MARY IN MOONLAND

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 205, 25 May 1940, Page 18

MARY IN MOONLAND

[Do you remember the story of Mary’s search for William Weatherman? This week Miss Billy (17), Wellington, tells another original tale of Mary's a-ndventures.] IT ARY was just falling asleep when she nemembered such a funny thing that Mother had said at -tea-time. “Trust Norn-ie to be crying for the moon!’ “Fancy crying for the moon!” Mary thought. ‘How silly of her. good would it do her? I’m sure I shouldn’t like so much green cheese.“Green cheese ? What are you talking about? ’ Mary was not at all surprised to hear a strange voice in her bedroom. So many unusual things had -been happening lately -that her powers of being surprised were rapidly disappearing. . “Well, someone said that the moon is made of green cheese. Is R“Just you come with me, and I’ll show you.” For -the first time Mary really noticed her visitor—a funny little creature .perched on a moonbeam, dad in a dull gold elfin suit, with a very pointed cbm and little peaked ears. "Are vou a pixie?” she asked, excitedly. “A moon-pixie—-Luminus, to be exact,” he corrected her. ‘Come along now, if you want to see the moon. I haven’t got all night to waste. He stretched out an imperative hand to Mary, who put her own in it (how small she had suddenly grown!) and found herself sliding up a moon-beam.

Whizz! Rapidly they ilew up. . , „ "My!" thought Mary. “I’ve never slid! down the 'bannisters as quick as this, let alone Slide up such a funny thing as a moon-beam.’’ Bumip I Mary blinked rapidly. “Is this the moon?” she asked. , . ■ "Yes. And is it made of green cheese?” replied Lummus, sternly. Mary cautiously felt the ground on which she found herself standing.. It was quite soft —and when she moved it sunk beneath her like a very thick and tough canpet. Its colour was the same as that of her companions suit. Wnateve it was. it wasn't cheese, green or otherwise “No, but what is it?” she asked. "I’ve never seen anything like it before. “Course you haven’t. It’s—it’s—well—you lick it and' see.' “Lick it?” said Mary incredulously. “Well —er ...” She looked vaguely around her. As she watched she saw dozens and dozens of little people coming busily along a path. Twelve silvery chimes rang out —and promptly all the people sank to the ground.. Before her wondering eyes thev all .began busily to lick the ground. She giggled. What woul it look like if everyone suddenly did that in Wellington when 12 oclock struck/ iSo sue took Lummus's advice, and sinking to her knees, dubiously licked a little of the soft yellow surface. A look of delight crossed her face. “Why! It’s toffee!” she cried. "Oooh!” And she set her tongue busily to work. As soon as she had finished she squatted back. "But it. can’t be good for everyone to eat what they walk on! she said, Luminus shook with laughter. “This,” he explained, "is only the surface of the moon. And we all wear special germ-free shoes when we come up to eat three times a day. The rest of the time we live right inside the moon.” . “And do you eat toffee only?” gasped Mary. Then as the moon-pixie nodded, she screwed up her little nose. “I don’t, think I’d like that. It must be very bad for you. What s the inside of the moon like?” she added, remembering the rest of his reply. “Come along, and I’ll show you.” He led the way to one of the many little holes in the ground, down which he jumped. Many jumped after him. "I fell just like Alice.” she thought, as she floated down after him. “Everyone here seems to float up and down just as they wish. Ouch! She landed on her feet right in the middle of what she guessed was the towns main street. But such a funny street! Everything was that soft, pale golden colour—houses, 'people, clothes, shops—and all the things that were in the shops, too. It all looked rather monotonous to Mary’s eyes. And the houses were such a queer shape. They were like buttercups turned upside down, with all the little gaps between the petals closed, except for one that served as a door. ~ . „ "I wouldn't like to live here,” she thought. “Everything is the sameeven all the people look alike.” As that thought struck her she looked' sharply at her companion, just to make sure that it was the same one, Luminus was just disappearing through a doorway as she turned, so she hastily followed him in. The room contained a table made from a baby toadstool, and chairs made from still smaller one®; a little sink made from a gold-painted daisy petal; and the dearest little bed Mary had ever seen—a little speck of swansdown, inside which Luminus would curl right up until all you could see would lie his peaked little face. "How sweet!” cried Mary. “How perfectly sweet.” She ran iorwarct und sank into it. She saw Luminus’s little face grow crimson with rage. “You’re spoiling my swansdown!” he screamed. “Come away! Come u way you horrible mortal.” Mary took no notice of him, but snuggled down'i—■down —down—. “You nasty mortal! You’ve ruined my swansdown-!” wailed his voice from a long way away . . The swansdown began to tickle her nose. “Atchoo! Atchoo, she eneezeo violently. She opened her eyes. . . . And there was pussy curled beside her on the pillow, while sunshine poured into the bedroom. From the pale goia shadow of the moon she had returned to the rich sunshine of her own dear