TO THE TOWN CHILD AND THE COUNTRY CHILD

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12151, 30 May 1925, Page 16

TO THE TOWN CHILD AND THE COUNTRY CHILD

“FAIRIEL” INTRODUCES HERSELF. TO THE JUVENILE READERS OF THE “TIMES.”

Have you ever gathered mushrooms? Early in the morning? Yes, almost every one of you! And where the grass is shortest in tlie paddocks aud on thr hillside, have you ever found a perfect little circle of yellowy ones. .... and been told they weren’t mushrooms at all? Sometimes the circle’s only little, but sometime it’s as big as big. . . . with others, smaller ones, close hy. And you say to yourself. . . . “Why, there’s been a party. . . . . it looks just like a party I” Well, so there has. . . . it’s a Fairy Ring 1 Every night the elves and fairies meet together.. . . perch themselves on these tiny stools. . . . and tell each other all the thousand things that have kept them busy through the day. They arrange their stools in circles so that they may watch each other’s faces. . . because such very exciting things happen in Fairyland and it’s just as nice to see people tell things as to hear them sometimes.

Ohe night a fairy arrived very late. . ... . very breathless, and very puzzled. She was one of the frailest tiny ones who look after the wishes of tho children. And that is a difficult thing Just how many times a Jay do you truly wish something? Often enough to keep a wee fairy busy I think!

She alighted in the middle of the ring where the biggest one, whose name was Fairiel, was listening to the very last story. “I’m so worried,” she 1 said. ... although it wasi’t really her turn. . . . “There’s a little tbwn girl who wants more than anything to he in the country , and there’s a little country boy

who wants mo. - e than anything to be in the town!” “Well,” said Fairiel, “we’ll see il’ we can arrange it.”

And that was bow very soon, almost *at once, a little girl called Pamela Ana and a little boy called Jonathan James (they h#d other names too, but they don’t matter much) found themselves visiting their very best aunties. * * * * Pamela Ann’s eyes shone as she jumped out of the train and saw the green fields itrelching away to the hills. And she was very excited as she climbed into the trap with the very high wheels The children were there to meet her. . . . and the nice gay governess with the shiny hair who could make such a wonderful click in he- mouth when she wanted the horse to go faster. The days that followed were busy ones for Pamela Ann. • , There was so much to see. ... so much to do. There was the absurd new lamb who leaped into the air and turned somersaults on the lawn, and chickens, and a whine rabbit with the pinkest nose, and the babiest calf with wobbly legs. Meanwhile Jonathan James eyes grew wider and aider at the thousand things he had never seen before. But best *yf all he loved the little whitesailed boats that skinfmed across the bay with a strong wind behind them.

And then one day they both grew suddenly homesick. It was the butcher’s horse that did it for Jonathan James. He suddenly wanted very badly to see his own pony again to ride to the farthest bend in the road and come galloping

hack over tho flat green places. And as for Pamela Ann. . . . slie suddenly ihought she’d like to he digging about among the shining treasures that tho tide always left for her in th a rock pools near her home. And though she climbed the high' hill at tho hack of the house, and looked, and looked every way, she couldn’t see the sea. So very soon they found themselves back in their own places again. * * * j * Bui then they didn’t want to altogether forget these places they had loved.. ... so the fairies cam© one night to each of them with a suggestion. And t was arranged that they should meet together once a week in the fairies’ own ring and hear each other’s news. And because Jonathan Janies was an only little boy, and Pamela Ann was an only little” girl. . . . and because “oniy” rhymes with “lonely”. . . . this was the very nicest thing that could happen. * * * *

But Jonathan James and Pamela Alin are not to he the cnly people who can meet in a fairy ling. Don’t you think it would be rather food if we had one here. . . . you and and all of us?

Every Saturday night. . . . especially those Saturdays when all the homework’s done and there’s nothing at all to do. ... it would he rather fun to meet here in the newspaper and exchange all the news of the week. I want yon to tell me if you’d like to. Write a letter to me. And don’t forget to say why. And the three very best letters will be printed here next week.

I expect you’re just full of splendid ideas . . . lots and lots of things we could do. . . . things I’ve never eveh

thought of. Competitions. .. . riddles . . puzzles ... little stories that aire truly funny. ... Tell me all about them in your letter. This is going' to he your part of the paper. . . and you can make it just as interesting as you like. * * * # You’ll be the Elves and Fairies, and I’ll have to be the biggest one I suppose. . . . because of course there has to be a “biggest one”. ... if only to see that everybody doesn’t talk at once! So I’ll be Pairiel. * * * * I think I’d better tell you who 1 really am. I’m one of the people in this newsEapjr office. There are a lot of us ere, and we’re all grown up. At least we’re supposed to be, and we certainly look it. But- you’d be surprised if you knew how many grown-up people are just children.. . . inside, you know. So we’d love you to write and tell us all about yourselves and the exciting things you’ve been doing! Yours. . . waiting for the mailbag, FAIRIEL.

P.S.—I neary forgot to ask you if you like this heading. I made ' it ’specially for you. P.P.S.—Let’s have a COMPETITION straight away about that- heading. Because I believe you could colour it just beautifully I And I’d lore to see it a truly picture! Do it in paint or crayon and send it in to me. And tfie two little people who send in the neatest work with the nicest colours will receive little pictures of their own:

P.P.P.S.—I haven’t given you my address! It’s “FAIRIEL,” the “N.Z. Times,” Wellington.