SNOW-FLAKE FAIRIES, OR HOW THEY FOUND THE RED CAP.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 39, 26 September 1891, Page 427

SNOW-FLAKE FAIRIES, OR HOW THEY FOUND THE RED CAP.

'fi i was a s t orn) y day, toward the middle of July and Nellie Field was sitting in IKWfe' an arm chair by the window, watching Stfll I WWJII ' t ' ie snow : 'd ie was wishing she * WMM had not such a cold, so that she could he out with some of her friends, when an unusually large snow-flake came on I the window, and Nellie almost fell off her seat in astonishment, for there beside the snow-flake was a tiny man, no taller than your little finger nail, dressed all in snow. Indeed, he himself seemed to be made of snow, and in one hand he held a little icicle. ‘ Why,’ cried Nellie, ‘ who are you ? Where did you come from ?’ ‘ My name is Lightfoot, and I am one of the messengers sent by the King of the Snow-flakes to find his little red cap, which he lost in a very unaccountable manner the other day,’ said the little man. ‘He has promised to give his daughter in marriage to anyone who can find it, and the Princess is very beautiful I can tell you, so I guess there is not one in the whole kingdom who is not out searching for it to-day. I loved the Princess even before the King said this, and lam bound to have her.’ Lightfoot nodded his head emphatically. ‘ But I must be going, for I haven’t any time to spare. Good-bye.’ ‘ Oh, wait, please,’ cried Nellie, eagerly ; ‘ take me with you. Perhaps I can help you to find the little red cap.’ • All right,’ said Lightfoot, good-naturedly. ‘ But you can’t go like this. You could never fly through the air as Ido in this shape. Wait a bit and I will change you.’ So saying, he waved his wand, and Nellie found herself outside of the window. She felt very cold, and, looking down, she saw she was just the height of the little white man, and was wrapped in a soft, snowy cloak just like his. ‘ There you are,’ said the little man, merrily, ‘ and now we will have to wait here till my friend, Mr Snowbird, comes along, for we snow fairies cannot fly upward. It is my opinion (confidentially) that the King’s red cap is not where he supposes it to be, so we are going to get on Snowbird’s tail together, and he will carry us away toward the Ice King’s Palace. The Ice King has a spite against our King for some reason, and, as I said before, it is my opinion that he has the cap. Our'King prized it more than he would have had it not been red, for everything in the Snow World, which is in the clouds, you know, is white. But here is Mr Snowbird, and we must go.’ So Nellie and Lightfoot jumped on his tail, and Nellie wanted to cuddle down among his soft feathers, but Lightfoot would not let her, ‘ because,’ he said, ‘ if you did, you would get warm and melt, and then where would you be ?’ ‘We are ready now, Mr Snowbird,’ said he, ‘and we haven’t any too much time, so please hurry up.’ So Mr Snowbird, who was very kind and good-natured, shook his feathers (which, by the way, nearly knocked Nellie off), and away they went, up, up through the air. Nellie caught her breath. It was delightful, and yet it seemed so queer to be no larger than the snow-flakes, and to be riding on a bird. She noticed now that on each snowflake was a little man exactly like Lightfoot, and she wondered that she had not seen them in other snowstorms. Up, up they went. The air was white with the falling snow, and Nellie felt very little, as indeed she was. Up, up, and on, on, Nellie and Lightfoot chattering merrily all the time, till they saw in the distance the Ice King’s palace. ‘I must put you down here,’ said Snowbird, ‘for if I should go any nearer I would be frozen to death. ’ So he flew down to the ground (which was not ground at all, but only a cloud), and Lightfoot and Nellie got off. Nellie was sorry, for sbe thought it was a great deal better than a sleigh-ride. ‘ Here we are !’ said Lightfoot, merrily. ‘ Now we will wait for a Breeze I know to pass, and he will blow us to the castle over yonder. Then I will go in, demand the cap, carry it to the King, and get the Princess. Do you see ?’ said the jolly elf, with a flourish. ‘ But perhaps the cap isn’t there, after all, ami if it is, I don’t think it’s likely he’ll give it to you,’ said Nellie. ‘ Perhaps so,’ said the little man, cheerfully, ‘ but there’s nothing like trying, you know. Oh, here comes Breeze. Breeze, my friend, will yon carry us to the Ice King's palace ?’ ‘ With pleasure,’ replied Breeze, politely. Nellie found herself being carried through the air with a gentle, swaying motion. On they went till they came to the palace, and Breeze, bidding them good-bye, went his way.

