THE MAGIC PERFUME

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

THE MAGIC PERFUME

Gathered together in the Fairy Queen’s palace were all the subjects who wished to be changed into mortals for one day. On a throne of glittering gold sat Queen Titania, receiving the fairies who came to get the magic Bottle of Perfume, which would make the owner’s wishes come true. Queen Titania wished them luck and told them to remember that the usual competition for the fairy who did the kindest action would have as a reward the place of her chief Lady-in-Waiting for a whole year. After passing from the glittering reception room with its wonderful architecture, all the fairies who were going to the other world stood on the edge of Fairyland looking into the dark, dark depths, thinking how they might win the reward.

“I’m sure I shall get it,” said a beautiful Lily fairy, proudly. “You may not,” replied a shy little fairy, dressed like a pansy, “but our Queen said we must all try, and have we not our magic perfume to help us? Now come along, or we shall never do anything.” And off she flew, down through the dark clouds, and reached the earth where she waited for the others. “We all have to set out in different directions,” said an older fairy, “but we must be back here when the first Bluebell rings its evening chimes.” And away she flew. Pansy did not know what to do While sitting on a tuft of sweet-smell-ing thyme she suddenly heard a sorrowful voice crying: “My little dog— Oh! my little dog, where can you be?” Forgetting she was a disguised fairy she went up to a little boy and said: “1 would just love to help you find your dog—l wish I could find this little boy’s dog.” Immediately a fox terrier came trotting out of the fern. “Oh! Tiny, Oh! Tiny—l am so glad! ” Fairy Pansy smiled and flew away. Throughout the day she went about doing similar deeds —easing some little sufferer’s pain or helping some tired mother with her work. So busy and so happy was she that she had no time to think of the wonderful deed that might win the prize, but just as she reached the tuft of thyme, the Bluebell rang, and all the fairies who had been mortals were changed into fairies again. Once again in the great reception room of the palace, all the fairies had come together to find out who was the prize-winner. In a sweet, soft voice the Fairy Queen said: “While watching, I noticed that you all tried very hard and all did well, but the only one who forgot to try and win the prize, and who helped those in need without thinking of reward was little Pansy.” Pansy slyly bent her head, the Queen kissed her, and placed a golden coronet on her dark locks.

So after all it was Pansy who received the much coveted prize, because she had tried to help others without thought of reward. —By Dorothy A. Biamley.