THE MAGIC BOAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE MAGIC BOAT.

By MARJORIE REED,

Princess Betty had a favourite companion called Lord Sambo, and he was very black all over. At one time he had been quito fat, but owing to dieting and strenuous exercising he had become quito fashionably slim, which was rather an advantage as you will see later. One day the Queen, her mother, said. " Now,' Betty, I have four visitors coming to trfa with us to-night, and if you are exceedingly c;ood you may stay up." The Princess was delighted. Being only four years old, it was a very great treat for her to be allowed to stay out of bed so late. She was vory, very good all day, and in the evening the Queen j put on her pretty pink pinafore which had a boat on the front, and tied her hair j with a white ribbon, and said. " Now, Betty, you must not get excited or to bed you'll have to go!" Tho visitors came, and the little Princess was so very good. She got excited only once, after she had had two helpings of lovely pink pudding, and theu she crawled under tho table and played crabs for a little while. When tho teathings had been cleared away, it was time for Princess Betty to say good-night. She was very tired, and was soon buttoned up in her warm pyjamas saying her prayers. Lord Sambo was already in bed, and so was Cock Parrot, who, poor thing, had a broken hack. A little while after, the Princess awoke to feel somebody shaking her. It was quito dark, so she knew it wasn't time to get up. Then she heard a voice saying, "Princess, are you awake? It's Sambo , talking." Betty rubbed her eyes in the dark, but she couldn't see anything. Tho voice went on. " I've received an urgent message from my father, and must leave at once. Would you like to come?" Betty thought for a while then she said. "How long will it take? When will we get home again ?" " Before morning," replied Sambo. " Well then, I shall be pleased to come," answered Bettv. " llow do we go ?" " Bv boat," said Sambo. " But you have no boat." "Oh, yes! The one on your pinafore will do. The captain says he can just manage to squeeze us in. He says it's a blessing that I have grown thin, or else you could not come. Cock will have to sit on the side of the boat. There is a doctor in my country who can mend his back." "How fine!" said Betty joyfully. Sambo clambered out of bed and put on the light. He turned the tap on in the bath, and carried in the boat. Betty followed with Cock, and the captain put up the sails, and away they went. "It certainly is a good job you are thin now," exclaimed Betty. " I believe I'll hold Cock in my lap." She settled him comfortably, and then looked up to find they were sailing out of the window into the dark. They sailed for a long time, the captain steering while Sambo gave him directions. Suddenly the captain started pulling in the sails, and Betty saw that they had arrived at a wharf lit up by hundreds of torches, held by black people just like Sambo. A very gorgeous individual was waiting to help them ashore, and he bowed low before Sambo.

" lour Roval Highness is just in time," lie said. " Tho doctors say your father can wait only a few hours longer." Sambo looked very sad, and Bettv put her hand in his, saying. " Oh, lam sorry Sambo dear. Let us hurry along to him. Clutching Cock very tightlv, they entered a carriage, and were rolled alon'c to a big palace. In the hall were crowds of people, and on a throne was a very old man, who stood up as Sambo ran forward and knelt down before him. He put his arms round Sambo's neck, and said.

*' My son, I have called you as the eldest of my children to give you mv kingdom. I am going on a long journey." Sambo looked very sad, but he replied. My father, I have travelled far to say farewell to you, but I cannot stay. Give the kingdom to my brother Bor'nbo. I return to Mortal Land with my mistress, the Princess Betty. I love her too much to leavo her."

Ihe old king looked sorrowful but he said. "It is well, my son. But ask one request, and I will give it you." -And Sambo said. " I beg, my father, that yoq will have my friend Cock's back mended." So they took Cock away to the court doctor, who mended his back, so that he- was able to fly home, and soon after they said farewell to Sambo's father, and drove back to the boat. And away they sailed to the palace coloured chocolate, in through the bathroom window, and back to bed.

In the morning, sure enough, Betty found that Cock's back was still mended. When she told her mother where she had been, the wise Queen answered.

" Now you see how much you must love Sambo, becauso he loved you moro than being King." Do you wonder that the Princess docs love Sambo very much '!