THE LOST HAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 822, 16 November 1929, Page 31

THE LOST HAT

j Paradise Bush were getting ready to go to the party given by the witch of Umbrella. Mrs. Tom-Tit twittered excitedly as she brushed Billy TomTit’s new suit. Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow j called out. "Hallo.” on their way past j the Tom-Tits* home. | the placid Field Mouse family, who lived on the edge of the wood. But perhaps the most excited of all was Danny A ellowhammer, who was going to a party for the first time in his life. He had no mother or father, but a. kind friend had bought him a beautiful big liat to wear at the party. Danny was feeling very proud and | happy as he fluttered through the | wood toward the witches’ cave. Now. you must know that Hallowe’en night is a magic night. All sorts of ! things happen that don’t occur on ordinary nights. Well, just as Danny was crossing Babbling Brook, somebody tweaked hi:hat off his head so softly that poo; Danny didn’t know it had gone. When he reached the cave he was not allowed to go, and all because he hadn’t a hat, which is the only thing that admits you to a Hallowe’en party. Foor Danny was broken-hearted. went out into the woods, sobbing as ii his heart would break. After a while he sat down on a toadstool, feeling very sorry for himself, because lie did want to go to the party. Every toadstool is a pixie’s home, and the one Danny was sitting on xv.<inhabited by Pixie Do-Good. 1 1 •- j popped his head out to see who was watering his garden, and was very i surprised to see Dannv. "Well. well.” he ‘ cried What’s wrong with you?” “Somebody’s taken my hat,” said Danny, between sniffs. "Never mind,” said Pixie Do-Good, kindly. “I’ll help you find it. I expect it was that naughty Pixie Will-o-tlie-Wisp up to his usual pranks He took out his handkerchief and wiped Danny’s wet eyes and cheeks. Then he took Danny’s hand and they set oft* to find Will-o-the-Wisp. They walked and walked and walked, asking everybody they saw if they had seen Will. Finally when Danny was almost giving up hope they found him asleep in Fairy Dell, with Danny's hat by bis side. They picked up the big hat, with its cats and witches all over it. and after Danny had put it on. they ran as fast as they could to the witches’ caw. The Big Brown Owl. who was doorkeeper, let them in with a jollv little chuckle when they told him about thhat. Danny had a marvellous time bobbing for apples, and other exciting things, until 12 o’clock, when everyone wended their sleepy way home. —Dorothy White, aged 15.