Why the Lady Autumn Smiled

Southland Times, Issue 20771, 11 May 1929, Page 23

Why the Lady Autumn Smiled

—Specially Commended. — Tho Lady Autumn was very busy indeed. Her sisters Winter and Spring were still sleeping and the West Wind had just called to say that Summer was nearly home. Autumn shook out her beautiful robes of red and brown, combed out her shining golden hair and as Summer passed into the shade Autumn passed into the sunshine. Oh! How lovely it is to feel the sunbeams again she thought. Her robes fluttered about in the breeze and her golden hair streamed out behind her as she flew over the hills and dales. Her first call was Fairyland. She was welcomed by the Fairy Queen but she could not wait long because the earth people were waiting for her. At her signal the Autumn fairies who were standing ready with brushes and palettes fluttered up behind her and they all set off for the land of mortals. The, work of Autumn was going on beautifully. The Lady Autumn smiled as she went from tree to tree. The fairies were working well and the leaves were being turned from bright green to glorious shades of red and brown. The chrysanthemum buds were bursting and growing into beautiful flowers, big shaggy brown, white, lemon, red and purple blooms. Suddenly the fairies quarrelled. It was when they were working in the orchard turning the sour green apples into big red luscious fruit. Fairy Redsprite had been given some beautiful blue paint by Fairy Bluebell who was a Summer fairy. Redsprite was just dying to try the blue paint on the apples instead of the usual red paint. The Lady Autumn tried to explain to the fairies that blue was a special colour for the Summer fairies only and that the Autumn fairies could not use it. “Why,” she said, “who would eat blue apples? The little girls and boys would be so disappointed if they came into the orchard and found blue apples instead of red ones.” The fairies would not listen to this. They wanted to try the blue colour, and thus the quarrel began. The Lady Autumn did not smile now. Everywhere she went she met discontented lazy fairies. The apples were still green and the wheat which should have been bright gold was still unripe. At last the good Lady had an idea. She knew that the fairies were tired of work and there was still a great deal to do so she decided to give them a surprise. Gold was one of their special colours so she would get them a new gold colour -to work with. It must far outrival any which the Spring Summer or Winter fairies used. Next day the Lady Autumn went on a visit to His Majesty the Sun and poured her troubles into his sympathetic ear. At last he winked his eye and said “Well, well, we must see what can be done.” The following day the sun sent for Lady Autumn. "Go,” he said “to the sunbeam over in the West and ask him to give you several particles of his beam. Let the fairies use that for the wheat and they will find that their work has not been in vain.” Autumn thanked the sun and set off for tho sunbeam. The sunbeam was only too pleased to be of service to the beautiful Lady and she set off once more for the fairies, smiling and happy again. The fairies were simply delighted with their gift and wanted to start on the wheat at once, but the Lady Autumn said that the apples must be finished first, and so the work went on again. All through the season they worked and worked. The wheat became as golden as the sun and the apples sweet and round and red. When the harvest was done and the trees had shed their leaves Autumn and her fairies prepared to leave for home. Autumn is a time of reaping not of growing and as the Lady Autumn stood on a hill top and looked over the world she smiled to see the earth reaping its reward after the year's work. —2 marks to Cousin Lorna Thomson (13) 127 Dalrymple Roatl, Invercargill.

—Highly Commended.—

I head my page “Why the Lady Autumn Smiled,” chew my pen, scratch an imaginary (?) fleabite at the back of my head, screw up my smiling, perhaps frowning, countenance, twist my big toes, lay down by pen, take it up, glance at my book, then at the newspaper, put my feet in the oven, exclaim when they get burnt and twist my toes more than ever. “Why the Lady Autumn Smiled.” What a life! Does she ever smile? Now, but why did she smile? May be she was born like that, or perhaps it’s natural, or her face got all twisted up when the moon shone in the window. Three good reasons, but:— She must have smiled at something? Alright, here goes. Lady Autumn who ! ! ! 1 Who is Lady Autumn? Oh yes, my reasons again. Lady Autumn, whose face got all mixed up like an Irish.stew wheu the moon shone in the window was— Oh, blow! Does Lady Autumn live in a house with windows? But, of course, she must, or nobody would have seen her smile? There you go. Who did see her smile? I’m told she smiled, then it’s only natural someone must have seen her! Perhaps a fairy?—-No, that’s no good; I don’t believe in fairies, gnomes, ghosts, elves and all sorts of beings’that make you happy ono minute, and send shivers down your spine the next. But how about writing a fairy story. Let me see now. This is how I begin. Once upon—No good. Lady Autumn was Queen of the Fairies. I might explain, for the benefit of others that when we have Spring, she is Queen; in Summer, Summer is Queen; and in Autumn, Lady Autumn, the dignified person at present occupying my head in the unavoidable absence of my brains, is Queen of that immoral, or is it immortal, band of sprites that can fly and do anything else. “If pigs could fly, etc.” Well to continue, Lady Autumn was smiling because of the terrible prank the moon played. Can you remember? Well, to go on, Lady Autumn was sad. I smile when I’m sad sometimes. When I get a funny pain under my belt Pin sad, but if I see a horse gallop-

