FAIRY RING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 115, 17 May 1941, Page 15

FAIRY RING

THE LUCK OF A CRAB Little blue ripples broke playfully on the shingly beach, and the sun shone brightly as Father Crab led his family along in search of breakfast. His seven children scuttled after a sand-hopper, and all was peaceful Presently, when they had had enough to eat, they settled beneath a large stone in the rocks. A picnic party came down later, lunched, bathed, and went, and the crab family was engaged in dinner when two children came down to the beach. They played for a while, and then came to the rocks. Father Crab was full of anxiety when the boy lifted the stone "O-oh!" he cried. "Crabs!" And the boy lifted Father Crab up and poked him with a stick. Father Crab, who was very frightened, nipped his finger. The boy dropped him. "Nasty crab." he said, and raised his j fool to crush him. "Don't," said the girl. "It was your own fault. Why didn't you leave him alone?" And she took Fathei Crab and placed him in a pool. Father Crab scuttled away quickly, because he feared they might catch him again. The children went away, and Mrs, Crab consoled her husband with the biggest hopper. "LADY OF THE CLOUDS" (12). City. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiimiiiiiiiiiiiui)

Ilillllllfllllllllllfllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Fairtei Sends ... "Aiteen 8.," Lower Hutt. —Good writing, nenelf. I can see that you and Letterbox Kll are going to be great friends. We miisl ask you to choose anothei penname, as "Curly Top" belongs, Welcome to the Itinc "The Woodpecker," Lower Hutt.—Was^he poem called "Tommy" original? You 'forgot., to mark it, plslekln. Both sketches are good, 'specially the little flower-gatherer, "Maretta M.," Picton.—Both "Bubbles" ano "Evening Star" belong to other Ring members, so will you please choose again. We're glad to welcome you to our senior circle of writer folk. Good verse-making t "Bonny," Lower Hutt.—A surprise postman this week. Bonny. I hope Daddy liked all our artists' paintings. What a kind expression you gave the old tree in your sketch. Keep on practising, pixie. ; "Fairy Twlnkle-Byes," Seatoun.—Of course you may be a pixie, Penelope, and 1 hope you will come visiting one day. You may choose any time of the morning or afternoon during the holidays. J ! 111111111 f c 111111 ! 11 [ 1111 a 1111 bll r WELCOME TO ... "Professor Paddy" (13) City. "Snowy" (10) Lower Hutt. 'Aileen B." (?) Lower Bmt. "Maretta" (16) Picton. "Fairy Twinkle-eyes" (8) .... Seofcnun"Norma G." (9) Lyali Bay. "Baby Buster" (7) Johnsonville JIIIIIIIIISI9I £ EIIIIIIIIEI ■ 111BI! 11 "Lassie," Kelburn.—l tlKe the description of your autumn bowl. You roust come to see the paintings one day soon. Ring visitors appreciate your beautiful scrapbooks and Ana's. "Golden Lily," Mornington.-—Thank you for sending your age and for (he star ooem. "Golden Lily." Remember to sign your real name as well »s your King name, elf, "Stinray Sally," City.—We wondered what could be hidden in those mysterious little paper rolls. They were a lovely surprise and will still our Birthday Page petferlly, "Apple Fairy ( '' Knroti. —Isn't it fun to sleep in a bunk, especially a lop one. II must bp tiuile like being In a ship when you can hear the noise of the sea outside, "Pat D.." Dannevlrke.—We wish you a happy holiday in Wellington and we hope the wind and the weather bPlmve while you are here. Happy days lo you. "Quicksilver." Oaiihevlrke.—A double surprise to find you, too, among Wednesday's visitors Next time you come to the Ring you may meet some of our city members. "Little Bud," Hataital.— l hope the pictures fitted the gaps in your acrapbook, littlest. Postie brings a large package almost every time he calls now. Our scrapbook pile Is mounting up! "Grey Owl," Kllbirnie.—We enjoyed your Maori story and hope you are busy writing another tale for the Ring. Good scrapbook newsl There are not many days left for finishing touches.

llltllllflllilllllllllllllllllllllliiltllllllEllllHl

"Professor Paddy," City.—Welcome tonight, Paddy. We're longing to read some of your Irish stories and verses. Do you know all about leprechauns and "will o' the wisp" and such people? "Joy Germ," Mlramar.—Your library Is growing like mftglc, and so Is your garden. What a gay sight it will be when all those new plants are flowering. Thank you for that rose-covered scrapbook packed with InterestIng news.

lllllllllllllHlllUilllllillllllllllllllllllUlllllllllllllllllllUlllilllilllllllllllllllllllUlllllllll

PIXIE PEOPLE: What exciting days they were this week. Every morning when I came to the Ring I wondered which of our city and country Ring people would come visiting. One day two of our best-known scribes from Dannevirke wrote their names in the Visitors* Book, and on a very sunny morning all four of the Buster familyNortherly, Southerly, Easterly, and Westerly—arrived at the Ring together. Letterbox Elf said, "No wonder it was such a sunshiny, summery day outside, and no wonder there was such a whirlwind in the Ring!'? You can imagine how fast pencils,had to work in between the tapping at the Ring door. Some of our holiday visitors have brought in their birthday scrapbooks, and some large packages have already come by post, including three beautiful books from "Lassie," You may see them when you come visiting. Birthday Page comes in two weeks, so work quickly to fill the last spaces in your books and to send your last birthday stories and verses! Happy holidays everyone! FAIRIEL.

iiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiUiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiifiiiiiii

A Paper Doll Cut-Out

iiimmimiimmimiimiiiisiiiiiiumnim

"Betty G.," City.—Have you been making any of your favourite drawings of ships lately, Betty? After Birthday Page comes Winter Page, so perhap3 you'd like to make a picture for It. "Miriam W.," City.—A place for you in .our Ring tonight. Miriam What an Interesting place you come from, Will you tell us more about it m a longer letter f 'Fraid we haven't space for rery long pennames these days, dear. Can you find a shorter one?

