FOR THE YOUNG FOLK

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1931, Page 7

FOR THE YOUNG FOLK

DOROTHY’S FAIRY STORY. “I think it is Dorothy’s turn to tell us a. fairy story tonight,” said Auntie .Meg as she came into the room ami sat down in the big wicker ,-hair with the pretty cretonne cushions. ‘‘Dear me,” .said Dorothy, “1 haven’t seen a fairy to apeak to for weeks and weeks, so how can I tell a story about one?” “Never mind,” said Bobbie, ‘ ‘ you’ve got to tell one, so you’d better begin, or the clock will be striking and then we’ll have to go to bed without, a story.” “Very well, then,” began Dorothy. “Listen to this. Once upon a time there was a fairy’s ball in a big garden, and one little fairy called Silversheer. grew eo tired with dancing that at last she climbed into a. large tulip and fell fast asleep. “The tulip closed its petals, and did not open them again until very late next morning. Then the fairy Silvorshcen woke up and looked round in alarm and said ‘Oh, where am I?' “ ‘You fell asleep after the dance, said a tall lily who stood near the tulip. ‘And now you will have to stay here until night comes again, for you cannot get home to Fairyland in the daytime, yon know.’ “The poor little fairy looked round in alarm, and then crouched down into the bottom of the tulip cup as all the inquisitive people came buzzing round to tare at her. They came in crouds, bluebottle, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, and even sparrows, all peeped down into the flower to gaze at the lost fairy, till at lasi she asked the tulip to close her petals so that no one could stare at her.

“The tulip began to close its petals, but the big round sun came up and ordered the tulip to open them, and she obeyed instantly. Then the sun stared hard at the little .fairy and said, ‘Why, what are you doing here'? Don’t you know' your mistress the moon went to bed in her big bank of silver clouds hours and hours ago'?* “ ‘Yes, sir,’ said Silversheen, in a tiny," frightened voice, ‘I fell asleep in the flower after the dance and I did not wake up in time to go home with my companions. ’

“Just then a lady and gentleman came from the house into the garden, and began to cut the flowers and place them in a big basket. Before she could cry out or escape Silversheen felt the tulip shake as the lady cut her stem, and next minute she was lying in the basket among dozens of other blooms. The lady then carried them all into the house.

‘‘Poor Silversheen lay in the bottom of the basket wondering what would happen to her next, when at last the lady lifted out the flowers anil began to arrange them in vases and bowls on the table. Somehow she neve? noticed the little fairy who was dinging for dear life to the stem of the tulip, and at last she went away and left the flowers, w'ho began to whisper to each other. “In a few moments a little curly haired child came in and climbing on a chair, began to smell the blooms and talk to them. As he looked, he suddenly saw 1 the fairy, and lifting her up in his chubby fingers, he said, ‘How pretty, you butterfly!” and ran to show' his mother what he had found. As he ran, his little feet caught in a mat on the floor and he stumbled and fell and let go the fairy Silversheen. Off she ran with all her might through the doorway, and when the little boy picked himself up he could not find her anywhere, so he trotted back to the flow'ers to see if he eould find another fairy. “Silversheen w r as n u w in a shady part of the garden and was just going to sit down and cry when a golden beetle came out from beneath a largo stone and said, ‘What is the matter, little lady?’ ‘Oh, sir, I am lost,' said Silversheen. ‘I stayed too late at the dance last night.’ ‘Never mind,’ said the golden beetle, ‘but climb up on my back, and I will take you through the underground caves to Fairyland, but first you must promise to many me when w r e arrive.’ “The little fairy did not know what to do, but she promised, thinking to he;self. ‘Well, he’s a very nice golden beetle, but I’d rather have married a fairy prince.’

"Thou she climbed on his back, nnd he ran under the stones andthrough endless passages and at last reached the gates of Fairyland. Here he stopped, and Silversheen climbed down and said “Thank you, Golden Beetle, J will marry you as soon as we have seen the Queen. The beetle suddenly stood upright, and his golden back changed to a golden cloak, and next minute Silversheen saw a handsome fairy prince, who took her ■straight to the Queen, and they were married the same night with great rejoicing and splendour.” HE KNEW. Brown (struggling with wire netting): I say, Jones, do you know howto make a chicken run? Jones: Yes, clap your hands and say “Shoo.’-’ UNWITTING SARCASM. Chief Blue Hawk: I wonder which is the wav to the circlin'? Brave Kicking Horse (pointing to i chimney sweep): I don't know. Let’s I ask the paleface.

ALL THE WORLD OVER. j DOLLS’ DAY IN JAPAN. Jxst imagine an -entire country giv- [ ing over one day in the year wholly to ! dolls! Vet that is what happens in 'Japan every year on 'March, when lhe Feast of Dolls, or Hina Matsu ri, occurs. No matter when a girl’s birthday really comes it is always colebra led at the time of the Dolls’ Festival. For some time before the fete the shops and stores are filled with dolls and everything else that girls like to play with. The Japanese girls call their dolls “Hina,” and they are of every description and size. Borne arc largo, .mine small, many of them beautifully dressed to represent certain characters such as the Emperor and Empress, the courtiers, and. the soldiers of Japan. There are many ancient dolls made of wood or enamelled clay and very gorgeously painted. Some of these have been in families for many years, and have come down from the children’s grandmothers, and greatgrandmothers, for it is the custom to buy a pair of dolls for every little Japanese girl, and she must keep them until she is a woman.

On the evening before the Festival, after the little people are in bed, the dolls, with all their belongings, are brought out, and everything is arranged for the next day. Little tables are prepared, and sot with dolls’ dishes. There are flowers for decorations, and real cakes are placed on each doll’s plate.

Then early the next morning the fun begins for everybody. Even the dolls themselves seem to enjoy it, for dolls have the way of mimicking tlie lives of their little mistresses the world over.

Xo boys’ toys are displayed at this time, but I think the boys—and the grown-up folks as well—enter into the fun of Doll Day in Japan almost as much as the girls do, A RULE OF THREE. Three things to govern—-temper, tongue and conduct.

■* * * * Three things to cultivate—courage, affection and gentleness.

T * * * Three things to commend —thrift, industry and promptness.

Three things to despise—cruelty, ar rogauce and ingratitude.

» * * « Three things to wish for—health, friends and contentment.

Three things to admire—rdignity, gracefulness and intellectual power.

Three things to give—alms to the needy, comfort to the sad, and appreciation to the worthy. Q.. How many bricks w r ent to make your house? A.: None; they were all carried. SAFETY FIRST. Brown; You are insured against accidents. Can you recommend the com* pany you are insured with? Smith: Yes, rather! I’ve been insured for ten years and haven’t had a single accident.