THE WHITE CASTLE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 19

THE WHITE CASTLE

» * # DAYS. OF MAGIC

Once upon a time, many hundreds of years ago, there lived a shoemaker and his wife. They were poor people, yet they managed to have enough to live on and were very thankful for that, but there was one thing they wanted very much, and • that was -a little son. Each night the shoemaker’; wife used’ to kneel ’ down 'try her bed and pray very hard, and somehow she knew her prayers would be answered one day. One very wet and stormy night the shoemaker was sitting by a scanty bit of fire and mending shoes, while his wife was sewing him a shirt. They heard “rat-tat-tat”—a knock at the door. The shoemaker arose, unbolted the door and opened it. He found an old woman wrapped up in a long black cloak standing on the doorstep. She was drenched to the skin, and her teeth were chattering with the cold; "Come in, my good Woman,” cried the shoemaker, without.even risking her what it was she wanted; “we are not very rich, but you are welcome to whatever we have.” : ! So the old woman took off her :wet cloak and sat by the fire, and later, ate' the dry bread and-fish put before her, without saying one word. When it grew late the shoemaker’s wife led the old woman to the. best room -in■ the house, and there she went to bed.

The next morning, when the shoe-' maker’s wife went to take some breakfast to their visitor, she found that tile bed had been slept in, but was now, empty and there was no sign of the old woman. The door was still bolted, and it was then that the man and his wife decided that their visitor was no ordinary one. When they were having their breakfast the man discovered a note under the milk-jug which read, “You have helped me, therefore will I help you.” Just then they hoard a little cry. The wife ran to the demand opened it, and lo and behold! there on the doorstep lay a dear little baby boy with curly hair and blue eyes. The shoemaker and his wife named the little boy Rufus. Each day he grew more handsome. He was a very good boy to his adopted parents, and made them happy. It was when lie was seventeen that he decided lie would like to be one of the King’s knights, so he gained permission from his parents and set off to the King’s palace. The King was delighted with Rufus, and after setting him a few tasks, which he performed to the satisfaction of the King and .his court, he was made a knight. The years went by, and Rufus was now a very brave and well-known knight. If ever anyone was in trouble they always called on Rufus. It was one-night when the King was giving a banquet in celebration of a recent war. The knights were seated round the table among beautiful ladies, when one of the servants came to the King and informed him that there was a minstrel boy outside who wished to sing for him. The King was very musical and the lad was hailed with delight. He played and sang, and presently began to tell stories. There was one story which interested Knight Rufus very much, and that was one about a certain castle. It was made of pure marble and called “The White Castle,” but, strangely enough, it was inhabited by animals—deers and horses. The place was enchanted, so it. seemed.

The Knight Rufus questioned the boy, but he did not seem to know anything more about the castle. “I will go and break the enchantment if I can,” the brave knight declared. Several of the other knights present told him of stories they had heard of how there was a huge dragon on the way to the castle—an enormous creature with seven heads. But this did not make the knight frightened, so bidding his parents good-bye, he set off. When he was going through a forest he came across an old woman carrying a huge load of wood on her back. Quickly he dismounted, took the load from off the old woman’s back, and seated her on his horse. He was one of those really chivalrous knights and he was especially kind to old people, because in them he always saw his own parents. The old'woman thanked him and asked where he was going. The knight told her. Presently they came to a little house in the forest, which the old woman said was where she lived, so the knight lifted her off the horse and carried the wood to her door.

“I wish you luck, young man,” the old woman said. Then feeling pnder her cloak she pulled out a white feather tipped with gold and a small golden bottle. ‘‘When you are in any. danger me, throw the feather up in the air and count ten. Tn the bottle is a liquid which if you throw over ttie dragon will render him helpless,” and with these words she went inside and shut the door, and the knight rode away very pleased with himself. Very soon ho came near the dragon’s den. When he came face to face with the animal be nearly fainted, .for it was fearful to behold. he threw the contents of the .bottle over the dragon’s.tail, and In a minute the huge animal fell asleep. Seizing his sword, tlm' brave knight cut off its seven heads ami hastened to the white castle. Great was his astonishment when he saw that it was inhabited by people again—he had broken the spell. The King came and thanked the knight; he explained how it was they were enchanted. A wicked wizard, who was really the dragon in disguise, had desired to marry Rowena, the King's beautiful daughter, but. of course the King would not hear of It, and the wizard was very annoyed and turned them all Into animals. The King's daughter Rowena was very beautiful, and it is not to be wondered that the Knight Rufus married her. He sent for his parents, and there

