Bern's Fairy Tales.

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A Call for Help.

I awoke with this call for help ringing in my ears. At first I thought that I was still muddled from a dream, the call came again this time not so strong. It was as if the call was from far away. I got up and threw some clothes on and hurried to the woods where fairyland begins. The call was getting weaker and I knew I needed help to trace it. At last I saw some Fairies deeply concentrated on painting some flowers. I asked them to listen and help me to trace the call.

There it was again, "Please help me." This time the Fairies too heard the call and we concentrated with all our craft to trace where it was coming from. It is from the north said the fairies and out came their wands and pointing them at me we just vanished and were in a spot in the south of Fairyland. Here we saw a Fairy that looked as if she had been caught in a rough storm. Her golden hair was straggled and her pretty face dirty her clothes were torn and she was caught in a large bramble bush.

I freed her from the bramble bush and with the help of the Fairies we made her comfortable and asked her why she was caught in the brambles. All Fairies had a magic wand this should have got her out of any trouble. "My name," she shyly said, is Rosefee.” I come from the far north." "I have a message for the Fairy Queen Feeana." All of the way here I have been followed by a shadow." "A black shadow." " Yesterday evening the shadow nearly caught me; with my wand I was able to get away but being frightened I did not look where I was going." "I was free from the shadow but caught in this thick bramble bush." "I dropped my magic wand, which made matters worse, and I could not free myself." "I have been sending help messages all through the night as the message for Queen Feeana is very important."

The Fairies had in the meantime found her wand that was on the floor under the bramble bush. A ring was made with the Fairy Rosafee and myself in the middle and all of the fairy’s wands were pointed at us. A bright light, a puff of smoke and we were all standing in the Royal gardens of Queen Feeana.

Her Majesty I think had been awaiting us for she showed no signs of surprise." What is your message child?" she kindly asked Rosafee. Rosafee pulled a small roll of Parchment from out of her clothes. ‘She had hidden it well.’ Giving the roll to Her Majesty she shyly curtsied and fell into a faint. Her Majesty waved her wand and Rosafee now looking as if she had been washed from head to toe and dressed in fresh clothes with her hair nicely combed stood smiling as if nothing had happened.

Her Majesty untied the silken thread from the roll of parchment and giving it one quick glance she pulled her Magic Mirror from her pocket. Looking into the Mirror she saw the black shadow that had been following poor Rosafee. It was a Witch that had been making life a misery for the northern Fairies. She had been mixing all kinds of herbs. Leaves, roots, and other things that she had found in the woods and this mixture turned all growing things into a thick green slush. Half of the northern fairyland was covered with this slime and if no one stopped her there would soon be no woods, flowers bushes or even trees in the North of England.

The Witch had known that the Fairies would ask for help and it was her plan to make herself into a black shadow and catch each messenger that the Fairies from the north sent and so stop any help from the Queen. The Witch had in her disguise caught two Fairies and she nearly caught Rosafee. It was Rosafee’s seeing the black shadow that had saved her.
Her Majesty looked very serious and I thought to myself I would not like to be in the skin of the Witch at this moment.

Queen Feeana took out her magic wand and spoke some words in the old language. The slime in the North of England disappeared and all went back to normal. The Queen freed the two Fairies that the Witch had caught. Then turning to look at us she asked what we would do if we were in her position. The Fairies did not know what to say but I said. "Your Majesty she came here as a black shadow why not let her stay a black shadow for the rest of her life. In this way she can do no more harm." "It shall be so!" said her Majesty and the black shadow is still roaming this earth. But it is harmless so do not be afraid if you should see a black shadow floating around somewhere it is only the Witch.

A Fairy Attic.

At the top of my stairs leading to the bedrooms and upper bathroom there is a door well hidden that goes up in to my attic. Over the years I have put everything up there that might come in useful at one time or another. All of my child’s playthings are in the attic stored in boxes, as are old children’s clothes and even the clothes of my parents and grandparents. Many boxes have the contents written on them others one must open to see what is in them. Five boxes are filled with very old books. Twice a year I go up and run the Hoover over the attic and at the same time get rid of the cobwebs.

The attic door is really a panel of wood. One must know where to press the wood to get the door to open. My grandfather who was a carpenter built the door and steps to the attic just after the war. He made such a good job of the door that for years no one realised that there was an attic in the house. Apart from cleaning the attic twice a year no one went up there. That is no one until the fairies followed me after our first meeting in the woods.

I invited them to come and spend the day with me. I suppose I wanted to show them that we too have magic in the form of television or even the telephone. They came early and stayed until the light of day was long gone. I offered to put them up in the upper bedrooms. I myself slept down stairs the upper part of the house was hardly ever used. A cleaning woman came in twice a week and looked after the house. I had, had no visitors to my house in years only the postman and the milkman ever visited or knocked on the front door. I did my own shopping in the town and was known by one and all as the strange man from up the road.

In no time at all the Fairies had not only discovered the attic but were happily playing with my old toys. My old electric train set became very popular and I went into town and bought some more tracks so that the trains could run all around the attics. The top of the house was huge and there were four large attic rooms. The Fairies took it over soon there were no toys left in the boxes. Teddy bears of which there were four were placed in the middle of the rooms. Toy cars raced against each other even my old farmyard with its animals was now part of the landscape for the trains that ran around the attic.

I now broke down lumps of coal and ran a water pipe up in to the attic I forgot to mention that two of the engines were steam engines and were fired with coal. Smoke came out of the chimneys of the locomotives and steam from the pistons that drove the wheels. I was surprised at how the Fairies kept the attics so clean until I realised they used their magic wands. One of my old teddy bears had aver the years lost one eye in the town I bought a replacement eye for him and sewed it on. I now had a teddy with two eyes and he looked real cuddly.

The Fairies took over my life entirely; I went into town a little more as I now needed more groceries to feed my guests. I covered the attic floors with carpets and even put in a central heating for the little folk so that they can play the whole year round if the want to. At this time I did not know that all Fairies and butterflies go to some huge caves in the winter months; under the Himalayan Mountains between China and Tibet. But that is another story that I have already told in the past.

One day Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies came to see my attic. The Fairies had told her so much about my old railway trains and the other toys that she had to come and see them for herself. Before she left Her Majesty sprinkled the whole of my house and garden with magic dust. This was to help keep safe all that entered into my property be it Fairies or other creatures. I now have many different birds coming to my garden. In the winter I place seeds and corns for them to eat also from the butchers I buy a large piece of suet to cut up and hang on my trees and bushes so that the birds get the fat that they so badly need in the winter months.

The Fairies have lost all shy of me and now bring their friends with them. Leprechauns often visit me and many a story is told over a sweet hot cup of tea. Leprechauns love a cup of tea it seems to loosen their tongues and some of their tales are very interesting but I often wonder if they are true or not. Pixies come to the house, as do the Imps and many others of the little folk. Since my house and garden has been dusted with magic dust it has become a regular meeting place. All are welcome and many stay for a week or two.

Last week a storm blew off some tiles from my roof and let the rain into my attic. I phoned the men that repair roofs but all were too busy there was so much damage done. I hastily covered the attic with sheets of plastic to stop the old toys and the carpets from getting wet. This of course means that no one could play in the attic. It was then that I learned of the Fairies generosity and helpfulness. A message was sent to the Leprechauns and in no time there was three Leprechauns on my roof doing repairs.

I made plenty of hot sweet tea and for the workers and the roof was finished in no time. I phoned the local store and ordered ice cream for my guests and workers. A man with a red shiny nose delivered the ice cream. He wanted to know why I wanted so much. I told him that I was holding a party for some local children. This answer seemed to satisfy him and after paying him for the ice cream he left. We all had one glorious party it was held up in my attic after I had cleared away all the sheets of plastic.

The Leprechauns that had done the repairs told me that it was time for a new roof to be built to replace the old one. In the summer we will come and do the work for you. I ordered the new slates for the roof from a local building store and the following summer twenty Leprechauns stripped my old roof and in twelve hours a new roof was on my old house. I gave each of the Leprechauns a golden coin for their help. I was not worried about a storm any more I had seen the Leprechauns building the new roof and it was fixed in such a way that not even the strongest wind could blow a slate off of the roof.

A Good Witch.

Next to the forest there lived a lonely elderly woman. She was poor and made a living of sorts by collecting herbs and roots in the forest. The herbs and roots she used to make tinctures and syrups for coughs and colds also for sinking fevers when it was deemed necessary. The villagers came from miles around asking her for help. She never refused to help even when the villagers had no money to pay for her medicines, tinctures and ointments.

One day late in September a mother brought her young child that was suffering from a high fever for the woman’s help. The mother of the child had tried everything to get the fever down. The elderly lady that most people called the witch told the mother that she had no remedy for sinking the child’s fever all that she had in her poor home was for grown ups and she would have go and look for a special root that would sink the child’s fever without harming her.

Making the mother a special tea for the baby the elderly woman went off into the forest to look for the root that would help with the fever. The poor woman walked for miles before she came across such a root. Carefully digging it out from the ground she cleaned it and placed it in her basket.

Turning she went to walk back to her home on the edge of the woods. It was getting dark and she realised that she was in a part of the forest that she had never seen before. What was she to do? the mother was waiting at her home with the child that was ill. Sitting down in the forest she thought of a way to get back home as quickly as possible. Nothing came into her head it seemed as if the baby was going to die.

At the edge of the clearing where she sat thinking a Fairy had been watching the elderly lady. As we all know Fairies can read a human brain like a book. The fairy decided that she would help the elderly lady. Turning she lifted her head and gave a gentle whistle. A most beautiful white unicorn came trotting into the clearing. The Fairy spoke to the elderly lady and told her to sit on the unicorns back and it would take her back to her home. In a matter of minutes the Unicorn stopped near the elderly woman’s cottage and left as quietly as it had come.

