THE TALE OF HIGGLE AND HTM

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 10

THE TALE OF HIGGLE AND HTM

GEOO went out ana tanged the door. The two imps ran to tho top ana got a pail of -water. It was not very hot, and Higgle looked at the fire. - - "Please, Mam,", he said, "tho water isn't hot enough to sciub the floor propor,ly. .Shall I sloko tliq iiro up??' "Oh, dear! Oh dear!*' said the old dame. "I meant to ask Groo to chop some wood: this morning, but I forgot. What a temper he will be in ' whoa I ask him now!" > : I "Well, Mam, lot-mo-go," said Higgle. "I'm-your servant, aren't I?"1 "Of course," sho said. "Well, out you go and chop some wood, and don't be long." Higgle grinned at Ilum, and ran. out. Instead of going to tho woodshed, ho hid outside the front gate. Soon Mrs. Groo became impatient. "Drat tha imp!" s.he said. "I suppose I must go and seo.if he's, lost' .his way in tho garden." ''Lend me that lamp on the dresser, and'l'll soon find him," said. Hum. Well, take it and don't be long," she said, as she lit the lamp. Higgle went into the garden, puffed out tho lamp, and made for the front gate Thoy soon reached the castlo, and the King was, delighted to get his lamp. He praised the two goblins for being able to outwit the cunning old goblin Next night they made their way to Groo's house again; but the.Goblin was lying in wait for them, and'pounced on them aß.soon as they roached' tho front gato. "Ha!" ho said." "Now I've got you again, and I won't let you go this time! I'll have you for my dinner to-morrow." He dragged them inside and shut them in a wooden box! ' ' ' . Next day, Higgle and Hum awoke to see Mrs. Groo moving about her kitchen. The imps watched her stoke up the fire, and trembled with fear. Then Higgle spoke. "I'suppose, mam, you have plenty of killy-kolly leaves tor if imps are cooked without them,, they will poison whoever eats them " "My goodness!" said Mrs. Groo in a fright, "I didn't know that! Well, I've plenty of killy-kollies in my garden. I'd bettor pick some." "Let mo pick them for you," said Higgle. "You've plenty to do, I'm sure. ■ ■• . . . "All right," said Mrs. Groo. "But see that you keep in sight, for if you run off again Mr. Groo will be very angry." Higgle took a plate,' grinned at Hum, and ran out into tho garden. He began to pick some of tho loaves, and ho protended that they were very hard to pull from tho stems. Mrs. Groo became, impatient and called out "Hurry up, now! I'm waiting for those loaves." •■•.'..■-. ' "Pleaso, mam, they're Very hard tbpick. Could you send Hunt out with ' sonio strong scissors? Thea I could cut them easily, and brine them in at once."- .

1 (Part 11. of a Story found by "Eidelweiss" for the Fairy Bing.)

Mrs. Groo wont to hor work-basket and gave Iluin-the magic scissors, llum ran off, and when Higglo saw him coming ho ran to the front gale; and ,tlie two imps toro down, tho lane as fast as they could. TJio king was dolightod.. "You're a clever pair," ho-snid. "Now if you can got my stick I shall bo vory happy." The two imps didn't dare go near trroo's house for sonio time, but -after ten days, they went ,ouco moro to his liousc. But, oh dear me! Who should spy them but old Mrs. Groo, and sho dragged them into hef kitchen. "So it's you^again," she said. '"\Vhero is Groo?" •asked Higglo. ' ■ ■~ . . ' ,"Ho's gono^to see his friend, but don't you fret, ho won't bo long. I wouldn't bo surprised if he ate you straight away!" sho answered. The imps wore frightened, for they thought they would bo eaten this time, and they tried to think of away of escape. Tho clock 6truck nine, and Mrs. Groo looked up in surprise. "Dear, dear, I hope Groo hasn't lost himself. He is late," sho said. "Shall I go and look for him?" asked Higgle. "No. that you" won't!" said Mrs. Groo. ■ ■ ""Well, mam, let mo go to the front door and peep out," said Higgle. "Very well,',' said Mrs. Groo. Higgle grinned at Hum and went to the door and peered out. Suddenly ho shouted out, "Robbers! Thieves! whore's a stick?" Sure enough, someone was coming, and Mrs. Groo gave Higglf* the_ma.sic stick; "Up fctick and at him!" shouteft Higgle,'and at once the stick flew;atthe .man, who was no other than Groo, who tried to call thestick off. The imps; made so much noise'that Mrs. Groo: could not near her .husband: calling. : .. ' . -.<■.< . >■ Higgle and Hum ran to the front gate, and halfway down the lane and then Higgle shouted, "Stick, stick, come to me!" At-Once the stick was in Higgles hand. The two imps set off running as fast as they could,• and Groo was too sore to run after them. How delighted the King and Queen were! "Surely you are the two cleverest imps in tho kingdom," said the King. "Well, you shall havo your sack of gold and your palace, and you may be sure you will receive a free invitation to all our dances and parties." Then the two imps took the gold and went to the palace. They bought now suits, and took two pretty little wives, and lived happily over after They still go to every party in Fairyland, and they aren't tired yet. As for Groo, he was so ashamed at being tricked by two imps that ho packed up and disappeared—nobody knew where, and nobody minded either! [(.The End.);