The Fiary Ring

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 20

The Fiary Ring

" FAIRIEL SENDS . . .

"Morning Star," City.—"Hidden Treasures" 3011 called it. Has Santa Claus. called ... or is it pirate gold? Whichever It is, your drawing Is very good.

"Pegtop," Eastbourne.—How many birthdays, Pegtop? And no name on your painting, We wrote It on the back very quickly before it had time to stray.

"Redgold," Kilblrnle.—Good sketching, pixie. Spring weather seems to have set all our artists to work with birds and flowers.

fn~i\\\

THE BUTTERFLY'S VISIT. When into my garden tho: butterfly came. He must havo been playing some sort of a

game; ■ . . Ho flew all around and he then circled low, Just orer the corner where pink roses grow. He bowed to them all and then lingered near

one, Who held her. head proudly out there in tho

sun; He touched her chocks gently as if he would

say, 'How much a row gives to a butterfly's day." —Emillo Blactanore.

"La Taupe." Minmar.—Fun to meet Quln:tho Mink again. I wonder if the winter in the grain store will bo as peaceful as he plans. More adventures to try hl« quick brain ?. "Aylons 8.," City.—Such a large family of pets to> look after .. . and what jolly names you have given, them. Sorry "Kookaburra" belongs, Aylene. Please choose again, "Hajol 8.," Ashhurst.—A hearty welcome to you, lass. So you know our "Daby" of the verse-makers I What signs of spring In your pan of the country? "Fairy Splinter," Kllbirnl*.—Another busy pon! The little girl on the swing does . not. seem at all surprised to se« tho tree fairy. I like yoqr picture, Lorna. "Marie H.." Berhampore Shall we call H Printer Man's smudge, and I shall not notice It whon judging th« paintings. Neat brush - work, Marie. Have you chosen, a penname? "Verity," Kllblrnl*.—Nobody called for the photograph, pixie, but Bonnie received so many replies that we had to print last ■"■ week's small paragraph for ncr penfriends. "MI»» Mliffrt." Karorl.—s6 you choso cyclamen's Blowing shades for the chief colour tone of your painting, elf. Wo llko the quaint border design very miich. "Daisy Dawn." K«rorl.—Ths daintiest spring picture. Perhaps, somewnerc, In the Bins there is a. story to match bluebells and flower fairies. "Marry* Giy«," WiUltal.—Was it "Lilac's" picture that inspired your poem, Ims? It was a perfect match for the, old-fashioned garden. "Best rUt," F*tone. —Only one forgotten thing, pixie . . . the! carpet. It, too, should have been coloured m gaily as a Persian rug. Masks, balloons, and lanterns made a gay border and the children -are beautifully painted. "Fin," Ly»ll Bay.—Truly Scottish names that brought a breath of heather with them. Bemember to sign your real name as well as your pen-name, 'Tin," ■■ "H«ddl»," Lyall B»y.—-No letter could I! find, elf. Bid you forget to tuck yours W before "Fin" sealed th« envelope! "Mtrjtrtt 8,," City.—l have chosen "Iris,"' for you, plxle.; I hop* you llko it and that wo shall see it In "Letterbox Elf's" inailbag almost every week. "Gnome Nobody." Lower Hurt—lndian Ink if you can manage it, «lt . . . pencil If you are not yet twelve years old. Top marks for writing this week, Qllvel r "White Fans," Uland Bay —A was to go round buoy A and B round buoy H. You sent A > round B and B round A. There are no Canadian penfrlends just now, elf, but I shall try to find ono for you. "AngeU," Hataital.—But a Ring every flay of I the week ... -• why, the very thought of it ' . brings k bewildered look to Printer Man's I face. A dainty border round your painting, ; elf. ' , • -■■.■ , "HiawathA," City.-^So holidays are over and I 'speW small ulster has gone homo again. Topping to see you again and lo know that even, growlng-up pixies find time for visit- -■ -ing./- ..■ -V;/ ■■.•■ . "Plain Purl." Clty.4-And now that Competitions and holidays are over I 'snoot you ■ have made Up your mind to work even harder for next time. A surprise to' find t/wo visitors .. . . <m« so till, the other so small . . . that afternoon. ■ "Wynken," Johntonville.—And there's no end exploring when you've a. shining new bicycle. You should be »ble ito catch up with Spring if any elf can. "Lassie," ' Kilburn.—And inspiration, that Surprlse-Farty-in-a-Box . . .It might almost t havo happened. Sure there was no Magic ' Carpet beneath it! "Bernice H.," Karori.—So you made youre a little brown rabbit. H« came in. pey an# white, too. Surely no other rabbit had 30 large a wardrobe. b«*»i -u/»ifiii city wA bisr welcome to you.