Greeting the mother of the child the elderly lady took down a large pot and placed a few herbs with some water onto the fire. Carefully cleaning the root that she had found she cut it up and put it in the pot with the other herbs. Leaving it to boil for an hour she then carefully strained the juice into a cup and as soon as it was cool enough to drink gave the baby a few drops at a time. When the cup was empty the elderly lady felt the babies forehead and told the mother that the fever had gone. Then she poured some more of the juice into an old green bottle and told the Mother to give the baby a few drops if the temperature should come back. The Mother thanked the elderly woman and placed a halfpenny onto the table. It was really more than she could afford and the elderly woman smiled and thanked her.

When the Mother returned home to her husband with the baby she told him how the elderly woman had spent the whole day looking for the special root for the child’s medicine. The husband asked how much the elderly lady had charged for curing the baby. He would not believe that she had treated his child for nothing. His wife was afraid to tell him about the halfpenny. The man only earned one penny a week for chopping wood.

A week later the man was in the woods chopping down trees when he found a silver shilling lying on the ground. He did not see the elderly lady that had been watching him or the fairy that had dropped the silver shilling so that he could find it. From that day on the wood chopper and his family always had work and food and once a week they would go to the elderly woman’s house to see her and bring a few little cakes or a half a loaf of bread. They never forgot the kind old woman that many still call a witch.

A Sealed Envelope.

A sealed envelope, an important looking seal in bright red sealing wax closing the envelope as if forever. Did this envelope contain a secret message or was it a love letter only to be opened by the person it was addressed to? The envelope had been on its way for a long time the parchment of the envelope was now beginning to look faded and yellow was the shrift. The last messenger a wizened old Leprechaun came off the sailing ship as it anchored in Liverpool after crossing the Atlantic from New York in the United States of America. His hair needed combing and a shave would have made him look more respectable. His clothing looked as if he had been sleeping in them for at least a week or more. The leather satchel that he carried with the mysterious envelope was old and scratched it had seen long service.

The wizened old Leprechaun seemed to know where he was going. On foot he left Liverpool heading south over the old coach road leading to Manchester. He was making his way to London where he would receive instructions for his further journey. Weary and tired a week later he reached the busy City of London and made his way to a tavern in the Caledonian Road. Here another Leprechaun that had obviously been waiting for him contacted him. A few whispered instructions and the wizened old Leprechaun made his way further south to the old town of Dartford. Arriving on Dartford Heath late one Sunday evening he made himself comfortable on a bed of ferns and slept a fitful sleep until the morning.

Dartford Heath was much larger in those old days there was just a cottage or two it was mainly brush and scrubs with here and there a few trees. What the People of Dartford did not know the heath was a favourite place of the Little Folk. Fairies were to be found here in the spring and summer months in autumn and the cold winters where the cold East wind blows the Fairies just disappeared to return when it got warmer.

The wizened old Leprechaun was up at the crack of dawn wakened by the birds singing their praises to the new day. He impatiently waited for the Fairies to show. He had come a long way and wanted nothing more than his pay for delivering the envelope safely. At last the Fairies arrived singing and dancing and playing the age-old games that Fairies play when they are happy. The Fairies soon spotted the Leprechaun and asked him what he wanted. The Leprechaun smiled his slightly crooked smile and said, "Why her Majesty of course I have come a long way to deliver this important message in to her Majesties own hands."

The sound of music filled the air and her Majesty appeared dressed in a flowing long gown of silver and gold embroidery. On her head the royal crown. In her hand a magic golden wand. The Leprechaun on seeing her Majesty made a bow and slowly opened his old satchel. He carefully took the old parchment envelope with its bright red seal and gave it to her majesty. Her Majesty thanked him and gave him some magic gold. The Leprechaun his business done turned and walked away from Dartford heath. With never a glance back.

Her Majesty broke the seal and opened the letter. There was just one sheet of paper with no writing to be seen. The Queen waved her wand and there appeared a message on the paper that before had been empty. It was written in the old language and only her Majesty could read it. Smiling the Fairy Queen called all of the little Folk together and told them there would be an evening of merrymaking The Fairies from the United States and Canada would arrive later in the day.

On Dartford Heath there lived a wizard who hated the Fairies and all that they stood for. He heard the Fairy Queen’s words and swore that he would interrupt any festivities that the Fairies were to hold for that evening. On the Heath at Dartford there were many old dry gorse bushes. The Wizards plan was to set the gorse alight as soon as the Fairies from abroad arrived.

He did not have long to wait for there was a bright flash and a rush of wind and the Fairies from the America’s arrived in a shower of fine magic dust. As soon as the wizard saw this he set fire to a torch that he held in his hand and ran along the edge of the heath setting fire to all of the gorse bushes that he could. Soon the whole Heath appeared to be in flames. The Fairy Queen Feeana smiled and waved her wand. A terrific thunderstorm appeared overhead and it poured with rain. The Wizard tried to set more gorse bushes alight but they were too wet to catch fire. The Queen Feeana waved her wand once more and the evil Wizard turned into a number of stones that flew through the air until they landed at the ford that was the crossing place of the river Dart. That is why Dartford is so called.

The Queen Feeana waved her wand a third time and the sun shone down on Dartford Heath and soon all was dry again. One of the biggest Fairy dances that has ever been seen took place on Dartford Heath with the Fairies from Britain and the Fairies from the America’s. All had a most wonderful time.

A Short Fairy History.

The Fairy Queen was telling me the stories of the fairies that go way back in time, the first fairies were different in many ways to those that roam the earth today. Their ears were large and pointed the nose was bigger and longer than it is today. The fairies of old were only able to perform very simple acts of magic such as lighting a fire or getting milk from the animals that roamed the earth in those far off days. The wings gradually developed over thousands of years. They were also bigger about the size of human children of about five today.

As the centuries passed different fairy groups appeared such as the Trolls, the Goblins, Gnomes, not forgetting the Leprechauns, and many, many more. Fairyland covered the whole of the earth in those far off days. There were horses that had wings and could fly. Dragons that did not really breathe out fire, It was a form of acid that burnt terribly if sprayed on a human or even it could eat its way through wood and the early forms of metal they were just discovering how to make. The Dragons of the old days did not eat damsels in distress but they could eat a cow or other animal if the got close enough to spray it with acid. Then there were the very shy unicorns they had a horn in the middle of the forehead. It was for the purpose of defence but it was rarely used.

Slowly but surely some of the old magic rubbed off on to humans such as the Witches and the Wizards most of them were harmless and concentrated on learning the secrets of nature, others were filled with the insane idea that they could make metals into gold. Others tried to make diamonds. The most successful of these old Wizards are spoken about especially by people living in the lands of the old Celts, France, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Other parts of the world still remember the fairy folk but not many people are privileged to see them. Mainly the very young or the very old see the Fairy folk. Most of the older people think that they are having hallucinations and go to see a Doctor.

The last of the great magicians was Merlin. Merlin served at the court of King Arthur. He was well versed in the arts of healing with herbs but also had the gift of being able to see into the future. This helped King Arthur to make decisions as to how to fight against the many foes that fought against him.

Many of the old Witches were healers and learned how to make use of natures flowers and roots most of them were harmless and lived alone. Some of them kept a pet such as a cat or an owl, these creatures they found in the wilds either injured or fallen out of a nest. They were taken back to the cottage and nursed until they were well most of these animals and birds stayed with the witches and were kept as house pets.

More of the fairy History on some other day, there is lots to be told I am writing it all down as the Fairy Queen tells me about it.

Fairy History Two.

Many fairies were kidnapped by the human folk in those far off days, They were given the most menial jobs of work to do, they were fed on the scraps that were left over from the meal times; all in all a very bad treatment of the early fairies. One of these became world famous she was known as Cinderella. Another fairy captive in the old days is told about Rapunzel, she was of course rescued by a Fairy Prince, no mortal man could have climbed up to her window by her long tresses of hair he would have been too heavy. There are many such cases; The German Authors the brothers Grimm wrote many a tale of captive Fairies.

This kidnapping of young fairies was very serious and a meeting was called of the wise fairies. A long discussion took place as to how the human beings could be stopped at such outrageous doings. The wise fairies finally decided through the use of their knowledge of herbs and magic to make a brew that when drunken of the fairies would shrink thus making it easier for them to hide from the humans. The strange part was that the smaller the fairies were the tendency to grow wings became more and more pronounced. Soon all fairies had wings and strangely enough all-newborn fairy babies were born with wings. The Fairies could not only hide from the humans but also fly away when danger threatened them.

The knowledge and power of magic grew with the fairies now they did not have to hide from the human beings they could invest more time in other things. Their knowledge became so great that Fairy Universities were grounded. The humans found out about these Universities through a Leprechaun that had, had too much to drink. It was decided that those humans that were intelligent enough to pass a test would be admitted to the university. In the universities Latin was taught it was the closest language to the ancient fairy language spoken in those far off days.

The Fairy Queen is tired and says that she will tell me more about the fairies another time. It was very exciting and I have tried to tell you her story as she told it to me, more the next time.

A Unicorn For Andromeda.

It had been a good summer with just the occasional days rain here and there. I was on the last week of my walking holiday when I thought I heard the low whinny of a horse. As I got to the top of the hill I saw in front of me a low shed the walls were good and so was the door but most of the tiles had come off from the roof. It looked dilapidated. I heard the whinny again this time a little louder. There is something wrong with that horse I said to myself and approached the door of the shed. The door was locked and did not give way as I put my weight to it. I could now hear the horse clearly and it was in some kind of trouble. Looking around the hut I found on the far side a ladder. Placing the ladder to the roof I climbed up and looked through one of the openings that had been made as the tiles had fallen off.

To my great surprise I saw that a Unicorn filthy with dirt and with its bones sticking out from its very thin body. I made the hole larger and pulling the ladder up behind me onto the roof I lowered the ladder down into the shed and climbed down. The floor was covered with horse droppings and the strong smell of urine was now overpowering. I moved to the animal and proceeded to stroke it. It gave a soft moan from its mouth and I saw that its eyes were dull. All that I had with me was my magic wand given to me by Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. I gently placed my hands around the Unicorns neck and spoke the magic words that transferred us to the Fairies Winter Quarters under the Himalayan Mountains.

