THE DISCONTENTED FAIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 34, 8 August 1936, Page 20

THE DISCONTENTED FAIRY

LONG ago in Fairyland, there lived a small fairy who longed "'to be' a mortal and to play 'all day long with the earth children.: When the sun shone brightly she would creep behind the scarlet blossoms which grew beside the crystal mountain streams and watch the children bathing in the cool waters and listen to, their laughter as they splashed about.' Then the small fairy would say with a wistful sigh, "Oh, how I wish I were-an earth

When-the sun had set she ; would creep up to the windows and hide hfer-self-in \tne soft-; folds of the curtains while she ;peeped inside arid saw the children sleeping in their little white beds. ■ i

• .'Kow nice if would be to sleep there with them/ the little fairy breathfed wistfully; and she would then fly back to Fairyland, where everyone slept upon, moss and: rose petals. • a : ■■'

• iP ne ;«yening > as she was flying swiftly through the darkening wood- a voice cried .fairiel!l,' -and she.saw a small figure standing on the path below her. . Fairiel!",he called. "I.have something to tell you." The fairy fluttered down upon the soft carpet of leaves "Why, Gnoman," she said-in. surprise, "what can you want to say to me?' • Gnoman the Wizard was-dressed in brown and long stockings covered his crooked legs. He walked into his low hut, in which a fire was burning, and Fairiel, followed.

t,- "Y°m should:not wish to be a mortal," Gnonian said in a low'voice,-ks his small black eyes watched her closely. "A fairy could never be .happy

Fairiel looked up with surprise, for she had not guessed.that anyone knew her great secret. "How did you know, Gnoman?" she asked in puzzled tones. r ;

"Ah!" chuckled; the Wizard, "there is nought that Gnoman does not see. Have I not seen your leave your fairy work and watch the mortals, while the flowers which you tend are left neglected?'! ■ ■ ■* " Fairiel hung her head in silence. . • . ;

■ "x,. am going *° grant your wish,", the Wizard went on. "When, the.sun rises for the second time you may come and tell me if you still desire to be a mortal." . * - ■ ■ - ■

_ • Fairiel was filled with excitement and she thanked the queer Wizard ks she watched the flames throw quaint flickering shadows upon the walls ',ot til 6 riut, ■■ ■ ." . . ■ *■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ .

A few minutes later Fairiel left the hut, but no longer asa fairy. She was now a little earth child with short frock and curly hair: ' :: '- For a few moments she stood still. The wood was growing dark and the trees wore the last faint flush of the sunset which dyed the evening sky Her feet were aching and every thorn tore her skin, while brambles dragged at her frock and tangled themselves in her hair. At last she-cur led herself up on a bed of soft ferns. ' ' ."..,: ■ '' ' i.

Then a strange feeling came over the little new child! It was the spirit of weariness, which, is strange to fairy life,. and-. Fairiel slept for the first time the sleep of the mortals. ' , ;- N?t until the forest trees were tinged with gold did she wake. Another feeling came upon her. The new feeling of hunger. She broke a-cluster of blossoms from a tall tree: and sucked from them the honey dew.. The feelingof hunger, was still there,, and Fairiel .wandered along a path. Soon she_came across a group of small brown children who stared in' amazement as Fairiel ran to them and,called to them to come an.d play ' _ . V? c small.;jirchin ;■ was,eating a"piece of brown bread,' and she offered Fainela piece; .which shetook with a grateful smile. But alas! The food ■seemed coarse "and sour to;the child who had once been a fairy, v Then they played iri the great pool for many hours, ahdi Fairiel thought the water felt cold and not half as nice as it had looked. . ■"• i^'™? 1 tlle Sua set> and'Fairiel with slow steps turned in the direction of the.Wizard's hut She was tired of being an earth child. It was so much nicer to be. a fairy, chasing the fluffy white clouds across the blue heavens and playing-with .the flowers. She hoped that Gnoman would let her be a fairy again. ;■ . ,:-y /.-•...■ '■■'■■ ■ . ' ~••".".-, >.:■ ■.

"Ahl" he*aid;with: a wise nod.: "I knew. Never-wish>for a mortal life again." .■.■;.■■ .. . "..■=.'■■ ...'-.. . . .... . -" :,..'■■"-,.. % - ■■. . ■.'-

Famel^fluttered back to;theftree-tops with a happy feeling .in her breast, a wiser fairy than before. Never again did she waste her i time watching the mortals, and.never more did she grumble at her fairy bed of moss and rose;'petals... -■-_.. r :■''•■..■- ,-■■■':;■■." •.'■'-■ ■ ■ ■■..-■- ■ '\\- ■, ■.