PRINCESS HYACINTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 572, 26 January 1929, Page 31

PRINCESS HYACINTH

AND THE AIR FAIRIES It <vvas the christening day of the Princess Hyacinth. All the kings and all the queens, all the princes and all the princesses, all the fairies and the elves and the court jesters had been asked. king was a very “hospitable man. He was like that. The dryads of the forest came with little crowns made of green leaves. When the princess wore one of these i crowns all the creatures of the woodlands would spring to her aid. The spirits of the sky had been up all night gathering star gems for a diadem. Very beautiful the diadem was, all shining and brilliant, and when the princess wore this no rain would spoil he.r best frock, and no sun take the colour out of her most delicate gown. Only the fairies of the air j were shut out. They had no gifts to 1 bring. “Let them remain outside in the cold.” said the king. He was like that. The windows were tight shut, and the lights shone through. Outside, the fairies moaned and sighed. Oh, that they had gifts. Every now and again one of them would look through the window, and see the revelry within and great tears would fall down her cheeks. “Alas! that we have no gifts to taka to Princess Hyacinth. If we had but the smallest treasure to offer then we. too, might join the christening feast,” wept the fairies. “Oh, ho! Oh, ho! What’s this?” cried a great rough voice, and West Wind swept by. “What is this I hear? Why are my fairies crying instead of going cheerfully about their work? There is much to be done.” “We cannot go to the feast.” sighed one. “We have no gifts to offer the little princess,” said another. The West Wind opened his great mouth and roared. Listen, and if you hear a sound like all the wind in the world passing through ail the tree tops in the biggest forest that ever grew—well, that is the roar of the West Wind as he passes through. “No gifts to offer?” cried the West Wind. “No gifts to offer. Ha! Ho! That is good. You have the greatest gift of all.” “What can we poor creatures of the air give?” asked the first fairy. "What have we that is of value to the little princess?” The West Wind quietened. He drew closer to the fairies, and in spite of j the shut windows a draught crept through the palace. “What have you to offer?” he j asked. “Why, the greatest gift of all.” ; Do you not bring Health with you? ! And is not Health the best thing in the world?” The fairies dried their tears. They had forgotten the gift that lay in their power to bestow. The oldest and the i tallest fairy went to the front door and knocked, and then she rang the bell. “Excuse me,” she said politely. “Will you open the windows. The fairies of the air wish to enter with their gilts.” “Certainly!” said the king, politely, too. “Come in will you? We are just going to have supper. Open the windows, varlets.” Then the windows were thrown wide open, and the guests sighed with relief. It was really rather stuffy, but of course they couldn’t mention it. In swept the fairies of the air. “We bring your daughter Health,” they cried. “As long as we are with you, she will keep our gift, but when you banish us—we shall take our gift with us.” “SEE THAT THE WINDOWS ARE NEVER SHUT!” commanded the king in capitals. He was like that. Long after the other gilts had worn out the princess kept the present tnat the fairies of the air had given her. She kept it till she was a rosy-cnc* .a-u old woman. And she has it still. Listen outside to-night. If you have shut out the fairies of the air open the window —even if it’s only a teeny way—and let them in. They will bring their gift to you too, and you will grow’ up strong and well and healthy like the princess.