THE FAIRY BOAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 122, 13 August 1927, Page 27

THE FAIRY BOAT

Tony had a fine collection of shells, and now he had found the best one of all in a rock pool—a whopper! “Hallo!” muttered Tony to himself. “1 believe there’s something inside. ? Oh!” For at that moment a wee head popped out of the shell, followed oy a 3 little body, and the dearest little fairy looked out at him. Tony said: “What are you doing in that shell?” “Waiting for the tide,” answered the fairy. “This is my boat.” “What do you do while you’re waiting for the tide?” asked Tony. “Get into my boat and I’ll show you." answered the fairy. ! “There isn’t room,” said Tony sadly. “There’s always room for good little boys,” laughed the fairy, and Tony found that he really could step into the little boat and seat himself by tiusweet little fairy. As he did so he looked round and saw that they were floating on a big lake surrounded by high, rocky walls covered with beautiful seaweed. “Surely—surely,” murmured Tony, “we’re not in the rock pool.” But they were! And it was lovely. There were lovely shells and yellow spotted fish waiting like the fairy for the tide to carry them out to sea. “Do you like it?” asked the sweer little fairy, but hardly had she spoken when a great green crab’s claw shot out from a tangle of seaweed to catch her in its grip! “No you don’t!” shouted brave Tonv and he lifted his spade and brought it down, whack! “Hi! Look out, young Tony!” grumbled his brother’s voice, and there was Jack holding his bruised foot, and there was the shell, but no fairy. “Look at my shell,” said Tony. “That.” answered Jack. “Why, it’s only a whelk shell.” “It’s not an ordinary whelk shell.” said Tonv. “It’s a fairy’s boat.” “Oh, glad you told me,” laughed Jack. But Tony didn’t keep that shell. He put it back in the sea when the tide came up. He was sure the fairy was inside. MY SHIP My dream ship goes a-sailing . Whene’er I fall asleep, " It sails across the ocean, So great, so wide, so deep. An o’er the stormy billows Whose crests are crowned with foam, It rides along triumphant: My ship is coming home! d y Such presents in the cabin, Such presents in the hold, [e Such sacks and sacks of jewels, Such chests of bright red gold! n A bicycle, a doll’s house; :s For mother something too, Dresses both silk and satin, Of every tint and hue. And from the dreamland jungle 16 We’ve monkeys by the score, it And parrots which can chatter, A hundred kinds or more. »y An elephant with curly trunk And humming birds so gay, And Coconuts enough for you To eat one every day.