Here I gave the Unicorn some water and then a large palette of freshly cut hay. Her Majesty appeared and saw that I had brought the Unicorn to the winter quarters. I explained to her majesty that I could think of no safer place for the poor animal than here. Here it would be safe from its so-called owner. No one can own a Unicorn as you all know but this one had been caught late one night by a Wizard who immediately placed it in the shed. He had sawn off the horn and used it to make magic spells he fed the animal only when he thought of it and as for water that each animal needs daily he just was not bothered.

Her Majesty took from her dress pocket her Magic wand and murmuring a spell in the old language she waved the wand at the unicorn. I should not have been surprised but what a change the Unicorn was now snow white and its horn had grown to its full extent and its intelligent eyes again had the spark of hope. The Queen spoke to it in her gentle voice and it told us of its being captured and left to rot in the shed. It had often heard people going by but no one had heard its whinnies for help. It seems that I had been the first to answer its call for help in ten long years of captivity in the Wizards shed.

Her Majesty spoke once again to the unicorn telling it that she was sending it to the Galaxy of Andromeda to the planet where the original fairies lived. There were the Dragons and Unicorns and the flying horses that were in such danger on earth. All roamed the planet freely and had no enemies on their world. The Queen then waved her wand once more a blue flash a small puff of smoke and the Unicorn disappeared. "What are you thinking about? Her Majesties question made me aware that I was still in the caves under the Himalayan Mountains. " Your Majesty," I heard myself say, "That Wizard needs to be punished for his crime against a harmless animal I suggest that you turn him into a donkey and send him to North Africa to work for a poor Farmer. Let him feel for himself what it is like to have little water or feed and to work for long periods." Her Majesty smiled and said,"So it shall be, he will stay in North Africa until the ten years are up then he will have to find his way back to England. That is indeed a fitting punishment for such a cruel man." With another wave of her wand I found myself back home in my Kitchen making a pot of fresh tea. I had been away for three whole weeks.

I spent the next couple of weeks tending my back garden there was so many weeds to pull from the ground the grass needed cutting both back and front. I was very busy and did not go to the woods for about a month. When I did go to the woods the Fairies were full of the fact that I had rescued a Unicorn. A dance was quickly organised and yes I was the Guest of Honour for that evening. The Fairies laid on a very good meal and many a fairy cake disappeared down my throat. The drinks were out of this world with Parsley wine elderberry wine and my favourite Parsnip wine. I must admit I went to my bed very late that evening or should I say early hours of the morning.

Wizard’s Home.

Many visitors came to Fairyland in the last year or two. There were Leprechauns, Imps, Fairies, Pixies, Bogeys and many more. Most only came to visit but some stayed on in Fairyland and built for themselves new homes. The Leprechauns were kept busy for one whole year building the new homes. Many were the materials used for building purposes. Wood was the most popular and many an old oak tree was chopped down for making new houses.

One of the oaks was the home of a very powerful Wizard who was away studying advanced magic in a land far across the seas. Some Leprechauns and a couple of beavers that helped them chopped down the tree. It was a most terrible mistake for them to make and as soon as the Leprechauns realised what they had done they left Fairyland and went back home to Ireland where they made shoes and other leather goods for the rest of their long, long lives.

One year later the Wizard returned to what had been his home and found just the remains of a large hole in the ground where the old oak tree had previously stood. He was very angry and worked a magic spell. Every new house with the tiniest piece of his old oak tree built into it would never be warm in wintertime. This was a terrible spell and the Little Folk asked the Fairy Queen Feeana for her help. The Queen went to the Wizard and offered to magic him a new tree one with all possible comforts if he would take off the spell that he had cast.

The Wizard at first refused to take the spell away from Fairyland but then he had an idea and told the Fairy Queen Feeana what his new scheme was. The Leprechauns that had chopped down his tree would only be able to come back to Fairyland if they each agreed to cut wood for a whole years supply for the Wizard. As for the Beavers their punishment was that they could only build their watery homes in water that freezes in winter so that they too would be more careful in future about chopping down trees without first making sure that they were not somebody’s home.

The Wizard is still waiting for his firewood; as you perhaps know not one of the Leprechauns ever went back to Fairyland and as for the beavers they were happy when the surface of the water froze over it meant they could have great fun sliding across the ice. You if you are lucky might see the beavers playing on the ice in wintertime. They are not worried about the Wizards magic at all.

Angry Birds.

There is trouble in Fairyland. The birds have complained to the Fairy Queen Feeana that their nests are being robbed. Some of the nests have been cleared of eggs altogether. This was a very serious matter and the Fairy Queen asked the Owls in Fairyland to keep a look out for the egg thieves.

Owls as we all know are very intelligent birds with very large eyes that always seem to be open both by night and by day. The Owls were highly honoured at being selected by the Fairy Queen Feeana to find the egg thieves.

Owls can sit for long periods without moving their heads; they just move their large round eyes. They see everything that goes on in the forests and woods of Fairyland. They did not have to wait long. The young Fairy Boys were the egg thieves. They stole not because they were hungry. No one in Fairyland can go hungry food is provided for all of the fairy folk. They were very mischievous as most Fairy children are.

Too make sure that it was just the Fairy Boys that were taking the eggs the Owls waited one long week before making their report to the Fairy Queen Feeana. The Oldest and most clever of all the Owls flew quietly as only an Owl can fly direct to the Fairy Queen. He made his report to her Majesty and flew back to his favourite tree where he made himself comfortable for the rest of the day.

The Fairy Queen Feeana called all of the birds and the Fairies to a meeting. The Fairy boys were given a short sharp telling off by the Queen who then told them that they would be punished for this most terrible of crimes. The punishment was so severe that the Fairy boys bitterly complained. They were only having some fun and did not mean to hurt the birds. The Fairy Queen Feeana told them that for one whole year they would not be able to fly. It was a very harsh punishment but the Fairy Boys learnt a lesson. In future they would be very careful of robbing birds nests just to throw the eggs at each other.

For one whole year all the Fairy Boys had to walk everywhere that they went. No friendly bird to give them a lift through the air. Even the small jobs of work they had to do, without the use of their wings.

Attic Books.

Later on I went back up into my attic. The books that I had seen written in what I thought was Latin, gave me no peace. I just had to get them and take them to the Public Library. I had made an appointment with the Librarian who had promised to look the books over and tell me something about their contents. I arrived at the Library and showed my books to the Librarian. She looked at the books and said, "These are not written in Latin, it is some other language." She wanted to send the books to a friend of hers but I did not want to let them out of my hand.

I went back home and looked through the books I saw a word or two that I am sure had been spoken by Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Excitedly I took the books to the forest carefully wrapped up in brown paper and slung over my shoulders in my rucksack. I saw a few Fairies painting the flowers and told one of them I wanted to have a word with the Queen Feeana. The Fairy waved her small magic wand and disappeared.

In what seemed only a few seconds her Majesty appeared in her usual flash of light and a puff of smoke. I told her of my finding of the books in the attic and of the Librarians telling me that they were not in Latin. Then I mentioned the one or two words that I had thought Her Majesty had used on various occasions. Queen Feeana smiled at my accent and asked me to show her the books.

I carefully unwrapped the books and the Queen opened one of them. After looking at the page of the book for a few seconds she asked me if there were any more books in the house written in this language. I said I did not know but I would look and let her know if I found anything. Her Majesty now told me about the books they had been stolen from the Fairy School a long time ago. These were the books used to teach the fairy Children the old language that they needed to make their magic spells work.

These books in the wrong hands could wreak havoc in the world of the humans. Her Majesty took out of her pocket the small truth mirror that I had got to know so well. Looking into the mirror she said there are two more books in a place just outside of Vienna in Austria. The books were in a shop owned by a man named Schmidt. Helmut Schmidt. Helmut Schmidt would sell the books if the price were right.

I thought here we go again Her Majesty will ask me to fly to Austria and try to buy the books. This I am glad to say was not the idea that Her Majesty had in her royal head. She sent me with a German-speaking Leprechaun by means of her magic. A wave of her magic wand and I was on the street of a small village. The name of the village was Aspang and sure enough there was the shop of one Helmut Schmidt. I walked casually into the shop and asked if I could have a look around.

I saw the books on a shelf in the middle of the shop. To get to them I would have to wander around a little trying to look interested in the books some of which were very, very old. I eventually worked my way around to the books and my Friend the Leprechaun entered the shop. Her Majesty had given us gold in plenty for the books but I was determined to drive a hard bargain for them.

The Leprechaun asked in perfect German if they had any books on mushrooms. Herr Schmidt gave him a small collection of books to look at. The Leprechaun said," I will take all of these they are just what I am looking for." I took the two books of magic off of the shelf and asked in a bored voice how much for these two books. Herr Schmidt was looking at me in surprise. No one had ever taken these books in their hands and he thought this is my chance to get rid of them. I offered him five hundred shillings in Austrian Money and he immediately agreed. He was so pleased that the Leprechaun had bought all of his books on mushrooms. He did not realise what a prize he was giving me for so little money. I bid Herr Schmidt a good day and went out of the shop with the two books under my arm. I heard the Leprechaun calling out in his best German, "Auf Wiedersehen." Out on the street we smiled at each other and then the flash and the puff of smoke and we were back in Fairyland where I gave Her Majesty the two magic books and the rest of the gold. The Leprechaun then came back home with me still carrying his mushroom books. We enjoyed a cup of tea together and the books he left with me on my table.

I hunted high and low in my house even in the cellar but I found no more books magic or otherwise. That night I went to my bed and dreamed of Herr Schmidt and his books he was still smiling at what he thought was a very good bargain. A couple of old books that no one could read for five hundred shillings. I had made his day and he unknowingly had made my day for me.

Attic Secrets.