ing down Dee Street with a cat on its tail, I smile. As aforesaid, Lady Autumn was sad because King Winter, who would not be king of the fairies, but rather of those brown-eyed cherubs called gnomes, had ordered his magician, Coldasice to invent the hardest frost he had ever invented. By the time he had scratched his head bald, he had partly succeeded, and by the time he had chewed all that formed on the Thames last winter in England, his plan was perfect. Jack Frost, R.A., which means real ass, was ordered to broadcast the frost from 2YELL all over New Zealand. So much for King Winter. Now, Lady Autumn was walking in her garden when she came upon her magician Lovelytints, and ordered him to keep all the leaves on the trees for a while. Now, Lady Autumn did not possess much grey matter in her cranium, or she would have known that it v as a hard job indeed she had given her magician. So Lovelytints scratched his head until he too was bald, and he succeeded in his plan when he had eaten every autumn leaf in New Zealand, where there aren’t many, at anyrate. Now, Lovelytints went to a forest merely to see his leaves, and Lady Autumn had followed him. Coldasice had gone also, to see what green leaves his great frost had to kill. Lovelytints, treading softly, was startled by a sound, and lifted his eyes to see before him King Winter's magician, Coldasice. He immediately doffed his cap, and Coldasice did the same.

Lady Autumn gasped in horror at the bald pates exposed to her view. Gradually, slowly, her smile disappeared, and a look of horror crept over her face. Was she to blame? She hurried away, sadder than ever. Her reign was nearly done. But should she ask Lovelytint’s forgiveness? She hurried back to where the two magicians were, still staring at each other. “Oh!” she cried, to Lovelytints, “forgive me; I have made you bald! Oh, I shall give you greater reward than ever a magician received, if you forgive me.” “Of course, my Queen,” exclaimed Lovelytints, “Of course I will 1” “Oh, thank you,” she said. Then turning to Coldasice, she asked him how he had lost his hair, and that magician, whose skin was white, his eyes brown and his heart black, told her his secret, in hopes of the reward. Um-Yurn!

“Oh, if that is the case,” said the Queen, “follow me for your reward.” Coldasice had a black heart, but it beat and thumped while he followed the queen so much that he had to cough every second step to deaden the sound. Arrived at the palace, Coldasice was locked in the strongroom with all the gold. “Because,” said the Queen, “both you and the gold are safe there!” So Coldasice stayed there because, you understand, he couldn’t do anything else. Of course he was happy with all the gold, but after a while his hunger began to show, and he wished he had some ice to masticate, but wishing wouldn’t get him ice, so he wished aloud, in fact, so loud that the roof of the palace, being old, lifted off; Fairies’ magic, don’t you know? But still he couldn’t escape. King Winter waited, then sent that afore, mentioned real ass Jack Frost, to find Coldasice. So far so good and Jack Frost found Coldasice in the strongroom and floated down to his side, oh no, no magic, remember the roof had lifted off and was still rising (scientists say people live on Mars, but it’s only the black spots on the roof of the strongroom, which flew out of the black heart of Coldasice. I mean the spots did, not the roof). “Oh, Coldasice, I’m glad to cast mine eyes upon your noble features once again,” Jack Frost, R.A., burst out in really gnomonic (that the right word?) language. “Yes, quite so,” slowly said the magician, “but. how are we to get out now?”

