THE WENDY HUT •

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 21

THE WENDY HUT •

FROM WENDY'S ARMCHAIR. ’

Would you like a long story this week, for a change, children? I think perhaps you would. Billikins says he s sure you would, and Tink says the Wendy Ladies can’t go on for ever making clothes for themselves or their dolls; and the Billy Boys can’t go on for ever making useful tilings in their workshops! So a story it shall be. I hope you’ll like Pipkin and Tipkin, the Pixie Twins. They're darlings! All tlie Hut Folk love them ’normously, although they are so tiresome; perhaps we love them because they’re tiresome —I don’t know! Anyway, here they are, making their (very deepest bows to yon, and imploring you not to think too badly of them. THE FAIRY QUEEN'S SHOES. The Fairy Cobbler had had a very hard day, and now he was feeling a little tired and cross. Ho was sitting outside his cottage, stroking his beard and smoking his pipe, when suddenly he heard a long, loud cheer, and the Royal Car —with the King and Queen of Fairyland in it — drew up outside his door! "flood evening, Cobbler!” smiled the Queen sweetly. “Good evening, Miss —Mam —I mean; your Majesty!’’ stammered the surprised Cobbler. "May I oblige your

Majesty with a bootlace —or a button —or—or something?” he enquired

nervously. “I don't want a bootlace, or a button!” the Queen said kindly. “I’ve heard your work praised so highly that I want you to make me a pair of shoes for the State Ball, which the King and I are giving next week. May I come in to have my foot measured?” And before the Cobler had time to recover from tiie shock of the honour, the Queen was in his front parlour! No-one had noticed the mischievous Pixie Twins peeping from behind a tree! Now, whenever the Pixie Twins, Tipkin and Pipkin, were about, you could always be sure thre would be mischief afoot i Silently they crept from their hiding place, and quiet as little mice, squatted on the ground just under the Cobbler’s parlour window. “I want,” eaid the Queen to the Cobbler, "Palo Pink Blushrose Satin ones, with dewdrop buckles and silver sheen heels. The etrap across must be made of a single moonbeam, andthis is most important of all —they must have the migie power of enabling me to change myself into someone else, if I wish to. Can you make them for me ?”

The Cobbler looked alarmed. “I’ve never made such a remarkable pair before, Miss—your Majesty, but I will do my humble beet, and bring them to the Palace myself on the eve of the Ball.” The Queen smiled. "I have faith in your powers. Cobbler, or I should not be here now.” And, bowing graciously, she re-enter-ed her car and drove away. As she did so, two little figures crept away from the Cobbler’s window and ran lightly down the path leading to the woods. Once safely out of sight they sat down under a tree, gurgling with glee. “Now we can have some fun,” said Tipkin. “I’ve got a simply glorious plan!” sighed Pipkin. For a long time the naughty Pixies sat whispering under the tree. “Oh. Pipkin, it’s a odoriferous plan!” cried Tipkin. “But how are we going to get any niagie power for the other pair?”

“From tho Weave-the-Speil Witch. She’s always glad to get toads and frogs,” answered Pipkin, “I know where to find lots. We’ll take her some. Then when she asks what wed like as payment, well just tell her!” And off they Hew. Weaving themselves a little basket, they soon filled it. ar.d made for the Witch’s hut. “Whole there?” asked a cross voice. “Tipkin and Pipkin,” replied the Pixio Twins. “Go away—l've nothing for you.” “But we’ve something for you!” laughed Pipkin. “What is it?” “Frogs and Toads —lots of them!” “Ob, then you may come in,” purred the Witch, in a voice as -sweet as honey-. “What do you want for them —a doughmr, or a piece of plum eake?” "W el!—what we should like best is some magic Turo-into-what-you-please powder.” "Please!” added Tipkin quickly. “What!” shouted the Witch. "Some of that precious stuff? No.” Then, as Pipkin pretended to move off with the frogs and toads, (which she really wanted very badly) “Oh, very well, ’ she grumbled. Anil going to a cupboard, took out a tiny packet and gave it to Pipkin. “Now be off!” she cried. Clutching the precious powder, the delighted Pixies fied.

