THE 25TH. BLACKBIRD.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17750, 29 June 1929, Page 16 (Supplement)

THE 25TH. BLACKBIRD.

(Continued from last Saturday,)

The lunch was served in a very grand dining-room,'and as the King came in by one door the Queen entered by another. . “My dear,” said the King, “this girl Is counting my money for me. The Chancellor sent her. She’s very clever Indeed, and I’ve brought.-her to have some lunch.’’ “How do you do?” said the Queen. “Sit down.”- ■ Marjorie did, and the footman brought in an enormous pie. “Of course,” said Marjorie to herself. The pie was opened, and Instantly out flew four-and-twenty blackkbirds, who all began to sing triumphantly. The King turned pale and sprang up. “Who played this trick? Send for the cook,” he commanded furiously. The cook came in great alarm. “What did you make this pie for?” demanded the King. „ “I thought they were all baked, stammered the cook, “and your Majesty’s enemies destroyed.” “Take him away and lock him up. He’s in : league with the blackbirds, that’s clear,” shouted the angry King. “If he’d baked them properly they couldn’t have sung. No, I’ll have no more lunph. I’m much too upset. I must go and lie down.” So the 'King was assisted away by the footmen, the pie was removed, and all the blackbirds, still singing, flew out of the window. “Well,” said the Queen calmly "there’s a fuss about nothing. And no lunch, I .daresay. You’re hungry aren’t, you?”—to Marjorie. “You d better come in the parlour with me, and I’ll give you some bread and honey. That will be better than’ nothing. I suppose, you like bread and honey, don’t you?” "I love it!" said Marjorie. “That’s all right, then,” said the Queen. “Sit ■ down*” she went on, when they reached the parlour. “If I cut the bread you can put the honey on, can’t you?” , „ . The bread and honey was delicious. Marjorie ate a great many slices, and so did the Queen. At last her Majesty remarked — “Well, I’ve had enough, so I shall take a little nap. You can walk round the garden if you like before you go home.” "

“thank you," said' Marjorie. Of course she must walk round the garden. Wasn’t the maid there, hanging out the clothes? So she walked along the nicelypaved paths, with lovely flowers on each side, and sure enough, when she passed, through an archway in a very tall hedge, there was the maid behind it, hanging out the clothes. She was a very pretty maid. "Oh, here you are 1" cried Marjorie. “I couldn’t go Until I’d seen everything. I’ve seen the King and the Queen and the blackbirds ’’ “Have you seen the blackbirds? What did the King say?” Interrupted the maid. “He was very upset,” replied Marjorie. “And he’s had no lunch.” The maid laughed. “That won’t hurt him,” she said. “And where are the blackbirds? Are they safe?”

“They all flew away, singing,” said Marjorie, who was rather puzzled. “Then that’s all right," the maid remarked, and went on hanging out the clothes. “Tour nose Is still on," said Marone. ■ “so I suppose the magpie hasn’t been yet.” The maid laughed and blushed. “No,” she said; .“but he -won’t be long. He comes every day. Here he is now.” , . „ ' Marorle looked, but only saw a tall young man in a rather tight suit of black and white patches. “That’s a man," she said. “But he's a magpie, though," declared the maid. “Don’t you see how he’s dressed? He's the leader." “Oh I”' said Marjorie, still very puzzled. , .. . The young man reached them, put his arm round the maid, and gave her a kiss on her saucy little nose. “That’s how he does.it, you see,’ said the maid, laughing. “It’s all gone off all right,” she added to the Magpie. “This young lady says so.” “That’s g>oodJ' n said the Magpie. “And the people have refused to pay another sixpence; They have seized the Exchequer and are chasing the Chancellor back to the Palace. The soldiers are on their side.. .They should * soon be here. Ah, here they come I” There was a great noise and shouting, and over the bridge and through the courtyard came the Chancellor, ' running very " fast,- with his robes ' tucked round him; “It's'a revolution. Pull up the drawbridge,” he commanded breathlessly. “Where’s the King?” “In the counting-house, and the Queen Is in The parlour, and if it’s a ■ revolution I shall be in that,” declared the sentry. The crowd came on, dragging the Exchequer with them, and shouting— Three cheers for Queen Columbine. ... “No shillings! Sing a song; of six- • pence. V v ■ \- “There —ypu hear?” said the Magpie rather sadly. “My work is- done now. I have put you back in your rightful place, and so " v "If I. am a Queen, dear Magpie, you \4han be King/'’ 1 said the maid very ' sweetly, and put her hand in his. “Is .she-the Queen?” asked Marjorie In surprise. '“The rightful .Queen," replied the

Magpie. “The King is only a usurper. He took her .place when her father died, and turned her into the laundrymaid. The people, or a lot of them, thought they’d rather have a King than a Queen, but her friends have always been working for her, and this extra sixpence was the climax. But you must go and show yourself, dear,” he said to the maid.

So he took her han dand led her on to the terrace, and there were great, shouts of “Long live Queen Columbine !” and “Long live the Magpie! ’ when the people caught sight of them. Marjorie was wondering how the King was getting on, when he suddenly appeared on the terrace, and going up to Queen Columbine held out his hand.. "Let bygones be bygones,” he said. “I’m not really sorry to give it up. It’s a tiring, job, and I can’t count. I’m glad to see the end of that count-ing-house.” Queen Columbine kissed her uncrn very graciously, amidst prolonged cheers from the crowd, and the four-and-twenly blackbirds lie wall over the place, singing “Sing a song of sixpence.” And in the turmoil Marjorie slipped away unnoticed, and out of the little door, back to the swing in the orchard. She knew all about it now, she thought. And there on the tree was the twenty-fifth blackbird. “Weil, did you enjoy it?” he asked, “Very’much,” replied Marjorie. "It’s all right now. Columbine Is Queen, the blackbirds are safe, and everybody’s happy.” ~ “I thought they would be, said the blackbird. “Glad you enjoyed it. Good-bye, for the present!” and away he flew.