BANISHED FROM FAIRYLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 20

BANISHED FROM FAIRYLAND

(Written by "Thistledown," 11, Lyall Bay.)

SAMMY SPIDER was the most wicked creature in Fairyland.- He wasn't really an inhabitant of Fairyland, but he had been found when he was a baby and had been kept there. _ ; ' „ ' As I said before, he was wicked. raines are kind-nearted little people and they hadn't the heart to turn him out, but lately they had really thought they had better. However, they had taken him to Queen Mab's palace, to ask the Queen for advice. The Queen had been very kind and had said, "Well, Sammy, you have been very naughty, but I will give you one more chance. If I have to speak to you any more, I will have to punish you severely." This frightened Sammy, and for a whole two weeks he was good.' The Queen and the fairies were very pleased; but one day Sammy said, "I'm. tired of being good; I will be naughty for one day and the Queen will-never know!" - So off to the woods he went.' He passed a big beech tree, and, sitting in its boughs was Bobby Squirrel. He had a basket of nuts by his side, and he was eating them slowly and thoughtfully. An idea formed in Sammy's mind. He would steal the nutsl Sp quickly and silently he climbed up the tree, his many legs, being very useful. ■-■-.••■ • Unsuspecting, Bobby hummed happily. Sammy reached the top of the tree where Bobby sat. ■ Cautiously the naughty spider reached out one of his many hands and grabbed the basket. He threw it to the ground and the nuts rolled in all directions. Bobby, startled by the bang of the fallen basket, turned round, and just caught a-glimpse of Sammy climbing down the tree. How. angry the unfortunate squirrel was!- He climbed nimbly down the tree and started to < chase;Sammy, but the spider had had a good start and' Bobby could nptcatch up .with him. However, he ran fast, and who should he bump into but Queen Mab, who was out for a walk. "Why, Bobby!'L --What i?..th'e matter?" she asked, for tears were streaming down the poor squirrel's; Cheeks. "Sammy threw all my' nuts' on the ground and now they are lost," sobbed Bobby. ' . . ■ . The Queen's pretty face grew grave. "Send my soldiers in search;of Sammy Spider/ she ordered;her page. "Yes, your -Majesty," replied the fairy page. So a few moments later the Queen's soldiers were hot on the trail of Sammy. . , In a few hours''time,-■When Queen. Mab was sitting in. her throneroom, a very bedraggled Saijppiy Spider. trailed in, in charge of two, of the soldiers. ;'Z .v, £'*;; '"" ' ' "' .-. ■ The; '.Queen of, ?th& >Fairie£JTOse. "What have you to say for yourself, Sammy?" she asked.: -;: v-..r ■•■-■■ ■ • The spider remained silent, so the Queen continued:' "You have had a warning,'and you used your last chance, lam punishing you severely' by banishing you from Fairyand for ever!" ■ The spider was stunned. With a wave of her hand' the Queen dismissed him. '' ■.■■■■ • :•', A few minutes later, a group.of fairies saw Sammy walking towards the gates that led the way out of Fairyland. ■■

He wandered away, and after a few: days' wandering he joined a group of robber spiders. There he has stayed to this day.