TOLD BY READERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOLD BY READERS

GOBLIN MARKET.

(By Elsa Flavell, P.O. Box 313, Hawera; age 16.) "Furripurri, when you do that you look just like ono of the little goblins in Anne's book of poetry about Goblin Market. I do believe you are a little goblin in disguise!" Heather shook the lit'tle grey Persian kitten she held in her hands.

"Look, Anne," she said, "doesn't he look like a goblin, when ho flattens out his ears and gazes wildly while he bites and scratches my hand? Just what a goblin would do, too, naughty little thing! Stop 'it, Furry, you're hnrting me! Isn't he a darling, Anne, although he scratches so!"

"Of course you are, little wretch, aren't you?" said Anne, taking the cuddlesome ball of grey fluff from her small sister. "But you do look like a goblin, Yelloweyes ! Take him, Heather, I've my home work to finish."

"Oh, Anne, what is 'Goblin Market' about ?" questioned Heather. "I'll tell you another time," promised Anne, poring over a Latin book. "Go away and play now, that's a good kid!" Heather and the kitten therefore retired to the warmth of the hearth-rug until they were both tired, when the kitten curled up and lay purring and gazing unblinkingly at the bright fire, while Heather went off to her own snug bed.

"Jump off my bed at once, Furripurri," said Heather, opening her eyes drowsily. "Who let -vou in here ?' "I came through the window, of course," replied a sharp little voice. "If you'd only wake up properly we could start at once."

Heather opened her eyes wide and gasped with astonishment. It was indeed Furripurri that stood on her bed — but Furripurri was changed. He looked even more like a goblin than ever, for he wore the trousers and coat and the strange flat hat of the catlike goblin in Anne's little book. In fact he was a goblin. There could be no doubt about it now. _ "That's right, wake up," said he._ I m glad you discovered I was a goblin, for now I shan't have to explain. Come, jump out and put your clothes on." Heather obeyed, wonderingly. "What are we going to do?" she asked. "You are coming to Goblin Market with me," replied Furripurri. "I've been waiting for the full moon to come on a cloudless night like this, for the goblins only hold their market now at night." "I don't think I want to go," : said Heather, doubtfully. "Oh, yes you do," answered the catgoblin, fixing his yellow eyes on her face. "It's a wonderful place. If you only do as you are askc-d (and the goblins are most polite) you'll be treated with all respect. Come, now you are dressed, •we'll climb out of the window. Take my hand (paw, Heather thought he should have said), and close your eyes. Talira! There! Open your eyes." "Why, we're here!" gasped Heather, wide-eyed. They stood on the crest of a little hill, and looked down into the hollow before them. The bright full moon had filled it with. her silver radiance, and their shadows lay on the dark lacery of twigs against the moonlit skv. There were all sorts of strange goblin figures in the hollow, with sacks of lovely fruit before them. One of them, a ratfaced goblin, came hurrying up the hill towards them.

"Welcome, sweet lady," said he, bowing low to Heather. She was going to tell him she was only a little girl, when she saw someone sitting in the moonlight, half-way down the elope. It was a "lovely young woman, who turned her head to look at them. Her hair beneath her white cap shone like purest gold hi the moonlight, and her eyes were blue, hut clouded with sorrow. She was clad in a dark blue frock of print, with a small white apron over it. "Who is that?" whispered Heather to Furripurri. "That's a foolish young person who wished to marry the goblin king," lie answered, scornfully. "Of course, wc couldn't allow that. She is far too tall for goblin folk. You, now, arc just the right size—a little tall, perhaps, though the king is taller than a goblin usually is. Besides, you are dark, and goblins don't like fair women. She's pretty, of course, prettier than you, but vou are pretty enough."

"But —but I'm not going to marry the king!" cried Heather. "Why doesn't he marry a goblin?"

"Because there arc 110 goblin women, and we want a queen," cried the ratfaced one. "And as for not marryiri"the king—ho! ho! Wait till you see how handsome he is!"

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"But how silly,'' Heather protested. "I'm only ten, and how could I marry anyone?" ,

"Doesn't matter! Doesn't matter! Come along, they're waiting," rat-face cried.

Heather hung back, but Furripurri, still holding her hand, dragged her for-

ward. "Remember," he warned, "do as they ask, or " ,

The other goblins in the hollow came running towards them". Heather cast an appealing glance at the young woman on the hillside, but she had turned her face the other way, and sat still and indifferent a<3 a statue.

"Ah, the little beauty!" cried the goblin men, clustering round. "She'll make a good queen, no doubt! Well, all she'll have to do will be to sit on the throne by the king and look pretty."

"What nice dark hair! The old witch, Night, .had. something to do with spinning those fine black strands, I'll be bound,"'said a frog-like goblin, catching a curl.

Heather screamed and pushed him away, shuddering. He sat and goggled at her with his hideous, big eyes.

"That's the way," laughed a goblin voice. "You'll make me a good queen, my dear! That's the way to treat subjects who are too familiar!" "The king!" Furripurri called out, moving to allow a taller figure than the rest come near to Heather.

He was not quite as tall as she was, however, but lie did not have an animal's face, which was a relief. Handsome he was, but there was an impish, wicked look in his dark face with its pointed ears and eye-brows that Heather did not like. He was richly dressed in purple. Approaching nearer, lie took Heather's hand from that of Furripurri,* saying as he did so, "You have done well, Catface! She is worthy of becoming a queen, as you said." Then lie turned again to Heather. "One kiss from your pretty lips, my dear," he said. "Then you shall go to sleep in the Hollow Oak Palace, and to-morrow night we shall be wed in this moonlit glade, and you shall come as my queen to my palace underground; One kiss!". "No, no!" shrieked Heather, struggling suddenly. There was a sudden pandemonium. Everyone scrfiamed, struggled, and fouo-lit. Heather in the centre, found herself scratched, bitten and slapped. At las* she seized hold of Furripurri. Take ine home!" she pleaded, but he only scratched. „. The king looked on smilingly. A spirited young lady, too," he said. She can't but be overcome, and, anyway, how could she find her way home? Heather h'-ard this and struggled still more desperately. "Furripurri, you re to blame," she screamed, and, picking up the unfortunate goblin, shook him hard in the air and then. . . .was it a cat, or a goblin in her hand? 1 here, was a laugh. Was it the goblin king or . . . It was Anne! She stood beside Heather's bed. a little book in her hand. "Goodness, Heather, what is wi ong. she askpd. "Do stop shaking poor I< urriPI It I was e on l lJ t the kitten Heather had opened her eyes to find herself shaking him violently, while he scratched jikc a little fury—or like a little goblin, '""Oh" gasped Heather, in relief. "I had a dream—such a dreadful one! She went went on to tell Anne all about it. "Well you are a little silly, laughe Anne. "What could have made you dream that? And the girl you saw, of course she's from this picture. Anne opened the little book she held. "Poor 1 Laura, it's certain she wouldn't have wished to marry a goblin! But come, move over and let me in, for I came specially to read 'Goblin Market* to you. Let's hope yon won't dream of it again when you know what it's really about." "You can listen, too, Furripurri, and if you prick up your ears when it comes to the part about the. cat-goblin I shall know you are one," said Heather, but as the kitten curled up and went to sleep, purring loudly the while, she came to' the conclusion that he was only an ordinary cat, after all!