THE MAGIC NUTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 148, 20 December 1933, Page 22

THE MAGIC NUTS

(Original, by "Mysterious," 14, of the ■■'City.)' J-, FATHER'" CHRISTMAS was very upse^ He didn't know what to do. First'of all he didn't have enough toys, and now he couldn't even find an aeroplane to carry him round the world.' Now, Father Christmas was very wise, and because he was so wise he went to visit Fairiel and her band of Fairies. "Please, Fairiel," ho said when he reached Fairyland, "I haven't enough j toys for all the children,-and no one will give me an aeroplanes They all call me a mad old man." "That is all right,", replied Fairiol. "My Fairies told me about your sad plight, and we have prepared two nuts for you. ' On Christmas Eye, if you open them, you will hayo a great surprise." ' \ While Fairiel had been speaking to Father Christmas, a little elf had crept behind Fairiel's chair and. listened to all they had said. He was a naughty elf, and, after Father Christmas had left, he flew into his pocket. % In this pocket -were the nuts which Bobbles, the elf, wanted," but they were very heavy for him to carry,, so. he left one and took the other. He then quickly flew out of Santa's pocket and went home. _When he reached home he broke tho nut, and only found a bad kernel inside, as the magic wouldn't work except on Christmas Eve. When it came to Christmas Eve, Santa went for the nuts, and was very much surprised and alarmed to find only one nut there.- He quickly rushed to Fairyland and told Fairiel all about it. She called for her magic looking glass. Santa and sho looked in it, and what do you think they saw? Why, Bobbles sitting at the table in his cottage, and examining tho nut he had stolen! _ . . ■ Fairiel ordered her soldiers to bring Bobbles to her, and when he came:she took the nut from him. A touch of her wand soon put it together, and another touch turned Bobbles into a mat which everyone trod.on.' *A crying was heard, and then the mat said," Please, Fairiel, I am sorry, and I won't do it again." So Fairiel changed him to his usual form, and an ashamed little elf crept back to his house. Thanking Fairiel, Father Christmas hurried back to his house, where he broke open the nuts. The first one turned into a magic bag which was always full of toys, ancrHhe other nut changed into.an aeroplane, which would become a car, a sledge, or any other conveyance that he, wished. Then away flew Santa, and everyone received i»n extra largo stoeking-ful of toys that year.