THE EAST WIND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 27

THE EAST WIND

Then he gave a horse laugh And he said, “You’re in luck That I was a horse Instead of a truck.” Claire sat on his back In the middle of town Till the traffic policeman Could help her get down. She thanked the kind horse , Who said, “Npt in the least." (The horse is a noble, Intelligent beast.) She thanked the policeman, Who patted her head. “After this I will look Before crossing,” she said.

Out of a round hole in the leafy forest popped a little brown rabbit. After looking- round to see that nobody was looking he made his way through the greenwood until he came to a tree with a little door in it. On the door was written: “Lord Thrush, Commander of the Moon and Stars.” Going up to the door he knocked, and it was opened by a thrush with a gold collar round his neck. “Oh, sir, if you please,” he said, ‘ Her Majesty the Queen of the Fairies has sent me to say that all Fairyland is weeping because the King of the Elves is coming to a grand ball to-night and the moon and stars refuse to shine because the east wind will blow the clouds in front of them, so there will be no light for the dancing, and she wants your advice.” When he heard this, Lord Thrush cried out: “Oh, little rabbit, what shall we do, the King of the Elves is coming and there is no light for the ball?” After thinking a moment he said: “I have thought of something. There is a fairy in the wood with an injured wing, and she wishes to go and see her little sister in another wood, so we will ask the east wind if he will take her on his back instead of blowing the clouds.” The rabbit decided on this, and in fear and trembling he went to the east wind. “Oh, sir,” he said, “a fairy in the wood is in need of aid and, knowing you to be gentleness itself, I have come to you.” Then he told him all about it. “I shall willingly go to her assistance,” said the east wind, kindly. All at once the sky became free of clouds, the stars twinkled merrily, the moon shone down, and the fairy ball was held after all. “What’s all this?” asked the east wind, returning from his errand. “I think I shall stay here and watch your revelries.” And he did. THE FOOLISH CAMEL Once there was a most disagreeable camel. He was always grumbling. Now, one day, he saw some camels with two humps; they were passing ' through the village where he lived. And * at once he began to grumble. j “Why can’t I have two humps?” he asked. 1 So his father took him to the Man of Magic, who lived in the sandy desert outside the village. The Man of Magic stared at the * young camel. “So you want two humps, ‘ do you?” he said. “What for?” “Because I do,” said the young camel, rudely. “And I’d really rather have * three!” “Very well,” said the Man of Magic. 3 “You have asked for three humps; you ( shall have them.” £ And suddenly the young camel found he had three humps. 1 One day some men caught him and sold him to the King of the country, J who put him in his Zoo, and made him * give rides to the children all day. 1 The young camel hated that more than ever. And he hated having three ] humps, for all the children wanted to * ride on the three-humped camel, of ] course. And they did not give him - three times as much food. They said - he would get too fat. i The young camel wished he had not ] been so silly, but it was no good; even i the Man of Magic would not change 3 him back again. ] SUPPOSE Sometimes when the wind is shrill, ] And rain taps on the window-sill, I wonder if the elves and gnomes * Are safe away and in their homes. ! For they are very small and slight, 2 And must be very, very light. Suppose the wind decides some day To sweep them up and right away! A PARTY GAME When you have your party you should certainly play fishing. For everyone can join in, one at a time, and when the others are watching they can get a good laugh out of the fun. All you need are some boot buttons—these are the “fish”—and some tiny wooden “lines’ with cotton attached. These have bent pins tied on the end of the “lines.” Scatter the buttons over a piece of white cardboard and then angle with your bent pin to catch the loops of the buttons. Each player fishes for a certain time, though you can all fish together if there are not too many of you. The player to catch the most “fish” wins the game. WELCOME TO HAPPY TOWN F. Heaslop, Cambridge; Rangi Bidois, Tauranga; Marion Payter, Ponsonby; Eria Arno, Tauranga; Myfanwyn Thomas, Green Lane; Gerald Mullane, Rotorua; Dick Stevenson, Green Lane; June Rose Betteridge, Mount Eden; Ethel Goodhew, Hikurangi; Elaine Hopkins, Taumarunui; Flo. Edwards. Auckland; Urban Massey, Mount Eden; Leo Jackson, Takapuna; Esme Peacocke, Epsom.