FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

PAINTED-WINGS. :by jean mcindoe. Can you imagine a pool as clear as a largo oval mirror ? The fairies I am going to tell you about lived in tho water-lilies that grew on that pool, and in the middle of it there was a water-lily bigger than all the rest, in which the king and queen fairies dwelt. Their majesties, whose names were King Dandy and Queen Shona, had everything they wanted, and one day they both decided to f;o for a drive in their waterlily coach, which was drawn on the water by two little gold-fish. " We will take Painted-Wings," said tho king a.-i they got ready. Painted-Wings was a butterfly, and the king's own special servant. When they were quite ready they went out to tho door and saw everything was ready for their drive. Painted-Wings was sitting alongsido tho coachman, and as their majesties stepped into the coach the coachman flicked the grass whip held in his hand and tho fishes darted forward. Tho king and queen wero just enjoying their drive, when suddenly they were startled by a big black shadow that fell over them. "What is that, Dandy dear?" asked Queen Shcna, nervously. Tho king looked up, and was very startled to see a huge blackbird bearing down on them. Tho next moment it swooped to pick up the butterfly, Painted-Wings, but he dodged aside, and this saved him from being .eat<:u. Yet worse was to come, for the bird's beak went right through tho coach, anal then, when the bird flew upward, the coach went too. The king and queen had managed to get hold of a few feathers, while Painted-Wings had flown down to some fairies who wero now climbing on his back. But, when PaintedWings flew up with the fairies on his back, he was too late to catch the fleeing bird, who was taking their beloved king and queen away from their homo and friends. On and on the bird flew, till at last he was out of sight; and just as tho king and queen thought they could

the distant speck, and, as it came nearer, the king gave a shout of joy for it could now bo clearly seen it was PaintedWings. "Hi! Painted-Wings," shouted the king, "come here." Painted-Wings circled round above their heads and then landed on tho grass at their side. "Oh, your majesties," he cried, "I did not know it was you until I came up quite close. How glad I am to see that you aro safe. I thought that you were gone for ever." King Dandy smiled. "I am glad to see you, too, PaintedWings," ho said. "Did you think you'd find us here or were you one ol' the search-party ?" "I did not expect to find you here, your Majesty," said Painted-Wings. "You see the fairies decided to get up a search party, and I was one of the searchers. But wait," he added, "I will fly home to fetch the magic wand so that 1 can make you smaller, and then I shall take you home on my back," and with these words Painted-Wings flitted away. It did not take him long to reach home, and, as soon as ho arrived, he shouted to the excited fairies, "I have found our king and queen, and I have come home for the magic wand so that I can reduce their size and bring them home." Ono fairy rushed away but soon returned with the wand. "I want you to prepare a big welcome for them," said Painted-Wings, taking the wand from the fairy, and then he flew away again. When he returned to the spot where King Dandy and Queen Shona were waiting, ho waved, tho wand over their heads and they immediately becfamo smaller. "We will have to hurry," said PaintedWings, as the king and queen clambered on to his back, "for dusk is coming on," and then he was off onco more, but this time with two fairies on his back. As they neared the Lily Pond they could see that indeed a welcome had been prepared. Tho glow-worms had lit all their little lanterns, Painted-Wings' brothers and sisters were on the water-lilies, and the spiders' webs were hanging with dewdrops. A new coach had been made, and as Painted-Wings set tho king and queen down at the door of their palace, and made them their proper size, a great cheer burst from the throats of all the fairies. The king and queen smiled. " "We are both very glad to see you again," said the kin^. "Hurrah, hurrah," cheered the fairies. That night a wonderful party wasi held in honour of the king and queen. It is upon this scene we will draw the curtain and leave them to enjoy the revels, in the hope they will be very happy.