THE ELFIN BOAT RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 20

THE ELFIN BOAT RACE.

The pale purple shadow* wcto drawIng closer together, and the mm, like a glowing omber wan slowly linking. The Oreeti elf peeped out of the tiny window in hi* house, and gave a big yawn. He Haw the dying sunlight dancing through the tree*, and his quick eye* spied a mossy glade, with brown leaven scattered about. It wan the very place to play in, he thought, an he yawned again, ii n<l very elowly stepped from his cosy bed. He did not feel like getting up, but he had lota of work to do. The Inst gulf in Fairyland had swept away his shop, so he hud to find a new nne. As he bustled with his breakfast, ho wn* thinking very hard. First, he decided, he would visit the mossy glmle he had seen through his window, then he would look for a new shop. Clad in his little green tunic, tall [waked hat, and green pointed shoes, he set off. It was not far to the glade, and Green elf soon reached it. The trees thing shadows across it, and the moss was thick and moist. Orcen elf shouted with delight, and danced gleefully, for there, just a little to one side, was a brown spotted toadstool. Just what he wanted, it would do splendidly for his shop, and in this delightful glade, too. He would hang coloured lights from the drooping branches of the trees, and perhape the elfin bund would play for him. It would attract the fairies, and they would come and buy from him. Once again he danced In circles round the toadstool, then he paused. A sound on the soft moss made him turn quickly in the direction from which it came.

By• •• e Cleone McFarlane

"Oh, hullo," he Mid *• he saw Red •If walking nearer. "Hullo," mid the other. "What are you doing here?" "I'm going to nuke my shop here," Gr«en elf said gaily. "No you're not, because I want that toadstool." "But it's mine. I found It first." "I saw It first." "You did not. It's mine. "It's mine." The Red elf wm becoming angry; he stamped his foot in rage, and •houted as loud as he could, until he disturbed the black furry caterpillar, who lay sleeping in the centre of a tall flower. "What's all thisT What's all this?" he called gruffly, and poked hi* head over his flower. "He's stolen my toadstool," said the Red elf, pointing accusingly at' the Own elf, and again stamping hie foot. "It's minn.T found it first," the Green elf defended himself. "Well, well. It swine you both want it, but the question in, who is going to havn it?" "I urn," Himpped the Red elf. "Well. well. We'll see. we'll Bee," and the furry caterpillar nodded his head from side to side, and thought deeply. "I Will tell you what to do. Have n race, and the winner will claim the toadstool," "nut It's mine, I found it first," murmured the Green elf sndly, "Never mind, never mind. You must IINVP ft race, nnd I will present the toudstool to the winner." said the caterpillar, becoming <|iiite excited. "Go and prepare your boat*, nnd to-night when tlie moon \* lilgb you will race." Red elf looked nt Green elf, nnd Iniiglied iiiipleiimirit.lv. "Of course I will win," ho hi Minted it iid ran off. Green elf looked appcalingly at the. black furry ciitrrpllliir, but lie had curled up and gone to sleep again, as he sat down under the toadstool, and with his chin in hit hands he stared at the soft ground. <

"Green elf," said a tiny voice beside him. "Why don't you make a boot for the race to-nightt" Oreen elf whirled nround, and saw a grey moth resting on the end of a grass blade. "Oh," he said. "I don't think I know how to make a boat, but perhaps I could try." "Yes of course yoi» must try," answered the grey moth in very business like tones. "Come on. I will help you." Oreen elf fluttered after the grey motb, until they reached the bank of a tiny stream, where they stopped and lipgnn to work. "First." ordered the grey moth, "you must find the cup of an acorn, and bring it back here to me." Tt was a simple matter to find an acorn cup, and soon Green elf was*dancing back to the bank where the grey moth awaited him. "Look;, I have found a beauty!" lie shouted gleefully as he pushed it along. The grey moth had been busy while Oreen elf was away. He had collected many strands of silver cobweb, and had fastened them to a tiny green leaf. "This," he told Green elf, as he fastened it to the acorn cup. "Ie the sail." "Oh," Green elf looked pleased. ''Is it finished now." "Not quite. Help me carry it into the wnter. Then we must make a seat in it, nnd you will need a pair of oars." When the little boat was finished, Oreen elf thanked the grey moth for his help, and watched the little boat bobbing up and down on the water. He wns feeling very excited and was sure he would win, so he was glad when be saw the moon rising very high in the sky.

Aβ Green elf waited on the bank, he saw two elves carrying Red elf's boat down to the water, and placing it by his own. It was a red boat and quite n. different shape to Green, elf'e. On each tide of the bank, many fairyfolk were standing waiting curiously to pee the race, Wlipn the moon was high, and the fairyfolk were becoming impatient with waiting, the black furry caterpillar ambled down to the"starting point. "Hullo, hullo," he called. "I think I am a little late, but never mind. I have brought Mr. Cricket with me. He will blow his whistle and that means go. Are you both ready? Board your boats." Cricket blew his , whistle suddenly, and they were off. The crowds lined on the banks, cheered and shouted wildly, a* their, oars dipped aqd splashed in the waters Red elf'was leading, with Green elf close behind, and making every effort to catch up. On and on they went, faster and faster, until Green elf was becoming very hot, and was puffing and blowing. Red elf was still ahead, but as they rounded the post to turn back Green o|f caught up, and together they turned into the straight. Red elf passed, then <iroen elf moved past. He was making every effort to keep the lead now but Hed elf was drawing closer. Not much further to go. *The breeae sprang up and pushed them faster, Green elf's boat moved faster beeause it was lighter, nnd yes, —lie had won. There was grey moth with the Week furry catterpillnr and Cricket waiting on the la tiding point for him. "I'm glad you won," said the furry caterpillar, "because you did really find the tondstuol first", but I thought von hud better for it. Now it is yours." "Oh tlmnk you," maid Green elf. Then lie turned to Red elf who stood sulkily iisido. 'I hope another toadstool will grow for you too." The Red elf turned away, and Green elf followed by many fairies set off to eteiaa. bit.prize.

Aa they entered the glade to dance. ■Green elf caught sight of something brown. "Why," lie gasped. "It's another toadstool. Only a tiny one, but I'm sure Red elf would like it, do fetch him someone." When Red elf saw the tiny brown toadstool in the same glade an Green elf's he was quite pleased so he blew an elfin kiss to Green elf, and everyone was happy.