The Fairy Godmothers

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 18 (Supplement)

The Fairy Godmothers

Dear Little Folk. —Here wc are again! and see who it is I have brought along with me to our Children's Corner. No other than our "White Forget-Me-Not." Do you think you could find a nice comfy chair fcr her? for ahc is our honoured, guest to-night, and I wonder. "White Forget-Me-Not," dear, if little "Ra Whiti" might sit upon your knee, as a very special treat, for she is Queen of Tinyland on this auspicious occasion ?

You cannot possibly imagine darlings, how my heart ia singing for very joy, because one of our Tinies has joined “Aunty ForgetMe-Not’s” loyal band in bringing new members to our Hut, and is helping them to bring nearer and nearer the day when our Wendy will be the very proud Leader of three thousand happy "'ltes," and what a lovely, lovely lady she is, who tiny "Ra Whiti” has led to the big knocker on our front door. "Ra Whiti” can tel! lots of things about the "Fairy Godmother," and »o, also can I. First of all, when four teeny-weeny new babies in their long, white robes were carried in turn to the baptismal font, and the Padre named one Gordon, another Mavoumeen, a third, Hawthorne, and the fourth June. On each of these occasions "God Mother” was present, and promised that if anything happened to their own dear mother, she would do her best to be a "Good Mother” to these helpless, little ones and she was called •‘God Mother,” for “God” means "Good.” Bit by bit, she became known as "Fairy God Mother." because she always seemed to know what these children mose needed, and she would step in at exactly the right moment and do the right thing. Gordon and hia sisters lived in that home which I once told you about, the one with the beautiful garden, known as "Ra Whiti.” “Fairy God Mother" dwelt next door, and they all could hear those bells from the Clvjrch t<Mer, ringing out ttieir message so persistently, "Fight the good fight, run the straight race." Well, darlings, imagine the delightful thrill that swept over me when Wendy said, "Our dear little "Ra Whiti” had brought "Fairy God Mother’ ’to us, who was going to. if need be. fight the good fight in helping Sir Richard protect U 3 all from harm: and Tinies, if it comes to chasing bad •witches, sneaking orgres, and such like wicked creatures, I can promise you "Fairy God Mother” will not run after them crookedly—say—like a dog's hind leg. She will be after these dreadful monsters, straight as the dart from an arrow, for you see, she has lived so long beneath those chiming bells in that old church tower, that she knows ths only way to win in any race, lies in just "running straight.” But talking of a doggie reminds me that it was on the day when little Gordon’s pet puppy picked up some poison that I first met "God Mother." Everyone in the "Ra Whiti” home was in great distress, for the beloved puppy was in awful agony, and the doctor was then, away from home, but in came this kind lady and asked, "Have you tHed castor oil ?” No—"Weil, bring me the bottle, quickly." How that horrid dose was poured into that poor writhing, little sufferer—and oh, how frightfully sick he was, in consequence. The door bell rang, and in strode the doctor and took charge. Breathlessly, all awaited his decision. “I need do no more,” he said, "whoever was wise enough to administer castor oil has saved a valuable dog's life.” I wish you could have seen the rejoicing, dears; but when everyone wanted to kiss and thank the Fairy who had wrought the magic cure, God Mother had silently disappeared. Then there was the Saturday, half day, too, when a carrier arrived with a child's high chair. Mum knew nothing about it, she ::rung up” dad. No, he had certainly not ordered it; so greatly to the kiddies disappointment it was sent hnok to the shop. Later, back came the furniture van again, and out came the high chair a second time: "It's quite all right. Missus, there's a God Mother inside of it,” and, so there was, dears. A shrill blast of the postman's whistle sent four sets of little legs scampering for the mail, but no, there was instead a package to sign for. When it was opened, there was a "God Mother” inside of this, also. She had come this time as four silver soup spoons. Oh, one was engraved the letter "G,” on the second, "H,” on the third "M," and the fourth had a “J” upon it. You all know the children these were intended for, do net you? Shall I continue? (Yes! Yes! Yes!). Very well. This is about the girls Neens. Thorna and June, as they were called for short. They are still Tinies, who go to kindergarten where they have been learning to suit the <action to the words of. "We’ve lately learnt about Jnpan, A land across the sea. Where everybody has a fan. And uses it gracefully.” It has been "closing day,” and each has come home for the holidays with a prise. A number of their mother's friends have returned with them; but do. none of there ladiee will have tea in her drawing room, "thank you," for they are invited to a big reception in the Jap Tea Rooms. Three pairs of eyes shine, for the Jap Tea Rooms ,are their zenith of happiness, but no one invites them. Instead, they are rent to open the front door for the departing ladies. Presently, three little maidens fairly hurl themselves into the hall. They have found their spacious verandah, a perfect model of their adored Jap Tea Rooms, and it is all theirs—theirs—theirs—for are there not three tables without a single thing missing, each with a tick<«t on it, saying either "Neena,” "Thorna,” ©r "June,” and beside each is a lovely Ja,% umbrella to match the kimonos and sandals an-1 fans and chrysanthemums they are still wearing from the school bi-eak-up. Out come the "so surprised” visitors to settle down in the chairs, when, "Wait, wait,” calls a smsl! voice from the garden gate, "I see Dad and Yuncle Yalick coming.” Like the wind fly three Japanese maidens in full regalia, umbrellas, fans, and all—while, first at an Important tram-stop, passengers and motorman see three dressed up Tinies picked up by three gentlemen, and carried off homewards. They are the little —— great kiddies them,” said the conductor, as he "punched’’ a ticket. "They’re out in ail their war paint to-day and from what I could make out, as we pulled up, there seems to be a "Fairy God Mother” at the back of proceedings.” But Dad said to the party, "these children are the limit.” When a tired, but very happy "God Mother” laid her head upon her pillow that night, she thought it felt very lumpy, but she was so tired, and fell asleep to awaken in the morning, to find under the mattress at the head of her bed, a blue teapot with White Forget-Me-Nots upon it, and in the spout a twisted slip of paper with "N.X. —T.X.—J.X.” upon it. You have guessed who sent those kisses, dears? All chairs in our Gallery are "seats of honour” so, could we do better, dears, than place our "Fairy God Mother’ beside the "Fairy Queen” with all her "Maids-in-Waiting"? I think not. For being now, one of us, we have to thank our dear little “Ra Whiti” here, but for a long time, a fairy God Mother has been among us in disguise. She has watched jealously and zealously over our roll and that coupon we sign. No one has helped, as she has done to swell our membership and spread the circulation of our Wendy Hut Page, and so, carry out the conditions set down upon our coupon. She has so infected others with her zeal, that now, we have even one of our Tinies following her wonderful example. When we have placed our “Fairy God Mother” among the Fairies , tiny "Ra Whiti” will take my torch, and to "the” seat of honour, which may only be occupied as occasion requires, because it is beside our Leader, Wendy, ahe will conduct there for this evening's performance—whom, Tinies? I knew you would guess. Why, ot course, our "White Forget-Me-Not.” We must ask our "Padre,” but I think, "White Forget-Me-Not,” that you must be twenty-one before you can be a real God Mother, but there is no age limit to the "fairy'* ones.—Ever so happily—"OLD GRAN.”