, Peddle, and make it as cilice as you can." "B—but," stammered the little elf, "the cottage is half painted green." "I see," smiled the queen. Then she patted his shoulder, and asked: "Why are you so much ashamed to confess a kind action? I know a very- unselfish little elf' who prefers painting cottages to dancing in the glade, and he shall have more important tasks in future.' Peddle positively blushed with pleasure as lie took the pot of green paint which she handed to him.