FOR THE CHILDREN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2622, 2 October 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

PEGGY AND THE PRINCE. “I? b’ii-ove—l truly b’lieve,” said Peg--1 fry, laiitiojisly. “that I could creep into that lioTe if I. took my coat off.” | it was very tight at first, hut soon ! widened out into a passage largo enough to let Peggy get on her feet, and run quickly along. There was ! something white running along in front 1 of her, and soon Peggy got near enough I to make out that it was a little white i dog, and she loved him dearly, hut she I was so fond of teasing him that lie I didn’t love her much. Sometimes she | held a tempting morsel in front of him, and snatched it away just as he opened his mouth to take it. Prince looked round with a distinctly annoyed expros- , sion.

“What’s it to you,” he harked out. “Gracious! can you talk?” cried Peggv astonished. “Why. of course, I always could.” “But 1 never understood you before,” said Peggy. “Didn’t you?” Prince stood and looked Tip at her. “Didn’t you really? Well, that explains it. I’m always telling you to stop teasing me, and you never pay any attention, but if you don’t understand me, of course that excuses you—to a certain extent, that is. Now come on.” They turned a curve in the passage, and came into a wood: but what a wood! Every tree was a Christinas tree, glittering with gold and silver and colored glass ornaments, covered with spangled nets, and simply loaded with the most lovely toys. “Oh!” screamed Peggy, and stead still, clasping her hands. “JLike some oh those toys?” asked

, Prince. ... “Oh, shouldn’t I?” “Then go and help yourself,” said Prince, turning away his head to hide a grin. ( Peggy rushed forward, and had just > put her hand on a sweet Teddy-bear I when it suddenly vanished, to appear I further up the tree, making faces at l her. The same thing happened with 1 everything she touched, till at last she i gave up trying to get anything, and, al- ' most crying with vexation, she came back to Prince. “Nasty teasing things,” she said. “Oh. 'don’t you like being teased," remarked Prince in a sui prised u-one. “That’s funny, for you’re so fond of teasing other people.” “I don’t want their nasty old toys.” pouted Peggy. “Let’s go somewhere else—” “All right. See that gate r That 11 take us to a rather jolly place.” The gate opened into a meadow, and after going some little distance they saw before them what looked like the preparations for a garden party. Tables were laid out decorated with beautiful flowers, and set with dishes of fruit, cakes, and dainties of every description. Peggy went up to the table, and stood staring at a tempting sweet, pink and fluffy. ' full of almonds and preserved fruits, and surrounded by whipped cream. .... “I should like some of that,” said Peggy, longingly, and Prince told her to help herself. Peggy eagerly piled a plate with the tempting compound, and sitting down, prepared to enjoy herself. But, just as she was raising the first mouthful to her lips, a jog of I her elbow from some invisible hand sent ! her spoon flying, while her plate was whisked out of sight. “Just as you do to me,” remarked Prince. “Does it amuse you to have it done to you?”

“Of course it doesn't,'' answered Peggy, crossly, and made a dart at some grapes which vanished just as she touched them. “Bother the old things! Let’s go somewhere else.” “Well, shall we go to the palace?” said Prince. “It’s quite near, and it’s really worth seeing.” “I should like that,” said Peggy, and wondered why Prince giggled behind his paw. They crossed the meadow and came into a beautiful park. In the centre rose a most gorgeous palace, all white marble and glittering gold. As they approached it, there came down the slope an enormous elephant. Peggy was terrified, but the huge beast knelt before Prince. “Welcome, most noble Prince,” it began. waving its trunk. “All your subjects are assembled, and only await your coming to hail you monarch.”

“Lead on. I come,” answered Prince, and the elephant wont on in front, followed by Peggy and her dog. Prince walked up to the throne, and took his seat with much pride. Peggy stood by wondering what would happen next. A splendid lion came out from among the other animals, and bowed low before the Prince. Peggy hid behind the throne while she watched the lion kiss the Prince’s out-stretched paw. Then followed a tiger, a camel, a rhinoceros, and a crocodile. Then came a pause; then a blast of trumpets, and there came, walking solemnly in between the rows of other animals a tiny snow-white kitten. As it curtsied before the prince, Peggy couldn’t help running to stroke it, it- was so pretty and small. But as she did so it arched

its back, puffed out its tail, and raised a tiny paw to scratch her,, Then she saw by its collar and bell jehat it was her very own “Kitty-pus.” “There’s a human here,” it squealed “a horrid human. “It’s Peggy, the tease; Peggy, the tease!” “Peggy, the tease! Peggy, the tease!” echoed the other animals, and they all made a rush forward. Peggy screamed with terror, but Prince jmjfo. ed down from bis throne and, junjjrJJgi front of her. “Don’t touch her. I won’t Iwke it,” lie shouted. “Peggy is a teas,a ml know, but she doesn’t understand oar long? uage, and doesn’t know how we hate to be teased. Now‘ that she docs she won’t tease us again, will you Peggy ?” “No, no,” cried Peggy, but the beasts only growled louder, and pushed further forward. “They won’t mind what I say,” whispered Prince. “Wo must fly. Round this way. Peggy; quick!” Round the throne he flew. Peggy after him, and the beasts after her. On. they rushed, through a door, down some steps, along a passage, into a cellar through that, along more passages’, pitch-dark and very narrow, till at last they fell up against the door, which burst open, letting them out into the open air. Peggy leant panting against the old tree, for she had come out at the very place where she had gone in. “Oh, thank you, dear Prince,” cried Peggy, stooping to pat the harking, frisking little dog. “You’ve saved me and it’s so good of you, because I know I’ve teased you dreadfully.”

“Wonf, wouf, wouf!” barked Prince, but Peggy could no longer understand him. She tried hard, but it was no use. “Never mind,,” she said at last, “'Anyhow, you did save me. and I didn’t deserve it. But I won’t _ ever tease you again or anyone c-lse, either. Do you hear. Prince?” “Wouf! wouf!” said Prince.—The Countess Serkoff.