The Foot of the Rainbow

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1924, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Foot of the Rainbow

(By

Ellen Roper.)

(Copyright.)

Once upon a time there stood, at the foot of the rainbow, a wee cottage, where lived a dear little, round little, rosy little old woman. Her name was Mother Bonny. She was a very busy little woman, for every day she washed and polished everything in her house. Even Snuffly Snorter, the little pig who lived in a sty at the bottom of the garden, had" to be bathed every day! It made Mother Bonny rather unhappy that, no matter how she rubbed and scrubbed him, and no matter how pink and rosy he looked after his bath, that naughty little pig would roll in the mud just as soon a© he got back to his sty. As you know, the rainbow is the bridge that crosses the River of Dreams lying between Here (where we live) and There (where the Fairy Folk live). Many people have tried to find the foot of the rainbow, but very few ever do, so, except for the Fairy Pedlar, it was not more than once in a hundred years that Mother Bonny saw anyone pass her cottage.

Once a year this pedlar went Over There to fill his pack with fairy goods. Then he would cross the rainbow again, and wander off to sell his wonderful things to mortals. All the year round he Would go from door to door. Then, as Christmas drew near, he would make for some big town. There, on Christmas Eve, he would, be heard calling his wares at the edge of the pavement. One day, as he was coming back from Over There, the Fairy Pedlar fell and spilt all his goods. Some of them rolled down the rainbow, and fell into Mother Bonny’s garden. She ran out, and kindly helped to pick them up. Those that were soiled she carefully cleaned. “You are very kind, Mother!” said the Fairy Pedlar. “I must give you something from my pack. I have magic toys, makie tools, magic brooms, dusters, and soap, magic ” “There is nothing I want.” interrupted Mother Bonny. “I am content with what I have, and if only Snuffly Snorter would keep himself cleaner, I should be perfectly happy.” So the Pedlar thanked her and went ! on his way. Now when he was gone the old woman had an idea. "How foolish of me not to have thought of it before! If I had a magic broom to sweep my floor for me, 1 should have time to bath piggy twice a day!” So off she ran to find the Fairy Pedlar. It took her a whole day to catch him u.p, but at last she saw him ahead, and she cried: “Oh, pedlarman, with the magic pack, “Wait a bit pray! There’s something I lack.” When she had explained to him, the kind Pedlar gave her a magic broom. She ran back home, and she soon found that now indeed, she had time to bath piggy twice a day. But still that naughty little pig would roll in the mud, just as-soon as he got back to his sty. “Why,” cried Mother Bonny, “if only I had a magic stove-brush I should have time to bath piggy three times a day!” So off she ran to find the Fairy Pedlar. It took her a whole week to catch him up, but at last she saw him ahead, and she cried: “Oh, pedlarman, with the magic pack, "Wait a bit, pray! There’s something I lack!” When she had explained to him, the kind Pedlar gave her a magic stovebrush. She ran back home, and she found that now, indeed she had time to bath piggy three times a day. But still that naughty pig would roll in the mud, just so soon as he got back to his sty. "Why!” cried Mother Bonny, "if only J h.ad a magic duster, 1 should have time to bath piggy four times a day!’> So off she ran to find the Fairy Pedlar. It took her a whole month to catch him, but at last she saw him ahead, and she cried: "Oh, pedlarman, with the magic pack, "Wait a bit, pray! There's something I lack!” When she had explained to him, the kind Pedlar gave her a magic duster. She ran back home, and found that now that now indeed she had time to bath four times a day. But still that naughty pig would roll in the mud. just as soon as hr got back to his sty. "Why!” cried Mother Bonny, "if only I had some magic soap for my linen, I should have time to bath piggy five times a day!” So off she ran to find the Fairy Pedlar. It took her three months to catch him up, but at last she saw him ahead, and she cried: "Oh, pedlarman, with the magic pack, "Wait a bit. pray! There's something I lack!” When she had explained to him, the kind Pedlar gave her some magic soap. She ran back home, and she found that now, indeed, she had time to bath piggy five times a day. But still chat naughty pig would roll in the mud, just so soon as he got back to his sty. "Why!” cried Mother Bonny, “if only I had a magic dish-washer, I should have time to bath piggy six times a day!” So off she ran to find the Fairy Pedlar. It took her six months to catch him up, but at last she saw him ahead, and she cried: "Oh, pedlarman, with the magic pack, “Wait a bit, pray! There's something I lack!” Now when the Pedlar saw her coming this time, he began to run. He ran, and ran, and ran. Hie legs were long; her legs were short. Soon they reached a big city, and the Fairy Pedlar was lost in the crowd. Never before had Mother Bonny seen so many people or so much excitement, for it was Christmas Eve. Rather scared, she looked up for the rainbow. It was nowhere to be seen.

“Oh dear! Oh dear!” she cried aloud. “I'm lost!” “Where do you live?” asked a man. "At the foot of the rainbow,” shf answered. There was a loud shout of laughter at this,- and the old woman, hurried away. Once, far away, she heard the v< ice of the Fairy Pedlar crying: “Christmas presents from Fairyland! Christmas presents from Fairyland!” But though she tried very hard to push her way through the merry, jostling crowd of shoppers, she was never able to reach that friendly voice. “Please,” she said to a man passing by with a big Christmas Tree on his “can you tell me the way to the foot of the rainbow?” But the man laughed, and passed on. Then she asked a woman, loaded with wonderful parcels. But the woman smiled and passed on. Then she asked a lad carrying a basket which held a big turkey. But ha laughed aloud and passed on. Then she asked a small girl, who smiled and said “I don’t believe you’ll ex er find it. I’ve often tried, for I want to go Over There.” So still Mother Bonny wanders on. When she sees the rainbow in the sky, she hurries and hurries to get to its foot, but always the beautiful bridge fades before she can reach it. So just look out when the rainbow appears, for a dear little, round little, rosy little old woman. Perhaps you could help her to find her cottage at the foot of the rainbow, and perhaps —who can tell? —if you did find it. you might be able to go Over There!