OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

New Zealand Mail, 17 September 1902, Page 72 (Supplement)

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

(BY UNCLE TOBY). are invited to send letters to "Uncle Toby” on any subject; and notes about tbeir gardens and housebold pets will be very acceptable.] THE WIND. Pity the wind. The woman with the great sad eyo3. There's anguish in her look Be to her kind. For her the earth, the seas, the skies Are like a closed book. For she is blind.

Pity the wind, One moment raging, breathless, mad. In her vain, ceaseless quest The light to find. Another, stumbling, lone and sad. To seek her dreamless rest With heart resigned.

—Violet Edwards.

THE CORONATION OF ROBERT BRUCE,

March 26th, 1306.

There was a deep and solemn silence iu the Abbey Church of Soone on the day upon which the patriot Ring of Scotland was orowned. The Brace already occupied the Throne, clothed in his robes of State, while on his right stood the Abbot of Soone, the Archbishop of St. Andrews, and the Bishop of Glasgow, and on his left his brothers and the loyal barons who had joined his standard—names now famous iu the history of our land—Athol, Fraser, Lennox, Hay—whose stalwart arms had so nobly struck for Wallace. Close beside the throne of Robert Brace stood Isabella, Countess of Buehan, that brave and noble lady who had followed the fortunes of her patriot king through evil and through good report. The pealing anthem ceased., and kneeling before the Archbishop, the King received the kingdom from his hands, and swore to govern according to the laws of his ancestors "to devote life itself to re-

storing Scotland to her former station in the scale of kingdoms.” Again the King was seated on his throne, and from the bands of the Bishop of Glasgow the Countess of Buchan received the coronet of gold. Upon the moment all within thaAbbey rose to their feat, and with a firm and steady band Isabella of Buchan placed the sacred symbol of Royalty upon the head of Scotland's King. And then arose from the assembly a wild, enthuaaastie shout fir loyalty, and the organ hwelled forth the triumphant anthem that proclaimed Robert Bi uce indeed a King. Again and again the voice of fervent loyalty arose, and sent its echo rolling even to the English camps, and ha it slowly and reluctantly died away, one by one those stern and noble barons, with dauntless mein and unwavering etet> approached their Sovereign's throne to do turn homage. One by one the young knights, excited and eager, knelt before their Kino and took the solemn vow to lire - and if needs be. die. for him. Simultaneous was the eager shout of welcome as the newly-anointed King left the Abbey. and paused for a moment on the groat stone staircase leading to the Abbey yard. A rejoicing multitude welcomed him with one voice, and many an eye grow dim with tears as the King, with eloquent fervour spoke of the ancient glory of Scotland. With deafening shouts age and youth alike hailed him as the good genius of their land, and little chilrden caught his name and bade "God

bless him!" Such was the Coronation of Brace of Scotland, perhaps tne bravest King and soldier that the history of Great Britain oan show. <r His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand

up And say to all the world, ‘This was a man.'"

THE CRYSTAL BRACELETS.

A FAIRY STORY. (By May Walker.)

I wonder where the little dewdrops oome from, and I hope they are not far away, for those poor flowers look so thirsty,” thought a little girl, as she sat by open window one hot summer afternoon just before sunset. The house was very quiet, and everything out of doors was drooping in the heat, so she leaned back in the comfortable window-seat and began to think out the mystery. "Come with me, Winnie/' said a soft vuioe in her ear, "I will show you where the dewdrops come from, for I am the Queen of the Dew Fairies.*' Starting up the child saw a beautiful wliite-rebed fairy standing by, who held out her hand with a sweet smile; and after a little hesitation Winnie followed her out into the garden. The fairy then touched a gossamer with her silver wand. Instantly, the web inflated, enveloped them, and carried them up from the green flowery earth towards the white fleecy banks <xf cJoudland.

When the child recovered from her surprise they were entering fairyland, but they glided on and on, until sbe began to think they would never reach the end of their journey. "Cheer up, dear!” said the Fairy Queen, "See, yonder is the Crystal Cave where the Dew Fairies dwell!” As they approached the Cave the fairy caused the gossamer to vanish, and the two continued their way over fragrant beds of many-hued flowers, which formed a soft yielding carpet under their feet. Winnie then observed that over the home of the Dew Fairies hung a misty white cloud, through which the sunlignt shone with a softened radiance. The crystal dome reflected the subdued light in rainbow tints, and round the entrance stood a group of fairies dressed in white. They bowed low as the Queen drew near, and then made way for her and her little companion to go within.

Still holding tightly to the hand of her gentle guide, little Winnie gazed with astonishment and delight at the crystal floor and the rainbow roof, at the beautiful fairies, and the lovely flowers which bloomed on. every side. "It is now time for the Dew Fairies to pay their nightly visit to the earth/' said the Queen. "See, they are all trooping to the Fountain. We must go, too!” A few steps forward and they came in sight of the Fountain of the Dewdrope. Clear and deep it lay in a crystal basin, and all around the fairies stood, awaiting the .coming of their Queen. When she gave the sign with a wave of her .-silver wand, each one took from her arms two simple crystal bracelets, and, stooping gracefully down, dipped them three times into the Jimpid water of the magic fonntainOnoe more the signal was given, and when the bracelets were withdrawn from the basin the plain hoops were transformed into circles of clustering shining dewdrops. Again the fairies slipped them on to their wrists, and then, singing a dreamy, soothing melody they filed out of the Cave on their mighty mission—to refresh the thirsty earth. The Fairy Queen accompanied her little guest to the entrance, where, _ after a gentle farewell, she placed her in charge of one of the earthward-bound fairies, the others having all dispersed in various directions.' Winnie and her guide passed again through beautiful fairyland; a gossamer again wove itself round them, and they floated out into the sweet summer

The sun had now set, and the glory had faded in the west, but the moons silver bow showered arrows of- light on the bright hair of the child, and on the shining-bracelets of the fairy. Down, down they glided, until they came within sight of the earth again. Then the Dew Fairy began slowly to wave tier arms to and fro, and at each graceful movement a tiny shower of dewdrops fell from her armlets, to light on grass and flower and tree, cooling and refreshing the parched land, until they stood in the garden of Winnie’s home and the diamond drops were all gone, and the bracelets were once more simple hoops of crystal. Winnie turned to say good-bye to her fairy guide, when a sound behind her made her start up. Instead of standing in the peaceful moonlit garden, she found herself still on the seat by the open window. The clock on the mantelpiece behind her was merrily chiming the hour, and she had been fa-st asleep!