Mary. Mitchell Dunn. Wellington, introduces herself :- —“I am a little American girl, 11 years old, and I have recently come from the United States with my parents and older sister. We shall be here until the middle of next March.” I r am. very pleased indeed to have you as a member, Mary, and I am glad that you enjoy our “Junior Dominion” page. Do write another letter and tell me—and all our members —where your home was in America, and all sorts of interesting things we should love to hear about.] A now member. Marie Windle, Waipukurau, says:—“The other day we spent in the country. We started early in the morning, sitting up with dignityin an old dray, pulled by an old horse. The hillsides were covered with bush and scrub, and the clematis gave a finishing touch to the beautiful scene. The birds seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we were, and their thrilling songs echoed through the s-tiliness.” [A lovely day’s outing! I am sure, and such a pleasant, leisurely way to go. Glad you have joined.] “Dewdrop.” aged 11, Murchison, writes: —"The blackbird’s nest has little chickens in . now, Kiwi. They were ugly at first, all'head"-and beak, and eyes, but now they are getting their feathers and looking quite pretty. T can go right up to the nest and the mother does not fly off.” ’ [How lovely that the mother bird is not afraid of you? Yes. I have read the books you mention, and I enjoyed them very much.] . -.- Beatrice Kennett, Whetukiira, says - i“I love to watch the bees. I think there is : quite' a tuneful ’ sOiind in their busy' buzzing. Do you know if it is true that bees help to make the colours of the flowers, Kiwi? I think nature is wonderful, and even the smallest weed in the garden has something interesting to be learnt about it. Tell Inkling not to worry, about his hat, as I was only joking. And I should be very sorry indeed if he was driven by worry to stick his head into, the glue-pot.” [lt certainly is. true that the bees help to make the colours. They carry pollen from a yellow flower to a while one. say, of the same variety, and next year the white one is. yellow I There are many kowbai trees right in the heart of our city: I pass about a dozen on my way to this office. And yesterday I saw the first laburnum in flower. Personally I think it is lovelier than the kowhai. and I always think of it by: its other and prettier name—Golden. Chain. A limerick should only have five lines; yours really isn’t one.] .“Yellow Kowhai,” aged 14, Picton, says : “Mum’s rockery looks very pretty just now. The kaka beak is just one mass of red, and the wisteria is starting to come out. . The other day I was up to the bush and the clumps of clematis looked lovciv. I haven’t seen any kowhai out yet. There ! are no trees round here, at least not in our bush. •’ Every time I look at the koninfs my mouth starts to water. There are a lot of flowers on the trees. I have another pet lamb, also a little grey kitten. Will ' you please give me a name for the kitten? I’m a lone Girl Guide. I joined last June. There are twenty of us in the company, and it is called the Pelorus Sound Lone Girl Guide Company. [I think Tabitha is the nicest of all names for a grey kitten —if it’s a tabbylady. Or would Timothy suit him, if it’s a gentleman?] “Blackbird,” ' aged 12. Wellington: “There is a dear little white rabbit next door. It is not in a hutch, but is) allowed to hop about wherever it wishes. It gets down a hole uuderneath the house, where it sleeps.” . [And doesn’t it ever get lost? The Dutch drawning;came ever so much too late, dear, but thank you for sending it.] “Butterfly Wings,” aged 12, Wellington. gives us) a little word picture of Wellington in the rain. She lives in Oriental Bay, where .she has a fine harbour view. “Rain is pouring down, but the sights are not entirely gloomy. The sea is calm : the outline of the mountains in the distance can be seen, and the hill behind the house is very fresh looking. The golden broom, the white daisies, and the green leaves are waving in the wind, A few boats are leaving the harbour to-day.” [Where there is sea, it is never entirely unbeautiful, I think. I don’t ex- ;

they lived in the white castle and were very happy. The knight never saw anything of the old woman again, and Ihe white feather just vanished, but it did not matter, because all during the time of his whole life he never bad need for help, being brave enough to fight his own battles.—Original, by “Jaeobina,” aged 15, Wellington.