The Magic Boy

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 25, 4 January 1929, Page 15

The Magic Boy

(Written by

Peterkin

with the assistance of Young Listeners of 3YA.)

"THERE "was once a very brave boy mamed Jack. When he was fourteen years old he decided to leave home and see a little of the world, so he packed his few possessions in an old canvas bag, said good-bye to his father and mother, and walking down the garden path, passed through the gateway out on to the big wide roail. For many weeks he travelled on. He slept under hedges and in haystacks, and earned what food he needed by doing any odd jobs that came his way. He chopped wood, minded sheep, and earried water. He saw many strange and wonderful sights as he travelled, and then one day, just at the foot of a big hill, he came to a beautiful city. As he walked along the busy street. he noticed that every person he passed looked very sad. Though he searched every face he was unable to see even one faint smile. He thought that this was very strange, so he stopped a boy who was passing and asked him the reason why everyone looked so sad. "Why! Don’t you know?" said the lad in surprise. "It is because our Princess is bewitched. A magician from a neighbouring kingdom has turned her into a gold statue because she refused to marry him. Can yon wonder why we are sad?" "How terrible," said Jack. "Can nobody break the spell?’ "I’m afraid not,’ was the sad reply. "The man who restores the Princess to us -will have to be more powerful thaua

the magician and able to work greater wonders than he." Jack thanked the boy for the information, and after asking in which direction the Royal Palace lay he set off through the town. "T must try and save the Princess," he said aloud as he walked along. "I know a little of magic, and even if I fail and the magician kills me, I won’t mind. I will do my best."

In half an hour’s time he reached the Palace and knocked at the. front door, A gentleman magnificently robed in blue and gold asked him what . he wanted. "T have come to save the Princess," said Jack. "I am going to defeat the magician who has cast his spell upon her." The gentleman in blue and gold seemed rather surprised to hear a lad talking like this, but he took Jack to see the King and Queen. They were very pleased when they learned that

he was going to try to save their daughter, and they both shook hands with him. The Princess was sitting near by in her chair, a beautiful statue of gold, and Jack fell in love with her almost as soon as he saw her. "Where is the magician?’ asked Jack. "Who wants me?" asked a gruff voice. The next moment a horrible looking old man strode into the room. It was the magician. Because of his powers everyone was afraid of him, and he did just as he liked and lived in the Palace just like a Prince. He laughed when he saw Jack standing there, and threatened to turn him into a’ goat. — , "You can’t," said Jack boldly, "for my power is greater than yours. Bring me a pack of cards." A pack of cards was given to him, and he asked the Queen to select @& card. The Queen took the ace of hearts and put it back on top of the pack. "Now," said Jack, and he threw the ecards at the ceiling. To the amazement of all the cards fell in a shower to the floor, but the ace of hearts remained firmly fixed to the ceiling. "Tt will stay there until to-mor-row," said Jack, "and when the clock strikes the hour of noon it will fall" (Continued on page 24.)

Peterkin, of SYA, is winning a more than local fame by the very fine original stories told for the benefit of his circle of youthful listeners. Here is a notable specimen, the merit of which may induce readers further afield to "tune in" to 3YA during Children’s Hour.

The Magic Boy

(Continued from page 15.) "The "magician: turned, pale, for he knew he could not do such a wonderful trick as this, and all-the ladies and gentlemen of the court looked in wonderment at Jack, and hoped ‘that he would not fail in his task. for nobody liked the magiciap. All through the remainder of the day and all through the night armed men remained on guard to. see that no one touched the card, and the next morning many people gathered there to see the card fall when .the clock struck twelve. A warm wind was blowing through: the’ windows. so the magician immediately closed them and shut all the doors: as well. so that the card would not be blown down by the wind. for he knew that if:he gould ‘make the eard remain -on the ceiling after the clock had struck, Jack’s trick would be laughed at. ' At last the clock began to strike. Thousands of eyes looked up at the ecard. "hen-eleyen-twelve," sounded the clock, and almost before the last note had sounded the ecard fell to the floor right ‘at Jack’s feet, A tremendous shout rose into the air. The Princess immediately became her own beautiful self, and with a smile thanked Jack for having released her from the magician’s power. As for the magician-he fied. The people chased him. through the town and thrashed and’ beat him until his clothes were in rags, and he thought every bone in his body’ was broken. They chased him back into his own kingdom and slammed the gate on him. Back at the Palace, everyone WAs making a great fuss of Jack and telling him what a wonderful lad he was. With a smile he showed them how he did the trick. On the back of the ace of hearts was 4 thin slice of soap about the size of a sixpence. "You see," said Jack, "I put the soap onthe back ‘of the top card, and when it struck the ceiling the weight of the eards fastened it there, I knew that the soap would dry in about twentyfour hours, and that the vibration caused by the striking of the clock would ‘make the eard fall. It really wasn’t a very clever trick." "Yes, it was," replied the King. "And you are an honest lad for not wishing to deceive us.. We are very grateful to you for restoring our daughter to us. I will make you the richest man in the land." And all the people shouted "Hurrah! Three cheers for Jack."