How Flies Were Brought Into the World

Southland Times, Issue 20002, 16 October 1926, Page 22 (Supplement)

How Flies Were Brought Into the World

—Prize.— Diana, the little earth-child, was a great favourite with the fairies, and all through the influence,of her mischievous friend, Mr Brownie, who took a great pride in keeping the windows clean. Last night Diana had been at the Queen’s birthday par?/. It had all seemed like a wonderful dream to the little earth-child, the fairies treating her as one of themselves; and the Queen —the Fairy Queen! —had presented her with a beautiful pearline box in the shape of a heart which was divided into two apartments, each with a lid of its own. i “No mortal power can open this box,” said the Queen. “It opens of its own accord, when the time comes. In one apartment is waiting a reward. If you can be as good as my fairy folk until your tenth birthday, your gift from the fairies will be 1 the beautiful crystal butterfly—a living jewel from my crown—which will see that your every dream comes true. But if you •do one thing half as bad as any other mortal child does, the other box will open, and out will hiss an ugly pest which will . fly over the whole world, spreading unhappy thoughts where it goes—a terrible punishment, child, to the world. But you won’t have that box opened, will you?” “0 Queen, I hope not. It would be far easier to bear all the punishment myself than to know it was I who brought it on the whole world.” To-night Diana was going to the wedI ding of the Princess and Lord Rainbow. It was to be a dazzling occasion, and Diana, robed in spangled garments, placed the fairy ring on her finger, and flew out through the silent air towards Fairyland. As she passed above a sombre forest, the I fairy ring came off and fell down, down, down. At the same instant the poor little mortal’s wings vanished. 0 the moments seemed like hours as she swept downwards through the moonlit air nearer, nearer to that desolate forest where dwelt the dreaded giant, whose life-dream was to see everv room, every corner in his mighty castle full of treasures. He even slept in a cave nearby to leave more room for his treasures. He was an old, old giant now—his life was nearly done. But one tiny corner still remained to be filled; and there was one treasure only in the whole world of which he did not own a sample—that was to be the gift of the Fairy Queen to her daughter on the wedding eve. It was a tiny rosetree, upon which the dewdrops changed to opals unsurpassable in beauty. But a mortal alone could get this crowning treasure and place it in his greedy hands. And what mortal would get it for him ? Everyone shrank from him so how was he to get it? ... . yet he must get it. He had suffered misery and hardship in obtaining many other of his treasures i , . . . He would suffer misery and hard- ■ ship to obtain this one, and crown the i dream of his life. 1 And now Diana was falling, falling into ‘ this dreaded miser’s castle moat. Splash! For a moment she knew not what had happened; but then, realising the marvellous way in which Fate had saved her from being dashed to pieces, she looked round bravely, and saw where she, was .... Within the walls of horror! The splash brought the giant—who never slept for planning—from his cave nearby. “Indeed!” he said in a huge, gruff voice “What is this? A new treasure sent to me by the Gods?” He lifted Diana out of the moat on his thumb, and holding his hand far from him, gazed at her. “A little mortal, eh? Good luck for me! Then you are the little mortal my brownie saw flying up to feast at the wedding in Fairyland!” “Yes; but alas, I’ve lost the magic ring that will take me to those halls of delight. And the Queen will be so disappointed with me, because it was such a valuable ring, and I was to have it only while I am a good little girl.” And Diana, bursting into tears, crouched at the giant’s feet. The word “valuable” at once melted the giant’s heart, and called to his mind his last, dream. “Weep not, child,” he said, “My brownie will boil ink in the magic pot, and the ring will come walking to your feet. “But first, you must decide to do this for me. You must bring the gift of the Fairy Queen to the bride back to me. It is a tiny rose-tree on which the dewdrops change to opals. I will lend you one of my belongings—an invisible cloak—to help you; and just before the banquet begins, take the rose-tree, at the same time touching the gold button on the cloak with your left thumb. Then you will be invisible. Fly swiftly out the window, and bring me my prize. I will wait and watch for you until I see you leave the walls of Fairyland; and as you must fly over my forest to reach your home, you will find it useless to try to rheat me of my prize. I can let my fifty golden eagles loose to bring you down to . me. And see you take care of my cloak—remember, if harm crimes to that treasure, you’ll pay well for it.” I Diana was overwhelmed with horror. She shrank from the thought of her falling | so far as to harm the Queen who had been Iso wonderful to her. But then the scene changed, and the thought of the nearer power terrified her. “Why should I be forced to do what I shrink from doing?” she thought. “And yet it must be so.” She knew this cruel giant had her in his power, and if she didn’t do exactly as he said he would boil her for his dinner, or fling her into the cage for his goldskinned tigers to devour. She felt he would do anything if h’*s anger was aroused.

