FOR THE CHILDREN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15353, 29 September 1923, Page 14 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN

(By “Piter Fan.’*)

A REFRAIN. Tell the tune his feet beat On the ground all day— Black-burnt ground and green grass Seamed with rocks of grey—"England,” "England, ’’ "England,” That one word they say. Now they tread the beech-mast, Now the plough land’s clay, Now the faery ball-floor, of her fields in May; Now her red June sorrel, now her new tinned hay; Mow they keep the great road, now by. sheep-path stray: Still it‘s "England,” “England,” “England" all the wayl —Arthur Shearly Cripps.

way, and mused over what the woman had said. How glad he felt that to had met her. He dared not thtnlc what would have happened if he had not. Trudging on happily, and feeling much refreshed by his rest in the shade, he felt fit for whatever might befall him.

After he had travelled a long distance, and was feeling rather tired, his interest was suddenly aroused by sounds of scuffle, and cries of "Help! Help I" The cries were uttered in a feeble voice, as of a very old person.

Barrie’s blood boiled at what he saw when he turned a bend in the road. There before him, held in the grip of a powerful ruffian was a poor white-headed old man. Barrie, taking in the situation at a glance rushed at once to the rescue. Brushing aside the old man, he proceeded to fight. There was a short fierce conflict, and Barrie came off victorious. Clutched in his hand was the purse which had been the cause of the quarrel. Our hero then turned to the old man and gave him back his beflonging. The poor old fellow was so overjoyed that he could not utter the thanks'he felt. Barrio then learned from the man that he was gojing in the same direction as himself, so they walked on together. When he heard-from Barrie the object of bis quest the stranger said: "You are attempting e very difficult task and I would like to help you.” The boy thanked him and said that he did not think that he could assist him at all. “Oh,” replied the little man excitedly, “there is one thing I know which might aid you. In the garden on the right side of Ogren’s palace blooms a gorgeous array of flowers. In one flower lives the spirit of the cruel wizard. His whole power lies in that bloom, but which one it is I do not know."

THE PALACE OF STATUES.

(By Ngaruawahia.)

Long, long ago, the people of Clyden were muoh troubled by the existence of a cruel wizard, known as Ogren. His place of abode was a beautiful palace built on a. small mountain, and surrounded by wonderful gardens. Here dwelt in magnificent splendour the terror of the whole neighbourhood. Again and again, had' a little child disappeared, to be seen, no more; and though the sorrowful people knew that the monster was to blame, they could do nothing. For did they not know that if they made any attempt whatever to regain their lost ones, this angry creature would descend upon thorn, and, with a mere gianoe, turn them to stone. How many brave men, determined to rid the town of the danger continually threatening, had set out, full hope, to accomplish their purpose, and had never come back. At last things became so bad, that the good King Harold issued a proclamation, that any man, be he prince or peasant, who should by any means in his power, destroy the well-known Ogren, ho would be allowed, as a reward for his valour, to marry the beautiful Princess Valerie, and reign with her after his own death. Great was the excitement of the people when they heard this news, because It was well known that princes and noblemen from far and near, had long sought m vain the favour of the king’s daughter. What the king did not know, was that if his much loved child could have her own way, the only man she would ever marry was one who daily tended the flowers In the palace gardens. Dearly as Barrie and Valerie loved each other, she knew that were she to marry him she would sorely grieve the kind heart of her proud parent. When Barrie heard of the King’s startling decision, he determined to risk his life iu order to try and capture the hideous monster, whose dark deeds had rendered sad and unhappy vast numbers mf people. Although he knew that if he did not succeed the unhappy fate, which had befallen others before, should surely overtake him; he also knew that If he should accomplish his purpose, him-, dreds of homes would be made happy, and more than all, he would win the girl he loved. Early next morning while all the world slept, Barrie set out with his haversack fastened securely on his back. In it he had stored sufficient food and drink to last him all day. On and on he journeyed, mile after mile, until he became exhausted. The fierce ray® of the mid-day sun were beating down upon him; and it was with feelings of immense relief that he espied a wood in the distance. At last he reached it, and In the cool shade of the friendly trees he felt much better. Setting out his lunch on the grass before him, he began to eat the bread and cheese he had brought. Just at this moment an old lady with a very wrinkled face, and very ragged clothes came hobbling along. Seeing Barrie she stopped and spoke to him. He answered her courteously, and then asked her if she would like something to eat.

