Children's Corner

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 20, 11 October 1928, Page 6

Children's Corner

Little Jack o' Lantern.

Poor little Jack o' Lantern felt most unhappy and restless, and yet he did not know what was the matter. Everything seemed wrong, somehow, for he had quite lost his pleasure in all that used to interest him. If by dancing about with his lantern he succeeded in deluding weary travellers so that, thinking the light shone from a cottage near, they straightaway plunged into the bog to reach it, he would be amused for a few minutes listening to their cries of dismay as they floundered in the mire, but soon he would feel vexed with them for their trust and would do all he could to guide them to safety again. On the other hand, if they were wily and said, "Oh, that is wicked Jack o' Lantern up to his old tricks again" he would be most indignant and declare his life was too dull to endure if nobody got into difficulties in the marsh. He ceased to be friends with the old Brown Owl, too. She was a wise bird who had forgotten more than he ever knew, and she ventured to tell him no good would come of his neglecting the wood in favour of the palace. That was the secret of all the trouble. Everything in the wood was dull and horrid, and everything that was even distantly connected with the palace was perfect; while as for the fortunatepersons who dwelt inside the royal mansion, well, nothing was too

good for them. Poor little Jack o' Lantern was becoming interested in human beings. He loved to hear about their lives and what they did during the day, and, as he had many moth friends who were accustomed to fly in and out of the windows, they were able to tell him plenty of news, All would have been well if he had been satisfied to let matters rest on this footing, but he -coaxed and worried one of the moths to fly with him into the Palace so that he could see with Ms own eyes what was going on; so one night, when they knew the heat would be so intense that the windows were bound to be left open, little Jack o* Lantern clambered on to the back of his friend and away they flitted towards the royal residence. The entire household had just finished a big banquet when the moths flew in, and though the one that carried the ' curious little person on his back was flying as close to the King and Queen as possible, ( Jack o' Lantern really saw nothing, as he was too bewildered at the lights | and the sounds of laughter to take anything in. He saw in time, however, the crown of glittering stones that adorned the head of h-is Majesty, and he noticed, with sympathy that the crown the Queen wore was not nearly so large; and then he noticed that sitting1 by their side was the most beautiful Princess in the world, who, oddly enough wore no crown at all. That little Jack o' Lantern did not object to so much, for her hah 1 was long and grew in tiny curls over lier dainty head, but he saw her eyes were full of tears, and that he did not like. Once somebody spoke to her and she replied most graciously, but as the words died away she gave a sad sigh, and the watchful sprite was so startled that he nearly fell off the back of the moth he was astride. He had heard just the same sort of sigh—a low, gentle one with a little break in it—an

hour or two ago, when by flitting about with his treacherous light he had lured some people into the bog and then left them to flounder out, having lost nearly all their goods meanwhile, Most of the members of the party did more than sigh, and Jack o' Lantern remembered the kindness of one man and how patiently he toiled and encouraged the others to toil too. Indeed, Jack o' Lantern made up his mind that if only he would put down a certain leather case lie guarded, so that he could peep inside and see on what the man bestowed such care, Jack would do all he could to assist him ii his plight; but the strange man never let it go, and Jack, disappointed at his caution, went off in a fit of bad temper, determined not to care what happened. And he really did not give them another thought; in fact the poor bogbound travellers had been quite forgotten, until the sudden sigh from the Princess recalled them to mind. He made his moth go as near as he dared, and though he brushed against .her soft white cheek'once, she paid not the slightest heed, but sat as before, gazing into space while the tears rolled slowly down one by one. The t Queen often glanced at her unhappy daughter as though she would have liked to console her, but did not know the way to commence, until, grieving at her sorrow, she bent forward and softly patted her child's hand. This proved the undoing of her Royal Highness, whp then, quite unable to control her grief, rose from her chair and swept from the room. The great doors were flung open before her, and as she passed I through on the way to her own apartment, Jack o' Lantern forced the moth to follow. Across three brilliantly lighted rooms they swept, and when the Princess flung open some great windows leading into a balcony and sank into a chair and gazed on the gar- j den, the watchful sprite felt sure something was going to happen.

And something did, but nothing that was the least bit effectual, for the moth, feeling tired of his rider, suddenly shook himself free and sailed gaily away over the garden, leaving Jack o' Lantern

lying helpless in the lap of the Princess, who was staring at him with great curiosity as she picked him up between her finger and thumb.

"And who and what might you be, I wonder 0'" she asked, and-the tears ceased for a moment to well from her eyes, for she had something fresh to think about.

"I am Jack o' Lantern, please, your Royal Highness," the little fellow told her. "And I live in yonder vast wood, all by myself." "But are you not afraid?" ask-

Ed the royal maiden. "It must beso very dark.

"Not a bit," he replied. "I have my light always with me, you see, and then we are often very busy at the bog. There i» generally somebody stuck in the; mud, and that is great fun."

"Fun*" said the Princess, bitterly. "Has there been anybody stuck lately—l mean quite lately?" Oh, do think and tell me that."

"Why, yes," answered Jack o r Lantern. "Only within the last few hours. A young man passed through at twilight with a vast retinue of servants, so I danced and jogged my lantern before their eyes until they did not knew where to go nor which way to turn. I remember them well, for tho young man who seemed at their head was so patient and never got put out or worried. Yet all. the while he kept fast hold of a small case he carried. There must have been something of great value inside that, I warrant."

'' Yes. you are right, you wicked little thins-, you!'' exclaimed the Princess, shaking Jack o' Lantern hard as she spoke. "That case

contained my betrothal ring that was being brought to me by my lover who, thanks to you, may be dying, if not dead, in the bog,, while 3T>u look on and laugh.OOrh r I would really like to kill you,, you spiteful little thing!''

"Oh do wait and let me explain," gasped her companion,, who had lost all his breath through the shaking he had received. "I really will find him for yon and lead him here to safety, if yon will forgive me. I promisenever to do such a thing again, if you will not remain so angry.""

But the Princess would make no promises; she simply said, "Find my lover." And though jack o^ Lantern waited about on the chance of her saying more, she just went indoors, and behind the closed windows he could hear her sobbing. (To be continued.)