So thinking, “I will explain and make up to the Queen afterwards,” she agreed timidly to the proposition. At the instant, the ring shone at her feet, and gladly she clasped it in her hand. “If only I could fly away from him now, without his. cloak!” she thought. “But alas, he could reach me and squash me in his hand, when I had flown for half-an-

hour.” And so she calmly sat on his 1 thumb as he went to get the cloak. Diana’s heart beat when she saw it. “I will at least be richly-dressed,” she thought In colour it was a most uncommon grey, with grey buttons, with the exception of, the gold one. But its size took her breath away. However, the giant was calling his brownie, told him to spread it over the yellow tree until it became the exact size for Diana. As ’soon as she put it on, her wet clothes became dry and beautiful once more, and her golden hair shone like the summer sun. “Now go, quickly, or you will be too late. And remember your Fairy Queen has no power at all over you while you are on earth.” The giant spoke this in a greedy, excited whisper. And Diana flew away. When she reached fairyland, all was merriment. The Queen hastened to meet her. “Diana dear, you are so late. We almost despairedtof your coming. The wedding is over, and the feast is about to begin.” Diana was escorted to the banquet-hall, where the newly-wedded pair were admiring the beautiful wedding gifts. They welcomed their little earth-guest, and showed her the presents too, lingering once again to admire the rose-tree, with the dewdrops changing to opals, dancing with every colour of the rainbow. Diana turned deathly-white, and the Princess was very much concerned about her. “You know, Rainbow opals are said to work evil!” “But, my love, this is not an opal. It is a sweet compassionate little rose-tree, and the tears of forgiveness and consolation roll down as beautiful laughing opals. It Is only the child is tired after her long flight A little rest will refresh her.” But strange it seemed, for Diana had completely recovered; and the incident was soon forgotten. Presently, the Queen announced that the wedding-breakfast was to begin, and the thousand guests gathered round the table of mother-of-pearl. Just as the first course was being brought in, Diana slipped from her chair, and ran over to the gift table. Mystified, the guests looked on. She quickly picked up the rose-tree, at the same time placing her thumb on the little gold button; but the little gold button wasn’t there. The threat! dangled idly from where it had fallen off. With a terrible fear, Diana gazed at the Queen who had turned deathly white, but who bravely concealed her anger and disappointment. Twenty or thirty fairy-guests seized the guilty child, but the Q<ieen waved them off. “Diana,” she said—but the tone was icy cold—“who would have my gift to the bride?” Diana, too unhappy to weep, told all that had happened “Ah me! such are the ways of the world. If you had told me of your difficulty, I would have helped you. I could have sent something new into the giant’s castle, and he would have gloated over it until you were safely at home.” “Oh Queen, I did not know, I did not know,” and Diana, weeping bitterly, sank on the velvet carpet. fake the tree,” said the Queen in a whisper. “Oh, mother!” from the bride. “Do not speak, my pretty one. Your voice is too sweet and pure when sin is nigh. Diana, take the tree to your friend.” “Oh Queen, no friend of mine,” and Diana’s golden curls- fell upon the emerald carpet “Take the tree to the giant. It will mean nothing -to us, who have handed it down, and treasured it since the world was born, compared with what it will mean to him. Go now; we cannot have his servant at this wedding-feast. And never again, Oh my guests, will fairies trust the children of earth. It breaks my heart, to give this order, but we must guard our beautiful land from sin. Come, little child- till I kiss you, just before you go—the last of mortal children to see a Fairy Queen. Tes, take the tree; perhaps it will do good. A long good-bye Oh my heart is broken, broken,” and the Fairy Queen dropped dead. I he last order of the beloved queen was written in pure gold on the gates of Fairyland and kept always in sacred memory of her. The Princess was crowned Queen next day, and is Queen even yet, for no mortal has since entered Fairyland to break her heart. Diana had flown away with the Queen’s “A long good-bye.” While yet many miles away, she