Elves of the Ring

K=>fOC=>M«. ;

THE SUPPER THAT FLEW

AWAY

"I saw a lovely little green and yellow bird yesterday. It was about the i size of a sparrow. I saw the cat creepi ing along with his eyes fixed on something ahead of him. I looked up, and there was the unsuspecting bird sitting on a twig. I chased it away, and Smut looked rather annoyed with me for not letting him get it." "MARCEL." '■ Upper Hutt.

JOAN: was sitting under the rose bush, feeling very discontented, and Rowbud, the fairy, was sitting on a rose, also feeling very discontented. "If only I were a fairy, and could fly," thought Joan. "If only I were a little girl, and could play rounders," thought Rosebud. Joan looked up. "What a pretty butterfly!" she said, and caught poor little Rosebud, "Let me go, you're hurting. I'm not a butterfly, but a fairy," cried Rosebud. At first Joan was very startled, but soon they were chatting away like old friends. Joan told Rosebud how tired she was of being just an ordinary little girl, and Rosebud told Joan how tired she was, tired of being a fairy. "Why not change places?" she = said. Of court* Joan agreed, and in a twinkling the fairy waved her wand. Joan shrank to the size of-a beetle, while Rosebud grew and before you could say "Jack Robinson," they had taken leave of one another, Rosebud making for Joan's house, and Joan flying from flower to flower. Let us follow Joan on her strange adventure. Before long she met a pretty little daffodil fairy, who caught hold of her hand, saying, "Hurry up, Rosebud, the ball will have started, and the Queen will be angry if you are late." Joan hadn't the faintest notion as to what she was speaking about, but she knew she must pretend to be t Rosebud, sp she said, "All right, I'll hurry. I've just been-—er—-urn—urn —talking to a spider" (whatever did fairies do in their spare time?) The little daffodil fairy looked shocked. "Rosebud, you are wicked. You know the Queen has forbidden us to go near the spiders, because they killed poor Bertie Blue Bottle. I hale you!" She flew off, but they had reached the ball-room. It was a large fairy ring. Elves and fairies were sitting on the toadstools chatting, or dancing to the music of twelve large grasshoppers. It was a pretty scene, and the beautiful little Queen, sitting on" a throne in the centre of the ring, looked a Queen indeed. She

SHADOWS,

Shadows are beautiful things — 'cause I found One of them dancing and hugging the ground Under a wee, wee sycamore tree. "Now I ivill catch, you" I said to the elf. "Silver and slippery" (this to:myself)— "Hopeless and hoppity, come here to me."

He fled through my fingers and quivered and broke Into dancing—the way of all fairy-made folk, - / frownedj then. I laughed; only God understands Trying to catch at impossible things Like beautiful shadows with beautiful wings, With ten clumsy fingers and two clumsy liands! MARNA SERVICE.

