FOR THE YOUNG FOLK.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2, 10 July 1912, Page 58

FOR THE YOUNG FOLK.

Once upon a time, when people were more able to see the wonderful things that were happening around them every Jay—when they could see beauties and wonders they believed in them, and were constantly meeting fairies when they were out walking—there lived a little boy called Eldwyn, with his old grandparents in a tiny thatched cottage at the foot of a hill. Eldwyn was a rough, wild little boy. lie lived out of doors all day long. In the summer he would pick Howers and nuts and wild berries to sell in the town, and in the winter he would gather wood, and play in the snow. But, though he lived among the birds and flowers and the dear little

wild creatures, he was not a kind little boy at all, and the wild birds and animals did not love him; indeed, they were afraid when he drew near; and the other children did not care to play with him. He was too rough.

One day, when the sun shone through a golden mist, and the spider's webs on the blackberry leaves sparkled as though they were hung with diamonds, and the larks up In the blue sky sang to the rising sun, Eldwyn began to climb the hill, with a wallet containing his lunch slung across his shoulders. He was going to spend his whole day on the hillside, gathering blackberries* and nuts, so he had plenty of time before him, and when the mist cleared away and the sun shone down on his gold head, and made him feel very hot and tired, he slipped into the shade of some tall dark fir trees, which grew on the hill, and sat down to rest, ft was very dim and cool, and very quiet. Suddenly, out of nowhere, as it appeared, a sweet child-voice began to sing: —

I woke in the sun on a rainy day, And ray wings were wet with dew. And a rainbow shone when it saw me play. And my wings like rainbows grew. T danced in the sunlight among the flowers When the day was just begun, And the sun smiled on me those goldel hours. And my hair shines like the sun. I gathered the hyacinths, -wild and sweet That grew in the woodland way, They looked though my lashes, my smile to greet, And my eyes are blue as they. I met sweet Love with his rosy wings— * and then the song ceased. As the voice had drawn nearer, the little singer herself had come in sight. A little dainty, flitting, beautiful girl she was. who had (ripped out of the sunshine into the shade of the fir trees, and had almost reached Eldwyn’s side before she saw him. When she did see him, her song ■’eased and she darted away, almost as though she had flown. Eldwyn sat very still indeed. He had never seen such a beautiful little girl before, nor heard sueli a sweet voice,' and he hoped she would eonie back. The little girl, mean-while, had been watching him, and as he sat so very still and envied, she presently ventured nearer

and peeped at him from behind a tree. “I won’t hurt you,” said FJdwyn. “I wish yaii would come and talk to me?’ When Eldwyn said this the little girl laughed, and hid herself completely behind the tree, only to peep out a moment later, crying. ‘‘Catch me, then!” Eldwyn sprang to his feet, and darted aft’er her, but she was too quick for him, and flitted here and there gathering flowers as she ran, till he was tired out and threw- himself on the ground. Then up to him darted the little maid and covered him with her flower petals, laughing and singing and clapping her hands.

“Don't run away again?’ pleaded Eldwyn, catching at her hand and drawing her down to his side. “I wish you

would finish that pretty song’ you were singing.” - ’ While Eldwyn was speaking be was watching her and thinking, how dainty and sweet she was. It did not surprise him very much that she had two beauti;v iul butterfly wings; it surprised hitn

much more that she should e»ye to play with. him. / “ s Suddenly she spread her wings and began to sing:— ? I met sweet Love with his rosy wings, His lips were sweet and cool.

When the wild flowers spring and thf - songbirds sing, ' • ■- s Aly heart is a fountain full. When the evening eame. and Ehlwyß had to go home, he vould hardly tfiaij himself away from his beautiful playmate, and all night he fancied ho heard her singing: — “My heart is a fountain full.” Well, after this Eldwyn never spent a day alone. He would play with his little companion for hours, and all the! time he was learning to love the and flowers and wild creatures as shet loved them, and the two children wouM sing together:—

I met sweet Love with his rosy wings, His lips were sweet and cool. When the wild flowers spring and tiio songbirds sing, My heart is a fountain full.

But one sad day, something happeu«d. Eldwyn saw a lovely green bird fly- tol a bough and begin to sing, and without thinking he picked up a stone. “Eldwyn! Eldwyn! What are you doing!” cried she. But Eldwyn pu-died her roughly aside, and aimed the stone, and the bird's song ceased. "You have killed it!” cried she. “You have never met Love! You are cruel,” and he felt the little hand tremble bl his as she shrank away from him, and when he looked round she was gone. Then indeed he shed bitter tears.

“Oh, come back! Come back!” hi) cried- "I will never be cruel again,” and as he spoke, a beautiful butterfly alight* ed on his hand and fluttered there for a minute while he kissed its wings, anil then it flew away.

Many years passed, but Eldwyn never: saw the little girl again: but sho haal taught him what he never forgot, ani the wild birds and animals and the little children would all gather around him, for Eldwyn’s heart was a fountain full of love. And sometimes he would take the children up the hillside, and tell them the story of the little ButterflyGirl, and teaeh them her song. To no one but the children would lie repeat i-f. “Look at the dear blue sky,” he would tell them. "What does it say to uaf ‘Love? Look at the rabbits peeping ai us between the brambles —what do they, say to us? ‘Love.’ What do all beautiful things, and all helpless, weak ihiugSi all things that we look on say to ug but ‘Love??’’

And the children peeping through, their curls —as the rabbits through the leaves —up into Eldwyr?o face, knew that that also said to theatl “Love.”