Children's Page

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 21, 23 November 1910, Page 62

Children's Page

To Our Young Readers. Our young readers arc cordially invited to enter our wide circle of Cousins, by writing to COUSIN KATE, “ The Weekly Graphic,” Short land Street, Auckland. Cousin Kate is particularly desirous that those boys and girls who ivrite should tell her whatever it interests them to tell, about tho'.r games, their pets, their holidays, or their studies. Their letters and Cousin Kale’s replies will appear in the “ Weekly Graphic,” on live Children’s Pages. All Cousins under the age of fourteen arc accounted Junior Cousins, all above that age Senior Cousins. Cousins may continue writing until quite grown up, and after, if they wish to do so; for we are proud to number among our Cousins acme who have passed out of their teens. A Badge will be sent to each new Cousin on the receipt of an addressed envelope, NOTICE. Amy Holland, Secretary of the Auckland Branch of the Victoria League, City-road, Auckland, will be very glad to have the names and addresses of any 4 ‘ Graphic ” Cousins who would like to correspond with children in England.] A Story of Witch Grundlegroom (By Hilda A. Norton, age 14, winner of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce prize for composition.) CHAPTER I. IN a small village a long, long way from here, then* once lived a family whose name was Kutch. There were Uo boys and one girl in this family, and Karl was the eldest; after Karl came Gretchen, and the youngest of all was Bans. Their mother and father, who were known to the neighbours as Father and Mother Kutch, were the clearest old people in the world. At the time when Karl was twelve years old there lived, not very far from the village, in a great gloomy castle, a terrible old witch who was the terror of the people around. Often ami often little children had gone out for walks and never returned, and when this happened the parents knew that the old witch must have met their children and carried them off to her castle. Karl. Han-, ami Gretchen were often Warned by their mother never to go very far from hone when on! by themselves, but one day Gretchen, who was a wilful littl< girl. a>ked her mother if she and Bans might go out for a walk. “Yes, Gretchen, von may go. but take great care to stay near home,” their mother replied. “Bery well, mot her.” said Gretchen, end off she ran with Ilans. Now, near their home was a beautiful forest, on the far side of which was the witch's castle. The village children often played there, but they never went far into it, for fear the witch should steal them. Thia morning Hans and GreUhen were

playing hide and seek, when, all at once, Gretchen spied a rabbit running under tlie trees, it was really the old witch, who had turned herself into a rabbit, thinking that if she could make the children chase her she would lure them far from home, and afterwards carry them into her castle. Gretchen was hiding behind a tree when she saw the rabbit, but, quite unsuspectingly, she began to chase it, calling out at the same time to Mans to follow 7 her. “Is it not a lovely little thing?'’ she said, as Hans overtook her. "That it is,” he answered, and on they ran. It was not until Gretchen felt she could not run another step that she stopped, and then it was that the old witch appeared before them in all her ugliness. How the children screamed! But it was no use now, for they were far from home. Then the witch turned Gretchen into a cauliflower and Hans into a cabbage, and, taking them both under her arm, she marched off to her castle. When she arrived there she went to a door which was heavily barred and bolted. Into the room she went and placed Hans and Gretchen beside a number of similar cabbages and cauliflowers. After doing this, she danced round them, singing a weird chant; then she went out of the room and bolted the door. Meanwhile it was growing dark,, and Mother and Father Kutch and Karl were growing anxious about Hans and Gretchen, and, as the evening wore on they. knew 7 only too well t-jiat tlie Witch had captured the children. They were all crying over their loss, when Karl started up, crying: “Mother, let me go and see if 1 can rescue them.” But Karl’s mother replied:— “No, my son, I could not let you go, too.” And Karl could not persuade her to let him go. Overcome by his grief. Karl ran out into tire garden, and, seating himself on •the stump of a tree, sobbed bitterly. All at once he heard a soft voice say ing:— “Why do you cry so, little boy?” and Karl, looking up beheld a beautiful fairy. “Oh,” cried Karl. “1 have lost my 7 brother and sister. The wicked Witch has taken them away, and I don’t think I shall see them again.” “Ah,” said the fairy, “that is Witch Grundlegroom, is it not?” “Yes,” sobbed Karl. “Boy. listen to me,” said the fairy. “If you had to go through a great many dangers, would you still wish to rescue vour brother and sister?” “Yes, of course,” said Karl decidedly, looking wonderingly up at the fairy. “Well,” said she; “listen to me.” If you wish to get your brother and sister you will have to get a flask of fairy water, and to do this you have to kill Dragon Ninetails. climb the Glass Mountain. and reach the fairy well.’ “Oh! I will do.it all?’ said Karl. “You are a brave boy.” remarked the fairy. “See this apple?” she continued, holding out a beautiful red apple. “When you meet the dragon, do not be afraid, but throw this at him. and whatever you do be sure to hit him on the head, and you will instantly kill him. Then go on till you come to the .Glass Mountain, ami. although it is considered quite inaccessible. if you put on these shoes and carry this staff you will be able to reach the top. “Before you come to the well you will have to climb many dillieult hills; but the shoes and staff will always help you. “You will have to go through a gate to get to the well, ami to make it open knock three times on it with your staff. You must be out of the gate by twelve o’clock, for at that time it shuts, and if you are locked in you will never be able to get out agaiu. No, remember what

1 have said, and when you have found the water 1 w ill come to you again. So good-bye, and good luek to you, Karl dear.” With that the fairy disappeared, leaving Karl staring in surprise at an apple, a pair of shoes, a staff, and a little bag. In this bag was a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk. It was fairy food, as Karl found out later, for it lasted him his whole journey. Then, jumping to his feet, he ran into the house and related to his mother all about the fairy. “Now. you w ill let me go. won't you, mother?” he said eagerly, when he had finished. Karl’s mother and father were very glad that the fairy had helped them. ar... gave their consent, although a little unwillingly. to Karl. How glad Karl was! He had decided to start the next morning, and. before going to bed that night, he examined his little food bag and found in it. besides the bread and milk, a chart showing him in which direction he had to go. Next morning he awoke at sunrise, and, after having a hasty brealrfast, he put on his magic shoes, placed the apple in his little bag. hung it over his shoulder, and after bidding his mother and father goodbye, set off. staff in hand, to begin his search for the fairy well. (To be continued.)