DEAR ONES:

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

DEAR ONES:

Orie large question/lots of little elves have been asking me, and it is." "When is the Winter Page, Fairiel?" But no, I hadn't for-' gotten the Winter King . . . only, do. you remember, last year, how he came early, and stayed late, and simply refused to go away? That is why we're not inviting him extra-early this year. We'll ask him to come at the end of July, when it's the very coldest time of the year . . . 'zactly a month after the Animal Page, which is almost upon us- -not-next-Saturday-but-the-next, in fact. But I'll be looking for all your animal stories and pictures this week, to be in time; and then wintry ones, soon as you like, dear-my-elves. •..-.• I've seen traces of the wee Spring Child already: in a fluffy pussy-willow, half-in and half-out, underneath my window; in funny, obstinate little leaf-buds, tight-curled as a baby's hand: in the lovely, heaven-scented bunches of fragrance that are wet, purple violets, heavy with dew. Summer and Autumn may fill our hearts with laughter, and Winter with warm love for happy, fire-lit evenings ... but Spring—o, Spring is an awakening-after-sleep to the glory of the n e w morning. There's Youth, and Joy, and a great promise of gladness-to-come in the thought of Spring ... and I'm watching for it alrea.ry! Happiness walk with you, hand-in-hand, all amongst our mushrooms. FAIRIEL.