SILVER SLIPPER OF SPRING

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1933, Page 20

SILVER SLIPPER OF SPRING

(Pax-t I of a Serial by "Pollyana" for Spring-iu-the-Eing.") " •; Part I.

PRINCESS. PRETTY tossed her golden curls, ami sighed petulantly. "But I don't want a party ou my birthday," she protested. "I shall bo nine years old, and I want to spend my birthday as I please." "Your Koyal Highness must remember that nine years old, is not very grown-up," the First Lady-iu-Waiting reminded her. "Quito old enough, to do as I wish," retorted the Princess. "And it is the wish of your honourable father that you should celebrate youi" ninth'birthday by holding a party," said tho Second' Lady-in; .Waiting. ' "Very well, 31 replied the Princess. "Send out tho invitations and invite every little boy and girl for miles around. See no one is missed, not even those we don't know." ''Your Highness!" Tho hand of tho First Lady-iii-"Waiting went up in dismay. •■-...■ . . > "Tho King said you were to invite the three princesses from tho neighbouring country to spend the day with you," said the Second Lady-in-\Vait-ing. "Exactly," agreed Princess Pretty. "And I shall sit at the head of the table with a, golden crown ou my curls, and silver slippers on my feet, and smile at tho thrco princesses. Then, when we have finished wo will sit in the reception-room, and listen to speeches congratulating me ou having reached another year in my life. ' 01), no," she finished, "wo will not have a. party this year. I will go to my i'athor and tell him I am. going to spend my birthday as I please." Princess Pretty tossed her curls again, and went in search of the King. • « » ■ # #'.*'..' Up in the heavens confusion reigned. Princess Spring could not go lo earth, for her slipper was lost. Jusc ono magic, silver slipper—she hud lost it while sho had been tripping across the floor of Heaven, and it had fallen, a silver shaft through the dark night.. . . Somewhere below the silver slipper rested; somewhere below the.silver slipper was hidden. And up in Ilsuvcn Spring had to go around barefooted, with no magic in those dancing toes of hers. Search! Why, all the Days of tho Year were searching, all tho elves of the kingdom were searching, and everyono in the heavens was searching fo.r\ Spring's lost slipper! Princess Pretty slipped out of bod early on her birthday morn. Sho put on her silken gown, and ever so softly sho tiptoed down the empty halls of the palace. Outside, in tho v.cry early morning, an air of enchantment lay over the garden. Silver sparkles twinkled on every grass blade; tho gay daffodils lifted their dainty heads and swayed ever so gently in the very soft breeze; and over all.a mystic silence reigned. ~ . Princess Pretty scampored through tho palace gardens, down through the shrubbery, and out through tho little green gate in the fence. At last —escape! The little nine-year-old sang for the pure joy of being alone, able to do as she wished, able to go where she pleased, unhampered by the 'astonished gasps and commands of the two Ladies-in-Waiting. 'This was her birthday, and she was going to defy her father, defy everyone, and do as she wished* (To be Concluded).