WATTLE FAIRIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1941, Page 18

WATTLE FAIRIES

Wattle tree fairies wear fluffy yellow skirts and thin brown jackets in winter. On their heads they have round yellow hats as fluffy as their skirts and sometimes they wear muffs of the same make, which are very warm and comfy. In the summer they wear no hats and their fair hair blows freely in the cool breezes as they flit gaily about on the feathery leaves on the waving wattle trees. On their feet, in both summer and winter, they wear small green moccasins. In summer they have green jackets. They have long fair hair and bright blue eyes. Their bodies are very slim, which is a great help for flying. Their light green and yellow wings are very delicate to the touch of a claw or anything in that manner, and also the touch of a spider or of its web. One fine summer day some wattle fairies were playing ''hide and seek" among the branches of an old wattle tree. Suddenly a flock of sparrows broke the stillness as thev flew through the tree straight towards the cluster of fairies, who had just gathered around Puffball, who 'was "he." The little fairies scattered in all directions, leaving Puffball to the tender mercies of the sparrows. She managed to flutter out of sight of the gleaming eyes with only a tear in her fluffy skirt. She did not notice any other damage just then, but in five minutes there was a terriblepain in her shoulder-blades, where her wings sprouted. mm m mmm mm mm mmmmmmm m mm m m m mm •

By Lesley Thompson

"Oh, dear, oh, dear," sighed Puffball. "Whatever has happened?" The pain grew until it was unbearable. At last she found her friend. Fluffy, who soon told her what was the matter. "There is a tiny hole in your left wing," said Fluffy. "Have you been through a spider web, or has a bird hurt you?" "No," replied poor Puffball. Then she remembered. "Oh! Perhaps it was those sparrows." She explained everything to Fluffy. They were now quite sure that the sparrows had clawed her wing! "I shall call Dr. Owl. You wait here. But 1 can't leave you by your self! Oh, here is Flo," said Fluffy. Soon she went for Dr. Owl, leaving Pufiball in care of Flo. (You \vi!> wonder why Dr. Owl was thei. doctor, as he was a bird.) Dr. Ow. was a kindly old bird, who did no behave to fairies like most othei birds. He was a very good doctor and a pleasure to doctor you. Not like usual owls, he could go into the sunlight without hurting his eyes. Soon he came to Puffball's assistance. "She will have to come over to my house," he said gravely, shaking his head. "We'll take her there now." The effort of being lifted, mingled with the pain in her shoulder, was too much for Puffball, who became unconscious. They came to the doctor's house, where Puffball was laid gently down on a greeny-brown ; bed. Flo and Fluffy were sent home, : leaving the doctor bending over his i little patient. "Too wit, too woo," cried Dr. Owl. J Immediately his assistant came out ] of a nearby trunk. "Take this little fairy into the darkest room we have and bring two glow-worms," ordered Dr. Owl, pointing to the unconscious Puffball, lying white and still on the bed'. n Xt ;, day Flu , ffy called, asking how Puffball was, but she quickly saddened when she heard that Puffball was in a sad state and it was doubtful whether she would live. When Fluffy reported this news to the other fairies they were very sad as Puffball was a friend of everybody. " It was some days afterwards, when the fairies were allowed to see Puffball, and even then they could onlv peep at her. "She must be very ill," said Fluffy as the doctor won't tell us anything." J This was quite true. Puffball was very ill. In fact, Dr. Owl had only that morning said to his assistant that unless something marvellous happened that night Puffball could not live. But next morning, when the doctor went into Puffball's room, instead of seeing her lying still with closed eyes, he saw a pair of sparkling eyes lc>ok up at him, and he heard a tinkling voice ask if she could get out of bed now. Puffball was well again' Dr. Owl never could find out how vV a EP e £ ed ' he did not worry Puffball was welcomed back with open arms and a feast was held in her honour.