It was dusty up in the attic no one had been up there in years. Pieces of old furniture, boxes and rolls of linoleum. In one corner there were piled on top of one another four very old looking sea trunks. The bottom one was beginning to break apart from the weight of the other three chests. On one side of the attic were clothes hanging on a piece of pipe that had been fixed between two roof struts.

Coming back up the stairs I plugged in the lamp and shone the light around in the attic. It was as I have described but there was one exception. The walls did not seem as long as the house. This could not be. I walked the length of the attic and then realised that a wall had been built partitioning the room into two separate parts. I must admit I was intrigued my house had a secret room.

It took me nearly an hour to find the door to the second room. It had been very carefully built and I could see no cracks or crevices that would let me see its outline. Then I felt rather that saw it a small piece of brick that jutted out of the wall by about a quarter of an inch. I pressed this and a small opening appeared with a deep groaning sound it had obviously not been opened in a very long time.

I pushed my lamp through the opening and ducked my head to get through the small door. The room was not very big but there was a bed and a table with two chairs and a cupboard. The room was covered in dust but someone at some time or another very carefully made the bed. I stood and moved the lamp to lighten up each corner of the room. Then I went to the cupboard and opened it wide. Inside were a number of books that were very old.

I opened the books one after another. I was disappointed as all of the books were written in Latin. I myself am no scholar but we had a Library in town and I knew the Librarian could speak and read this language. It was as I was going to leave the cupboard that I noticed a fragment of paper. I gently pulled on the paper and a small hidden drawer opened. In the drawer were two pieces of jewellery it looked very old. I carefully placed them with the piece of paper in my pocket and left the secret room. I would look it over more thoroughly at another time.

In the open attic I looked around quickly then decided to go and make myself a cup of tea before I did anything else. The dusty attic had somehow made me thirsty and the Jewellery well I was just being nosy. I made my tea and took the piece of paper out of my pocket and the two brooches. In the daylight of my modern Kitchen I could see clearly that there was some writing on the paper. The writing was very small and looked as if it had been written by a child.

I took my magnifying glass from the drawer and looked carefully at the writing. The little note was from a Fairy child that had been held prisoner in the old house and the Jewellery was for the person or persons that would take a message to the Fairy Queen and tell her that the Fairy had been turned into a picture that was hidden in one of the trunks in the attic.

I read and reread the message a few times and decided to go into the Forest and place the whole matter in the most capable hands of Queen Feeana. I placed the scrap of paper with the childish hand writing in my pocket with the two brooches and went off to the woods. I met a Fairy and told her that I must see Her Majesty as soon as possible because I just knew that some harm had been done to a Fairy. The Fairy whispered to a sparrow that flew off immediately. Then with a flash of light and a small whiff of smoke her Majesty Feeana appeared. I showed Her Majesty the note and the two brooches. The brooches she recognised they had once belonged to her grandmother who had given them to a Fairy for her help in some matter of state.

Taking my hand the Queen spoke in the old language and we were both up in my old attic. I opened the first trunk but there were just old clothes in it. Try the bottom one. Her majesty had spoken in my mind in picture form. I pushed the other two trunks on one side then opened with a piece of iron the trunk that was falling to pieces. Inside were many interesting things to be seen but we both only had eyes for a picture.

Then we saw the picture it was a silver frame with a small Fairy posing as if for her photograph to be taken. Her Majesty waved her wand and out of the picture stepped the Fairy. She curtsied to the Queen and smiled at me. Then she told her story, while painting the flowers in the springtime of, human reckoning, eight hundred and ten she had been so engrossed in her work that she had not seen the Witch that cast a spell on her and took her home to her house.

For hundreds of years she was the captive and servant to the Witch. One day the witch fell ill and this gave the fairy the opportunity to write the small note and get into the picture. As the Witch got better she thought that the Fairy had taken advantage and run away from her. She did not even look at the picture but threw it into the old trunk. It has been taken from one house to another right down through the years. No one had opened it and no one had found the clues of the brooches and the paper in the secret drawer until I became nosy and looked through the attic.

The Fairy was taken back to the Forest and was welcomed by all of the little folk. A big feast was held and the celebrations lasted three whole days and night. The brooches are still in my possession. The attic is now a modern flat I had the builders in to renovate the house and to build a flat up in the attic.

The Witch died at the time of the pest that ran through Europe all her spells could not save her. The Fairy is happy with all of her friends the Little Folk. I did hear that she was soon to be married to her Fairy boy friend that had never forgotten her all through the years.

Attic Secrets.

In the roof at some time or another a ceiling type of window had been fixed in place this let in just enough light so that one could see what was in the attic. It took a few minutes until my eyes became used to the darkness. I had wanted to clean the attic for years but had never gotten around to doing so. I decided to go downstairs to get a hand lamp you know a lamp that one plugs into a socket with a plug then a long cable and then the lamp.

Coming back up the stairs I plugged in the lamp and shone the light around in the attic. It was as I have described but there was one exception. The walls did not seem as long as the house. This could not be. I walked the length of the attic and then realised that a wall had been built partitioning the room into two separate parts. I must admit I was intrigued my house had a secret room.

It took me nearly an hour to find the door to the second room. It had been very carefully built and I could see no cracks or crevices that would let me see its outline. Then I felt rather that saw it a small piece of brick that jutted out of the wall by about a quarter of an inch. I pressed this and a small opening appeared with a deep groaning sound it had obviously not been opened in a very long time.

I pushed my lamp through the opening and ducked my head to get through the small door. The room was not very big but there was a bed and a table with two chairs and a cupboard. The room was covered in dust but someone at some time or another very carefully made the bed. I stood and moved the lamp to lighten up each corner of the room. Then I went to the cupboard and opened it wide. Inside were a number of books that were very old.

I opened the books one after another. I was disappointed as all of the books were written in Latin. I myself am no scholar but we had a Library in town and I knew the Librarian could speak and read this language. It was as I was going to leave the cupboard that I noticed a fragment of paper. I gently pulled on the paper and a small hidden drawer opened. In the drawer were two pieces of jewellery it looked very old. I carefully placed them with the piece of paper in my pocket and left the secret room. I would look it over more thoroughly at another time.

In the open attic I looked around quickly then decided to go and make myself a cup of tea before I did anything else. The dusty attic had somehow made me thirsty and the Jewellery well I was just being nosy. I made my tea and took the piece of paper out of my pocket and the two brooches. In the daylight of my modern Kitchen I could see clearly that there was some writing on the paper. The writing was very small and looked as if it had been written by a child.

I took my magnifying glass from the drawer and looked carefully at the writing. The little note was from a Fairy child that had been held prisoner in the old house and the Jewellery was for the person or persons that would take a message to the Fairy Queen and tell her that the Fairy had been turned into a picture that was hidden in one of the trunks in the attic.

I read and reread the message a few times and decided to go into the Forest and place the whole matter in the most capable hands of Queen Feeana. I placed the scrap of paper with the childish hand writing in my pocket with the two brooches and went off to the woods. I met a Fairy and told her that I must see Her Majesty as soon as possible because I just knew that some harm had been done to a Fairy. The Fairy whispered to a sparrow that flew off immediately. Then with a flash of light and a small whiff of smoke her Majesty Feeana appeared. I showed Her Majesty the note and the two brooches. The brooches she recognised they had once belonged to her grandmother who had given them to a Fairy for her help in some matter of state.

Taking my hand the Queen spoke in the old language and we were both up in my old attic. I opened the first trunk but there were just old clothes in it. Try the bottom one. Her majesty had spoken in my mind in picture form. I pushed the other two trunks on one side then opened with a piece of iron the trunk that was falling to pieces. Inside were many interesting things to be seen but we both only had eyes for a picture.

Then we saw the picture it was a silver frame with a small Fairy posing as if for her photograph to be taken. Her Majesty waved her wand and out of the picture stepped the Fairy. She curtsied to the Queen and smiled at me. Then she told her story, while painting the flowers in the springtime of, human reckoning, eight hundred and ten she had been so engrossed in her work that she had not seen the Witch that cast a spell on her and took her home to her house.

For hundreds of years she was the captive and servant to the Witch. One day the witch fell ill and this gave the fairy the opportunity to write the small note and get into the picture. As the Witch got better she thought that the Fairy had taken advantage and run away from her. She did not even look at the picture but threw it into the old trunk. It has been taken from one house to another right down through the years. No one had opened it and no one had found the clues of the brooches and the paper in the secret drawer until I became nosy and looked through the attic.

The Fairy was taken back to the Forest and was welcomed by all of the little folk. A big feast was held and the celebrations lasted three whole days and night. The brooches are still in my possession. The attic is now a modern flat I had the builders in to renovate the house and to build a flat up in the attic.

Australian Fairies.

Some two thousand years ago the Fairies in Australia began to loose their powers of magic. Whatever they tried to magic with the Fairy wands went wrong; it was very upsetting for them all. One day after a long dry spell where the sun shone fiercely down most of the water holes dried up and the morning dew was not enough to give the Fairies the drinking water they needed. The fairies tried to get water by waving their magic wands. The results were sometimes very funny instead of water their appeared a small bucket of sand or what is even worse small strange animals would be on the end of their wands.

News quickly came to the ears of the Fairy Queen Feeana who took a party of the wise old Fairies to Australia. Australia was in those days populated by the Aborigines a folk that moved from place to place. These folk were able to see and talk to the Fairies. In fact the Aborigines often invited the Fairies to a feast when the hunting or the harvest had been good. In exchange the Fairies would often look after the small Aborigine children and stop them from straying away from the grown ups.

The Fairy Queen Feeana soon realised what the problem was and why the magic was going wrong. The Queen and the wise old Fairies could use their magic. It was not Australia that was causing things to go wrong. It was the meats that the Aborigines gave to the Fairies at their feasts that were causing all of the trouble. Fairies must never eat the meat of an animal in no way whether cooked or raw or served in a tasty pie.