They were standing at the door of a magnificent castle, built of ice. The sun shining on it made it look so dazzling that Nellie could hardly bear the glare, but it was very beautiful for all that. Around the door were men in armour of ice, who, when they saw Nellie and Lightfoot, and learned that they wanted to see the Ice King, told them in cold, stiff voices to enter.

Nellie was a little frightened, but Lightfoot soon reassured her, and they went together into the palace. It was very cold, and even Lightfoot shivered. They found themselves in an immense room, at the end of which was a throne built of ice, on which sat the ice King. He was surrounded by courtiers and guards, who all looked very fierce, but the King himself did not seem at all formidable, and Nellie soon lost her fear. Indeed, he reminded her a little of her grandfather, with his white hair and beard, and he had a very pleasant smile upon his face. He and his subjects seemed to be discussing something ot very great interest, and sure enough he held in his hand the little red cap. Lightfoot advanced boldly, with Nellie close beside him, and the King seeing them, held up his hand for silence, and asked them what they wanted. ‘ The King of the Snow-flakes has lost his red cap,’ said Lightfoot, bowing, ‘ and so I made bold to come and ask your Gracious Majesty if you had it, and finding you have, I most humbly entreat you to give it to me.’ The King smiled. • Well, my fine little fellow,’ said he, ‘ I cannot readily give up such a valuable treasure as I find this to be, for it is a magic cap ; yet as you have been so brave, I will give it to you if you will bring me a yellow rose from any part of the mortal world as quickly as you can.’ ‘ But your Majesty knows that no roses grow in the mortal world in winter-time,’ said Lightfoot sadly disappointed, ‘ Nevertheless, I will do my best,’ and he and Nellie left the castle very much downhearted. When they were outside of the gates Nellie’s face brightened, and she said : ‘ Never mind, Lightfoot, I know where we can get a rose in the winter-time —in some hot-house.’ ‘ You do !’ cried the little man, eagerly. ‘ You do ! Good ! We will go there at once. Here comes a bird. Mr Bird, won’t you take us to the mortal world, to some hothouse? If you do I will grant anything you wish.' ‘ Certainly,’ said the bird, and in a very short time they were there. Having granted the favour which the bird wished for, Lightfoot said : ‘ Now the next question is, how to get in there and out again without being seen or melted.’ ‘ I know,’ said Nellie. ‘ You can change me into my own shape again, and give me something to pay for the flower, and I will get it for you.’ ‘ A good idea,’ said Lightfoot, and giving her a little magic thimble, he waved his wand, and, hey—presto ! Nellie was herself again, standing inside the hot-house. She was made invisible, of course, or she would have been seen. She picked the flower and put the thimble in its place. The fairy waved his wand, and she was outside of the window again, but with the flower beside her.

‘ Good !’ cried Lightfoot. ‘ Here is a sister of our old friend Breeze. She will take us to the Ice King. ’ Breeze’s sister was very obliging, and in less time than it takes to tell it they were at the palace again. She waited outside for them, and when they came out, proud and happy, with the red cap between them, she was just starting off with them when they heard a great noise, and turning, saw the Ice King and all his courtiers watching them, and cheering with all their might for the brave little fairy. Lightfoot was very merry, and so was Nellie, and she was very sorry when she found herself on her own window again. 1 Good-bye,’ said she ; ‘ I hope you will get the Princess.’

‘ So do I,’ said Lightfoot. Then he waved his wand, and Nellie found herself in her chair inside the window, just as she w T as before. She rubbed her eyes and found it was all a dream.