WHY JOHN BELIEVES IN THE CHRISTMAS FAIRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 March 1928, Page 18

WHY JOHN BELIEVES IN THE CHRISTMAS FAIRY.

It was very hard for John to keep his eyes closed, for he was not a bit sleepy. Ho could see by the lignt, from the log that was still burning in the fireplace, his stocking hanging on the mantel.

John was troubled; that was one reason he was wakeful and, of course, it is hard for all children to go t-> sleep the night before Christmas.

John had not been what ‘Santa would call a good boy. He felt sure of this, though he had tried to make excuses to himself and to his- mother as well about the way he had betiaved on several occasions that he well remembered.

He knew well enough his mother would not tell Santa, for she never told his father when he did not behave, though she alyays threatened to do this. “Xow, if mother doesn’t tell him, how is he to know I have not been a good boy?’’ John reasoned to himself. “I guess I am safe and I will try to l>e a better boy next year.’’ While he was thinking, John thought he saw in the dim light from the fire something fluttering like the wings of a bird on the top of his stocking. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes and looked again. Then his mouth opened as well as his eyes with surprise, for on the edge of the top of his long stocking sat a fairy. John knew it must be a fairy, f-oi he had seen pictures of them in books. Could if be true then what his mother it-ad told him that a little fairy is fluttering around the whole year to tell Santa on Christmas Eve how children have behaved? John leaped towards the door to look closer at the fairy. She was a .minty little thing, dressed in a sparkling silvern- dress, and there were tiny led berries dotted here and there ail •aver ii ; but this was not what caught the eye ol* Joint—it was a small book the fairy carried under her arm that held his gaze. "It must be true," ho thought "and that is the book she keeps the record in for Santa to road. Oh, dear, T guess I won ’t, get .a thing." Before lie could think more about it John heard a noise and saw the fairy .jump up and stand on the tiptop of his sharking with the book open in her hand. Down the chimney came Santa, landing with a bounce; but he skipped tight out of the fireplace and did not seem to mind the half-burnt log s ; hit. "Hollo." he said to tue fairy, "how Ins this boy behaved during the \ t it r? ' ’ The fairy shook her head and John felt his heart drop down somewhere near his toes, ft was n-a use, Santa vouid know all about it. and down went John under the clothes and covered up tiis head. fie could not" 1»■ ito see Santa go away and leave •lie empty stocking dangling as he found

Tin* light was riming in through the window in lids room when John opened his eyes. At first he felt happy —it was Christmas, ho thought—an*! then he remembered. Down wen hi--heart, again with that terrible fading that all was lost. ‘Sadly he turned his face toward the doorway and looked at his stocking. IT<gave a leap out of bed. a bound and a erv,of jov, for not only was his stocking filled to overflowing, but heaped on Du* floor under it were bundle?'and bundles. "T wonder who fixed it up with Santa," thought John. "Well, anyway, I will be the best, boy in th* whole world next year, see if T am' not. That cunning little fairy wili not have t.c shake her head when Santa asks about me next Christmas."