THE FLAME FAIRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

THE FLAME FAIRY

Pan had been ill in bed for some weeks and this was her first day up. “Why not play with your dollies or read your books,’ said her mother, who had just entered to heap coals on the fire. “You must not go out —the wind is too keen/’

“I’m tired of dolls and books,” pouted Pam, “I want someone to tell me a story.”

“I’m sorry, little girl,” smiled her mother, as she went out again, “but I’m so very busy ,” and Pam was left alone once more.

Presently she stooped to poke the fire, to see the sparks fly gaily up the chimney, and one alighted on the carpet. Pam was just about to flick it off when it sprang up, in the form of a fairy, clad lightly in flaming scarlet. “I love to make anyone surprised,” cried the flame-fairy merrily. “Shall I tell you a story?”

“Oh, please,” sighed Pam gratefully. The fairy settled herself comfortably on Pam’s finger and began.

“My companions and I were seated among the flames wondering what to do, for although we had been waiting nobody would poke the fire to enable us to fly up the gloomy old chimney into the unknown world beyond. We were discussing things generally, when a lady poked the fuel briskly and up we all flew—helter-skelter —all bent on adventure. As soon as I reached the world I began to fly toward the setting sun who left a golden trail behind it, until I actually bumped into a Sunbeam, and would you believe it?—She mistook me for one of the Sunbabies, and cried, “Quickly, we shall be late,’ and as I wanted to see the Sun world, I din’t say a word. We rushed upward and just as the Sun disappeared over the horizon we snuggled into his warm arms as he sped to the the Land-of-Rest. “Oh! you can’t imagine the fun I had playng in the fingers of Sunland, being able to dash for miles instead of being confined to one small grate. When it was time to go back to brighten the Earth once more we slipped into the Sun’s arms and rushed off again. Arriving at his starting point the Sun let the Sunbeams slide down his rays, after counting them and giving them their duties for the day. When he came to me he said, ‘Hallo, one too many,’ then he looked closely at me and cried, 'Where did you come from? Y r ou are not a Sunbeam.’ How I did tremble. When I explained, he was so angry that he shook me and flung me down with all his strength. As luck would have it, I slipped right into your chimney, where your mother was making the fire before you came into the room, so I snuggled down until —quickly, blow me into the fire, here comes your mother!” Pam knelt down and blew the tiny flame-fairy into the fire and whispered: “Thanks for the story, little Spark, and don’t forget to come again. —Jessie Milne (aged 13). Birkenhead.