THE GUM BLOSSOM FAIRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 231, 29 September 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GUM BLOSSOM FAIRIES.

Tn a pretty dell in the 'heart oi the great, wide bush, lived tlie Gum Blossom Fairies. These fairies had a \crv beautilul and kind queen. She wai always .helping her subjects when they were in trouble. But the fairies were not to be always happy. A terrible monster, Drought, and his companion, Destruction, were creeping over the land.

The queen decided that «he and two of her heralds would go and eeek a place where the fairies could liva unmolested. It was a bright spring morning when the queen set out. The birds were singing gaily, their sweet songs mingling with the harsh notes of the frogs, who had their home in a swamp not far from the dell, and the beee were buzzing around the fragrant bush flower®, as if they had some important work to complete.

The queen travelled on for many miles. At last i'he became tired and went into a large cave to- rest. Such a pretty cave it was, too; clinging vines hung over tlie mouthookf k it, almost hiding it from siglit and the fragrant perfume of beautiful flowers was everywhere. T'he queen lay down to sleep on the soft earth, while the heralds kept guard at the mouth of the cave. Sho had not been ajsleep long when a large boulder came rolling down from the top of the cave. The herald* screamed, but it was no use, the mouth of the cave was blocked by the boulder and their beloved queen was imprisoned. The heralds, after trying tp locate their queen without avail, returned to the other fairies. Great was the sorrowing when the fatal news was told. All the creatures in the bush mourned for the gentle qaeen, even the proud Kauri Queen hung her head in sorrow. Abouf a w eek after the queen wa£ locked in the eave a man came looking for minerals. Not knowing the cave there he started to drill down into the ground with his drilling machine. He drilled till he reached the top of the cave. Then, lo! out of the hole he 'iiacl made fluttered the Fairy Queen. But he thought the queen, with her dazzling wings, was a butterfly. "Fancy a butterfly coming out of there," he exclaimed. "Why, there must j be a cave or a butterfly wouldn't have j been in there."

Mean while, lite happy quecu of the Guru Blossom Fairies was ifyiujr a-wiftly

toward home. How her subjects rejoiced. They received her back like one from the dead. Banquets and great dances were held in her honour.

After a while the welcome -uin came, and the happy fairies didn't have to leave their pleasant home in the shady forest.