A large feast was arranged on top of Ayers Rock and all of the Elders of the many tribes were spirited away to the top of Ayers Rock where two very large tables had been laid ready for a feast. One of the tables was for the Aborigines and the other for the Fairies. The table for the Aborigines was covered with all kinds of tasty meats and vegetables with plenty of fruits. The table for the Fairies was covered in small green leaves and on each leaf was a delicate fairy cake the main ingredient was of course wild honey.

The two peoples saw what each other ate and the Fairies realised that Aborigine food was not for Fairies. The Aborigines could eat from either of the tables. A lot was learned on that memorable day and to top it all the Fairy Queen let it rain so that both the humans and beasts had water and the Fairies soon regained the power of their wands again and every thing was back to normal.

The Fairy Queen Feeana told me this small part of the Fairy history it was a lesson that is taught to all Fairy Children they must not eat meat.

Baby Missing.

It had been a fairly busy night at the Fairy Maternity ward. Seven new Fairies had been born during the night, three boys and four girls. The wise old Fairy in charge had finished her night duty and handed over to the wise old Fairy that would be in charge during the day. Nothing unusual had happened during the night, the seven births were like most births of Fairies straight forward; just one baby did not know whether to unfold her little wings or not. It was important for the wise old Fairies to make sure that the baby wings were fully functional and that they opened and closed, as they should. Some baby’s wings tend to get stuck together during their birth. If this was seen to right away, later the babies would be able to fly when they reached the age of three or thereabouts.

During the day there was usually many visitors coming to see the small babies. The parents and relations not to mention the little folk that were just plain nosey and one old Leprechaun that had retired from work but took it upon himself to be unofficial guardian to all of the new born babies. It was from this Leprechaun that they received their first pair of baby shoes. The shoes were so delicate, so finely made and so soft that each child learned to walk within three months of being born.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana came once every month to visit the Maternity Ward. This was usually a day of celebration Her Majesty brought toys and new silken clothes for the babies. No Fairy baby has ever been seen to suck its thumb or to use a dummy. Baby bottles for feeding were boiled in a large pot. It was perfectly clean in the maternity ward the work of cleaning was done by the Bogies. The Bogies were just a little simple but good hearted and they would do anything for the new Fairy Babies.

The Bogies were also responsible for seeing that that the visitors did not stay too long or overtire the babies. Parents were allowed to visit their babies for two hours in the mornings and two hours in the afternoon, at all other times there was no visiting allowed. On this day there was an unusually large number of visitors, visiting the ward. Among these visitors there was a woman dressed as a Pixie. This Pixie was very interested in the baby girls. Each baby she picked up from out of its cot and pretended to make a fuss of it. She did this to all of the babies. The last baby she picked up interested her the most. Quick as a flash she disappeared with the newborn baby.

This Pixie was really a young Witch that wanted a baby Fairy to learn as many secrets from the child as she possibly could. The Witch thought that Fairy babies were born with all of their knowledge and magic she did not know that babies as soon as they could walk and talk were subjected to a four and a half year period of intensive learning. Everyone knows that babies and small children learn quicker and can retain their knowledge easier that someone that learns later on in life.

The baby’s cot that was empty was soon to be the showplace of a serious investigation. All were there the Fairy Queen, the wise old Fairies, the Leprechaun even the Bogies. No one had seen anything out of the usual. This was indeed a very serious matter, a baby missing from the maternity ward, nothing like this had ever happened before in Fairyland. Her Majesty took from her handbag a small mirror. This was the Famous Picture mirror. The Queen could see anything and everything that went on in this world. Very few of the little folk had ever seen this mirror but all knew of its existence. That is why the little people always told the truth when they were asked a question about something.

Her Majesty Feeana looked into the mirror and saw the Witch with the newborn baby. The Witch was trying to feed the baby with cow’s milk everybody knows that babies do not drink cow’s milk. Only the milk from a mother horse is good enough for Fairies that need all the extra nourishment that is in a Mare’s milk. The Queen waved her wand and the baby no worse for its being taken away was back in its own little cot. The Witch suddenly found herself nursing a small pig. She was so surprised that she dropped the pig that immediately ran off into the woods. A knock on her door surprised her even more.

There stood the old Leprechaun. "I have here a pair of shoes for you," he said. "With these shoes you will be able to walk for miles without your feet hurting you." The Witch took the shoes and tried them on they fitted perfectly. As soon as she had the shoes on her feet he laughed out loud. "You will never be able to take those shoes off again in all your life." The shoes are magic and everywhere that you go these shoes will squeak and everybody will know you for what you are a Baby Stealer. You will no more be able to go into a maternity ward and steal a baby. Once a month the shoes will pinch your feet and you will not be able to walk. That is your punishment no one steals a Fairy baby and gets away with it.

Balloon Story.

Way back last summer the fairies found a small parcel of balloons. The balloons were assorted into different sizes and colours. Never having seen balloons before they waited until I went into the woods of Fairyland on Dartford Heath and excitedly showed me the packet that they had found. I spent a few minutes blowing some of the balloons up and tied some string on to them so that the fairies could carry them. Johnfee was a little smarter than the other fairies and blew up a dozen or more of the balloons and soon he was floating above the ground. On seeing this the other fairies wanted to have more balloons so that they too could float in the air.

All went well until Johnfee added another balloon to the ones he already had tied together with string. Up into the air went Johnfee and screamed with delight. At that moment a gust of wind caught his balloons and away he went. I called out to him to let the balloons go and fly back down to earth. Johnfee either did not hear my calling or he did not want to and away he went. I followed him with my eyes until he was out of sight. I did not see Johnfee for two whole weeks then he came back home and told me this little story.

The wind carried him way up high and he was afraid to let go of the strings holding the balloons together. He passed over the River Thames on into Essex. Here the balloons were attacked by a bunch of crows. The crows attacked one after the other and as each balloon was punctured by the crow’s beaks the balloons with Johnfee got lower and lower. On the last attack Johnfee let go of the last string and flew down to one of the trees that stretched out below him. In the tree he watched the crows attack the last balloon then they flew off making some very weird sounds as only crows can make. Johnfee flew down to the ground and started to look for any fairies that might live in this part of Essex.

Johnfee was out of luck the local fairies were all at Southend at the seaside they would not be back for another week. Johnfee watched a couple of birds building a nest and decided he would help them so that he too could build himself a nest high in one of the trees. The Wrens were not surprised at Johnfee’s helping them build a nest it seemed only natural for him to help. Soon the two Wrens had a comfortable nest finished and as Johnfee started to build his nest the two wrens helped him. Johnfee had only to bring them enough twigs and hay and in no time a nest big enough for Johnfee was ready. Johnfee thanked the two wrens who then flew off to their own nest.

Food was no real problem the woods were full of brambles with large ripe blackberries. Strawberries were to be had one just had to look a little harder some bees invited Johnfee to help himself to some of their honey it is a good honey year and Johnfee had no hesitation to eat of that wonderful sweet honey that the bees so generously gave him. Water was plentiful as there was a stream running through that part of the woods. Johnfee got to know all of the local animals; the deer came to him proudly showing their young. Badgers grunted friendly greetings, the stoats and weasels always perked up their heads and gave off low whistles, all in all, Johnfee had a good time in this part of Fairyland.

The birds warned Johnfee whenever there were humans in the woods or if any other dangers threatened. Back Home I talked to Her Majesty about Johnfee’s leaving us by means of the balloons. Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and saw that Johnfee was all right and decided to leave him where he was until the Essex fairies came back from their holiday. The Essex fairies came home and were quite surprised to see Johnfee but when they saw his nest high in the trees and Johnfee told them about the bees giving him some of their honey they were all in agreement that Johnfee was quite a hero. The Essex fairies held a going away party and dance in honour of Johnfee and right on the stroke of midnight Johnfee was back home in his own little bed. The Essex fairies had used magic to send him safely back to his own people. Johnfee was all the talk of our part of Fairyland for about a week then all of the fuss died down and things went on as they usually did.

Beauty Contest.

In Fairyland the Fairies agreed to hold a contest to see who was the prettiest Fairy. The great day arrived and the Fairies came in two’s and three’s to the meeting place. All of the Fairies had been trying for days to get their hair in shape for the event. All had used the still waters of the stream for a mirror. Some of the styles were very odd to say the least. One of the Fairies in her excitement had fallen in to the stream and it took over a quarter of an hour to dry her wings.

"Who would be the judge of the contest?" I found myself asking the Fairies; this was something that they had forgotten about. I told them that I could not be a Judge because I found them all very pretty. The Leprechauns were asked but they refused it was not a Leprechauns duty to say who was the prettiest Fairy of them all. Then the Pixies were asked but the Fairies knew the Pixies too well and they all agreed that the Pixies were not competent to give a fair judgement.

The Royal Queen of the Fairies, Queen Feeana was asked but owing to matters of importance could not come to be the judge of the contest. This was now getting out of hand; whoever had heard of a beauty contest without a judge or judges. Some of the suggestions from the fairies were not very good. One suggested that as the Toad is an ugly creature it above all would be able to judge who was the prettiest of all the Fairies.

Then another Fairy put forward that the Dragon who is one of the most truthful of all the creatures should be the judge. Another was that the Flying Horse Pegasus would be more fitting as he was such a handsome being that he could not fail to pick the prettiest of all the Fairies. Another suggestion was that a Gnome should be the Judge after all everyone knows that Gnomes are ugly from birth on.

The Fairies were taking this matter so seriously that they started getting shoddy with their work. Flowers that were once known to be blue such as the cornflower were painted blue yellow and black. The daisies were now looking from dark red to bright pink even the humans were beginning to take notice. Most people put the colour mistakes down to the world’s overheating. It was just another side effect.

Just as things were going from bad to worse I had one of my ideas. It was not brilliant but it would I thought do the trick. I called all of the Fairies together and told them that the Fairy that could write the best poem about fairies would be the winner as all the fairies were very pretty each in his or her own way. I made it a condition that no one was to write a single word until the Fairies all day work had been done.

