THE VIOLET PATCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 29

THE VIOLET PATCH

Little Beryl was strolling in her garden one day, admiring the violets in the little patch at the end of the garden. As she stood there, she tnought she heard a noise behind her and. turning round, she beheld a beautiful fairy dressed in a frock of shimmering spider-web. 1 I’ve come to take you to the Land of Flowers,” she said. “Come. Beryl, take my hand.” Shyly Beryl took the fairy's hano and together they made their way through the violets. Suddenly they came to something which Beryl had never seen before —a little opening in the ground from which a flight of steps led downward. Soon they came to the bottom and. looking round. Beryl saw myriads of different kinds of flowers in a wonderful garden. . "I must leave you now.” said the fairv. - While I am away you may ask the flowers to tell you their stories. So saying, she turned and flew away. "That was the Queen of Bright Ideas." said a voice beside her. and. looking down, she saw a daffodil. "Please tell me your story," said Beryl, so the Daffodil told her that once he had been a wonderful bird of rich, golden plumage. He used to sing at the windows of sick-rooms and make the patients happy. When I ho grew old and weary the queen mad® him into a daffodil. Beryl thanked the Daffodil for his --torv and passed on to the next flower. [ she asked many flowers their stories. | but tlie one she liked most was that of the violet. "I was once a page-boy for a beautiful princess," ho told Beryl. "I f e *' in love with the princess, and asked her father for her hand in marriage Her father was very angry and said that unless I could bring him the head of a dragon (for he was the only king without one). I could not have the jirincess. Of course tlie task was a very hard and dangerous one, but 1 decided to set out and see what I ! could do. I was away for about two ..-pars before I was able to obtain my ! prize. When I had got the dragon’s 1 head I returned, but, alas, when I ar- ] rived at the palace I found that the i princess liad married another prince. | Then the Queen of Bright Ideas made me into a Violet." Just then the Queen returned and I told Beryl it was time to go. They | went back up the stairs, and made their way through the violets. \ "How sweet they look," said Bery*. I "I shall always love the violets now j She said good-bye to the fairy, and ! -rood looking at the violets. She has I Often visited the violet patch, and looked for the opening in the ground | hut. strange to say. she has never I found it. . ~ —Audrey Crewdson, aged 13.