FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15249, 12 March 1913, Page 11

FOR THE CHILDREN.

DIRTY HAROLD. t ——_ BY BASIL RIDEAUX. Oh, dear! Oh, dear What curious times we are living in! The grown-ups are nearly always too busy, and the children— the dear little children never quite sure whether there are fairies or not. And if thy only knew how much the " little, people," as the fairies are called, can help their human brothers and sisters to be good, and show them the easy and pleasant way to grow up, how much happier they would be! , At any rate, the children of the St. Clair family we're not quite convinced. They could not help being certain of it, for indeed it was to the fairies that they owed the title of the model family. The little St. Clairs were not really naughty children, but each had one big fault, given by the wicked fairy that all babies have to pass, when they are coming to this earth. • ■[ The fairies decided to help the little St. Clairs, because they were sorry to see them growing up with their naughty ways. "We will. make an example of the eldest," said the fairy queen. " Now, dirty Harold was the eldest. He was so dirty that he positively hated water* and as for soap—well, he could " never , see the use of it," he used to say, and the tricks that he would play " rather than wash! Why, he had even been known to splash the water about in his bath with a stick to make his nurse believe that , he was bathing. . ;v,. ; ,/ It happened one bright sunny afternoon. The little St. Claris, with their ! nurse* » were bathing and paddling and thoroughly, enjoying themselves, all but Harold. Climbing up a projecting rock, he lay on the top of it and looked out to sea. He was not very happy, and was just wishing to himself that the others would " stop that nonsense of paddling," when he caught sigt of something glistening just below him on the water. : "What could it be?" He looked again carefully. v*"? "Why, surely, yes it was. One of the dearest little boats that he had ever seen. - Now, Harold did not realise that it was a fairy boat, nor for this reason did he wonder- how it got..there, he just looked and looked, and the mow he looked the more he wanted it. How his brothers and sisters would like to see it, lie thought. Perhaps one of them would reach it for . him, and so save Ms getting Into the water. He called first one, then the others, but call as he would/ he could nob make them There was no help for it, he would have to get it himself. „ .' ; V ' , Slowly he began to unlace hie boots ana . take off his stockings, and still mere slowly . did he take step after step in the water „, towards the boat. Oh, how nasty it was. At length it was reached. Stooping, he tried to. pick up the boat, but was horrified to find that, instead of lifting it out of the water, and carrying it asboreV as he had intended, it was being dragged down and down, and he with it. . . / He tried to let go, but could not. He tried to shout, but no sound could he utter. He did not seem at all hurt when he reached the bottom, and on looking around he found himself lying on the pretty, pebbles one sees through the water, ana crowding near him were water fairies, who chattered and pulled, him about. He could hear quite, distinctly what they were saying. One water fairy, who seemed of some importance, was vigorously hopping about, and all over him, and evidently giving orders to the others. ' . „ " Did you ever see anything so terrible T "No wonder the land fairies oould do nothing for him, and sent hinvto us. ' " Wicked boy, to make our blue sea look 9 °" < shells and jelly-fish, are the only/ things to be used," he next baudl » pretty little fairy say, who was dressed in thin sheets of coral, sewn together with the preen fibre from seaweed. , _ ' Oyster shells and jelly-fish ! What oould they mean? Poor Harold was not left long in doubt. On hearing a slight noise, he turned his head as be lay, and saw several water fairies leading three or four ]elly* fish. while others dragged forward oyster S k»rjien they formed a circle round him, and at once set to work._ _ .. Oh how they stung! For the first time in his life he wished that he had been a air! for then he could have cried, but ieing a boy he had to bear the pain,in silence. He could not even aak the to show him mercy, for ¥ weE that he was only getting what he Reserved. "If ever I get home, won 11 be dean! he said to himself. - , >. _ The fairies instantly , stopped. fairies they had seen what he was thinkIf you really intend to give up your dirty ways," they said,/; you may go home, But first come with was dressed Tn a few moments Harold was anaoca. Jl walking with the fames ttoodl. «n arbour of sea-plants. At the endicStlna was a door or gate made of the scales pi fifth ft* so arranged that you bad to go m This door led into a large hall, of which sat the queen of the water faaries. , To her Harold was led, and as be etui ' felt so ashamed of himself, be kept his S bowed until he heard his name the queen was saying, "you have been brought to me before you are sent back to your home and PWP^children are not wise, though often they think they know best. As you grow up tou will remember and think many times of your visit down here to us, although we 11 The 0 queen Smiled at Harold. and so sweetly that lie began to alittle less unhappy. "And as you think ofit, she continued, "so you will know that there , are always reasons for everything, and that to be clean and to love cleanliness « often the foundation or starting point of many. : „ CTeat things in that world of yours, above. r«n see that you thank me already for . the lesson we have taught y°u. ou E« ■ r you are too shy to say so. "Good-bye* . . Harold! You way go now. MM. , . Almost at once Harold found himself ia the very same shady spot on the rocks fiom where he had first seen the . • boat. Nurse waa shaking him and tellings him it was time to . get back to tea. ff ; " Nurse," he said, sitting up and . look- ' • ing .• at her .ver . very much mW. it " mlly. batb, freal Jy hot bafcb* with pleat* ogg