saw the mighty giant, as a tiny speck on the face of the earth, and he seemed to be peering with a red, red light in his eyes, far up into the heavens. The sight of him there frightened poor Diana. “If only If only. ... !” she whispered; but that could do no good “How I hate him, hate him!” she sobbed. “For he has spoilt it all.” Before, long she was holding the dearly paid for treasure towards the excited giant, who grasping it closely, laughed terribly and ran into the castle to place it in the Jast corner. “My life-dream is fulfilled,” he said, but there was no happiness in the note. > There seemed to be something wanting and this made him flare into anger. He turned round quickly, and looked sullenly down at Diana. “I see you have brought back my cloak But, but, how came those smears down the front?” “Ah, those are tears, my lord.” “And and . . . .” he bellowed, . and the castle shook in its foundations. “Wh#re is my gold button?” “Oh!” Diana was horrified. She had for- > gotten about the gold button. “Little traitress! I’ll shave off your prec- ; ious golden locks, and my brownie will weave me another. After that, I will ah, I’ll have thought of something good by that time.” Diana, the grown-up baby child, fell at his feet. “Have mercy, O Giant! Have mercy on ; the unhappy mortal who gave up. her whole , life-joy in making your dream complete in its fulfilment.” But the giant listened not. He tore , the cloak from the earth-child’s back, and i called his brownie to boil a kettleful of blackened porridge. Then he shaved her ■ golden hair from her head and placed it ; in a dish of sunbeams. “At least it will be treasured enough,” murmured the unhappy • child. ■ Then he ran for the boiling kettle, and placed it in front of Diana. She lifted • the lid and was about to jump in, at his r command, when he suddenly pushed her i aside. : For there, floating on the top was the ■ valued gold button. I “0 gentle Fate!” murmured Diana. “The ■ fairies have forgiven me enough to help I me yet.” The giant flung his hands into the boiling kettle, and tenderly took out the button. He danced and sang till the hills rung out ■ with thunder and glared with lightning; and then he became aware that his fingers had been burnt away. He had Diana on his tortured hand to fling her into the night, when swarms and ' swarms of ugly black insects gathered around him. The box had been opened. It was now the giant’s turn to be terrified. “What new creatures are these?” and his ’ voice sunk to an awful whisper. 1 Diana flew from his hand and away, and : away, till she left the castle behind her, and the moans and the groans of the terri- ; fied giant. “Some new wonder the Gods have sent me; but surely an ugly wonder, and one 1 to destroy.” 1 He rushed from room to room in the castle and everywhere it was the same. Those buzzing insects lay thick upon every treasure till it was hidden from his staring eyes. Black, black, black everywhere. He • felt them buzzing in his brain. His brownie had disappeared, glad to get away from i such a terrible master. “Oh, that I didn’t have to own the wicked life that is mine I see it all now; but it is too late. Mammon has crushed ; me beneath his foot. I have lived to i see the treasures I spent all my days obtaining, I have lived to see them being perhaps

eaten away by an unknown, and surely a I foul pest; but, oh, i must remember, not halt as loul as myself.” Then gazing all round again his eyes fell on the rose tree. Not a fly touched even a petal, and the opals streamed down from the dew that had fallen upon her. He slowly picked it up in his tortured hand, and breathing a prayer, he smiled, and clasped it to his heart and died. The fairies wanted to take the rose tree back to the Princess, but softly she said. “He repented at the last hour. I jet him keep the rose tree which showed up white, as a fairy life, against the unending black. He would surely not be happy in the haunt of flies, without the dew-tears falling on his heart to comfort him, and strew his lonely grave with purity.” Diana reached home, and climbing wearily into her wee pink bed, fell into a calm deep sleep. As soon as her head touched the pillow, her beautiful curls were around her head as before. Next morning the ring was gone, and with it all memory of fairies and that night of endless horror. But when she saw flies buzzing round, a strange feeling stirred within her. They made her feel uneasy; it terrified