THE COURT CARPET MAKER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 78

THE COURT CARPET MAKER.

By

Joyce Cooper.

(Illustrated by Dumble.) —For the Otago Witness.) There was once a carpeUnaker called Btitclwt whose one aim was to paste this notice in his window: STITCHET, COURT CARPETMAKER. One day the Court messenger told him that the Queen desired him to make a carpet the colour of spring violets, for, ns she was giving a grano ball, she wanted her floor to be freshly covered. Now Stitchet was very poor, and he could afford to keep only one ssistant, an elf called Sharpeyes. So when he received the order he told Sharpeyes that he niight have a whole ho iday on the condition that he picked every violetcoloured flower that he saw. ■

Sharpeyes ran off rejoicing. So seldom did he have a holiday, that he resolved to pick as many violet-coloured flowers a. he could so that his master would never regret having spared him. He sought around for some time, very keen about his task. Then, thinking he would very much like a drink, he flew over to a neighbouring stream. Here the water tasted so cool and fresh that he thought he would have just a very little paddle, but he found paddling so pleasant that it was a long time before he even thought of leaving the little brook.

At last he climbed out and blew a dandelion clock, when, to his horror, he found that the afternoon had waned and he had not found a single flower. Vhat was he to do? Suddenly he had a bright idea. I shall go to the Earth,” he cried. “I miqht find something there.” He flew swiftly and soon reached the Earth, where, after looking round for some time, he entered a large house. Being invisible he commenced his search by hopping on tables, upsetting flower vases because they did not contain what he wanted, and behaving himself generally in his impish fashion. But no purple flowers could he fin<*. At last he came to a loom where a pretty little girl lay on a couch eating chocolates. Like an arrow Sharpeyes

flew into the box. Gazing around him he beheld chocolates, round and square and oval, and bright papers of all colours which had wrapped them. Among these he began to search. He tossed the papers rounds and round so that it seemed as if a wind was in the box, and at last—oh, joy!—he found a sparkling purple one just the colour cf sprin" violets. °

What a cry of joy he gave! Clutching it rmly with both hands he flew out of the box back to fairyland, and that night before going to bed wrapped it in pressed rose petals. Early next morning he flew back to work, carrying his precious bundle. When, Stitchet saw him coming he called: “Good morning, Sharpeyes, and what have you found?” ( Something wonderful.. Look! ” cried Sharpeyes as he unfolded the rose petals. “Oh, how lovely! ” said Stitchet, and he immediately set to work to adorn the outside edges of the paper with the yellow centres of the few flowers he had gathered. When it was finished he took it to the Queen.

Her Majesty clapped her hands. She was so pleased with it that she ordered six more, and said that he should be the Court carpetmaker from then onwards.

Soon chocolate paper carpets were famous throughout the length and breadth of Fairyland. Stitchet became very rich, and his aim was achieved, for he pasted up this notice: STITCHET, COURT CARPETMAKER.