MARY'S SECRET

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1936, Page 20

MARY'S SECRET

(Original.)

Mary was a little orphan girl of four, who lived with her grandparents in an old cottage overgrown with creeping roses and wistaria. One night in Spring, as Mary lay in bed, she heard soft music floating to her. She sat up in bed and listened. Where did it come from? ' .

Dressing quickly, she tripped quietly to the bush, whence she thought the music came. Being a moonlit night, Mary could see well. ,As she ran along the music became louder and louder, and on peeping through some shrubs Mary beheld a wonderful sight. There were pixies and elves dancing to a fairy piper's music, and, seated on. a throne of silver, was Fairiel.

She was accompanied by "Daisy Dawn" and "Miss Nobody." Just when Mary was peeping through a small punga tree she saw "Cowboy Jim" walk up to Fairiel and place a crown of silver on her head.

There was loud applause and the Queen, Fairiel, rose and thanked them. Again there was applause.

In less than ten minutes a carriage came along, drawn by two grey horses. Fairiel was driven away midst a ring of cheers and clapping.

As all pixies and elves are tidy, they gathered all the rubbish and each one took some home to burn.

Mary, a now sleepy little girl, trotted back home as contented as any girl. But our little orphan never has told and never will tell about what she saw that night. Oh, yes, she did! She told me, and now I've gone and told you all! "FAIR MAIDEN" (12). Takaka.