her to see one upon her hand —and yet she knew not why. On the eve of her tenth birthday she was sitting alone under the roses, when she suddenly noticed two flies crawling up her hand. Instead of becoming frightened as usual, and throwing them from her, she calmly said: “Dear little flies, it was you who saved my life once.” Then thinking of what she had said, she could not make it out. When she looked again, the flies had gone. And when her little sisters asked her where the flies go when it’s . raining, she could not even tell that they gather in the giant’s lonely castle, and feast upon the treasures, all but the little fairy rose-tree of the opals. —4 marks and 2/6 to Cousin Annie Playfair (15), Gummies Bush. —Prize.— One hot summer, long, long ago, the mortals were very discontented. The Fairies wondered how they could make them contented, but could not find anything that would please them. All the mortals were dull, because they thought that the summer was too hot and the houses were too quiet. Really they did not even know when summer began! “Oh! Why can’t our houses have more of a buzz of happiness and pleasure in the summer? Oh! Why, oh why?” they all cried. Now this is the idea that a fairy called ; Rosebud brought to the Fairy Queen, who had sent her to earth to see if she could think of, or see if anything that would satisfy the discontented mortals. “They are getting more dissatisfied every day,” sighed the Fairy Queen. “Rosebud, did you think of anything on your way?” “Yes, your Majesty,” she replied. “Suddenly the thought came into my head, while the poor mortals were talking to each other about ‘a buzz of happiness,’ something that, would ‘buzz’ might satisfy them. There are no flies on earth, and they buzz, you know. Perhaps if we made two or three little eggs, and hid them in a warm place in one of the mortal houses, they would hatch and then the buzz of happiness will then be granted.” “And,” she continued, “we will put them there at the beginning of summer, so that mortals shall know when summer begins, loo.” The Queen clapped her hands joyfully, and cried, “Oh Rosebud, Rosebud, you have 1 saved us all an enormous lot of trouble.” “And the mortals, too,” she added. Everyone laughed gaily and danced round Rosebud. The Fairy Queen then ordered the eggs to be made, and immediately sent Rosebud on her second journey to earth. Rosebud wrapped the eggs up very gently in a rose petal and started on her journey. She could see that the mortals were just as discontented as ever, and growling over 1 everything. At last Rosebud came to a cosy little house and flew into it and gently, very gently, she laid the eggs in a warm recess 1 near the fire. Next day when the mortals arose nothing happened, for the eggs had not hatched yet; but on the next day something won--1 derful happened! As soon as the mortals in the house woke up they heard a peculiar buzzing. One woman dressed herself and went into the kitchen, and, behold! What a sight she saw! Little flies flying in the air and crawling up the window, making a peculiar buzz as they went. The mistress of the house woke the other occunants and told them what had happened. They all dressed as quickly as they could and a little girl who was looking at the ■ flies, which she had never seen before, felt a tickle on, her nose. “Oh!” she cried, “one’s on my nose!” The others laughed. “This is some of the fairies’ work,” passed from everyone’s lips. “We have satisfied them this time,” ; laughed the Fairies. For once the Fairies had made a mis- , take! The flies satisfied the people for a while, but everyone wanted some of the ; flies in their house, and soon began quarrelling. The woman who owned the house I where the flies were hatched soon settled that. She said that whoever wanted some ' flies could come over to her house and • catch two or three. So they all came, and soon everyone had a share of the flies, and was satisfied for a while. , How quickly the flies multiplied! At first the mortals were glad; for, as they expressed it, there was more of a “buzz of happiness” about. After a while they soon saw their mistake; for the flies multiplied and became [ such a nuisance. Flies were everywhere! In the cupr boards, in the beds, in the jam, honey and in everything. The people grew more disi satisfied, and were trying every day to find something that would kill the flies, which ! had now become a great plague. > “Oh! well,” sighed the Fairies. “We