CHAMELEON

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 78, 28 September 1935, Page 20

CHAMELEON

Once upon a time there was an ell named Chameleon. He had a wonderful white tunic of which -he was more than justly proud, for Queen Mab would often employ him in it to wait on her at State occasions. This made Chameleon' haughty, and he-said, he was much superior to the other elves in Fairyland. "We must get even with him,'" they said, and put their heads together. The outcome was that one of them hit upon a wonderful plan. The tunic was white, but this elf had invented an invisible ink which dyed the tunic so that it became whatever colour, of-the chair the wearer should sit on.' ■ When the wearer was standing it was white. ",."Nbw we shall have some fun," said the elf, rubbing "his-hands, as he put Chameleon's tunic back in the drawer. Chameleon was helping the Queen's gardener to dig potatoes, and naturally he .wouldn't wear his tunic to do that "I wonder what he will sit on first." That afternoon the Queen was having an audience, and Chameleon was in attendance. So long as he stood his tunic -was ■white, but when the Queen motioned Tiim to sit on a pink cushion the tunic,immediately became pink. Queen Mab rubbed her eyes. "I thought, Chameleon," she said, sternly, always wore your white tunic at. my State, receptions. Why iave you changed it?" "Changed it, your Majesty? Indeed J have not!" Just at that moment the Lord Chamberlain came and spoke to the Queen, and Chameleon took the opportunity to slip away.and look at himself. Of course,, the. tunic was white again. Chameleon crept back to the State room, wondering over the Queen's words. He sat down on a* blue cushion and immediately his tunic became blue. Of course, the Queen noticed it and spoke even more severely. "Surely, Chameleon," she said, "I told you to put,on your white tunic. Go and do it at once." She turnedto the Lord Chamberlain again. Chameleon got up and looked at himself in the glass. "I.,must be .bewitched,".he said. "Or my eyesight has gone. lam wearing a white tunic."" * .„' - A red plush curtain was folded neatly to make a seat by. the door, and Chameleon sat on this. His'tunic immediately, became red, and the colour was reflected .in the room. The Queen did -not notice anything, /but the, elf who had magicked the tunic was standing by Chameleon.."Ha! ha!" he said. "Somebody I know won't be so proud of his tunic in future, when it takes on the colour of the seat he is sitting' on. He can't undo my magic. Ha, ha!" Chameleon immediately guessed what had happened, and groaned so loudly that the Queen heard him and told him in an angry voice' to come to her. i"Sit on'that cushion there and don't move until I give you" leave," she said. Chameleon looked at the cushion— it'•was a plaid one—and looked at the elf who had bewitched him, and who ■was laughing very much. "What-happens if I sit on that?" Chameleon asked. "You'll burst, fcecause the tunic will fight-with itself >as to which; colour it shall have." Chameleon rose from the cushion and fan—ran without stopping, until he came to Mortal-land—and he is still here';,

BULBS. (Original.) There stands a bowl of china gay. Upon the schoolroom wlndewilll, And in It with the greatest care. Exactly as I had been (old, I planted seven butts today. II put them firmly In the mould. And in the spring—«. there will be ' A lovely, sight for all to see. Fine crocuses of mauve and gold. Upon the schoolroom wlndewslll, At least, I hope,,l hope there will! City. '^" <10)'