A CALENDAR PICTURE TO PAINT

So holidays are over once more and that very important Third Term has begun. Somehow, in spile of the examinations that loom at the end of the. year, don't you, all agree that Third Terni is more fun than his two younger brothers? He comes with the first, spring sunshine and there is always the happy thought of summer days ahead with picnics, swimming, and boating to be enjoyed and the excitement of break-up concerts, bazaars, and rehearsals. , "You, have forgotten the most important day!" accuses Letter' box Elf. The nicest* noisiest, not-long-enough day of Third Term. Guy Fawkes day!" Of course! And that witchery night Hallowe'en and all the other little surprises the days before Christmas hold, . .'..'.'■ ■•'•-.> . . And speaking of surprises, have you ever heard of a surprise-party-in-a-box? "Lassie," "Pollyanna,""Little Gladness" "Brownie Helpful," "Peter Pan" "Swastika" "Daisy Dawn,'* and several other fun-loving folk made one last week, fproneofour Ring who took to her wings and flew too far for a real surprise party to follow. So they packed a party into a box. Tucked away in it were games, presents, sweets, and the merriest programme for an imaginary'party. _ But /Ac most im-portant-thing-of-all in the recipe, for a surprise-party-in-a-hox is that it must have a special escort of thoughts. _ This one had, and a message from the far-away mushroom said it was, the greatest success. Suppose you try to make one next time somebody has a birthday. . Best ivish.es for all the. days of Third Term and my love to everyone in the Ring tonight

—FAIRIEI'.

:>o!><C->*X^X

BUSY NEST-BUILDERS

"My father has put half a coconut '■ shell into each of the canary cages, i then he put some, cotton and straw in the..cage. The canaries fleW downj and carried the straw: up in their beaks to the shell to make their nest It Is great fun watching them pull the! cotton apart and carry it up to their j nest." ,:jw "MARCEL." Upper Hutt. v^"'

>OlK^>C»<^>oo' «C>(KX= THE MUDDLE

(Written by "Siki Woo," 14, Lower Hutt.)

AN ANSWER TO . . ,

"Eva 5.," Mastorton.—Welcome to th« Ring, Kva. Can you think of another pennamet "Ijivonder Lady" belongs to another member. "Cottage Fairy," City.—To forset one's name ... it scorns the strangest thing to do

. . . some wandering witch must hare cast a spell upon one mushroom of the TUng . . . then, suddenly, you remembered.! Is the poom begun?

"Mornins Rose," Wellington. South—Glad you like you> prize, pixie. • Isn't it excitlnj where'the Darling children learn to fly.

BIRDS. (Original.) , : The birds are singing sweet songs Thoir world is lolly and.gay , They sing their songs each day In January, March, and May. And while we watch them building nests. Some say they ars useful And othors, they're pesta. But I think they are beautiful And useful as well I love to hear i them singing Lltte little bells ringing For when Winter comes and they fly away. Most of us miss them from that day. * "NARCISSUS." Brooklyn.

"Beryl W.," Newtown,—"Cinderella" belongs already. Beryl. Please choose again. Perhaps a grown-up would bring your scrapbook to the office of the "Evening Post." I like your verses written' for moth«r. .. "Thelma 8,," Alhhurit,—Welcome to our larg«, happy circle, Thelma. Have you thought of another penname? Wo already have a "Fairy Bolls,"

"Pixie Pcnelf," Brooklyn,—What a, busy scribe you arc. Two very good stories in one wcekj Printer Man was sorry you bad used botli sides of the paper. You ice he is too ■ busy to turn the, pagos.

"Moonlight Fairy," Ncwlowi),~A surnlse visit to that lonely mushroom - . , but of course we had not forgotten you. Was the poem original or copied, fay? "Marcel," Upper Hurt—Such, long-stemmed daffodils. They must have-heard of Jack's famous beanstalk1 and'decided to try to grow as quickly.

"Rosemary Green," Berhampore.—ThsnJc you for the directions for knitting the toy duck, plxle. Have you a picture of the finished loyi I know thoro will be many Bins people who will want to make It. "White Horse Inn," lower Hult—Your thinkJng cap gavo the right »nr.weni thtii time, elf. Good guessing 1 Will you tell »« your age with next letter, please. "Fairy Stardust," Lower HuH.—How you must hnvo enjoyed the pl«y ~ . 'specially the ballots and the black and white dancers. "Letterbox Elf" laughed at the ■po«m.'» He said ho knows someone who wean a- bat llko that.

