THE RING OF WHITE TOADSTOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 702, 29 June 1929, Page 31

THE RING OF WHITE TOADSTOOLS

(Second Prize Story> Mary was always dreaming about fairies and she longed to visit Fairyland to seo the Fairy Queen. She had even tried tapping the hollow oak thrice and running round in a circle, but without avail. (>no day. just as she was going to give up soar oiling for the way to Fairyland, she found a ring of tiny white toadstools. iShe looked again—yes, it was a fairy ring, so she walked into the middle of it and said: “Fairy Bins, please ahoi me the way ta Fairyland! ” All at once she felt herself rising and immediately thought she was on her way to Fairyland. She closed her eyes and waited for what was to come next. Upon opening her eyes, and expecting to sco beautiful flowers and trees and busy little fairies flitting everywhere, she saw instead stumpy trees, withered flowers and horrible figure*clothed in black, crying shrilly. “A mortal, a mortal, at last!" Suddenly the crying ceased, hnd a. voice resembling the croaking of u, frog became audible. “It’s King Grumble,” screamed the creatures and glided away. Then Mary saw King Grumble coming toward her. He looked very untidy and was dressed in black. Mary patted her hair and brushed her tiny pink skirt down. "I’ll show him I can be tidy, even if he can’t.” she thought to herself. * King Crumble eyed Mary up and down. “A mortal, oh!” Then, catching sight of her pink dress, he roared “How dare you wear coloured dresses in my kingdom I hate colours, especi - ally pink. Queen Mab always wears pink. I suppose you are another of her ardent admirers, who has found her way quite by mistake, to Grumble Land- See all those grinning creatures?” he said, pointing to the blackrobed figures. “They are mortals who have lost their way when searching for Mab’s kingdom.” “I stood in a fairy ring.” began Mary, but King Grumble interrupted- “ Enough. 'twas my ring and not a. fairy one, and now you will have to pay the penalty.” “But •” said Mary. “Come on.” snapped Grumble. “See that tree? Cliinb it, and at the top you will find a little house in which the Crystal Ball of Happiness is stored. Bring that ball to me. It belongs to Mab. but, once I get it. Happiness will be gone for ever.” Mary climbed the tree very slowly and at last reached the top. The- cottage was neat and pretty; its roof was thatched and it had only one door and a window. Mary hesitated. Should she enter? Would she bo doing right? “No,” she thought, “I will not go in. I am Queen Mab’s friend, and will not harm her. I’ll wait and perhaps Queen Mab wil! help me " Just Then a bell began to ring—sweet and birdlike were the notes. Tlie. bell belonged to Fairy Bluebell, and she was returning from her supper to guard the cottage against King Grumble. i “Oh,” cried Mary, “must I take the 1 Crystal Ball back to Grumble?” “Indeed no!” answered Fairy Bluei bell. “By throwing the ball on to the ! roof you will recover Happiness for the Fairy Kingdom.” Mary did so. and sat down on the 1 doorstep of the cottage and waited, i Almost immediately she felt some- ! one kissing her cheek and lo! she dis- • covered Queen Mab standing on her shoulder. There were myriads of dainty fairies flitting around her. “Mary,” said Queen Mab, “you have rid my kingdom of one who has caused much unrest and discontent among my subjects, and your good deed shall not go unrewarded.” She handed Mary a beautiful ring, which sparkled like diamonds. Mary took the ring, then she felt herself pushing through space, and she found herself in her favourite playground—the Fairy Dell. “Surely I have not been dreaming?” she thought, but, no. there was the ring in her hand. Mary bas tried many times to find the ring of white toadstools, but in vain. Perhaps it was destroyed when the Crystal Ball of Happiness brought peace to the fairy kingdom. If ever you happen to find a ring of white toadstools, stand in it, and you may have an adventure similar to Mary’s. —Nola Craig (aged 13).