The September Maiden

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

The September Maiden

By EVELYN POOLE. Wnitnkohe. K.D. Katikuti. (Ago 11 years). "Oh! what a horrible month September is, the first half is nothing but freezing nights when one simply can't keep warm, while the middle of the month is nothing gales, and if one goes outside they get blown almost away. Ugh! what a silly month is September!" cried Mary, stamping her foot, on the carpet. " But my dear Mary," said Nurse patiently, " you must not get so angry with the month; sonn there will be fine weatlifer; go and plav with your nice new doll." " Hang my stupid old doll," retorted Mary. " Tired of that already," sighed Nurse as she left the room. Ten minutes later she returned with Mary's tea. " Here is your tea, miss," she said. ".1 don't want any tea," exclaimed Mary, throwing herself in the uurscry arrnchait' 1 . " What is the matter," asked Nurse. No answer. " Eat your tea or I shall get the castor oil!" The moment castor oil was mentioned, Mary grasped the plate and glass and ate and drank so fast that she almost choked. " There, now," said Nurse. " you are going to bed in fifteen minutes' time. Now come and have your bath." Nurse seemed cross. Half an hour later, Mary lay sleeping. Suddenly the window rattled and into the room stepped the prettiest maiden Mary had ever seen. She had soft brown, wavy hair, lovely bluo eyes, rosy red lips and soft pink chefeks. She was fairly tall and as slender as a lily. Just now she looked very indignant. " You are the little girl, who insulted me so," she cried. "Oh! Who are you," gasped Mary gazing at her. " I am the September Maiden," replied the maid quietly, " and it is I whom you insulted so. You said 1 was a horrible month and a silly one. Oh! yes, I know for one of my elves heard you, but now you are coming to my palace to see the good work I do," and before Mary could say another word she felt herself being whisked away. Soon they slopped before a lovely green palace. Around it was a. beautiful garden full of gorgeous spring flowers, a large green lawn, a huge pond frozen over with ice, a tiny streamlet (not frozen over), in which many wee fishes darted about and bordered by many trees (some bare and others green). In this garden many elves dressed in green toiled like ants, on the pond were dozens of goblins dressed in white and they were busy sweeping. Down by the brook worked lots of wee brownies. But what puzzled Mary was; why was the garden divided into two equal parts and one side was wintry and the other springlike. At last she ventured to ask September Maiden. " Why are the " she began, but September cut her short. " Because my month is cut up into two parts, the first half being the end of winter and the second is the beginning of spring and that side of the garden is winter, while that side is spring. Do you spe my elves, goblins and brownies ?" she asked proudly. " Yes ma'am," answered Mary meekly. The two then went, inside. It was a wonderful palace. There was a long hall with many little ones like branches going out from the trunk. September Maiden took Mary through many rooms, some wintry and others springlike. At last, they came to a large room with a green and gold throne covered with pretty flowers. Next to it was a chair of solid ice. " Now Mary," said September Maiden, sitting down on her throne, " seat yourself on that red velvet chair and listen to my story. This evening you said 1 was silly and that the first half of me was freezing, well what of that ? There are three other months worse than my half, indeed yes. You said next that I was nothing but gales. Well! do you not see the necessity lor the gales ? First T send my wind fairies into the world to clean it up, blow away the dust from roads, whisk up the papers and litter off the streets, blow the clouds far away from the sky and let the sun peep through, io send all the evil thoughts from people's minds and to blow the cobwebs from the eaves of houses. That is what my wind fairies do. Also Mary, you have forgotten that my last quarter is the beginning of spring and sunshine. For 1 own the spring elves and send them out to the world. So! Mary do you like me now ?" "Oh! rather, 1 love you," cried Mary. " 1 hope " " Mary, wake up! ' Behold there stood Nurse, 'mid the sunshine.