Then I became over a hundred poems written by the Fairies all were very good but I had to pick a winner. I placed all of the poems in a large basket and got the youngest Fairy to pick one from the basket. This I read and announced the winner it was Donnafee. Here is her poem judge for yourself whether I made the right choice or not.

Bee Tale.

The time will come and you will follow a bee. A woman sitting in a tent with a glass ball on a small folding table made this statement. Mum had laughingly sent me into the tent telling me that I was old enough to know something about my future. The woman was dressed in a golden robe with a silver scarf for a headdress. The woman asked me for my penny and then looked into her glass ball. At first she did not seem very interested after all I was only eight years old. Suddenly she closed her eyes her breathing got deeper then she started speaking in a deep voice, "You will follow a bee!" She mumbled something else but I got frightened and ran out of the tent, with the words you will follow a bee, ringing in my ears. Outside the tent the sun was shining and my Mum was waiting for me. We had each an ice cream then slowly made our way back to our home.

Mum asked me what the woman had said to me, I answered that I would follow a bee. Mum smiled and said, " What nonsense, still what can one expect for a penny." Schoolbooks had to be read and I was responsible for my own bedroom and for washing and wiping the dishes and one or two other little jobs that Mum had for me to do. My pocket money was one penny a week paid to me each Saturday morning. I soon forgot the woman and her words you will follow a bee.

The winter came and went spring arrived at last. It was getting warmer and Mum and I got the garden ready for the flowers and vegetables. I loved digging and planting and I was one happy little boy when my Mum gave me a part of the garden for myself. I was to be completely in charge of my own garden strip. I dug and the strip then arranged it into beds and then with Mum we bought some seeds and a few plants. In my strip I had some lettuce and some spring onions also four tomato plants. A long line of radishes was in another bed. I weeded and watered my plot and Mums garden when she did not have the time. My next-door neighbour kept a couple of beehives and the bees were everywhere. Once I was resting, I had finished my garden work and was sitting or half lying in an old wheelbarrow.

It was lovely and warm and my eyes were closed. A bee was buzzing around my head soon I heard what it was saying. Come with me. Come with me. The voice was so soft and comforting that I went with the bee. That is I followed its voice. It flew across some fields into the woods with me following. It was then I saw them. A dozen or more Fairies were playing and singing some were dancing other just flew from one flower to another. I was fascinated when one of the Fairies spoke to me. Come with me earthling I have something to show you. This was getting very interesting I had never before been called earthling. I now Followed the Fairy who flew just in front of my face until we came to a small pond.

Look into the pond earthling, look into the pond. I then saw a large house with a wonderful garden. There was my Mother sitting on a chair in a terrace of the large house. People were walking around talking and sipping drinks. I then saw a horse with a young man, sitting upright in the saddle. This young man is you earthling. This is what the old woman could not show you. The penny that you gave her was a magic penny and it made her tell you about the bee. We fairies do not let every one know that we are here on earth. You have been chosen because you have a love for gardens and flowers and you do not bother the bees of your neighbour.

The big house and garden will become yours when you are eighteen. You and your mother will be able to live comfortably in the house and you may use all that is in the house and grounds. Just one condition is attached you must never refuse any person entrance to your new domain. Rich or poor all will be welcome to a bed and food.

I then heard my mum calling me, "It is time for your tea," she said and I awoke from my wheelbarrow position I had fallen asleep and had this wonderful dream. I told my mum about the bee and the Fairies and the large house with me on horseback. Mum smiled and said, No more fortune tellers for you young man. I often listen to the bees as they go about their work of collecting pollen to make the honey that is so sweet. But I have never heard one saying Follow Me

Bern’s Protection.

There was nothing to see nothing at all. Everywhere I looked they were gone. All of the little Folk had disappeared. No Fairies, no Elves, no Pixies, no Trolls, not even a Leprechaun. It was as if they had never existed. The whole of Fairyland was gone. I sat on a root of my favourite Oak Tree and wondered what could have happened for me to lose all of my friends like this. Had I done something to offend them? Was I in any way responsible for this state of affairs? I was very puzzled had I unwittingly given away secrets of the Fairies that were better kept secret. In other words was I to blame? I have written many stories about the Fairies but I thought that all I wrote about was with the permission of Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

I went back home terribly disappointed. I could not eat. I could not sleep. I neglected the garden and the house was I must say very untidy. It was as if I had lost all my energy without my small friends. I went to see my Doctor to see if he could give me a tonic or something to pick me up. The state I was in this just was not me. I walked every day in the woods I could not see any Fairy Rings there were no mushrooms to be seen. A very sad time for me where were all of my fairies? No messages, no explanations it was getting unbearable.

I had taken to sleeping on the couch in the front room it was on the right of the hallway near the front door. I did not want to miss a knock on the door, it might be one of my friends wanting help or bringing me a message. In the past I had often seen a Witch flying past on her broomstick now not even a Witch was to be seen. I could find no trace of Fairies or the Little People in Fairyland I was once again alone. I could not settle down. I watched no Television just listened to the radio for the news. Perhaps there was to be bad weather and that had caused the little folk to leave. No bad news on the radio it was very mysterious what on earth had happened to make them all disappear?

Some four months later I received a letter it was delivered by the local postman. He usually had only letters from the tax office or from my bank but this was a personal letter. Excitedly I tore the letter open and written in Her Majesties own handwriting was the explanation that I had so desperately looked for. A well-known Sorcerer had read all of my stories that I had placed on the Internet. Her Majesty had heard how he was trying to find a way to get my address. The only way to protect me was for Her Majesty to completely place Fairyland in another part of the country. All of the Little Folk had been forbidden to get in touch with me.

I myself had not used the computer since the little People had all vanished. I had completely neglected all of my readers and this was what had saved me from the Sorcerer. He had got a young man to try to hack my computer to get my address. My computer not being switched on the Hacker had no joy and my address was safe from intrusions. Now that I knew that my friends were all well I got back into my old routine. I tidied the house and read all my backlog of emails and then went for a walk in the woods again. I even started cooking my meals again a sure sign that I was getting back to normal.

I had to wait for another three months before the fairies and all the other Little Folk came back Her Majesty Queen Feeana was taking no chances. There might possibly be other sorcerers that wanted to find my address and do me harm. I have now on my computer a firewall and an anti virus program this protects me from most Hackers. I now use my computer normally that is why I am writing this tale of my protection by the Fairies.

Her Majesty had been looking in her Magic Truth Mirror and had seen the Sorcerer Marednick preparing with the aid of the young hacker to try and get into my computer to get my address. Even if he had got into my computer he would not have found my address but perhaps my series of passwords that I use to protect my computer from unwanted intrusion. My passwords are not written in English they are a mixture of four languages made up by myself to protect my computer.

Marednick is now a chip in a computer at the Ministry of Defence It was Her Majesties way of punishing him. He will remain a chip until the computer is of no more use and has to be replaced by another computer. By this time his head will be so full of numbers; that he will have forgotten about my friendship with the Fairies. The Hacker was also punished he now works on a computer for a printing firm. He does not know it but he will one day be doing all of the corrections for my fairy tales.

The Little Folk have now returned to Fairyland and my house is open to one and all we have great fun and there is always a sing song and a party with Parsnip Wine, Fairy Cakes and all the goodies that the little people like so much. Her Majesty when time permits also come to the Parties. I wear my dancing shoes that were made for me by a Leprechaun and her Majesty and I dance much to our enjoyment.

My computer is now protected by Magic no hacker will be able to find out my address and Her Majesty renews the magic spell once a week. With this knowledge that the Fairies are well and that I am no longer alone I sleep better and have no more need of the Doctor.

Bewitched.

The day started of fine, sunny periods with here and there a small cloud hurrying across the sky. It was just the weather to go out into the countryside. I passed orchards with rows of trees in fruit. It promised to be a good harvest year. Sheep and cattle were lazily grazing the tender grass. Here and there a cow was lying under a tree as if to get out of the hot sun. I wandered slowly across the approach to the Kentish Downs. Flowers were everywhere to be seen in the hedgerows. Bees could be seen busily flying from flower to flower, gathering pollen, all in all, a day to be out in the fresh air of Kent.

In the distance there was a large copse of trees, which promised shade and coolness. The sun was now high in the midday sky and I began to perspire. I reached the copse at last and settled myself down on the ground beneath an old Oak tree. Soon my eyelids became heavy and I dropped off into a light slumber. I was not alone; soon Fairies were playing all around me. Their soft melodious voices lulled me deeper and deeper into a dream world. I too became a Fairy and flew backwards and forwards with the other Fairies in an age-old Fairy game, it was similar to the tag that I had played as a young boy. I felt the pangs of thirst coming over me and said that I would like something to drink. One of the Fairies offered me a flower full of juice the like of which I had never tasted before. My thirst being quenched I now realised that I was hungry. The same fairy offered me a Fairy cake it was delicious, small but my hunger was stilled.

We played for quite a while I had lost all feeling for time; I was so happy that I belonged to this group of Fairies. For the hundredth time I flew backwards and forwards just for the joy of being able to fly. In the distance I heard a peel of thunder and the heavens were becoming quite dark. I thought to myself we are going to have a heavy thunderstorm we had better find shelter somewhere before we all got soaking wet.

One of the Fairies waved her magic wand and we all disappeared into a large cave. The walls of the cave were of chalk with here and there flint stones showing through. It was warm and quite dry here in the cave that was lit by some strange candles. When one approached the candles they got brighter. When one went away they mysteriously dimmed. I thought at first that we were alone in the cave but in one corner I saw an old woman with a tall black hat on her head. On a perch stuck into the wall of the cave was an Owl it blinked slowly as it moved its head here and there trying to find what had obviously disturbed it.

