THE ELF AND THE TEAPOT.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 37, 20 February 1930, Page 4

THE ELF AND THE TEAPOT.

A tiny Elf, wandering about one day, came upon a tea caddy and climbed inside to see what was there;. He found the tea so soft and inviting that he laid down on the,fragrant leaves and' was soon fast asleep. Suddenly he woke up to feel himself lifted through-the air. Somebody had taken out a spoonful of tea, and the elf along with it. The next minute down he went into the* pot, but luckily there was already some tea in the pot, so he fell on a soft heap and wasn 't hurt. But oh, how hot and stuffy it I was inside the teapot! And how [dark! 1 " You'd better get out of here, said the teapot. "They'll be pouring boiling water in presently and you'll be* scalded and j drowned, both at once if you stop [here." , "Oh dear-, oh dear!" cried the Elf, now very frightened.- "I. don't want to be * drowned and scalded, Please help me to get out?"

" 1 can't help you,'' said the teapot ; "you'll have to £elp yourself There's only one. way you can get out. You must climb up. inside the spout. . Hurry up,!" . The Elf climbed to the top of the heap of tea and took a flying leap for the ; place( where the spout began. Bu;fc the inside of the pot was so slippery and smooth that he fell back again. . Once more he tried, and again, he slipped back. He looked up to the top of the teapot, expecting^ every "moment to see the scalding^ flood come pouring in upon him. ''Oh! how I wish I'd never gone exploring," he. wailed. "I'll never geft out of this dreadful: place, and I'll never, never see my friends again." . ..-. '' Buck up!" said the teapot. "You're not dead yet. . Have anr other try!" • The little Elf took heart at this encouragement and tried again. This time he made a better jump and actually landed inside the spout, but at once, he began to slide back. How he kicked and struggled, with arms and legs outstretched. But it seemed no use, fo.r as fast, as he crawled a' little way up the spot he slid back again. .He struggled and he kicked, and at last, just as he felt: he couldn't struggle any niore, his feet touched a rough spot on the china and he was able to get a hold and "climb to the" top of the spout. Then oft he flew to safety: And not a moment too soon, for the steaming, roaring cascade of boiling water came tumbling into the pot behind him, swirling half up the spout as if trying to catch him and draw him back. "Just look at that!" exclaimed the lady who was making,the tea. "A fly must have got into the tea pot. It's just ftown out of the spout." ... . . For, of course, she didn't know it'was-not a fly at all, but a little Elf. But you may be sxire the Elf never went to sleep in a tea-caddy; again.