THE LATE BIRTHDAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1932, Page 18

THE LATE BIRTHDAY

(Original.)

It had been the Fairy King's Birthday on Saturday, and all the fairies had been invited except one poor wee fellow called Hope. Hope was always happy and nobody ever knew when he was sad, because he always had a cheerful smile on his face. Inwardly, inside his little heart, he was very -unhappy on Saturday night, but he waited till eight, o'clock, and when no sign of anybody came he went for a-'.walk in the dark forest. He knew that no one ever went that way, ao that was why he chose it. :

When ho went home he went straight to bed, feeling very sad and lonely. In the morning he woke up bright and cheerful, and every one asked where he had been the'night before. He told them, and even managed to smile.

At the end of the week the whole town was buzzing with excitement. Fairiel was giving another party, but no one knew why.

On the next Saturday morning Pairiel visited Hope in her chariot. She told him she was very sorry he had not been invited^to the party, and she was giving this party in honour of him. She said she -would like him to serve at her court, and be one of the fairy dancers, who, when the Queen was sad, danced before her to try to cheer her. r ~■:■.

Hope was very happy, and when, the party came he spent all his money buying himself a suit. ...He was loved by everyone because he? never gave up hope, and was always cheerful. Later on in years, Hope • married Fairiel's daughter and became a prince.

"BOBBOLINK" (12).

Korokoro.