OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 70, 26 June 1942, Page 6

OUR STORY

TPIE ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE (By Margaret Bigelow) Once upon a time there was a small bo3 7 called Charlie who lived with his mother in the Enchanted City. When the time came for him to see the world his mother gave .him a new velvet suit and his uncle Richard gave him a revolver and an invisible cap. His uncle also advised him to see the Grand High Siokem, one of the greatest wizards in the Enchanted City before he left. As his uncle and the Slokem were great friends Charlie easily gained permission to see the wizard. In a few das T s time he was allowed to go along the Slokem's marble corridors and finally to enter his own private room where he was sitting making dreams. The wizard on hearing that Charlie was off to see the world, gave him the following good advice: "Young fellow you are off to sec the world and will probabh' - experience many adventures on your journey. Therefore I give you three animals, who Avill help and guide you." Then, making a magic circle while he spoke the wizard, cried: "Abracadabra! Peter, Henry, Augustus, appear!" Immediately a dog, a cock, and a cat rose from the ground. "Master," they cried, "what can your servants do to aid you?" "Help this gentleman to the best of your powers," said the wizard, pointing" to Charlie. "We shall," they replied. Three days later one could have seen Charlie and the three animals walking in a wood far from the city. The four were already fast friends, but it was Peter, the dog, who was all white except for one black ear and the black tip of hi? tail Avhom Charlie liked best. Bui that docs not mean he did not love Henry, the grand cock, who laved dinners as liens lay eggs or Augustus, the sleek black cat, who Avhcn he touched, airy thing with his tongue turned it into milk. As night came nearer the wood seemed to change. They had been walking along grassy w;iys. besides little riverlets and beneath spreading trees. Now the trees branches had interlaced imprisoning them. The stream no longer sang gaily but ran along _ sullen and silent. Charlie's companions had been talking among themselves and when finally they came up to him it was with a grave face Peter spoke. "(! fear this is the Enchanted Wood,*" he said. "We three have heard of it before. Each, magic spirit rules it for a night, and we have entered it while the Witch of the Will-o'-the Whisps has power. Put on your invisible cap master and save yourself."' "I shall not remain free if you must be captured!" cried Charlie. Even while he was speaking night fell. Strange shadowy things surrounded the four friend:-:. Thcv