“Oh, my frosted nose, we can't. I can float down but not up. We’re —here —ffor g-go-good” wailed the real ass. So, to finish my fairy story, Coldasice and Jack Frost R.A., were locked in the Queen’s strongroom and King Winter went without the frost at the end of Autumn. Oh yes, and the Queen gave Lovelytints and Coldasice a bag of lime and a bag of flax seed to replace the flaxen curls they had once possessed. That’s why she smiled, because, the flax seed, after all, was the seed of a kauri tree, and, to remind you of the horse and cat business, the cat was sitting on its own tail, by the way. —2 marks to Cousin Peter Ferguson (14) Underwood.

Away up in the hilly sheep country not far from the mountains there lives in an old cottage a shepherd and his two children. The elder child, Elva, though but 14 years of age, keeps house and looks after her younger brother who is frail and sickly. The little housekeeper manages well, there is always work to do, and the folk living in the valley district several miles off marvel at her management. The vicar, who had callee} to see them once, spoke well of them, and Elva and Frank Breman always recalled his visit with pleasure, for he had brought them a bundle of winter reading. Before their mother had died two years before, the children had had daily lessons and were well on in their subjects, but since she had gone home to Glory there was no further teaching and the brave girl and boy felt their loss very much. Visitors were rare, and so they were left much together, their father being away all day tending the sheep.

Now in one of the books the vicar had given them there was a fairy story, and in the evenings the girl and boy often read it. They had never read a story like it before, and of fairies they had heard just once. Their mother had told them a story about a witch and a fairy years before, but they could not remember much about it. Both Frank and Elva had vivid imaginations and they both thought much of the book fairies in their spare time, and so they began to accept them as real people. When Elva gathered her wild flowers she always stepped quietly and never crushed a bud, “just in case a fairy might be resting there.” And as for Frank, when one of his bad days came and he had to lie by the window all the time, he often used to see them. Did they not come with apple blossoms in Spring? with the wild daisies in Summer, and was it not them who turned all the slender green leaves of the willows whispering over the stream that flowed through the valley to gold? Surely yes! In the book the fairy folk did so, anyway, so of course those dreamy people he saw flitting about did the same. Wherever Frank went he saw where they had been and best of all the fairy folk he loved the Autumn ones. They always brightened the land so, every tree in the distant valley had a wealth of reddish golden leaves. Ah, it was a glorious time. Frank didn’t trouble about bad days with such a scene, to gaze at. It was all so beautiful with the brown hills about it. » » » The last day of Autumn came, and Elva and Frank sighed with sorrow when they thought of the coming Winter’s havoc. “Frank,” exclaimed Elva. “Hurry up and help me to do my work this morning and we’ll go for a walk this afternoon.” “Goody,” said Frank. “Let’s go to the big rock by the little stream, then we’ll see the wonder of the Autumn fairies’ work.” The work was soon done, and after a hurried lunch the two set off in high spirites. “Sister,” said Frank, “don’t you think the lady in charge of all the little people must be wonderfully clever? See what she had to attend to, and think what a great place the world is.” Elva nodded her head emphatically. She was picking her steps with care, and despite the lateness of the season there were still lots of wild blooms about. •At last the children arrived at the creek, and after stepping from boulder to boulder they crossed ad clambered up on to the big rock. To the right and left of them were hills, some small, some big, but down below was the valley bathed in warm sunlight. Frank and Elva looked in silence. The stream beneath them babbled on, unheard.

Slowly the sun dipped behind the mountain and shadows moved over the valley. Lovely reflections from the clouds rested on the hills. Everything seemed so tranquil, peaceful and different.

At last Elva broke the silence. “Come, Frank,” she murmured, “let’s go.” And hand in hand they set off home. * * * Further down the hillside by the same stream several strange little folk were gathered. “Yes,” one was saying, “I think our work is done. The sunset fairies are very busy for to-night’s sunset is to be a special one.” “I’m glad,” said another, “and I hope those two dear mortal children see it. They believe in us so well that they deserve reward.” “Oh, listen,” cried out an eager little person, “I know the very thing. The other day when that mortal boy was sick I was sitting in the apple tree by the cottage window and the boy and girl were discussing us. The girl said she’d love to sec a fairy, and the boy said he’d like to, too, but not just a fairy, he’d like to see, but the Autumn Queen. Oh, fairies, can’t it be managed? They’d love it so much.” “Yes,” replied another little person. “The Queen will show herself I’m sure. Let’s ask her anyway.” And so it was arranged. * * *

Frank and Elva Breman were standing together by the garden gate. The western sky flecked in the sunset clouds was a scene of splendour. Both were watching the colours fade and soften, seeing the sunrays turning the clouds to gold. The snowy capped mountain was misty lavendar, and pink and gold shadows flitted across the hills.