Our hero was delighted at hearing this, for it seemed to him that he was a step nearer Us goal. Shortly afterwards the old man went his way and Barrie journeyed on alone. At length about sunset he came to the gates of the palace. After thinking things over he decided to keep the precious acid for the destruction of Ogren. and to try to pass through the drive by the aid of a scythe he had found in the forest. Bracing himself for a big effort he lifted the iron bars of the gate and went inside. The very next instant he felt the plants spring cut at him. Getting his scythe to work he slashed out right and left. Using every ounce of strength ho possessed he tried to ward off the deadly tendrils. Still they came closer and closer, until a great weird plant wound itself about his throat. For one awful second he thought he was lost. Too horrible ihmg about his neck seemed to draw the very ljfe from him. Still he founght and fou&ht, unt'l wtih cne desperate effort he manage ! to wrench the creeper free. The scythe had cut the plant through in many parts, and it now fell, a withered heap on the ground. Striving gallant.y he tried to force his way on; but the horrible plants surrounded him yet. Slashing this way and that he brandished the weapon on uli sides. Suddenly he found he could not move; the frightful feelers had twined themselves about his feet. A queer feeling of faintness attacked him, and looking round hopelessly he was amazed to spe that the plants ahead of him were just natural flowers. Realising at once that the tendrils about his feet were the last ones he had to oppose, his courage returned. Seeing the flower part of the creeper at his feet crawling up his body he cut it right through the centre, and was astonished to see the thing fall lifelessly away. Evidently the whole power of the plant had lain In the flower.

' Heaving a mighty sigh, of relief he journeyed on, and at length reached the end of the drive. By this time he had beoome so hungry and tired that he simply could not continue—, and dropped helplessly on the grass.

“Ah, my son," she replied, “I am old and weary* and as I have had no food for two days 1 shall gladly accept your kind oiler.” So saying she immediately sat down, and in an astonishingly short time not a vestirge of food remained. Barrie looked on with wide eyes, but did not mind ihe loss of ■his food as the poor old lady had seemed so starved. Presently she questioned the young man about himself, and finding he was bound for Ogrcn s palace she informed him that he would hacc great difficulty in entering the place. She told him that there was a long drive bordered on either side with beautifully kept gardens.

When he recovered consciousness the first thing he beheld was a tiny man with a flowing white beard, and a big peaked hat. He was clothed entirely in red; and under a pair of bushy eye-brows gleamed the kindest, most twinkling blue eyes Barrie had ever seen.

“Here, drink this,” said the odd little fllow, and handed the young man a flask of wine. Barrie drank thirstily, and after eating some sandwiches the little man gave him, he felt quite strong again. “So,” went on the owner of the white beard, you have arrived at last, but how are you going to kill the monster Ogren?”

“But," she continued, “the flowers just inside the gate have a very strange quality. “Here her voice sank to a hoarse whisper as she said, “Any strange person who onters the gate is at once clutched by the tendrils of the huge mass of flowers, and life itself is su-cked out of him. My son I have already seen one person so destroyed." Here her voice faltered, and her face grew pale.

“Oh!” said Barrie earnestly, “I know his spirit lives in one of the flowers in the side garden.” "Yes, hut do you know what colour the flower is?” asked the tiny stranger. “No,” confessed Barrie', “I do not, but I shall find out somehow.” “Listen,” said the little man in a deep rumbling voice, “the colour of that flower is red. I know which one it is. but I dare not tell you. You must seek for yourself." At this moment he turned to go, but changed his mind, and asked, "Do you know what almost every room in'the palace before you contains?” “No,” said the hero. “Well I'll tell you,” thundered the little red man. “In those rooms are hundreds of beautiful statues. Eaoh statue was once living in your midst as a happy girl or boat until by the widespread power of the cruel Ogren they became stone images. To you has been given the power to gladden the hearts of the once joyful people, by returning to them their loved ones.” Barrie (thanked him heartily, and the little man, whom he now realised could be no ordinary mortal, disappeared.

