"HOW THE FAIRIES CAME"

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 94, 22 April 1933, Page 20

"HOW THE FAIRIES CAME"

(TWWS>

I^, read you a fairy tale," said j Auntie. "No, thank you, Auntie. I've done with fairies," replied Freddie. Auntie looked quite shocked. "Done with fairies?" "Yes. You see, I've so many other things to amuse me now. There's tlie new gramophone, and my puppy, and the goldfish. I really don't need fairies any more." "Well, that is a queer thing!" said Auntie. "I never heard a little boy say he didn't need fairies before." "But I'm growing up now. I'm six years old, and Mummy says I'm almost a man." Auntie still looked troubled. "I am four .times that, and I still love fairies," she said. "Then I must be different from you, because I've quite made up my mind to give up fairies forever." Now, Freddie's nursery had always been full of fairies. They hid in the cupboards and danced in the corners, climbed on the fireguard, and scrambled under the sofa. Merry little people they were, .\-ho made the room seem bright and cheery even ou the dullest day. There were the fire fairies, who flew up the chimney like sparks, and the raindrop fairies, who tapped at the window on wet days, and the snowflake fairies, most beautiful of all. Fairies everywhere! So you can imagine how shocked anl unhappy they were when they heard Freddie nay he had done with them for everl Where were they to got Of course, they couldn't stay where they were not wanted, and they felt terribly hurt by Freddie's words. So that night when Freddie had gone to bed they held a meeting in the nursery and considered what was to be done. "We must find another nursery where we shall be welcome," said Fairy Twinkle.

(Found l)y "Frankenstein" for the Fairy Ring.)

"But how shall we find it?" asked Fairy Dimple. "Why, of course, wait until we see a perambulator going by and all jump on it. It is sure to take us to the right house." "Perhaps Freddie didn't mean us to go, really. Couldn't we stay a littla longer just to see? He may want us again tomorrow." "I kiiow a much' better plan. Supposing we brought Freddie a littla baby sister? She would be sure to want fairies, and ws could stay ever so long!" All the fairies clapped their hands at this. "Of course, that's the best idea," said Fairy Twinkle. "Come along, all of you. There's no timo to waste. We must go to Fairyland tonight and bring back the nicest baby wo caa find." And that is how it was that next morning Freddie had a great surprise. It was Auntie who told him he had a little baby sister, and though he did not believe it at first, he found that it was quite true when he was allowed to peep into her cot, ant' onco he heard her crying. Then ho crept shyly to Auntie's side and said:— "I think perhaps we shall want tit© fairies to stay. I don't think my little sister will be very happy unless they; are here." Meanwhile the fairies had climbed up the ivy and were looking wistfully, in at the window. ■■ "Quite right," said Auntie. "Let's call them back." So she opened the nursery window, and, leaning out, sang:—■ "Fairies, Fairies, come inside! Now the window's open wide!" Then with a flutter of wings and waving of wands all the fairies trooped in. Freddie wasn't quite sure he saw them, but most certainly his littls sister did, for shs stopped crying immediately. .