For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 1 February 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

For the Children.

MOTHER STORIES. THE LITTLE MASTER. “Mother,” said little Elspat, “if I should go to tho greenwood would Tamnln ue be there S'” “The Lady of the Castle looked up from her embroidery. “Tamulaiio 1” she repented. “AYliat lias put Tiimalane into my lassie’s head!”’ “Oona was telling me a limit him,” said Elspat, timidly. “Omni had little to do, filling your head with a parcel of old tales!” said the Lady gravely; hut the next moment she looked up, and, meeting the child’s wondering eyes, a smile broke over her sivoet Lice. “But truth to toll, lassie,” she added v “when 1 was your age I would often lie thinking of young Tamalano myself 1” "Who is young Tumnlane, Mother?” cried tho Little Master, who caino running in at this moment, with n great, deerhound puppy gambling at his-heels.' “Down, Wallace 1 down, I tell thee. Is Tamalano a lad, Mother?” “Oh, Alan,” cried Elspat; “’tis tho boniest tale of all 1 Tell him, Mother, will you? Ah, do now, sivoet, my dear I” “Do, Mother 1” echoed the boy. “You are nyo telling Elspat tales; I never hear the half of them.” “If you were a douce lassie, instead of a liilty-skilt.v laddie,” said tho Lady, “you would hear them all, Alan. Would you like to learn to seiv your scam and do your broidery, like a lassie, eh?” “Indeed, no!” cried tho boy, tossing his head scornfully. “I woiildna be a lassie for all ” “Alan, Mother was a lassie otio time!” said little Elspat. “And father was a laddie,” said Hie lady smiling; “and Tamnlane "Well, sit- ye down, Allan, and you shall hear who Tnmalane was. ’Tis ail old story, and it begins telling how Fair Janet sat in her bower alone, sowing her milk-white seam, when t-liero came a longing on her for the sweet greenwood.” “All!” said Elspat with a. sigh. “Often have 1 felt, that, same. Mother dear.” “And often do you go, little one, but not alone, as Janet went. For sho let fall her soam, and went- away to Cnrterhaugh, that was a deep forest hard by her father’s hall. AVI ion she came tlicro sho began to null tho wild-flowers; when up from behind a bush started young Tamalano, tho fa-iry knight, and ho all in fairy green with gold about bis neck and a bright star on his brow. At first be chid her for pulling tho flowers; but when lie saw how fair sho was lie spoke sweetly to her, and his voieo was-liko running water. ‘Tis long to tell, children, but between this and that, these two, Fair Janet and tho fairy knight, became lovers true and dear. But there was a trouble at Janet’s heart, and slio asked the young knight had ho over been christened in God’s name. Ho told her yes, he was a knight’s and a a lady’s son, and as well christened as she herself.

“ ‘But,’ ho said, ‘three years ago a strange change came to me. I rode a-lmnting one day, and as 1 rode over yon hill there blow upon mo a drowsy, drowsy wine, so that my eyes closed for all I could do, and I fell from my horse in a dead sleep. It was the Queen of the Fairies sent that wind. Janet; sho took mo away to Fairyland, and there I have lived ever since. Bub to-morrow night is Hallowe’en, and the Fairy Court rides through file land, and you can rescue me if you will. At midnight go and stand by Miles Cross, and make a circle w.itli holy water. Then by will come the fairies, throe bands of them. The first band that rides by take no heed of them. The secon that rides by salute them reventiv. ’The third band that- rides by is clad in robes of green, and that is tho bead court of all, and in it rides the Queen, and I upon a milkwhite steed, with a bright star in my crown. Pull me from that- horse, Janet, and bold mo tight, whatever happens. -Whatever shape I take, whatever pain you feel, bold mo fast, for if you lose your bold I am lost forever.’

“At midnight Fair Janet stood hv Ihe lonesome Ylile.s Cross in the, w.ild heather. She east a circle with holy water, and soon she saw the Fairy Court coine riling over the hill, with golden bells ringing and, sweet voices singing, more sweet tjuin any oil earth :

‘Bv them gaed the black; Black steed. And by them gaed the brown; But Janet gripped the milk-white steed And pulled the rider down.’ “Then there went up a strange orie cry, ‘Tamalane, lie’s awa’ 1’ and all in a moment the Fairy Court was gone, and nought to be seen save what Janet had in her arms. But oh! children what was that she held? It turned cold, cold like ice on a frozen lake. Janet lelt- the very heart Freezing an her, hut she -held fast. Then all in a moment it turned to fire, and the flames leaped up about her, and she felt her flesh scorching in bitter pain ; but still she held Hast, like the faithful maid she was. Again it changed, and now in her arms was a groat serpent, that coiled and twisted round her, and hissed in her faco with open jaws; but Janet gripped tho smooth coils hard, and looked steadily into the glitering eves; and again a change came, and now she held a great white swan, that struck at her with its Bard beak, and shook its strong wings, and strove to fly away. But love was stronger than all, children; though Janet was wellnigh dead with pain and fright, still she hold fast, and lo there in her arms lay young Tamalane, her own true love. She cast ilicr green mantle over li,im, and from that moment ho was safe, and no fairy charm could touch him more. “And so tho story ends, children dear ” “Out then and spate tho Queen of Fairies, Out of a Bush of broom: ‘She that lias rescued young Tamala nc Has gotten a stately groom.’

‘Out then and spake the Queen of Fairies, , Out of a Bush o’ rye: ‘She’s ta’en away flic Bonniest knight In all iny eompanie.’

“That is all I mind of it, lassie Now off to your play, the two of you and if you find Tamalane in the greenwood be sure and bring him to me!”