THE DREAM SHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 150, 22 December 1931, Page 24

THE DREAM SHIP

(Original.)

BUFJj' had that "Christmasy" reeling. You all know what that's like—it's a little, excited feeling deep down in your heart, that comes just after you hang your stocking ovor tho fireplace and just before you finally cuddle down at night. Buffi was so excited that sho felt just like a fizz-bottle ready to pop! Out of the window sho could see the suu setting over tho western hills, and tho fcfcy above was all rosy and golden. "I wish the light wouldn't shino into my eyes so," said Buff, sleepily. "Do you?" answored a. littlo voice, outside the window. Buff sat up and looked towards, tho sunset. There was a fairy standing there, just poised in tho finishing twirl of her dnnco, head thrpwn ,ba«k, arms outstretched, and toes pointed. • "Who—who aro you?" whispered Buff. The fairy camo towards her, right in' the glow of tho golden light, and atood on the window-sill. "I am the Fairy of Dreams," sho said. "I have just finished my dance, and now I start off in tho Dream Ship to take little children up to Dreamland for Christmas Eve. .Will you como with me?" "I'd love to," said Buff, scrambling out of bod. "Will this nightie «ot—it's tho pink one with blue rosebuds, that Auntie ma.de for mo," ''Course it will do," answored the Droam Fairy, "Step on to> tlid win-vMr-sill andl into tho boat." And a golden cloud, lined with fleecy white, *ailed by the -window. "'What ij your namo?" asked the fairy, when they were sitting in ihe cloud boat. "My namo is 'Lizabelh Marie Anne," answered tho little girl solemnly, "but they call me Buff." "Hero we are at Betty's liouso now," said tho fairy, as the Dream Ship cl«iw up at another window. Betty came in and sat next to Buff, and beforo long the Cloud Boat was full of excited little children all pn their way tp Dreamland. "Here we are!" announced the Dream Fairy. "Come and see the big Christmas Tree." So, they all stopped out of the ship on to a big long white cloud, and •went into a golden palace. Hero they had a party, and then they went to see_ the Christmas Tree. Such a beauty it was, all shining and silvery, ■with its boughs laden with presents: balls, books, trains, dolls, and right on the top, a glittering fairy with gauzy wings. They had a jolly time play'"B games, and then tho Dream Fairy yave all the presents away. At last they came almost to an end, and Buff was the only one witliout one. "It's for you, Buff," said the Dream Fairy, taking down the glittering S,iry doll. "For me?" said Buff, with wide eyes. "Yes," answered the Dream Fairy. Then; "Come on, all you small children, we must away homo again. Have you enjoyed your party?" "Yes!" came from all tho mortals, big and little. They all clambered into tho Dream. Ship, with laughter and jollity, and down, through tho purpled skies of night they floated . . . floated "Good-bye, Buffi" called tho Dream Fairy, as the Dream Ship sailed past the window. "Good-bye." Buff sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Was it a dream? But no— for there was the shining doll that the Dream Fairy had given her, standing on top of the bulging stocking! "POLLYANNA" (17). Kelburn.