“Now I wonder what they want that powder for?” chuckled the Witch, little dreaming of the mischief they were up to! Meanwhile, all Fairyland was preparing for the wonderful State Ball, and the news that Hie local Cobbler was making the Queen’s shoes spread like wildfire.

A day or two before the ball was to take place, he was bending busily over the dainty slippers when he heard a knock at the door. “Oh, Mr. Cobbler!” cred the Pixie Twins, as he opened it. “Are the Queen's shoes ready-? We’ve to take them to her by midnight. Iler’s her letter!” And Pipkin held out to the astonished Cobbler a large envelope bearing the Royal Crest! Slowly the Cobbler opened the letter, and this is what he read: “Her Majesty requests the Cobbler io hand her magic shoes to the bearers of this letter, so that they be delivered at the Royal Palace not later than midnight, to-night. (Signed) Titania, R. Queen of Fairyland.” “It seems right enough,” said the Gobbler. “But I can’t understand it. However, a Royal command is a Royal command. Come back at 11.30 and they’ll be ready. So, promptly" at 11.30 Tipkin and Pipkin returned, and the Cobbler handed them the precious shoes! “Now, for goodness’ sake, be careful of them, and don’t dawdle,” he begged. And, very demurely, the Twins promised to fly dll the vyay. They did. But not to the Royal Palace!

They flew’ down to Earth where all the little Humans lived, and straight through Gilda’s bedroom window! They unwrapped the magic shoes —tiptoed over to the cupboard and popped them in, removing at the same time Gilda’s own little pink satin slippers! “There!” whispqyed Pipkin. “Gilda always wanted ,to see Fairyland; and now she ean. Oh! Tipkin, won't it be fun to see —” A lot of whispering went on, and the mischievous little fellows simply shook with laughter. Then Pipkin, taking the magic powder out of his pocket, sprinkled it over Gilda’s own shoes, repeating, as he did so some strange words. It was the eve of the State Ball! There was great consternation at the Palace because the Queen’s shoes had not arrived!

“Don’t worry,” said the Queen to her distracted Lady-in-Waiting, with a queer little smile. "They’ll come in time.” At that very moment came a knock at the door. “Come in,” called the Queen.

And in came the Royal Footman, dragging, each by a little pointed ear, two very unwilling Pixies. "Your pardon, Madam, but these rascals put a parcel on your Majesty’s doorstep and ran away, so I chased them,” said the angry Royal Footman.

“I rather expected them,” said the Queen. You may leave me —I would speak with them alone.” In silence she unwrapped the parcel. “As I thought— shoes! I should like,” she continued, “to see them on someone else’s feet first. You will each put one on, so that I may see how the shape pleases me.”

And she held them out to the horrified Pixies.

“Your Majesty—such an honourput on your shoes— oh, no!” gasped Pipkin in a wobbly voice. “Oh, yes!” commanded the Queen, adding, with a merry twinkle in her eye, “It is an honour you —er —desirve!” In silence Pipkin and Tipkin each put on a shoe. In an instant two little

green figures stood before the Queen — half Pixie, half Human. They could only be half Human, you see, because they had only half the pair of shoes each!” “Luckily your plot was known to me,” said the Queen sternly. “Or you might have made me a laughing stock before my own people by turning me into a human child at a State function. I saw you coaxing the pantry boy to give you a sheet of Royal notepaper, and I had you followed. Now, your mischievous pranks have got to stop. I therefore comma ml you, as punishment, to wander through the world, half Pixie, half Human, doing good both to Fairies and to Humans, for five years. Then you may come to mo for pardon.” The State Ball was a huge success; Gilda had , lovely time in the Qheen’s shoes, and the Queen invites her to Fairyland every year. Pipkin and Tipkin have turned into the best little Pixies that ever happened, and every time the Cobbler has shoes to be delivered to the Palace, he sends for the Twins to take them there!