"ft," Newtewn.—A good story, "Q." The discovery of tho runaway could hare been developed further as It is the main incident of tho talo. "Sinning Sue," Setteun.-—Fun to find i letter from you, too, JJelva. Rides In the car nude holiday-time Jolly I'm sure. Did you »cc any now country Jamb*? "U Rout Moiiiteuit," WtngMiil.—Your penfdond has that most precious thinf—a «trong son»e of humour. I did see #• fllm you mentioned and I agree with you. I would like to see your charcoal picture. "Canadian Uh," «eato(W.—The Bin* Gift Cupboard ■!» open, too, elf. We are going to have ovon more toys than usual this ChrlßtMargaret Ntalt, Ntlion,—Thank you for tlio riddles, Margaret. Are your fields cloudy ■with apple-bloosom these early spring days? "MarlDosa." City.—Dla rae lamb you met at coif pose for that picture ? ■ I 'spei-t you are busy . working for your Guide Tenderfoot badita. "Ponty," Island Bay.—Daffodil* and hyacintns make a dainty drawing, elf, but your work is not ■ quite-ready for the Iting. Keep on tryinc. . . '.. "Sunshine Sweetheart," Paraparaumu.—Xeat work, "Patsy ■■. • • but y°" forgot potal pink; for checks and a pale tint for the background. And such a cheery border 1 "Nancina." Hataitai.—"Spring and the Pansy Children." is not up to your usual standard, chlldle. . . . I know you can do even, better work. Pleaso try again. "Canadian Law," Seatoun.—Lanterns and bal* loons were favourite decorations for borders, Margaret, Glad you choso orange for yours, It, is a happy colour. "Fairy Rosebud," City.—A beautiful little picture) of tho swans and lambs. You might have 'prisoned a piece of real countryside on paper. Thank you, Rosebud. "Silver Spray," Petone.—Was it a copied poem or did you make It. fay? There is a truth in it and beauty of line, tos. . "Gnat Grtenfrather," Johnionvllle.—Kror ' to' Jiard . . . but each painting must be looked at carefully. Your border is as dainty as a • spring flower-bod. i

smiled at Joan, thinking she was Rosebud. A young gnome came up to Joan, addressed her as Rosebud, and claimed her for all the dances. He sat next to her at supper, which was held after the ball, and Joan, who had a child's appetite though a fairy's body, astonished him by eating thirteen platefuls of dewdrop custard! Indeed everyone stared, and whispered that she was an ill-mannered creature. As for Joan, she was still hungry when they cleared supper away. The young gnome led her away to a quiet spot, and there, after much stammering, proposed to her! Poor Joan was utterly taken aback, and said, "but I don't even know" you!" "Don't know me, sweetheart! Don't be absurd. You know I have loved you these two whole weeks." This was enough for poor Joan, and she flew away from him, back to the rose bush where she had first met Rosebud, i There was Rosebud, crying her eyes out. She gave a cry of gladness when she »aw Joan. "I'm so tired of being a human," she said. "Your mother thought I was ill when I wouldn't eat a huge breakfast, and she gave me some terrible medicine. I've been sent to school, where I didn't know a thing, and was kept in all the afternoon. I fell off the bed and hurt myself when I. tried to fly." "I," said Joan, "have been scolded because I said I had spoken to a spider, have been expected to eat about a thimbleful of food for my meals, and last, but not least, have been proposed to. The sooner we change back again, the better." "I think so too," said Rosebud, and she waved her wand.

Now Joan is a contented little girl, and Rosebud is a contented little fairy. Each is quite pleased with her own way of living, and would not change with the other again for anything. As for Joan's mother, and the other fairies, Rosebud made them believe that it was all a dream.