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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19974, 16 June 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

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THE STORY OF VIRGINIA. By a very now house in a very now garden grew a young and tender little plant. It was such a tiny plant, tinier than any of tho other plants in that garden. " Oh," wailed tho little plant, "lam so tiny and helpless, and the wind is so rough and strong, how shall I ever reach up toward the sun on my long, bendy stalk ? " Now one of tho big, warm, brick walls of tho house felt very sorry' for the little plant whose delicate leaves were buffeted about by the wind. " Little plant,"she said, "lean against me. I am sturdy, I will shelter you and bc ? your friend." " Oh, you dear, kind wall," cried the little plant, " I will indeed be glad to lean on you, and in return for your shelter I will cover you with my pretty green leaves so that everyone will admire you." So the little plant, whose name was Virginia, grew some tiny tendrils with which she clung firmly to the wall. She was very happy throughout those long summer days, for she basked in the warm sunlight and overlooked all the other plants in the garden, for she had now reached the very top of the wall. The wall was content too, for had she not a beautiful shiny, green covering ? After summer followed autumn and old Jack Frost started on his rounds Some plants did not like- him and when he touched them with his icy fingers they turned black and shrivelled up. But not so with Virginia. She loved Jack, and besides she was one of hiS\ favourite children. So when Jack Frost visited Virginia early one morning and touched her with cold, caressing fingers, each lovely green leaf turned a rosy pink with pleasure, and soon Virginia was like a beautiful sunset. How all her friends admired her, and how proud tiie wall was. One day when Virginia was looking particularly beautiful in her lovely rosiness, a horrid cross old witch flew by on her broomstick. She hates the cold it gave her chilblains, and Jack Frost, who disliked her, had a nastly little habit of biting the tip of her ugly old nose. When she saw the beautiful .Virginia she was furiously jealous. Why should Virginia be so beautiful when she was old and ugly ? So tho old witch guided her broomstick over the new garden and dropped at' Virginia's feet. Then she beat her with the broomstick until all the lovely pink leaves had fallen to the garden, where they lay in desolate little heaps. Virginia was bared ugly, and the witch was now satisfied and mounted her broomstick and rode home chuckling to herself. Poor Virginia, robbed of her beauty, went piteously; her friends tried to comfort her, but still she wept. Now it happened that there was a little fairy in the new garden, and she, seeing Virginia's sorrow, hurried to her queen and told her of the wicked witch and poor Virginia's plight'. The Fairy Queen was very sorry and said, " I will come to the new garden and see Virginia for myself. " She came, and found Virginia weeping. The Queen touched the stripped stems with her magic wand and soon Virginia was a mass of now leaves, very tiny,'very green but of perfect shape. She dried her eyes and thanked the Queen. How delighted she was! True, her lovely rosy leaves were gone, but she had dozens of baby green ones in their place Then tho Queen went in search of the ugly witch,. but she was nowhere to be found. And do you know that the same thing happens every year 1 In autumn Jack Frost touches Virginia's green leaves with his fingers and turns them to rose, and because the Fairy Queen can never find the ugly witch she comes again every winter and beats all the pretty leaves off. Then in spring the Queen in pity gives Virginia fresh, green leaves. If only the Fairy Queen could catch the old witch, then Virginia would never be unhappy again and would bo rosy pink all the year round. So suppose you help tho Queen, and next time you see some Virginia Creeper in winter time keep an eye open for that ugly old witch beating the beauliful Virginia with her broomstick, and when you catch her, hold on tight! —Titania.