CHILDREN'S STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 1600, 31 May 1924, Page 16 (Supplement)

CHILDREN'S STORY.

A PRESEIVT FROM NEPTUNE (By Phyllis Fitzgerald.) The moon was shirring brightly upon the sea. and as the spray was tossed into the ai;' it was turned by the moonlight, info thousands of glittering diamonds. All was still, save for [he sound Of fairy voices as the little folk called ti ope another fn.ra the oaves along the seashore. To-nigh I was the eve of Neptune's birthday, and all day long, there had been great

rejoicings in ihe mermaid's palaces, beneath Ihe waves. The Queen of the sea buries. Pearl, was giving a parly, in Ncpl uno's honour, and the land fairies had been invited. Suddenly there was a peal of silvery belis, and an elf came running noiselessly along Iho said calling, "The Queen :s ready!" as he rang his bell, which summoned all the subjects of Queen Heart. .From all the caves, came many beautiful fairies, clad in robes of shining satin: some were pale pink, some green, some blue, and many other dciivate shades. from oul of file largest cave, glided a silver ship Hvv sails were of moonbeams, and if-onir mermaids swam gracefully at hep side The fairy Queen was seated in the. stern, and her white satin frock gleamed with pearls. The ship glided towards the shore, and after the mermaids had dragged it on to the dry sand, Queen Pearl stepped out, while the mermaids returned to their coral palaces. The fairies made a circle about lhe Queen, -end as they lightly danced around her, they sang sweet songs.

In a tiny cottage upon Ihe cliffs, lived a little girl, and her grandfather, a poor sailor. The little child, whose name wa; Karon, was gazing out of the eolfigo window 'and as the waves dasiied high upon the rocks, she saw by the light of Ihe moon, lhe seafairies at their revels. Long they danced and frolicked, until a host of rainbow fairies joined I hem. Then came flower fairies, sweet musk roses, sky violets and pale blue for-get-me-nots. All Hie while, merry and mischievous elves set off fairy lire-work-, and they laughed in glee as the brightly coloured sparks appeared for a few moments, then vanished in mid-air.

Presently the fairies stopped their fun, and led by Queen Pearl, they ran 1.0 lhe wafer's edge. Karen wondered what they were doing there, when she saw. riding upon the back of a whale, Nerlune, Hie King of the Sea clad in his silver suit of scales. In Ids hand, ':e carried a sceptre, l and his snow-white beard, flowed past his waist.

The fairies led h'm to a flat roc!.:, where they bad prepared a seat r.f Imnour. The old King seated himself, and the fairies clustered around Hi.,' rock, while Neptune told them many mysterious tales of the deep, and of many a treasure ship widen b;id gone down into the dark waters 1.0 be losl forever. Then the fairies again pla v ed their merry games until the* moon shed ils last rays. They I hen bade Neptune good-bye for another long year, and as Queen Pearl di parted in her silver ship, and frnn thence to fairyland, King Nepslood 'il the wal :rs edge, and blowing a shrill blast upon a silver horn. lie wailed for his whale steed, which soon c une gliding up 1.0 him. As .Neptune was aboiil lo step upon its back, he lurried and lokcd up at the window of the little cottage, where Karen was watching. Slowly .'■' lifted his arm and beckoned. The,; climbing upon Ihe whale's back, lie was 'soon lost to sight in the depths of blue water.

Karen felt strangely excited, but she went to bed. determined to find out why Neptune had beckoned to her. In Ihe morning, Karen rose early. and not wailing to brush her long curls, she picked her way nimbly from rock to rock, until she came to the spot of the fairies' party. There was no sign here to tell of their frolics, and the little girl wandered to the place wh.:rc, Neptune had stood. Lying upon the sand was a. large oyster. Delighted with the uncommon size of the fish, -and disappointed with the result of her walk. Karen made her way home, 1.0 her grand-father. She vhowed him the oyster, ami the old man was astonished at the size. Talcing a krufe from the table, he prised open the shell, and then jumped excitedly lo his feel. "Child!" he said softly, "you have brought me something that will make us rich for life.l Look at this pearl! 11, is worth hundreds of pounds " Karen reddtd, and smiled in her sweet wiy. "I supposed King Nep tune left it there for me," she said. Finis.