LOST IN THE WOODS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21819, 23 November 1940, Page 11

LOST IN THE WOODS

Jane and Tom one night decided to have a search for a doll which their friend Joan Miller had left in the woods. That night Jane put a magic ring on her finger that would protect her if she got lost. When they reached the spot where Joan had left her doll Jane and Tom searched around but could not find it. Roaming further and further into the woods they soon discovered that they were lost. Jane feeling on her finger for her ring found to her dismay it was not there. The two finding that out lay down beneath a tree to rest. Soon they heard shrill voices talking but being too tired to see what it was went to sleep. Next mornig as they were looking for berries to eat they came to a fairy ring of toad stools quite near the tree they had been lying beneath. After raoming about all day they came back to the tree they had lain under. Presently Jane saw a note on the tree, which read as follows: All Mortals Who Believe In Fairies May Attend Our Moonlight Party. To-night At The Fairy Ring Admission Free Moonrise to Moonset Oh! hooray!” shouted Jane “shall we go, I’d simply love to wouldn’t you?” “Of course we’ll go,” said Tom, “at least we ought to." That night Jane and Tom heard the voices again while they were waiting for the moon to rise from behind the trees. At last it rose. Jane and Tom stepped boldly into the fairy ring where many gaily dressed fairies were waiting. After everyone had sat down on the toad-stools many cute little pixies came around with delicious food and lemonade. Just as the moon began to set Titania the fairy Queen came up to Jane and Tom with two pc-cels one of which contained Joan’s doll and Jane’s ring. Then she took them to the edge of the wood before she bade them farewell. (3 Marks to Mercia Barnes, age 10.) THE FAIRIES’ PRESENT Once upon a time the fairies decided that they should give their queen a present for her birthday. Het birthday was on November 16, so it was time for them to start planning what to give her. One night they held a meeting and whichever one of the following articles received the most votes they would present it to her. The articles were a diamond necklance, a silver ring or a golden bangle. After a lot of hustle and bustle the chairman said, “Silence please. The article which received the most votes was the diamond necklace, which, as you knwo, is the most expensive of the three articles." “I know you will not mind because all of you are loyal to your qneen.” He then said that he did not expect that one family should give a big amount while others gave nothing. But he said he expected everyone to give a little. The next day, he said, the collectors would be calling around to everyone. He then said they expected to get £5O. The collectors set out the next day and by five o'clock that evening they had collected £5B/10/-. This was a very satisfactory result. That evening there was another meeting held and the chairman thanked the people for contributing so generously. He said that they need not give any more money because the pixies, gnomes, and goblins held a combined concert and they raised £4l/10/-. The chairman went on to say that £5B/10/- and £4l/10/- made £lOO and that was the price of the necklace. The chairman said that the next question would be, who would present the queen with the diamond necklace. But he said that question had been already fixed up. The pixies, gnomes, and goblins said that It was only fair that one of the fairies should present it because it was they who thought of giving the queen a birthday present first. The chairman said that he thought the youngest fairy in Fairyland should present it. At last the great day arrived and at two o’clock in the afternoon the presentation was made by Jane Smith, the youngest fairy. The queen said that she did not expect anything, but she said it was nice to be ruling over the fairies, pixies, gnomes and goblins who were so loyal to her. (3 Marks to Kathleen Oahalan.)