“Oh, Elva,” murmured Frank, “now I see the joy of living.” “How I’d love to see the fairies, though,” answered Elva, “then my cup of joy would be full." “you

“Some day,” said Frank, dreamily, will.”

The words were scarcely spoken when they heard a rustle and looking round they saw a being that made them think they were seeing double. It was the Lady Queen of Autumn. Iler wand flashed in her hand. A wreath of Autumn leaves held her corn-coloured hair in place and round her waist she wore a girdle of leaves, too, while at her throat there was clasped a beautiful chrysathemum, bronze and curled.

When Frank recovered his breath he ceased staring so and softly whispered: “Thank you, Lady Autumn. To-day you have made me realize how glad I am to be alive.”

Across the Queen’s face a wonderful light seemed to Hit. Her cheeks dimpled, her eyes laughed, and her rosebud lips parted in the sweetest smile —and then she disappeared to be seen no more. “You see,” explained Elva afterwards, “she smiled because you, too, have found the light of the world.” Just a smile—but a memory. —2 marks to Cousin Mabel Wright (16), Makarewa.

“Elderton East” was the name of a large boarding school, situated on the top of a hill overlooking the sea, and on the outskirts of a fashionable seaside town. A large number of girls attended this school, because it was near the sea and so healthy.

c Now, in a neighbouring village, lived a I man and his wife and their only child, a _ girl of fourteen. They were a poor family, ’’ and Julie, the girl, had just recently recovs ered from a severe illness and on account n of her health, the doctor had now ordered ® her to the seaside. She was a clever girl and previous to her illness had attended e a school in the village. Her parents decided to send her to Elderton East boarding ° school as it was not very far away, and was also near the sea. When Julie heard of their plan she jumped for joy and cried, “I am delighted.” So she was eventually established at Elderton East in a dormitory with a girl, of her own age, by the name of Norma Kane. These two girls became the best of friends and as Julie regained her strength 5 they played basketball and hockey and " went swimming on Saturdays. Julie bef came quite a favourite at the school, but • she and Norma were nearly always seen ’ together. Time went on and by the end of the r year Julie had completely recovered, but ' her parents could not afford to keep her at ! school any longer. 1 “Unless better times turn up before the ’ holidays are over we cannot leave Julie at school next year,” said her father one night to her mother. "It is a pity, because she is a clever girl,” sighed the woman. At Elderton East School the girls always celebrated the end of the school year by holding a fancy-dress ball in the town hall. People from far and near came to this ball, and it always turned out a big success. Now, this year, a eertaiif wealthy gentleman in the city had offered the large sum of fifty pounds as a prize for the best fancy dress, made and worn by a school girl. The news’ spread quickly at the school and many ideas of a fancy dress were being thought about. Then when the exams were all over, the teachers allowed the girls time to make their dresses. “Oh, what a lovely, time we will all have,” laughed the girls. Julie knew that she could not stay at school next year, and it made her sad to think of it. She was especially fond of needlework, and when this prize was offered she resolved to try and win it, because with fifty pounds she could stay at school. Only two girls occupied each dormitory, and so every pair worked together and kept their dresses a secret .from the rest. Of course Julie and Norma worked together. Norma had decided to go to the ball as Miss Spring, and Julie as Lady Autumn. Norma knew about Julie’s parents, and next year, and one night as they sat sewing she said to Julie, “Wouldn’t it be lovely for you to win the prize?” “I am going to try, Norma,” she • answered. So they worked on and did not talk much. That week passed by and in two days the ball was to be held. The dresses were all i made and left in readiness. The girls ( talked of nothing but the ball. The two ; days went speedily by and now the girls were at last getting ready. "Oh Julie, your dress is simply gorgeous,” exclaimed Norma, as they dressed. : “Yours is better,” said Julie. "Oh, no it’s not,” said Norma. "I am I sure the girls will envy you. You are ■ clever to have thought it out so well.” > “What about the others,” said Julie, 1 “There will be lots better than mine.” Then they went downstairs and found I that most of the girls had already departed, 1 so they started off also. “What a lovely night it will be,” said | Norma. > “Yes,” said Julie slowly. She was think- t ing. Then they reached the hall and i went in. They went and took off their coats and as they emerged from the ante- < room, all eyes turned towards them. "Oh! look at Julie’s magnificent dress," chimed the girls. “How it does shine.” | It was truly very pretty in the light. ] She had sewn artificial autumn leaves all t over a green lace net, with a pale brown , silk dress underneath. She had a hat with } “Lady Autumn” worked across it in gold j letters. She also wore gold coloured stock- ( ings and shoes to match. ] Julie’s father and mother were present '■ also. They did not know what Julie would < be dressed as, but now they could only gaze t in admiration at their daughter. r Dancing began and all went splendidly. At an interval before supper the judge an- v nounced the winner of the best fancy dress. r He began: “I have pleasure in announcing s the winner to be Miss Julie Young, from / Elderton East boarding school. I congra- e tulate you on your well thought out idea of t Lady Autumn,” he said, turning to Julie. I Now,” he continued, “three cheers for Lady a Autumn.” t They were heartily given and Julie smil- “ ingly returned thanks, as she was handed S the money. t Then supper was ready. Julie went and h sat with her parents during sUpper. “I tl am so glad,” she said. “Now I can go h back to Elderton East next year.” n “Yes, my dear,” replied her father. h "And Julie, we will be poor no longer. “ Your poor old uncle has died and left us si a heap of money.” w "Oh dad,” murmured Julie. I p

