JOHNNY FRO ; A FAIRY TALE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 10175, 3 December 1894, Page 2

JOHNNY FRO ; A FAIRY TALE.

We have re reived from the author, Mr A. Hood, a little book bearing the title of "Johnny Fro; a Fairy Tale; with a trigical wind up in the New Plymouth Recreation Ground " The tale is supposed to have emanated from the brain of a " sixth standard boy,' 1 just recovering from " some sort of fever," which had been the means of laying him up for a fortnight. Johnny Fro finds himself in the Ilec " one clear night," and whilst leaning over the rail of the Poet's Bridge, thinking of nothing in particular, he sees a young lady with a horse, who introduces herself as Martmeraonia Breenge. She asks Johnny to lctok' after he? horse whilst she goes on an errand, which he does, and on her return sees the yoflflg lady safely off. On going home Johnny finds himself surrounded by fairies, who describes? themselves: — " We arc folks jolly, wlio scorn melancholy, And neve» a wrangle e'er causes a strike. Ay ! we are the fairies controlling the dairies, And turn from the churn any btitt er we like" After such a night as he had with the " wee people," it is not surprising to find that Johnny found himself in bed next morning, but being of an adventurous disposition we are told he got up and dressed himself and was soon ready to seek fresh novelties. He again meets Miss Marimemonia, who tells him her f dthet is '' going to put her up to the highest bidder for her hand." Johnny, who had got quite smitten with the young lady, determined to secure her, and with the assistance of the fairies lays down before the girl's father gold enough for that purpose. Johnny and his sweetheart find themselves together again in the " Rec," and Miss Marimemonia suggests they should be married in "the Maze." A rival claimant to the girl's hand apoears, but the fairies soon settle his claim by turning him into an islet, which " goes by the name of Noyey— yea, even to this very day.'" The* purport of this little book — to draw attention to " the Maze" in the Recreation Grounds, which Mr A. Hood has taken a great interest in — and the revenue derived from the sale of the brochure will go towards recouping the author for the very great outlay he has been to in connection with the maze. The boo"k is to be obtained from all the booksellers, and we hope soon to hear that the edition is out of print.