‘These plants are beautiful demons,” she went on, “and as the gate opens the leaves and branches stretch out and twine themselves about the throat of the unlucky intruder." The hoy listened —his attention riveted on the face of the woman before him. She continued slowly—- “ You have been so kind to me that I feel I owe you something in return. Take this,” said she, “it is a deadly acid which if you squirt from this small instrument will instantly kill those venomous plants. But beware that you do not proceed along the drive until the flowers nearest you have shrivelled up. For if you do you are lost.”

Barrie thanked her gratefully, and the old woman departed. The young man continued on his

The boy left to himself wandered round the grounds, and wondered where he could spend the night—for it was now quite dark. By-and-by he discovered a shed which he thought might shelter him safely. On entering, ho found it to be an empty building with a large pile of sacks in one corner.

“Just the thing,” he exclaimed joyfully, as he lay down for much needed rest.

Next morning he set out to look for the garden in which bloomed the flower he sought. When at last he found it, he wondered however he could tell which flower concealed the evil spirit he was seeking. Time after time he walked up and down, gazing with searching eyes at each plant in turn. But he learned nothing. They all appeared the most beautiful of natural blooms. One flower, he thought, was especially attractive. It was a large cactus of a vivid red hue. His attention, straying idly over it was suddenly arrested. The petals of the flower seemed to stretcb out, and stiffen, which gave to the whole a very sinster effect. Barrie watched it with fascinated eyes. As he looked the feeling that that particular flower was the one he sought, took possession of him. Keeping well out of reach of l|s waving tendrils ho produced the small instrument, and filled it with the acid the old woman had given him. With a quick movement he squirted its contents into the very heart of the flowers. Watching anxiously he saw np apparent effect, and concluding that he had chosen the wrong one he ventured to examine it closely. As he bent his head forward a clammy arm encircled his neck from behind; and turning swiftly he discovered it was a branch from an evil looking plant on which was a red flower of pecular hue, which he had altogether overlooked. Immediately the stems grew bigger, the flower itself stretched out, and Barrie found himself surrounded by a tangle of big waxy creepers. With horror clutching at his heart he tried to free himself from the twining branches, each of which seemed to be drawing him closer to the horrible red flower, from which he could not move his eyes. Suddenly he again thought of his old woman's gift, most of the precious fluid of which he had already wasted. His right arm was pinned to his side, but his left was free and feeling hastily in his pooket for bis only weapon he made one last attempt for freedom. Remembering how the other branches hod died when the flower was killed, he at once turned the remainder of the acid into the heart of the cactus. The result was instantanious. The awful clinging feelers shrunk away, and the whole plant fell in a lifeless mass at his feet. For one brief second after, Barrie saw, standing in place of the fallen flower, the dim, shadowy form of an old man. The next minute it had vanished completely, and the young man knew that tbe evil spirit of the monster of the palaice was dead. With feelings of great thankfulness he found his way to the door of the castle. He pushed the door open and went slowly through all the rooms. There before him in vast number?, stood the beautiful statues the tiny red man had told him of. As he looked they gradually assumed human forms, and, to Barrie’s amazement the room was full of children. They were the long lost children of the town) who with the death of the evil Ogren had returned to life. Gratefully they followed him to the city, where they were welcomed by tbeir glad parents. The King, hearing the news, had sent a messenger to tell Barrie to appear before him at once. The young nwn went, and there before all the courtiers of the palace he was formally presented with the hand of the beautiful Valerie. That night the King gave a huge ball in honour of the engagement of his daughter to Barrie. Great was the rejoicing throughout the kingdom, and Barrie and his bride lived happily ever after. The End.