tried ! to help them and though they were satisfied at first, they are dissatisfied again. Now . they can experiment for themselves.” [ So to this day the mortals are inventing ■ new things to kill the flies. —4 marks and 2/6 to Cousin Marjory j Smith (12), Oreti Plains. r —Prize— On the beach of a wonderful beautiful I island, stood a group of tiny, little folk, 1 with pale skins and golden hair, and wings 5 of wonderful shining rainbow. They were * watching the sun as it dipped a warm red ball towards the horizon. Behind them lay j glorious woods and shady dells, through which tiny, crystal streams flowed tran- » quilly. The sun disappeared, leaving be- > hind it a warm glow, which gradually changed into the soft, caressing darkness of ; night. With contented sighs, the little people : turned away and wandered happily towards ; their homes. So it had been for three hunj dred years. They had watched the sunrise and the sunset, they had enjoyed the > freedom of their island—and their lives had 1 flowed tranquilly on like the streams in their I forests. Two of these little people now made their way to a tiny cave. From it they took some flowers and fruit, which they j had picked earlier in the day, and then directed their steps up a steep cliff to where, [ on its brow, stood a grey marble castle. , Here lived an old, old witch called Faebury, and once every year each of the little people visited her. The two, who were now ; on their way, were called Laylette and ■ Rio. Timidly they approached the massive iron > gates and asked for admittance. Presently they were shown into a beautifully fur- ■ nlshed reception room, where on a divan of ; satin reclined the dearest little old lady with ; silver curls and a rosy face. She was not > a bit like a witch-—not the sort of witches l we know. But Chen she was a curious witch and perhaps it was the wrong name, [ but that is what the little people called ; her. Faebury was always doing these little ! people good turns and never once had harm , befallen them.

“Good afternoon,” came in bell-like tones from her, as Laylette and Rio entered. “Good afternoon,” they returned as they placed their basket on a low table and ran forward to seat themselves beside her. “Do tell us our fortune,” pleaded Rio. “Not to-day, my dears. I have no does blood,” she returned gently, and proceeded to talk of other matters. Soon tea was brought in by a walrus and whilst they were eating, Faebury talked gravely to them. “Never,” she said, “never, go beyond the Coral Reef that lies beyond the island. Should you do so, I can never again help you. It will be a great curse that will fall on this isle if you do. Do not think it is a secret of mine I am guarding. It is not so. Nothing you can do will harm me. But take care. You hear Rio ” she finished, for there was something about the gay, irresponsible Rio which troubled her. Besides, what had the doe’s-blood in her cauldron revealed? Soon after Rio and Layette left. As they descended the cliff Rio turned and gazed out towards the Coral reef. “I wonder” she murmured to herself. “What do you wonder, dear?” asked Layette then catching the other s gaze she too, looked ouj towards the Reef. Suddenly she became anxious. **oh, Rio. you musn’t you musn’t,” she cried as though reading what was in the other's mind. “Why not?” demanded Rio, “There is only the sea out there. I don’t believe a word of Faebury s story. To-morrow I shall fly out as far as my wings can carry It was in vain that Laylette pleaded with her. She was determined, and up in the marble house on the cliff Faebury looked in her cauldron and smiled a sad little smile, as she murmured. “I knew how it must en-i, and yet I had hoped to avert the disaster. Yes, the Sea-amoter is stronger than I, and oh, far more pitiless, and cruel. He hates the little people because of their beauty, and he wil send upon them the very worst curse. Oh, that Rio would not cross the Keef!” But Rio would. In her heart Faebury knew it, and knew also that she was powerless to prevent it. The sun rose in a setting of opal and rose. As its rays struck the island two dainty figures in blue gowns with a cloud of golden hair streaming out behind them, rose from the island and flitted towards the Reef. They were Rio and Laylette, for since Rio was determined, Laylette had decided to share her adventure with her. They came to the Reef and passed over it. Not far, however, for in a few seconds they left