GIFTS FROM FAIRYLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 986, 31 May 1930, Page 33

GIFTS FROM FAIRYLAND

The great “Hunt” had started. All over Fairyland were placards bearing the words “Hunt out your rubbish for i the jumble sale which is going to take place in Mortalland in aid of their; hospitals. We don’t care what it is, but bring it along to be put into a cloudbag, to be dropped to earth.” Xuturally, all the fairies were very j excited. It was the first time anything . of this kind had happened, and every- ! body hunted out whatever they didn’t j want. Oh, the boxes that had been j stored away in garrets. How they were turned out and ransacked. Here are some of the things which were given: Jack the Giant Killer gave an old kettle without a lid. “They can grow beans in it.” lie said, “and perhaps they will find a magic one there.” Mother Hubbard handed in a rubber hot-water bottle. “It is quite good.” she added, “only it leaks. However, I dare say one of the mortals can fill it with water and hang it over their rose bushes. It would make a splendid hose.” And the others agreed with j her. Cinderella found a very old pair of j slippers. “1 had them when 1 used to ! sit among the cinders.” she said. “If ; they won’t do for anything else, they ; will do to hang behind a motor-car 1 carrying away a bride and bride- { groom, and perhaps they will be just as happy a;* t'rince Charming and I “i am afraid 1 haven’t much to give ! away,” said Hu’mpty Dumpty with a . sigh. “The king’s soldiers are giving an old drum, but I don’t think any of ! my old cravats would fit anyone, do you ?” “They could be cut up for dusters," i said practical Mary. “I am giving half \ a dozen cockle shells. I am sure they i wou d look so nice in someone’s garden, j I would give a watering can, but I | always have mine patched.” “I shall give a landscape painted by myself.” said the Clerk of the Weather, for in those days he lived in Fairyland. “It will be changeable, so that whoever buys it will see it different every day.” “I’m not quite sure that people will like it.” said Queen Mab slowly. “Most people don’t like sudden change.” “I shall do it,” said the Clark determinedly, “and I know the picture will be greatly admired He spent a long time painting, and wouldn’t let a fairy see the picture until it was finished, arid then he had a private view. There were so many people in Fairyland that he couldn’t have them all on the same day. so he had a fortnight of showing his picture, and that was how’ the trouble started. He had painted the p ; cture so that every day it was different Sometimes it changed twice a day, and those fairies who went to see it in the morning found it quite different from those who visited it in the afternoon, and quarrels commenced as to when it looked the best, in rain, in cloud, in sunshine, in storm. Tli© quarrels grew, so that at last the whole of Fairyland was fighting. Queen Mab was determined to put a stop to it. “It is very good of you to have painted such a picture.” she said to the Clerk of the Weather, “but to prevent any more quarrels you are going to take it to Mortalland yourself, and stay there and watch :t. You will never be dull, for you car* show it to all the mortals.” And that is now the Clerk of the Weather left Fairyland.

TIMOTHY SQUIRREL

Mrs. Squirrel lived with her son j ; Timothy in the sweetest little house j you ever saw. It nestled among the \ branches of an old oak tree, for Mrs. j Squirrel liked to have acorns growing j just outside her door. For a long time they were very j happy, but one day a dreadful thing j happened. Two woodcutters came with j their great big axes to cut down the old oak tree. Mrs. Squirrel saw them from her window. “Oh, dear!” she sobbed, “they are going to cut down cur tree, and my little house will fal# to the ground.” • Timothy comforted her as best he could, then he took a basket and tilled : it with acorns from the pantry. Without saying a word to anyone. . he ran along one of the branches, till he stood just over the heads of the woodcutters. He took a handful of j acorns and threw them down on the ; heads of the men. who looked- up in I surprise. j Timothy tipped up his basket and j down fell the acorns just like hail- | stones. “Help! Help!” they cried, j “It’s raining acorns.” and, picking up i their axes, they ran away as fast as their legs could carry them. Mrs. Squirrel, who had seen all that i had happened, was waiting at the door ! for Timothy. “I don’t think they will I come back again,” she said. And you S may be sure that she was right. Nancy Lush, aged IS.