FAMEL'S HOUR

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 29, 2 August 1930, Page 20

FAMEL'S HOUR

J^TpWAS a cold, wet night, and the II "Fairy Bing" were sitting around a large room, at the end of which, blazed a glowing fira. The light was out, and the fire sent its eerie beams around the room, giving it rather a ghostly appearance. Ie the very front of the fire sat Fairiel, knitting busily, while Saucy Sally, ever saucy, sat watching her with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. "Baby Bunting," " Wee Ono," and " Littlest'' were casting dreamy eyes into the fire. "Bagged Kobin," "Kingfisher Blue, 1' "Goldfinch," "Tui," "Brown Owl," "Huia," and "Meadow Lark" were chirping together, while "Elfin Artist" was busy with "Prairie Flower" painting a pretty picture. Suddenly Fairiel looked around, and asked the children if they would like a story. The children, of course, assented, and so Fairiel began. t Once upon a timo in winter, two little children, Tom and Nan by name, were tired of reading books, and so nurse had suggested the game of Bubbles to. pass away the time. A few minutes later the children were blowing the prettiest bubble, imaginable. Blue and pink, red and gold they were; in fact, every colour of the rainbow. All at once Nan blew an extra large bubble, which suddenly turned into a little bubble man. "I'm so glad you blew that," said he. "I was imprisoned by a wicked ogre in that bubble, and until someone had blown it I would never be free."

» ■ The children were delighted at having performed such a deed, -which they, thought was very clever. .... . "I should love to see the Bubble Palace," said Tom. ■"•Vary•■ well," said the little man, "you will. Close your eyes and count ,forty." . Tom and Nan did so, and 'when, they had finished found themselves in a Mother of Pearl Palace, lined with crystal. "Oh, how gorgeous," breathed th« children together. By the time the children had seca nearly all of the jjalaee and its wonders, it was time to go home, ■vraen & swishing and a gushing was heard, and Tom and Nan woke up to find- that they had upset the bowl of soap ani water on to themselves. Nurse, came in, and wasn't there a to-do." "Naughty children," slo scolded, and with a hearty slap sent them off to bed. . , "I shouldn't have liked to be there,** • said "Golden Buttercup" dubiously. "Well, that is the end of mjj story,'said Fairiel. •-.•... "Oh, Fairiel, it was so interesting the way you related it," said th« Fairy Ring together. By thL time th« tiny tots began to nod. '"I'm ao tired, I want to go. to bed," said Baby Bunt* ing* ■ ■ -':'■■.■- "Very well," said Fairiel, smiling. "Off you troY and she picked up he*, knitting and went on. • ... ■■..■•■■ GLADYS HAEVBT. Miramar. ' .■"■ , ' ...