The old woman was busy with a small fire that she kept blowing into to make it burn more brightly. Sitting on an old mat was a large black cat, its eyes were deep yellow and it was angry I could see this by the way its tail waved quickly back and forth. The Owl and the Cat knew that we were in the cave but the old woman had not seen or heard us. One of the Fairies in her excitement fell against a small shelf that was also fixed into the wall of the cave. Crash! A few pots and pans and some strange looking glass jars fell to the floor. Now the old woman saw the Fairies and me for the first time. She was very angry that strangers had entered her cave. She muttered a few words and threw some herbs and powder on to the fire. A puff of smoke and a bright flash and all of the Fairies stopped perfectly still. Not a wing moved it was as if they had all been mesmerised. I found that I could still move perhaps because I was not a real fairy.

Now it was up to me to rescue the fairies but how? I quickly flew to each fairy and gave them a gentle push towards the opening of the cave. The old woman still did not see me and as soon as all the Fairies were in the opening of the cave I pushed them all outside. Once in the fresh air they soon recovered and I was the hero of the day. It had stopped raining and we played some more Fairy games and it was then that I saw myself asleep under the old oak tree.

I became frightened and the next thing I can remember is waking up. Sitting in the Oak tree high up on a branch was a large brown Owl. I got slowly to my feet and started my long walk back home. One of the Fairies accompanied me until we reached the main road, then she too much to my disappointment disappeared. I have often been back since but I have never seen another Fairy. Did the old woman have anything to do with there not coming back?

Black Cloud.

I was in my garden tending the roses when a young man called to me asking if he could, do some work in exchange for a meal. I looked the young man over carefully and could see that his clothes had seen better days but he was clean and I had a small garden bed that wanted digging so I asked him in. He told me that he was on his way to London to take up work in a chemical firm.

Taking the young man into the house, I gave him a meal and then showed him what he had to do in garden. Eating his meal, he spoke about his plans and that he was to start work in two days time. I told him he could stay overnight I had plenty of room in the house and he was welcome to sleep in a proper bed for a night before he left for London and his chemical factory.

Showing my guest to his room, I said goodnight and went on to my bedroom. The next morning I awoke and knew that something was terribly wrong. I could not open the doors or the windows. A thick fog surrounded the house it was as if I was under attack. I looked for my guest who was gone his bed had not been slept in and I felt a fool for having given him so trustingly my hospitality. Then I remembered the gold that the Fairy Queen Feeana had given me to place at the four walls of the house and one piece for the attic. The gold was gone the young man had taken it during the night before he left the house.

I tried hard to call my Fairy friends but the thick fog stopped all means of communication. I was not worried about food as I have a well-stocked larder and the deep freezer is full. I was more worried about being a prisoner in my own house and who was responsible for this state of affairs. Two days and two nights passed away and I wondered how the Little Folk were and if they were in any danger. It was then I had an idea. I wrote the two words in the old Fairy language and a flash of light with a puff of smoke and I was in the Fairies caves under the Himalayan Mountains . From here, it was easy to send mental pictures to her Majesty Queen Feeana.

Queen Feeana came to the caves and appearing before me in a flash of light and a whiff of smoke. She asked me what was wrong. I told her about the young man and his stealing of the Fairy Gold and that my house was no longer under her protection. Waving her wand, the Queen and I in a matter of seconds were back in Fairyland.

Taking her Magic Mirror Her Majesty looked in it and then showed me my house it was by a thick black fog surrounded. In the mirror, a shape appeared, it was a Wizard, which meant me harm. He was jealous because I was writing my stories of the Fairies and the little folk. The young man that had come to my house was his apprentice he took my gold and that was his reward for helping the Wizard. Her Majesty smiled and spoke in the old tongue and then she said the gold is now ordinary dust he will not be able to do anything with it.

Her Majesty then asked me what I would do to punish such an evil man. I thought for a few minutes and then passed my judgment. He shall be a cloud as thick and as black as the cloud that is surrounding my house. He shall wander this world for five hundred years as such, one hundred years for each piece of gold. A wave of her wand and a Wizard turned into a black cloud he will roam the earth as a cloud for the next five hundred years.

I now have a built in protection in my house. Deep inside my four walls are pieces of magic mistletoe, the attic and the cellar are also under the protection of this powerful magic. In future, there will be no gold to tempt anyone just magic mistletoe. All is back to normal at my house now and I still give my hospitality to weary travellers who are in need of it. I too have a small magic mirror it was at her Majesties command especially made for me. I welcome all weary travellers but only after, I have consulted my magic mirror.

Bob’s Dilemma.

In the distance one could see the glow of the big City if one listened carefully one could hear the roar of the evening traffic. The night was mild and many stars lit up the night sky. It was on this night that the small boy Robert decided to run away from home. He had not done well at school and his parents were very cross with him.

Robert was if he wanted to be a very good scholar he learned quickly and well. His was a mind that could easily retain what he had seen or been taught. Robert or Bob as his friends called him was inclined to be a little lazy. His mother was often telling him to keep his room clean and to tidy things away after he had finished with them. His Father was a happy go lucky kind of man and let Bob do much as he wanted.

Bob packed a few clothes into his school rucksack and with something to eat from his Mother’s larder he climbed out of his bedroom window and nimbly slid down the trunk of the tree that stood in the garden of his house. He wandered off into the night and was soon lost to sight as walked into the woods.

The woods were full of glow-worms and with the torch that he kept by his bedside if he needed to get up in the night, He lit his way from tree to tree. Being tired he sat himself down under a tree and began to wonder why he had left his comfortable bedroom with all his books, his computer and all of the things that his parents had given him over the years. Most of all he wondered what would happen to his stamp collection. He had a collection of stamps from all over the world. His Dad had once jokingly remarked that one day he would be a famous Philatelist. With these thoughts in his head he dozed off to sleep.

It was a warm night and the woods were full of life. The night animals and birds were busy looking for their food. Some of the animals even came up to the quietly sleeping boy and sniffed him. As soon as they smelled that he was human most of them ran off into the woods. Then a Fairy saw him sleeping under the tree and told her friends of the human boy that was asleep in the woods so late at night.

Fairies are very mischievous but also good hearted and one of the Fairies tied the boy’s bootlaces together. Another placed a feather in his hair. The Fairies carried out these and a few other small tricks. An Owl that had been watching these silly pranks from the Fairies Flew off to tell the Fairy Queen what was happening in Fairyland this night.

The Fairy Queen Feeana appeared in her usual flash of light and puff of smoke a small wave of her magic wand and Bob was back to normal. His bootlaces were again normal. The feathers had disappeared from his hair in fact all of the Fairies tricks were made good. The Queen spent a few moments looking at Bob and then her wave moved again and she gave a small smile. She sent Bob a dream a bad dream a very bad dream for some one like Bob who had, had it good in this life.

Bob’s sleep became very uneasy he dreamt that he was at home but his Parents were somehow different. His Mother and Father were very strict with him. Why even his own bedroom was different. No soft bed with fluffy pillows this bed was hard there was a small table with just his schoolbooks no stamp collection even the pictures on the wall were gone. His computer was missing he just loved his computer.

His pocket money he had to earn. Dishes he had to wash and wipe after each meal. Punishment that he had not known before were, No television. His Mother or his Father stopped his pocket money for the slightest breach of the house rules. He had to keep his own room spotlessly clean and help his mother with the housework and above all in the evening he had to do his homework before he could even think of going out to play. It was a very frightening experience for a young boy that had always had a very good home with all of the comforts that his parents could afford to give him.

Bob slowly woke up and realised that it was all a bad dream. He did not see the Fairies that were all around him. Switching on his torch he made his way back to his home. Climbing the tree he went into his bed and did not see his Mother and Father looking in to see that he was all right.

In the morning Bob woke and looked around his room, His computer was in its usual place, his stamp collection was as he had left it and the pictures on his bedroom walls were as they always had been. It was all a bad dream thought Bob to him self as he went down to his breakfast. After the meal he collected the breakfast dishes and placed them in the sink. Rolling up his sleeves he washed and wiped the dishes. His Mother was amazed he had never before done any housework.

Bob through his dream now appreciated all that his Parents had done for him and when he came home from school he had his evening meal then got down to his school homework. His notes at school were the best he had ever had. His Parents increased his pocket money and Bob or perhaps I should say Robert was a very changed boy. He has never again run off into the woods and to this day he does not realise that the Fairy Queen Feeana had given him the bad dream to teach him a lesson.

A Bristol Tale.

The noise of the train wheels going over the points with its La, da, de, da- -La, da, de, da, lulled me into a light sleep. There were two other passengers in the compartment, one of whom was reading a book the other steadily gazing out of the window. The train had left Paddington Station on time and we were picking up speed all of the time. Exchanging greetings as we entered the train there was now a silence among the passengers. I myself was due in Bristol in the south west of England This evening I had an invitation to give a lecture on Fairies and other beings from the world of magic. I had carefully prepared my papers and was taking this opportunity to catch up on my sleep. I had been working until late in the early hours of the morning to prepare my speech.

I awoke an hour later and took my small suitcase down from the luggage rack. Taking my thermos can I poured myself a cup of coffee and ate a corned beef sandwich. This was standard with me whenever I went on a long train journey coffee and corned beef sandwiches. The man was still reading his book, the title of which I could not see and the other was still looking out of the window. It was a corridor train and the conductor appeared asking for our tickets. He then moved on to the next compartment and all was silent again. The man put down his book and opened a small suitcase. His thermos bottle was the same as mine but he obviously preferred egg sandwiches. It was then that I saw the title of his book. Modern Witchcraft in England. I was now very curious but managed not to speak about magic and witchcraft.

The train eventually pulling in to Bristol Station all three of us left the train making our way to the exits. I knew of a small hotel and had previously booked for a day and a night. The hotel was half way between the Railway Station and the lecture hall where I was to give my speech. Having refreshed myself, I went out to a small restaurant and had a meal. The rest of the day I spent in a comfortable armchair going over my notes for my speech. The lecture was to begin at seven o’clock in the evening and many people were expected. Witchcraft it seems was very popular with the peoples of southwest England. I arrived at the lecture hall on time welcomed by the organisers of the lecture. I knew one of them as he had previously attended one of my lectures and it was his idea that I come to Bristol to talk of magic and witchcrafts.

