OUR OWN STORY-TELLERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 12 (Supplement)

OUR OWN STORY-TELLERS.

THE WITCH'S CLOAK. • Once upon a time there lived in a cave in the West Country of England an old witch called Bess Brown. All the people of the surrounding country feared her very much, for if anyone offended her she would be sure to pronounce a curse over them. Now, Bess possessed a magic cloak which made the person who wore it invisible. Bess always wore it whenever she went to a

“Witch's Council” every full moon. It was ill-gotten, for she had stolen it from a fairy prince. This had made the fairies very angry, and they had taken council together to find the best way to get it back. This is how they decided to do it:—

One elf should go to see Bess, disguised as a grumpy old farmer. He must carry a charm v/ith him to protect him from any evil which might befall him. was to ask Bess for a poison to give to his brother, who had tried to murder him, and, while she was mixing the ingredients, he was ‘to try and get the cloak. At midnight, one the night before the full moon, he went to Bess, and asked her for the poison. Peering through her huge glasses at him, she said in a rough voice,

“What do you want the poison for?” “I want to give it to my brother, who tried to murder me, and it must contain the juice of a certain sweet but poisonous herb, to make it work,” said the “farmer.”

“I must go to the churchyard, which is two miles away, for the herbs, so you may sit on the stone by the door until I come back,” replied Bess. With that she picked up an old basket by the fireplace and hobbled away. As soon as she was out of sight, he got up, and going inside, began to search around. First he looked in the cupboard, then on all the shelves. Then he tapped the walls and floor to see if there were any secret panels. At last, one flew open, and there, in the corner, lay the cloak, and a bag which, when opened, proved to contain gold. When the witch got back, he said to her.

“You may keep the poison for yourself!” And with that he disappeared. (5 Marks and a Merit Card awarded to Western Sunset,”—Helen Muir, Kurow, aged 13).

her such a small favour, what else could she do? Next day at school when telling Gwennie of her success in the getting the kitten safely in, any twinges of conscience she had, disappeared, and it was v/ith a feeling of pride that she had got her own way that she went that night to give kitty her milk and a goodnight hug. And’ yes, kitty could hear her coming, for she started scratching the sides of the box to get out. Very excited. Beth put her hand down to lift puss out, but instead of crooning softly to her pet, she screamed, and jumped with pain. Loud laughter came from the corner of the garage, and Ralph came out from his hiding place, greatly amused at the trick he had played on his sister. He had heard the oJan talked over by her and Gv/ennie, and after school had exchanged the kitten for a hedgehog. And so poor B+.th had grasped a handful of prickles instead of a soft kitten! Ralph had the best of it that time, but Beth vowed to herself that she would make him pay for the fright he had given her. (5 Marks and a Merit Card awarded to “Airy Fairy,”—lris Kellie, Pleasure Point, aged 11).