themselves being sucked down, down, until they fell upon a huge pearl raft which floated on the sea. At one end of if in a huge chair sat a big ugly man. His face was covered with hair which swept to his knees, while his head was bald. He was bent and deformed, and tiny red 'eyes stared out from the hairy face. Both Laylette and Rio started back from this hideous monster. He laughed, and his laugh was like the grating of iron. “Am I not hideous?” he asked in awful tones. “I am not beautiful like you, am I?” Again that terrible laugh. “But,” he continued, “Soon—oh, very soon, you and all your people on your wonderful island will be ugly—far uglier and more loathesonie than I.” The two little people cowered back, so he continued. “By passing over the Reef you have placed yourselves in my power. I hate beauty, loathe it, Return to your island! Go! Henceforward a curse and a pest shall you be to the world!” With these terrible words the raft sank, and on wings of terrer, and weighed down with apprehension Rio and Laylette returned to their island. As they flew towards it they saw on the beach and in the air hundreds, thousands, nay, it seemed millions of black, ugly repulsive things. Before the}- could speak, however, they felt themselves changing. They, too, had become like the others—black, buzzing insects! From the castle on the cliff Faebury looked down on the acene. ‘The curse has worked,” she said sadly, “And all through the curiosity and wilfulness of Rio, the world will suffer. Oh, how I hate that Sea-amoter, and yet I am powerless to do bad, only good.” And so flies were brought into the world—a curse, and a pest, the fruits of the Sea-amoter’s hatred of beauty. —4 marks and 2/6 to Cousin Eileen McIntosh (15) 59 Ness Street, Invercargill. —Prize.— High up. where the mid-day sun would have been in a summer sky, hung a steady, silver}- illumination, the gleaming mother-of-pearl heart of the night itself, and close about the silvery heart began the stars. For hours the fairies had been unstreaming their banners of all the colours of the rainbow; for hours they had frolicked in all their dazzle of flame and glow, and hundreds of little dancers were enjoying themselves on the pathway of gold anti crimson and blue. Suddenly the tinkle of a bell was heard and music and laughter was instantly stopped; for each of them knew- it was the Fairy Queen, Titania, summoning them to her palace and that something serious must have occurred. They arrived at the palace in their beautiful silver shimmering frocks that glittered like diamonds. The Fair}- Queen came down the golden stairway and addressed her subjects, saying that she had received an urgent message from the Land-of-Make-Believe inviting her to the crowning of Princess Snowdrop. “Now my children,” she said, “I am feeling very sad because my coach is broken and I cannot fly such a long distance. It is my intention to give a large reward to the one that can find me a swift and reliable flying machine. Now away, away.” All the little fairies and elves skipped away through wood and dell except a tiny elf named Alla-Lalla, who took the opposite direction. He journeyed on and on through the scented night until he came to a little cottage. He gently knocked at the door and a little old man, stooped with age, answered it. “What can I do for you, my merry sprite?” he asked in a deep wise voice. The little elf explained to him all about the Fairy Queen’s sad state. “Come inside, little man,” said the old man, whose name was Wisdom,” and maybe I can be of some assistance to you.” He led him by the hand into the queerest room that Alla-Lalla had ever seen. Magnificent specimens of birds of every colour and size flew about their heads. The elf was very frightened at first because he had never seen birds before, but his admiration soon overtame his fear and he twirled round and round with the birds, first catching one and then another. Each seemed so very beautiful. Old man Wisdom was very pleased when he saw his old friends, the birds, and the little newcomer enjoying themselves so much. Suddenly a brilliant idea entered his head, and calling AllaLalla to his side he asked him how- he would like to sail through the air on the back of a beautiful fly and present it to his Queen. Alla-Lalla was very excited, and promised him half of the reward, which was agreed to by old man Wisdom, who was very poor in wealth, but very rich in love, as his pets worshipped him.

