"BIRTHDAY GREETINGS"

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 7

"BIRTHDAY GREETINGS"

— (T^V^i

Original, by "Button,!1 age fourteen.)

//irT's:a;'Bliiiinc! A positive shame! Why should ho be despised just because ** I he is unsociable-and. rather ugly? Ami ho has broken his arm,, too!" Tins violent outburst camp from Pjiikic, ihq Gnome. He was speaking of. Nip, who was rather, as' Pinkie had .said, unsociable; and most of the: elves and fairies did not lilce him. ' ••".'■' "Yes it is. a shame, lie is such a jolly fellow when one gets to -know him. And lie can't do any work because of :his-sore-arm. Ho says he woir't be able to come to tho Fairy .Ring's birthday party because he hasn't any suitable clothes. I do wish we could help him," paid Hopper, Pinkie's very special friend, with a sigh. . "I have it!" exclaimed Pinkie, suddenly. "We will earn some .money, and buy him a suit. Oh, -hurray! .That's a lovely idea!" "That's all very well, but how aro we to earn tho "money?" said Iloppor, doubtfully. ... "Why, help with the birthday preparations at the castle. Quick, wa will nsk Fairiel now," cried Pinkie, excitedly. They found Fairicl in tho garden picking conic choice blooms. * "Dear Fairiel, have you somo work for us? Please we want it badly,-.'* said Pinkie and Hopper together; and so earnest were tho two little fellows that, though every position was filled, Fairiel said she thought she could find some work in th<> garden for them. So they set off, tho three of them, to find Bobs, the gardener. He was right round the other side of the palace, and as they were'walking there Fairicl noticed some roses that needed pruning and clipping, so she said to' tho two gnomes:— ■ • . . . ■ "There's something you can do. We will tell Bobs when we sec him; and there is a plot that should be dug; over ready for the next lot of seeds. There is really more to do than:l thought." . They earned quite a lot of money for a suit for Nip. There was enough to buy two fancy drosses • for themselves as. well, and : when they.:.to.ok Nip his fancy dress he was so glad'that H'embarrassed them very much. ■■■■■. They set out for the castle an hour before the time, as they had-plapnfid to go through the wood. But had. they known what was going to happen not one of them would have dared to venture within a mile of this wood. They had not gone far in amongst the trees wh.en they heard a voice say: "Oh, ho! "Oh, ho! I've caught you, I have. Ha, ha!" "Oh, run! It is Grim the Wizard," cried Hopper. ; "Oh, no, you don't. Not this time," cried Grim, and he made a quick dart in 'front of thejn. , Just as the three gnomes thought that it was inevitable tliat they would" be caught, Grim tripped up on his long flowing gown. The three made a dart, and were out of reach in a second. But they had forgotten Grim V two owls, and just as they thought they were free, these two birds droppod a net down on their-heads. Poor little, Nip.began to. cry ._ It was a horrible disappointment for him: his first party; a new suit; and then to be stopped from going. "Never mind,- don't cry. We shall soon escape," said Pinkie, trying to be brave; but his voice was- not too convincing. 1: '-. Grim tied them up securely arid carried them to his cave. He flung them flown roughly and laughed as they cried out at the jerk when they hit th« ground. ' .; But in Fairyland one or Pinkies many friends had called for hini| knowing Pinkie was certain to come. Ou finding that he was gone, Winkle) presumed that he must be at the palace, and he started for the palace himself. When he arrived there and found no Pinkie, he was rather worried; but at that time he did not take much notice. At 7 o'clock, the time, the party was to begin, he was rather, frightened, for lie knew Pinkie was one of those gnomes who liked to be punotual. Winkle went to one of his friends, Gay, and told Mm his thoughts. "I know," cried Gay. "Grim the wizard has come back, and is living in the wood by Pinkie's house. They have left early to go through tho wood, and Grim has caught them." "Oh, dear. What can we do?".sighed poor Winkle. "We will get Billy and old Bobs the gardener to come with us, and w* will see what wo can do to help them," said Gay. They soon had Bobs and his. son Billy, and were on their way. '-.'■• "Where does he live?" asked old Bobs. • "In a cave on the edge of the wood," replied Gay. ■? "Well, I can't think what-we can do, for ho has a big stone■ covering the mouth. See,.thero it.is," said the gardener. . "I have my magic wand," said Winkle. ■■ : ; v "Ah! That will do nicely. Wish that the stone may be moved from th» cave," said Bobs. *. :. .". Winkle did as he was bid,: and away rolled the gigantic stone, tip jumped Grim with -a cryp of: rage.'Before he could do anything, Winkle had changed him into a mouse.-. The three captive gnomes were soon released, and thanked their rescuers - heartily. .-,.■■. ... . i They soon arrived at the palace, and of course Fairiel had to be told,and she said: ' • , "I am sure this is the most thrilling day that you have all had. And on the Fairy King's Birthday, too. I have heard of your kindness, Pinkie and Hopper, and reward you," and sho presented them both with a handsome pair of wishing shoe*. The party that followed was the best and brightest that had been held for a long time. At the end of it Nip was sociable enough to be liked by everyone. It • was not- till' sunrise that a tired but happy band of gnomes arrived home. , . ■