QUEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 29

QUEST

The Story of a Great Search

! “Have you heard of it?” sang a. thrush as he alighted on a bough of the flowering peach-tree beneath which the twins, Peggy and Jack, were lying. “Have you heard of it?” asked a big, shining dragon-fly, as it alighted on a blade of grass near the children. “Have you heard of it?” whispered a little breeze, as it scattered, with light fingers, the blushing flowers of the peach-tree. “What is it?" asked the twins together. “It is a town of jov and mirth,” sang the thrush. “It is a place where all are friends, and where love is uueen/’ said the dragon-fly, as it flitted away. “It is a wonderful town where loneliness is unknown,” breathed the wind. "I was visiting it but a short time ago, and I wondered that 1 did not seo you there- I visit it often, for all who are young are welcome in that wonderful town, and I am as young as the new day.” “Where is this town?” asked Jack, but the little breeze had passed on, and was crooning s*>ngs to a group of wild bluebells. Peggy and Jack looked at one another thoughtfully. “It must be a beautiful place.” said Peggy slowly. “No loneliness, no unhappiness, and all are welcome.” Her sigh was as soft as the gentle sighing of the breeze. "But we do not know where it is.” she added. Jack sprang up. “We can look for it.” ho cried. “1 am sure that if we search, we shall soon And it. Axe you coming?” “Yes,” replied Peggy, and, hand in hand, the two children started on their guest. Presently they came to a high, frowning building which was surrounded by grey, forbidding walls. From tho other side of the walls came the sound of children’s voices, and Peggy and Jack went forward eagerly. They found they could just see over the wall, by standing on tip-toe, but they were very disappointed at what they saw. Here and there stood groups of boys and girls, and most oi these children were arguing, or frowning angrily. Other children stood apart and looked on with sulky faces. Little black imps were flying about, and they danced with glee when children raised their voices in argument. “What is the name of this place, please?” Jack asked politely of a black imp who was near. “It is the castle of the Band of Discontent,” was the reply. “My name is Jealousy, and that” —pointing to another imp—"is my brother, Hatred. We, with many others, are the rulers of this land. But, would you like to como in?" “No. thank you,” answered Peggy and Jack, turning hastily away. This, they knew, was not the land they soughL They journeyed pn for a night and a day. and at last they came to a little path which led down to a place where more children dwelt. The twins opened the small gate and looked in. This was certainly a much more pleasant land than the Band of Discontent, for here people went about with eager, expectant faces. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something which never came. “Will you please tell me what this place is called?” inquired Peggy of a little girl who was passing. “Certainly,” was the answer. “It is the Band of Wait-and-See I" “Are you happy here?” asked the twins wistfully. “Most of us are,” replied the little girl. “But some people stepped in her© without knowing what place it was. They were seekers of great eusprises and aqibitions, but they lingered here too long, and, instead of going forth to see everything, and seek it for themselves, they are compelled wait-and-see what happens, for ever!”

“Oh, thank you,” said Jack, and the twins turned and ran up the little path again. They did not want to be compelled to wait-and-see' for ever! Tho twins passed many places which they were often invited to enter, as they journeyed on. But none of these

places answered to the dt scripiiw.i of the wonderful town they were looking for, and at long fist. JVggy 4ml Jack stumbled on to the llills of DesTgiii They were terrible tho . long steep and brown, with only tin\ patches of gret li gras?- :it infrequent intervals. They were also very bare and lonely, but Peggy and Jack strug gled bravely on- There came day when they crested the Hills of Despair, but the descent was almost as bad as the ascent hud been for tinground was very rough. and saarp brambles tore at the children as they Went down the steep hillside. 1T» sently Jack halted. “Oh, 1 do nut think wc shall ever reach that wonderful town.” he cried. •Let us turn —” But Peggy silenced him with a little cry of joy. and pointed ahead. Quite suddenly tin Hills of Despair faded away, and the twins found themselves standing on a green grassy plain, which was starred with white daisies. Ahead, a little cobbled grey street, bordered by the quaint houses of pixies, led down v • a tall gate, which was fashioned oi shimmering golden sunshine. Th< littlo cobbled thoroughfare was busy with the activities of fairy folk amt mortal children, and gay with laugh ter and flowers. Beyond the golden gate, and rising in pale pink tier> against the sky. was a beautiful castle. The children gazed spellbound. , ... “What is the name of this place Peggy asked a brown thrush who was surveying them with bright eyes. “This is the Plain of Youth,” sang the thrush, and his voice throbbed with joy. “And yonder is Tiptoe Street. said a dragon-fly, whose wings were so 111 tillating in tho sunlight. “Thai castle beyond is the abode of. the Dawn Lady.” . •And the Dawn Lady rules in Happy Town, where love dwells and loneliness and sadness are unknown, wins pered a. little breeze, kissing the velvet grass. . . . “Happy Town!” shouted tho twins, with one voice, and ran forward to take their places in the queues oi eager. laughing children who were crowding down Tiptoe Si 4 -t. —Jean Mclndoe. aged 14.