Jennifer Visits Springland

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20887, 19 August 1939, Page 21 (Supplement)

Jennifer Visits Springland

JENNIFER GAY was a very jolly little girl and when she was born the fairies promised her mummy that she would always be happy and smiling so that's the reason she was called Jennifer Gay. Her hair was gold and her blue eyes were always twinkling with fun, and very often, mischief too, for Jennifer loved poking her chubby fingers into all sorts of things which didn’t really concern her at all. Her mummy said she should have been called an Elf for only Elves were quite so mischievous as Jennifer Gay. However, on the day that this story really begins Jennifer was walking down a country lane swinging her hat in her hand and singing a song about the little pigs which went to market, although it really wasn’t the kind of day that was made for singing, for the skies were very grey and drear but Jennifer didn’t mind that at all. She had not gone very far when she saw a signpost which made her blue eyes open in amazement for Jennifer had never seen that post before and when she looked closer she found on its fingers “To Springland’’ printed in very large brown and gold letters. So down the winding lane hurried Jennifer, in search of adventure, and in the back of her mind I think she was in search of fresh mischief too. Above her head towered tall trees, their tiny green buds just bursting the brown cases and the air was filled with the lilting melodies of singing birds and the sweetest perfumes ever. Jennifer Gay sniffed at the air, and then on she hurried as fast as her chubby legs would carry her. Just as she was rounding the corner, however, she banged into a tiny Elfin man with a very long white beard and a green cap, and Jennifer was so amused at seeing this strange little man that she quite forgot her manners, which is really a very silly thing to do when there are Elfin people about, and started to chuckle loudly. Green Elf was very cross, and when he saw that Jennifer Gay was actually laughing at him he was even more annoyed and I really don’t know what would have happened if Jennifer did not suddenly remember to be polite. As it was, when Jennifer apologised in her very sweetest voice and smiled her very sunniest smile at the old man, he quite forgot his bad temper and murmured something about “hurrying as the frock was ready.” And then the very next instant he was gone. Jennifer has never been quite sure whether he walked or flew away but she was far too curious to find what was around the corner, so she hurried on again and then she found such a lovely sight. In a green meadow- bloomed all the spring flowers imaginable while tiny fairies and elves ran to and fro with pots of paint and needles and threads putting finishing touches to the dainty flowery-skirts. There were masses of golden daffodils and crocuses everywhere, their heads dancing in the breeze while row upon row of jonquils and paperwhites peeped from their sheaves of deep green; tulips of scarlet and gold were sparkling in the sun and tiny fragrant violets, with their golden hearts holding a large diamond of dew, bloomed shyly beneath their heartshaped leaves. Jennifer looked about her and she was just trying to see if there were any flowers missing when a scamper of little feet made her look down. “So there you are Jennifer Gay,” said a silvery voice; “didn’t you know that you were to be Lady Spring this year, and here you are almost late.” Jennifer Gay was so surprised to hear this that she quite forgot to ask why she hadn’t been told earlier, but as it was she was hurried away before she had time to say anything. The fairies .dressed her in a lovely frock of pale green with tiny daffodils and snowdrops, crocuses and lachenalias and every Spring flower imaginable around the hem, while garlands of tiny green buds and soft pussy-willow were hung about her. In her hair gleamed tiny ears of golden corn and soft breezes nestled in her curls. The tiny birds clustered around her feet and Jennifer felt quite sure Chart she was the loveliest Lady Spring ever. When she was quite ready for her visit to earth the fairies whispered: “Remember, Jennifer Gay, that you must not be mischievous for (he very moment you think of some thing you shouldn’t, then you will loose all your lovely clothes.” Of course Jennifer was quite sure that she would be able to be good but just as she was walking down the lane she saw a lovely pool of water and thought, “How lovely it would be to splash Mr Green Elf’s hat,” and just as she bent to do so, the flowers faded and Jennifer found herself hack in the lane where she had started from while everything looked exactly as it was before she had seen the “To Springland” signpost. No> not everything, for now the sky was a bright blue and there were tiny white clouds having a game of tig. “Oh, well,” said Jennifer with a sigh, “It would have been very dull having to keep out of mischief I suppose, so I mustn’t grumble.” So off she went again swinging her hat and singing a funny little song about Pooh bear and honey.