BERYL'S ADVENTURE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 3, 4 January 1930, Page 14

BERYL'S ADVENTURE

,/■■ There once lived a very troublesome giant named Blunder. He Vas very selfish, for if he loot a fancy to anything, iio matter whose if /;was,:''lie;iiiast--haye;ifi;'';.He':lived in a dark, lonely wood, and he would ■rob any travellers whp passed his castle. One day a pretty young girl whose name was Beryl decided to pay fi visit to her aunt, who lived a long way from Beryl's home. Her journey took her past Blunder's den, and, like he did others* he held her coach up and stole her jewels. As soon as Blunder saw Beryl, he fell in love with her and coveted her for himself. Despite her screams and struggles, he carried-her off to his castle and decided to make her his wife. Now, when Beryl was a baby, her Godmother had put Fluff, a fairy, to watch over her till she grew up. This little fairy was still guarding Beryl, and when she saw Blunder steal her mistress, Fluff knew it was time to act. So she followed the thief and his helpless victim into the castle, to see where her mistress was to be kept. Blunder the giant, having reached a room, he pushed Beryl into it and locked the door. All this Fluff noted, crept out of the castle and called her friends together. They all loved Beryl, who had been kind to them and were only too willing;to help her. , : One fairy, dressed in the clothes of a : pedlar, knocked at the castle door, and offered some pretty clothes for sale. Blunder bought a dress for Beryl for the wedding and sent it in to her. When Beryl put on the dress she found a note pinned on the inside bearina; this message:— "The bricks, third from the window, and keep digging." Hastily she did as the note commanded, found the brick, and, using '■'all her strength,.pulled it.up. Underneath was a little spade, so she commenced to digup alls the bricks. To her surprise, she came to' a little door in the ground, and on opening it found the fairies waiting for her. They at once helped her into the waiting coach and drove .away. "■ . • •■'..■■ '' '. ■/. : • . . Can you imagine Blunder's rage and dismay to find his fair captive not in the room where he had put her. Like the stupid old giant he was, he advertised for his missing bride-to-be, and was thus caught in his own trap, for he was immediately put in prison for stealing. Thanks to Fluff, Beryl is quite safe, and can now go to visit her aunt without fear of being stolen.' \ Fluff meanwhile swings on thistle-down all day, .happy in the knowledge that her mistress is safe. , ■, IRENE THORNLEY. Wellington,