We must now take a peep at the other Fairies and Elves who left the palace so gay, but soon became sad. Every one of *hem would have done anything for Queen Titania because they all adored her. Each little heart was heavy with grief and disappointment as they could not find a suitable conveyance. The flowers asked them if six speedy white mice and a pumpkin coach would be of any use. If so it would be despatched at once; but tears dimmed their eyes as sadly they answered, “No.” At last they all decided to retrace their steps back to the palace. They had not gone far when they heard a buzz in the air and beheld to their surprise and astonishment Alla-Lalla, seated on the back of a beautiful fly which flew through the air with gorgeous gauzy wings outstretched. They ran as fast as they could, but needless to say Alla-Lalla arrived at the palace long before them and had explained to the delighted Queen his discovery of old man Wisdom and his kindness in providing the fly. Queen Titania was so pleased that she ordered the little elf to fly away again and

bring his friend to the palace. They re-

turned a few minutes later, each on the back of a fly; and great was old man Wisdom’s joy when the Queen asked him to live at the palace. She gently asked him if he could produce a fly for each of her subjects as she would like very much for them to go to Make-Believe-Land as they had all behaved so beautifully. Old man Wisdom produced some fine powder from a bag over which he breathed a soft prayer, and lo! hundreds of gaily coloured flies flew around and settled lovingly on him, caressing him with their beautiful wings. At a word of command from him each flew to a fairy or an elf who settled themselves on the back of their fly and rose higher and higher in the air until they seemed but a speck. After the crowning ceremony was over the order was given to return to the palace and all arrived safely. A few months later old man Wisdom died, and the flies, who could obey none but their master, fretted, and some died. When the Queen saw this she was broken-hearted and ordered the gates of Paradise to be opened, and in doing so she set them free. This new life revived their interest in life, and their spirits soon revived, as they scattered into the new world which offered new adventures. But all their glory they left behind them in Fairyland—the gorgeous colourings which had made them rare. —4 marks and 2/6 to Cousin Dorothy Harper (14)’ 35 Ayr street, Invercargill. —Very Highly Commended.— The King and Queen of Fairyland had sent out their fairy scouts to see if any mortals had crossed the boundaries of the world and entered Fairyland. The scouts soon returned, bringing with them an old raiser, who had come in search of money—the only thing he had ever loved. The King and Queen were very angry with him for daring to thrust his presence upon them. “Why did you come here?” demanded the King, in an awful voice. “I-I came in search of something,” the miser replied. “What are you searching for?” inquired the Queen, angrily. “I-I came for some money,” quavered the miser. “Do you love money?” asked the King. No answer. “Answer,” he roared. “A es, I-d-o-o,” the miser stammered. “Well take this home with you, and come here no more.” said the King, as he handed the miser a square box. The miser thanked the King and departed. When he reached home be opened the box. Buzzzzzz. Out flew a swarm of flies. In the bottom of the box he found a paper. This is what was on it : FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY THE WORLD SHALL HAVE A PEST OF FLIES. FOR YOUR FOLLY YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS ON THE WORLD. And flies have lived here ever since. —3 marks to Cousin Nance Watts (13), 79 Layard street, North Invercargill.