“Yes, and I have bought a cottage at the seaside, alongside the Kanes.” “How lovely,” exclaimed Julie. When the ball was over and Julie had said “Good-night” to her mother and father, she walked back to the school with her chum.

"You do look happy and smiling, Julie dear,” said Norma. “I used to feel sad, Norma, but now I can smile. I smile now to think of what to-night has brought me,” replied Julie. Then she told Norma all about it. ‘'How delightful,” laughed Norma. They walked on, making plans for their holidays together. When they reached the school they went up to bed, each declaring that it was the happiest night of her life. —2 marks to Cousin Frances Sharp (15), Gorge Road.

It was New Year’s Eve in Fairyland, when the Queen and King and all their subjects were gathered together in the court yard. Each year the Queen held a meeting with her subjects to discuss the New Year preparations. Each fairy told the Queen what she would do to make the New Y’ear a good one. "Fairy Spring,” called the Queen. “How are you going to help the New Y’ear?” “I,” said Spring, “will make my months the best that I have ever made. I will bring bright sunshine with mo wherever I g°.” “I am sure you will, dear,” said the Queen. “I will give the world in my utmost power the most beautiful days my heart can give, so that to many people they will bring health and happiness,” said Fairy Summer, in a very superior manner. "Thank you,’ said the Queen. The next to appear before the Queen was Fairy Autumn.

“It is my turn to give my promise,” said Autumn. “I will send my beauty to the earth. I will give the world fresh ripe fruit, and gay flowers, rich corn, and beautiful leaves for the trees. I will make the sunlights beautiful such as have not been seen before.”

“Thank you, my good fairy, I can truly believe you.” As Fairy Winter approached the assembly, all began to shiver, and said they hoped she would not be too generous; but still she would do her best. In her way making the world live, and refreshening it in general. “Yes,” said the Queen, "I know you will freshen the earth in the way you know best.”

The Fairy Queen then blessed them and they all departed. The next day was New Year’s Day, and Summer’s turn to view the world. She acted fully as her promise gave, and all the world rejoiced. Summer’s days soon passed, as they always do and Autumn’s soon approached the scene. Her days were beautiful.

Months went by till it was Winter’s appearance. She was really very kind in her own way.

At the end of the year the Queen gathered together her Fairies. “You have worked excellently,” she said. “I don’t know which of you has been the most help.” “Fairy Autumn, Fairy Autumn,” they all cried.

Autumn blushed and smiled sweetly. “I have done no more to help than my sisters,” she said. “Let me share my gifts with them.”