LETTERBOX NEWS THE GULLS AT HOME. "We nave a small pony called 'Nicky.' She is rather frisky and so I do not ride her very often, although my brother does. My father has a' launch and a dinghy, and we go for trips down the coast. Once when.-we went for a picnic over to Mana Island it was during the seagulls' nesting season. There were nests all over the cliffs, and the baby seagulls were running round the rocks," "COBWEB" (13). Titahi Bay. • : NEAR EGMONT'S PEAK. "Since I last wrote r have been to Midhlrst, a email township just this side of New Plymouth. I stayed with my brother, whose home is just seven miles from Mount Egmont. The mountain was fully covered by snow the whole time, and I think the most beautiful sight I have ever seen was at night, when the bright moonlight shone down on the snow-covered peak." "FLASH GOBDON'S PAL." Kilbirnie. INTERESTING PENFRIENDS. "I have four pen friends altogether, one in Canada, one in Australia, and two Chinese boys in British North Borneo. 1 receive some very amusing.pieces in the letters from Borneo. Both boys are. boarders at a very high-class college. From their letters I gather that the school is run on the English' public schools' system. They seem to study very hard and one is sitting for his Junior Cambridge Scholarship'in June, so "they seem to receive a very good education." FRIENDS FORM A CLUB. "Some of my friends and I have formed a club in the Idea of having outings together. 'Happy Hill' is our treasurer and I am the secretary. We have been to. Butterfly Creek. We plan to hold social evenings during the winter months." •■■'..■■ "SQUEAK" (12). Lower Hutt.

imiiiiiimimimiimmmiiiiiiiiiimmuu ... An Answer To "Norma G.," Lyall Bay. —Welcome to the Ring, Norma. If you haven't chosen a penname, would you like "Little Blue Cloak?" "Flash Gordon's Pal." Kiibirnle.—The fattest letter Id the letterbox! And no wonder when It had a story tucked Inside. We were very glad to flad your letter and your penfriend's as well. "Easterly Buster," Johnsonvllle.—No wonder we had such a blue and cold day while all the Busters were In the Ring. It was grand to ..ave you all among our "morning visitors. "Desmae,'' Hataltai.—What fun popping chestnuts can be. I wonder If any other Ring members have tried it. Don must be a, merry little playfellow. Thank you for the story of "Snowy." "Baby Buster," Johnsonville. —Welcome to the Ring, smallest of the Buster family.. Letterbos Elf would like to hear more news of your budgie. What a chatterbox he is. "Southerly Buster," Johnsonvllle. —We'll send' you a""wi§b. for" sunny days, and the tramps and picnics you love . . . and even if there are showery days, happy hours In the playhouse. "Westerly Buster," Johnsonvllle.—Have yo« thftukht of making a special Buster scrapbook for the Ring Birthday? It would taks very few minutes with all five helping with scissors and paste. "Northerly Buster," Johnsonvllle. —Letterbox Elf and I hope you enjoyed your sunny momIng trip to town. We're looking forward t« your next visit to the Ring and to you* letters. "Fluff," Lower Hutt. —What a jolly four you are ... and I can see that "Mother Bear" is not the only artist among you Yes, always write your address at the top of your letter. "Patricia X.." Lower Hurt.—l like your story, Pat. What aboui a New Zealand tale next ... a school story or a holiday adventure. Letterbox Elf is very well, thank you, but the cold weather makes him very mischievous. "Snowy." Lower Hutt.—Welcome to the Ring, Margaret. The first name on your list had been chosen by abother pixie, so I hava given you your second choice, "Snowy." 'Lady ot the Clouds," City.—Do you think you could write a poem about a picture, Barbara? One of our artists has made a pen-picture that asks for verses to match. "Pom Pom." Island Bay.—l like your "Children's Hymn" ever so much. Are you going to compose the music for it, too, or is there a well-known tune th&t will suit your verses ? " »Stjutta," Newtown.—l'm glad you and "Silver Shoes" found your way to the Ring, " 'Squlta," and I hope you'll come again, soon. We've been ever so busy welcoming visitors this first holiday week. "Rosy Morn," City.—A neat little sketch, ''Rosy Morn." Remember not to shade pencil sketches, pixie, as they must all be outlined with ink before they, can be'printed. "Goldilocks," City.—l always expect to find you among holiday visitors, "Goldilocks," so I" wasn't at all surprised when you came smiling into the Ring this week. We send our love to "Red Riding Hood." "Rosalie," Kiibirnle.—Welcome back to our circle of seribe9, fay. Those beautiful draw, ings were an exciting discovery. Good work.