TRAVELLING ONWARD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20280, 14 April 1934, Page 18 (Supplement)

TRAVELLING ONWARD.

Another E>-Starlet Goes Afield. Starlets will be happy to know that ex-Starlet Eric Ryan leaves on Mon- ; day next for Hamilton, where he has : been appointed to the position of secretary to the Y.M.C.A. He called to say good-bye before he left, and we all wish him the greatest success and progress in his new work, which will call for all that is best in him. It is a very pleasing and happy phase of our work to receive the visits of ex-Starlets and to hear news of their wider activities. We are old enough now to have traj ditions and many golden memories in j our ranks, riches that all the world could never remove from us. And right on down the years, ex-Starlets will always find us interested and ready to help if only by a friendly word on any needed occasion. You will never forget these happy, happy days in the old “ Star ” Circle: and how could Aunt Hilda help but be interested in the lives that are blossoming out from the tender years she was privileged to share? To all ex-Starlets, a happy cheerio, and to Eric, progress and joy!—A.H. IN THE LAND OF HAPPINESS. A long time ago there lived in a big forest a woodcutter, his wife, and their little girl. They were very poor; often they had hardly enough money to buy any bread; but they were very happy, and worked hard to help one another. One morning the woodcutter, leaving his wife and little girl at home, went into the forest to get some wood. As he was walking along he saw a beautiful maiden, like a fairy, in front s of him. She touched him with her wand, and asked him if he would give up his little giri and let her go and live with other merry children in the Land of Happiness. At first the woodcutter did not want to let his little daughter go, but when he returned home and talked it over with his wife they consented to let their daughter go to join the other, children in the Land of Happiness. When the little girl, whose name was Christine, arrived in the Land of Happiness, she was delighted with all she saw. She had heaps of toys, lots to eat, and everything she could wish for When she had been there a little time "one of the fairies who had charge of the children in the Land of Happiness went to her, and told her that as she was going away she would give Christine charge of thirteen keys—the keys of thirteen rooms. She could undo the dcors of all except the last, which she was not to open. When the fairy left, Christine took charge of the keys. For some time she guarded them very closely, but after a time she grew curious as to what was in the thirteenth room, which she was not to enter. So one da\ r , when no one was about, she crept softly along the corridor until she reached the thirteenth room, and cautiously she undid the lock. What a sight met her eyes! The room seemed full, of gold, and at the end of the room sat three fairies dressed in gold. She was so frightened lest they should look pp and see her that she quickly shut the door, but not before it was too late, for her finger was covered with gold. Christine tried hard to get the gold off, but she could not. Not long after, the fairy returned, and she at once demanded the keys. Although Christine tried hard to hide the gold finger, she could not do so. The fairy noticed the finger smeared with gold. “ Have you opened the thirteenth door?” she asked Christine. Christine was so frightened as to what was to befall her that she replied that she had not opened the door. But the fairy knew the truth, and she was so vexed with Christine that she waved her wand over her, and soon Christine fell fast asleep. When Christine awoke she found herself in the midst of a big wood, and although she tried for a night and a day sre could not get out. As there was no one to help her, she made herself a house in the trunk of a tree, and lived on berries and nuts that she found in the wood. She lived like that for 6©me time, until one day a hunter passed that way. He was so struck by the beauty of Christine that he asked her if she would go back with him and serve in his house; but Christine could not answer, as she had been struck dumb by the fairy for not speaking the truth. But Christine was so pleased at the thought of leaving the dark wood behind her that she nodded her head and smiled so sweetly that the hunter quickly placed her on his charger and carried her heme. Not long after the hunter made Christine his wife. In the following summer a son was born to them, and Christine was very happy until one day, when the baby was quite small, the fairy appeared and asked Christine if she would confess that she had undone the door. “ If you will confess I will give you back the power of speech; if not, I will take away your baby from you.” i Christine would not confess, and so ' one night Christine missed her baby, ! and he was not seen again. Some time after another son was ■ born. The fairy appeared again and asked Christine the same question; but still Christine refused to answer, and her second son was taken away from her. Some years after a baby girl was born. Again the fairy appeared, and this time she said; “ Follow me, and I will take you to the Land of Happiness, and there you will see your two little sons as happy as can be.” This time Christine’s heart was softened, and she opened her lips and said: “ I did undo the door.” The fairy was so pleased that Christine had Jpld her the truth that she gave back her power of speech, and called the two little boys from the Land of Happiness. They went back to play with their little sister on the earth, and all lived happily ever after.