A PAGE for the CHILDREN

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 24

A PAGE for the CHILDREN

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*TW certainly made a bad start: my horse, a beautiful Red W Dragon-fly from the edge of one of our bush creeks, became restive, and, taking me in a moment of deep thought, flung me very cleverly over his head. I was surprised, and to this day can only account for my poor horsemanship by recalling the nature Of my reflections at the moment. (A Further Adventure next month)

Dear Boys and Girls, — T T AVE you ever thought that J- X there may be fairies in our pretty bush country? I have a fancy that there must be, but they are so very quick to hear our footsteps, and hide as soon as we get near. Have you ever noticed how quiet it is when you step among the trees? Before you came the brown fairies and the green fairies were having a glorious game. Don't you think so? You could see the leaves flicker in the sunshine, and the grass waving wildly. That was because the pixies were climbing the trees and dropping from branch to branch, and playing leap-frog with the bush Robins and the fluttering Fantails, while the dear little Hedgespar-

row sang and sang as if he was a whole orchestra. If it was in springtime the Tui would be pealing his wonderful silver bells, and everybody _ would be having such a happy time. And when you came it all stopped! The fairies hid, oh, so quickly, and those that couldn't hide become invisible. Then they waited to see if you were a Big Brother or perhaps a Big Sister. Their bright eyes were watching you from behind a big leaf or a branch. They were so still, too, there was not a rustle—not the faintest crackle of a branch. For the trees ceased moving, and the grass. The robins said Tweet! Tweet! and flew away, but the fantails went on picking the moths

off the leaves, just as if they had not been in the thick of the fun only the minute before. And the fairies kept so still. They were waiting to see what you would do, and if you are kind and gentle, some day they will come out and make friends with von. as White Rabbit did with Billy Boy. Now I want you to watch this page of the Adventures of Sir Pixie White-Top, the wise old fairy who always rides the Big Red Dragon-fly when he goes out, and of course all sorts of flying and creeping creatures come to meet him. Among them will be some that you have not met on your walks and rides, so look out: for. them, on this page next month. Aunt Hilda.