For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

For the Children.

THE WIZARD’S CASTLE IN THE AIR.

Some time ago a Avizard built a castle iu Spain and hung it betAvecu the earth and the sky. Princess Isabella, the only child of the king, Avas one of tho first to ride out and look at tho Avork of enchantment. But as she., stood gazing at it, the wizard fleAv doAvn and carried her up into liis castle.

When the king learned Avkat had happened, he commanded his soldiers to make a great ladder and storm the castle, saying, “He avlio rescues, my daughter shall marry her.” But the soldiers could not make a ladder long enough to reach the castle, and one by one they gave up the task and returned home. At last only Diego, a little peasant lad, remained. Diego spent his time in practising archery. One day a gipsy man came and found him tying hundreds of yards of string to his arroAAS. “I’ll stay and help you,’# said the gipsy. Diego shot the arrows into the oaken gate of the castle, and then, tAvisting the strings into a rope, he climbed up Avith his bow slung over his shoulder, and his last and sharpest arrowbet Aveen his teeth.

“Who’s throwing stones?” said the wizard, as the arroAvs struck his gate. He looked out to see Avhat Avas happening, and Diego fixed his last and sharpest arrow' in his bow, and shot the wizard. Diego then strode into tho castle and found Princess Isabella there. He led her out and tied the rope beneath her • arms, and gently loAvered her into the arms of the

/ gipsy. But before Diego could climb f dow'iL himself, .Jim gipsy set fire to 5 the rope, and Yode aAvay Avith the / princess. I \ “I burnt the rope,” said the gipsy to Isabella, “so that Diego should remain in the castle and look after it for me. He is only my servant. I fixed the rope and killed the wizard, and sent Diego up to lower you into my arms.” The princess did not believe him, but the king did. The gipsy Avas dressed in splendid garments, and all preparations Avere made for the Avedding. MeaiiAA’liile, Diego avis trying to find a Avay of escape. At last he discovered a AA'lieel for moving the castle through the air,'and another for loAvering it to the ground. So lie steered the castle into the city of Madrid and placed it beside the cathedral, just as the Avedding procession Avas approaching. As he ran out of the castle gate, the gipsy leaped from the bridal carriage in terror and fled, and Princess Isabella turned to the kind and said: “This is the handsome hoy avlio really killed the wizard and rescued me. ” “Well, then,” said tlie king, “he shall be your bridegroom.” So Diego and the beautiful princess were happily married, and a few years afterwards Isabella’s father died, and Diego became King of Spain.

THE FOUR-LEAFED SHAMROCK

It is not often that a sprig of shamrock Avith four leaves is found in among the three-leafed clover. Ir -ever you find it, keep it carefully, and then you Avill neA-er fall under any sort of spell. , , . ... Once a shoAvman avlio had tlie gut of glamour came to Dublin, and amazed the people there by the things he did. Of all the marvels he displayed, the marvel of the little hen and the great tree AA’as the strangest. He stood in a street, and there the people saiv him harness a little hen to a tree too great for a horse to move; and then they say the little lien draw the great tree about the road as easily as possible. But in the afternoon a country girl came AA'alking doAA’ii the street AA'ith a bundle of hay under her arm, and among the hay, though she did not Avas some four-leafed shamrock. , , “What is there to -wonder at?" said the girl to the people wh 0 were tr iving tlie sliOAvma n o.f money. “"Why, it s only a lien cirag-o-ing a bit of straw about!” ° And so it really Avas. But the sliOAA'man had put the glamour on tlie people, and the bit of straAA' seemed to them to be a great tree. “Here’s a shilling,” said the slioavman qmckl a* to the girl. Give me that hay for my horse.” The girl gave him the liay, ana then she cried: “Well, I never! Its a great tree the lien is pulling about, after all. For, having lost the four-leafed shamrock, she also fell under tlie spell.

SUPPOSIN’ RAIN. Suppose the raindrop family Upon a summer’s day Remarked: “Why should we leave this cloud. ■When up here we can stay? Straightway they played the children’s' games That you each play and love, And never fell a single drop

Then s’pose the flowers called and cried: “Fall on us, gentle rain!’ And every thirsty brook and rill Said: “Come to us again.” While waved the withered leaves and •grass: “Have pitv else wo die.” And s’pose their voices reached The raindrops playing tag on high, I’m very sure I’ve heal'd you say: “I wish the rain would fade away— A fellow has no chance to play.” * Supposin’ as they heard the cries Each one his play did stop, And, looking sicl and very aviso, Said: “Surely wc must drop; So get together every one Inside this cloud of rain; Fall straightway down and drench the earth With all your might and main.”

And then suppose a blinding shower Fell on the thirsty eartli; Each blade of grass and little flower Looked up and laughed with mirth, Anti all 'the loaams danced in the breeze, While every brook .and- rill Went gurgling on with joyful thanks When they had drunk tlieir fill. This point with you I must discuss; ’Tis very wrong to make A fuss. When little raindrops fall on us. — li'Qije Elliott Beusoii.