FOR THE CHILDREN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 June 1931, Page 7

FOR THE CHILDREN

BY AUNT EDITH THE FA IBY MARKET II was Hie last (lav of Barbaras holiday. To-morrow she would have to return, lo school, and so litu* mother had promised her she could have hoi* t nonu Sheila to tea, and it it was line &ho could have a picnic ill the wood. When Barhara. woke up in the morning she found the sunshine pouring mto lhe room.

“Oh, lovely 1” she cried, as she sprang out of lied. “What a. jolly day.

\V (i'll start early this at'lern.oou, Barbara, dear,’’ said her mother at breakfast, “and then we can have a good time, but 1 am afraid you will have, (o amuse yourself this morning, hecause 1 shall be busy packing your t rii ll k and seeing everyl liing is ready lor 10-morrow.”

“v\il right,” said Barbara as she got up from Urn table. “1 am going to take my favourite hook to the hammock under the apple tree.” So with her book under her arm she wandered out through the open door into the garden. Barhara settled herself comfortably in the hammock, and very very soon she forgot she was in Ihe hammock at all or even in the garden. She. thought she was in Wonderland having all sorts of adventures. But presently a noise behind her made her look up. “Is that mummy come lo call me already?” she said lo herself as she sat up. But instead of her mother crossing (he lawn there was a tiny person. It came, towards the apple tree, hurrying across llie grass. “Hello!” said Barbara. “Who arc you ?” “Oh, dear, how you did make me jump!” said a little voice. “I didn’t see you. I am the May Queen, and 1 ,am on my way lo the Fairy Market lo do some shopping. Von know, it is May Day In-day, and I am lo he crowned Queen this afternoon and I must he ready.” Beforo Barbara bad time to think what all the talking was about liev now little friend was moving away. “Oil, do stay a moment,” cried Bar> barn. “I am so sorry yon are in a burry, because I want to ask you all sorts of questions. If you can’t slop and tell me, can I come with you? I have nolliing to do.” “Yes, do, that will bo very nice. ‘ 1 will show you the way,” said tho May Queen as Barbara jumped out of the hammock and caught hold of her hand. Across the lawn they went, and through a-holi? in the hedge at the bottom of the garden and out into Hie common. “Site is just like a beautiful doll,” thought Barbara, “and about as big as my largest one, too.” “Can you run?” asked the litlc voico again. “Of course 1 can,” answered Barbara. “I’ll race you across the common. 'They were across the common in a flash, to the opposite side where the wood was.

“Now where do we go P” gasped Barbara. ’ “Down this lane,” said the May Queen leading the way. "Have you ever been here before P” “Heaps of times,” answered Barbara, “but somehow I don’t seem to know it.” “Perhaps you iiave taken Ibe wrong turning, the first to the right and then the first to the left, and then straight on, look, here is the market right ahead.” Barbara stared in front of her and there in the middle of the wood was a clearing. As she got nearer sho could see a circle made of tiny toadstools and at each stool stood a fairy. “Shall we look at the shops?” said the May Queen. “Good morning,” said a fairy as Barhara drew near. “Can I show you anything?” Barbara- hardly knew what to say, but her friend soon spoke. “You are a. foxglove fairy, aren’t you? May I. look at some gloves?” “Certainly, madam,” was (lie reply. “1 see,” said Barbara, “you use the toad stool as a. counter, and you are a foxglove fairy because you arc dressed liko a foxglovo and sell gloves.” “Now,” said the May Queen, when she bad chosen a pair of white kid gloves and paid for them with fairy gold. “I must choose a hut ” They made their way lo a counter on the other side of the circle.

“Have you got a hat to suit me?” tho May Queen asked a fairy. “You havo plenty hero to cbooso from,” said Barbara, as she looked at the hats beforo her. There were large hats, small hats, high ones and low ones, some made of rose-petals and others of flowor-eups. "Hero is one I think would suit you,” said Barbara, picking up a pretty blue ono shaped like a hell. “That is a harebell lull, madam,” paid tho fairy. “Will you try it on?” After the May Qucon had looked at herself in the dew-drop (they use dewdrops for mirrors in Fairyland, yon know) sho decided to buy i(. “It suits you beautifully,” said the fairy. “Where shall 1 send it?” “What elso do you want?” asked Barhara, when the May Queen had given her address.

“I also want a pair of shoos,” she said. “Now where is the shoe shop?” “Over there,” said Barbara as she pointed to a toadstool under a tree. “We really call this the lady’s slippers shop,” said the May Queen. “You sec, the fairy in charge of the shop is dressed in gold liko a lady’s slipper.” At length they had chosen a pair of slippers, the daintiest, prettiest pair you can imagine. “I think that is all I want,” said the May Queen. “I must be going iynv or I shall never be ready for this afternoon. Are you coming?” “Toll me, said Marbara as she hurried along the lane beside her friend. ‘Whath about your dress?” The May Queen described her dress. It was made of rainbow silk, to be worn with a silver cloak of spiders’ .web.

“I wisli T could sec it,” said Barbara. “If you would care to come,” answered the May Queen, “we should he delighted. If you can he here at the edge of the wood at 2.30 there will he some one here to show you the way.” “Thank you,” said Barbara, as she hurried across the common. “1 mhsl run now, or T shall never lie hack in time. 1 am sure my mother and my friend will he so surprised when I tell them about it. 1 am quite excited.” A WORD SQUARE You known what a- square word is, don’t you? It is a square of letters, with the same words running both across and down the square; In this square I here are four le.ters in each word. Ist. Something all clean children use every day. 2nd. A river in England. 3rd. A vast continent. dlh, A fruit which you are. sure to like. S 0 A P 0 II S E ASIA PE A R