—2 marks to Cousin Molly Fell (14), 3 Rugby street, Enwood.

In the darkening hall of Father Time, Frosty-Toes delivered his important ■ letter. It was from Lady Winter to say that Mai Mist could not possibly arrive in time and her other attendants were still busy in distant lands. She begged that Father Time might grant to her a few days of grace. “Frosty-Toes, little fellow,” called Father Time, "return quickly to your mistress and tell her that in future I am going to be very particular that my seasons are punctual, but that she may have a few days yet.”

In the quiet evening air of the shadowy woodland, the Lady Autumn roamed sadly among her favourite trees. Then as night’s shadows fell she kissed the shady boughs goodbye. In the morning all the woodland paths were strewn with mats of red, yellow and brown and Over all there reigned a tragic silence.

The Lady Autumn had not yet bid her flowers adieu and as she went out to perform her last duties a rainbow fairy brought to her a message from Father Time. I was to say that as he had granted to Winter a few days of grace she must not yet bid goodbye to her flowers. “Thank you, Rainbow, for so sweet a message. Tell Father Time I shall be very pleased.” As she rested in a bed of autumn leaves, the Lady Autumn smiled. At her command the sun shone, the flowers laughed and for yet another day the Lady Autumn remained her season’s queen. —2 marks to Cousin Jean Playfair (15), “Bonniefield,” Gummies Bush.

The Lady Autumn had invited her friends, the Cloud, the Sun, the Wind and Mother Earth Io a party. Each was to tell what she had done to make Autumn so very beautiful. It was a calm, still night because it was the elements’ holiday. The Lady Autumn wore a satin gown the colour of the Autumn tints, and Mother Earth a long brown dress with patches of green. The Sun was dressed in a fiery red, the Cloud in a fleecy white and the Wind—he did not know what colour himself and neither do I.

Lady Autumn played the violin while the wind sang of his victories and revenge on men who shut him out from their cosy firesides. Dances followed and then supper. After that came the chief part of the night’s entertainment. The hostess asked the Sun to begin. “I have shone on the gardens,” he said, "and helped the flowers to grow, and I have given warmth to the bees so they might be able to gather the pollen.” “Yes, we could never do without you, Mr. Sun,” said Lady Autumn as she smiled at the blushing Sun. “And now Cloud what have you done?” “I give fresh showers to the thirsty flowers,” chanted the Cloud. “I have watered the ground,” he said, “and made things freeh after my friend, the Sun has been beating down hotly all the day.” “You have helped me much, Cloud, I am sure,” said Lady Autumn. “Mother Earth, would you now tell us what you have done, please?” “Certainly,” said Mother Earth.

“I have helped my children, the flowers, the trees and the grass to be beautiful. I have provided them with food and have made rdom for the little roots to grow larger. I have done all that I can to make them beautiful and healthy.” “Yes, Mother Earth if it had not been for you we would never have had Autumn. And now Wind it is your turn.” The Wind began in a breezy tone: "I have distributed the various seeds from the flowers and plants ready for distant Spring and' I have made a carpet of fallen leaves to keep Mother Earth warm in the Winter.” Mother Earth murmured “Thank you,” and Lady Autumn said: “You too, Wind, have been very useful,” and with a sweet approving smile, she said "Good-night.” —2 marks to Cousin Grace Staite (13), Lumsden. Many years ago in the 17th century autumn was not the same smiling season as it is now. Lady Autumn was very unhappy because all her little friends, the leaves, did not have beautiful tints of crimson, gold and all the colours of the rainbow in them. She used to work day and night trying to think of a way to make them happy. When her other friends, which were the beautiful birds, butterflies and all other little insects of beauty came to see her she used to weep as she saw the leaves hanging from the boughs looking very gloomy. One day as she was thinking hard a thin, but sweet voice said to her, "Why don’t you visit the little elves who live in the woods. Perhaps they can help you.” “Oh, yes!” cried Lady Autumn, “I never thought of that. I will go at once.” Sho visited them and they gave her a little bottle of liquid and told her to put three drops at the foot of each tree. This she did, and next morning instead of grey, gloomy trees, they were all aglow of colour. That is why the "Lady Autumn smiled.” 2 marks to Cousin Thelma Barr (14), 104 Mary street, Invercargill.