THE MOUNTAIN SPRITES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 28

THE MOUNTAIN SPRITES

Written for the Bins by a Grown-up.)

np:iE mountain peak was covered with snow. Softly it fe.ll from the clear II blue sky, clinging to the rocks and softening their bareness, glisten* ing in the sunlight. At the' foot of the mountain stood a tiny hut^ and in it dwelt a very old man, whose beard matched the snow in its whiteness. He was loved by the mountain sprites, who called him "Blanco." They came to him with their troubles, or to tell him of their adventures, and of what they saw from the summit of the great white mountain, for Blanco was too old to climb to the top to see the wonderful tilings for himself.

■ One day as he sat in Ms tiny hut the old man heard a soft knocking at the! door and a.tiny mountain sprite, clad from head to foot in white fur, entered the hut.

"Blanco!" he cried. "A great mountain hawk has flown off with the little Prince, the Snow Queen's son! What shall we do?" ' . "The little Prince!" Blanco interrupted, his jovial face growing anxious, "and stolen by, the Black Hawk!" T The mountain sprite nodded, shaking the glistening snow from his fur

The wise man stroked his beard thoughtfully. "First the' Show King disappears, and then the Prince," he murmured. "Was the Snow King lost!" the mountain sprite inquired with founded eyes. . ..'"..' ', ■ • " ■ ■ ; ' "Yes," Blanco answered, after a short silence. "It was before you came from yon blue mountains. He went out hunting and did not return. His sprites were sent to look for him, but no sign could they find, and nothing did they see, except a great black hawk, and they were obliged to take refuge in a cavern until it had passed." "I wonder what happened to him," the; sprite continued. "Some say that he fell into the clutches of the Cave Witch of the Dark Caverns," said Blanco, "but none really know." "There was silence in the tiny hut when the old man opened the door and gazed over the,cold white slopes about him. ■ "Can't you think of something, Blanco," entreated the snow sprite. "We must find the little Prince." "Yes, we shall, find him," Blanco said. "Tell the sprites to come here at dawn tomorrow and I shall try to help them." The little fellow clasped his chubby hands in delight "Tomorrow we shall come, Blanco,^ he cried, "and you shall tell.ua your pjan." Blanco entered his hut and was soon lost in deep thought. At dawn the next morning the mountain sprites came dancing down the snowy steeps, which were flushed in the rosy light. Blanco's hut was almost lost in snow. It lay in piles upon the roof, ' making* the^hut look like a frosted bun, or-an icing sugar cake. The old man came to the door and hundreds of-sprites ran to greet him. "Last night I dreamed a strange dream," Blanco began. "You will know all when the sun .comes." ..--,-. . The sprites waited curiously. ' . > At last the sun had risen out of the sea and Blanco cried in tones- of excitement, "See who comes over the hill!" The sprites looked and fear crept into their faces. Some started to flee, but Blanco called to them: "Do not fear." ' : : • '■•■■'■■ Flying low over the snow-covered hills was a large black bird It-was the Mountain Hawk, dreaded by all the sprites. In his strong claws they saw a white,bundle, the Snow Prince! The cries of wonderment grew as the hawk circled lower and lower.. He dropped to the snow and to their amazement no sooner had he touched it than the black feathers .scattered in all directions, to disclose the handsome figure of the Snow king He. too, was clad in white fur, and his rich jewels glistened in' the sunlight. J^^- li} s I>" he caUed J°yfuUy- "iam free from the spells of the Cave Witch. That wicked creature changed me to a Black Hawk, and I have broken the spell by bathing in the waters of the Magic Snows. I took my son and bathed him in;the waters, too,.lest the Witch should work her evil powers upon him, too.' I took many days to reach the fountain, but at last I am free. Let us go; to the Snow Queen!" "Come to the Palace!" echoed the "sprites. ''Come, Blanco, let us maka merry, for we have not only the Prince, 'but also our King once more."