The hall slowly filled with people most of the female Witches had a headscarf the men mostly had a tunic like dress that went down to their feet. Some had stars, the Sun, and the Moon richly embroidered into the dress. Introducing me to the Audience I stood for a few seconds trying to see the faces of the people. Then I gave my lecture in a loud firm voice. I explained a few magical spells that most of them knew and after an hour and a half of speaking, I asked if there were any questions. One very tall man stood up and asked me why I did not tell them about the Fairies and their hiding place in the winter months. This was dangerous ground. I laughed and said why the little people all go to the sunnier parts of the earth when it is cold and rainy or snowing in the northern hemisphere.

The man was very sarcastic with his next question, "Do the fairies take you with them when they go to the south?" I played ball and replied, "No I pay for my own holidays and usually go to Brighton." He then asked me if it was true that I had a magic wand and magic dust not to mention a magic mirror, I smiled and said, "of course it is true why do you think so many people came here tonight." " I used my magic dust to entice you all to come, my magic wand I used on those of you that did not want to come." "As for my Magic mirror it has given me your address and I am now able to look out for you. The man mumbled something and sat down angrily in his seat. I have often given lectures but up until now, I have never had any rudeness in any form. What was worrying me was how could he know about my magic wand and the mirror. Magic dust is for someone in the know easy to make but only Her Majesty Queen Feeana and a few wise old Fairies know that I have these things.

Going back to my hotel, I had the feeling that someone was following me. On reaching my room, I locked the door and looked out of the window. I was on the third floor so from the outside, I need fear no attack and I locked my bedroom door and placed a chair under the handle. This I thought would keep me safe through the night. I always leave a window open at night time to let in the fresh air. Putting on my Pyjamas I got into bed and soon dropped off into a light sleep. Something woke me I took the torch from my locker and cast a beam of light around the room. I saw a large tawny owl on my suitcase it was trying to open it.

I always have my magic dust handy and threw a handful over the owl. Nothing happened it really was an owl. A picture flashed through my mind it was of the man in the lecture hall who had asked me the questions. Reaching under my pillow I took out my magic wand pointing it at the owl it fled through the open window. I then took my magic mirror from out of my small case and looking into it, I saw the Wizard from the lecture. Pointing my wand at him, I watched him spin around in circles then he too disappeared like the owl. I went back to my bed and slept until morning. On going down to my breakfast, I saw a newspaper on my table. Looking into it on the second page was a report of two owls that had it seemed crashed and were now lying in the local vets office to undergo treatment. Finishing my breakfast I paid my hotel bill and went on down to the station where I caught the train from Bristol to Paddington.

Brooch.

The last week it rained nearly every day and I did not get to go into the woods. The fairies have been back from their winter quarters under the Himalayan Mountains for the last two weeks. One or two have been to the house to see me or as I strongly suspect to eat of my ginger biscuits. I keep a packet or two in the larder in case of such visitors. Fairies, Leprechauns and Pixies all love ginger biscuits. It has been fine now for the last two days and I decided to go out into the woods.

Pulling on my Wellington boots and taking my old cap from the back door, I ventured out first into my back garden where I saw that the rain had done the plants good. Then out of my back gate directly into the woods. The birds were in full song as if happy to see the sun once again. The sun is shining brightly and I walk quietly through the woods. It always pays to walk quietly in the woods as one sees much of nature that when one makes a noise one would never see. I saw many such animals as the badger the stoat and the shy mother deer with her young.

I made my way slowly through the woods taking one of the wild animal paths when I saw something just in front of me that was shining very brightly as the sun’s rays caught it. Going to the spot I picked up a diamond brooch. The brooch was actually a name. On a solid gold background someone had placed small diamonds to form the word Feeana. I thought at first that Her Majesty had been this way and lost her brooch. I changed my direction and made my way to Her Majesty’s cottage.

I knocked on Her Majesty’s front door and her sweet voice bid me to enter. On entering the front room I was once again surprised at how comfortable the cottage was. There was no pomp or throne, just a table and four chairs, a comfortable settee and two arm chairs. Running round the wall were pots of flowers, not the shop bought kind but fresh wild flowers. A large cupboard finished the furniture. " Hello Mr. Shaw," she said. " You do not often come to visit me. Is everything well with you?"

"Your Majesty," I said as I finished making my bow. "I have found something in the woods that I think belongs to you." Taking the brooch out of my pocket I laid it on the table in front of Her Majesty. The Queen went terribly white in her face and I thought that she was going to faint. Taking a hold of herself Queen Feeana went to the cupboard and taking from the shelf a small box. Taking her wand she pushed the box towards me. I opened the small box and there was a twin brooch to the one that I had found it was exactly the same.

This is the second brooch to come to me in this way. The work is that of an evil Wizard that means ill toward the Fairy folk. The first brooch I managed to block its working with my magic wand, It has been in the cupboard ever since. "May I take the two brooches with me?" I asked Her Majesty. "Yes please do, I would be very happy knowing that both are thoroughly destroyed." Going out into the garden I soon had a bright fire burning. Over the fire was a heavy metal pot hanging on a tripod.

I threw the two brooches into the pot and very soon the gold melted. It was then fairly easy to take the diamonds from out of the pot with a pair of scissors that I had borrowed from Her Majesty. The diamonds I placed in my handkerchief and when the gold was cold enough I took the metal out of the iron pot and took it to Her Majesty. Her Majesty Queen Feeana placed the gold clump on the table and asked me what I had done to stop the evil that had been coming from the brooches. I told her that Human fire is one good way of getting rid of bad things.

Taking the gold her Majesty waved her wand at it and the gold clump rose towards the ceiling and started spinning. Faster and faster went the gold clump until it was just a blur before our eyes. Under the gold clump there appeared a man, he reached for the gold and he too went spinning round and round. Faster and faster, round and round until they, both the gold and the man spun out into the open and rose higher and higher into the sky. They have not been seen since. The Diamonds I took with me to the seaside and hiring a boat I threw the diamonds into the North Sea and to my knowledge they have never been found again.

Broomstick.

The voice was loud and shrill, "I will get my revenge on you no good Fairies." The owner of the voice was up in the sky flying on a broomstick. Below on the ground were a dozen or more Fairies pointing their wands at the woman. The Fairies had been dared by the Pixies to make the Witch uncomfortable on her broomstick. The broomstick was now under the spell of magic and was very difficult to control. One minute it pointed up into the sky, the next down to the ground. Some of the Fairies were making the broomstick loop the loop.

I felt sorry for the Witch after all she had done the Fairies no harm and the Pixies were well known for their silly pranks. The Witch soon flew past this part of fairyland and promised to herself that she would pay the Fairies a visit on her way back to her home. She was on a visit to a friend who too was a witch. Between the pair of them they would soon develop something to punish the Fairies. She stayed a fortnight with the Friend and between the pair of them they came up with a very simple idea.

Her friend would fly with her on her own broomstick and the pair of them would drop over Fairyland two large sacks of itching powder. This would teach the Fairies to leave peaceful travellers in peace as they flew over Fairyland. Unknown to the two Witches a very friendly Robin overheard all that the Witches had said and he flew at once to the Fairies to tell them about the plans of the two Witches.

The day came for the Witches, one to fly home and the other to accompany her to Fairyland to carry out the attack. Being warned by the robin the Fairies wore tight fitting clothes so that the powder could not get on to their skins and itch. The Pixies the Fairies did not tell of the planned attack and they were there on this day in full force. The attack took place. The Witches flew in the form of a square and as they flew from the sacks soon came the itching powder.

The Fairies were not bothered at all by the itching powder but the Pixies caught the full measure of the powder. Soon all of the Pixies were scratching themselves. Most of them were crying and some of them jumped in desperation into the river. These were the lucky ones the clear river water washed the itching powder off of them. The others ran to the Fairy Queen to complain.

Her Majesty knew all about the Fairies and Pixies as they tried to upset the Witch that was peacefully flying over Fairyland. Her Majesty smiled and told them all to go to the river and wash themselves. If they washed properly the dust or itching powder would soon be gone. When all were washed and the Itching had stopped they were all to come back to the Queen who had something to say to them all.

After all of the Pixies had bathed and made themselves presentable for Her Majesty they all met at the large toadstool rings where all Fairy meetings were held. As soon as all of the Pixies were at the meeting place Her Majesty appeared in her usual blue flash and small puff of smoke. Waving her Magic Wand Queen Feeana soon had all the Fairies that were involved in the attack on the Witch gathered right in with the Pixies. "You will all stay here for one whole week. There will be no singing, No talking. No eating or drinking. You will all, both Fairies and Pixies think about what you have done in your silliness."

With these words Her Majesty disappeared the same way as she had come. The Fairies and Pixies all tried to talk about what had happened and who was to blame. To their surprise no words came from their mouths all was silent the only thing to be heard was the humming of a lonely bee on the look for pollen to make the sweet honey. One whole week went by. No dancing, No singing, No eating, No drinking. As the last day came to an end and all could talk and some even complained of the hard treatment from Her Majesty The Queen.

Soon all had gone to the river to drink and to wash. Others waved their wands and Fairy cakes appeared in vast numbers. All were eating or drinking when an Owl came and settled on a branch. The Owl called out to the Fairies and Pixies, Her Majesty was not being harsh when she punished you all for upsetting the Witch. All the birds of the air know how difficult it is to fly when there are high winds and storms splash the rains into our faces. It is even more difficult for those women with a broomstick they have no wings just one piece of wood with twigs on the end of it to pilot across the sky.

Since this time there have been no attacks on Witches flying over Fairyland. The Pixies do not mix with the Fairies any more as they gave the blame on the Fairies. Without magic wands they argued there would have been no trouble caused to the Witch. I was told this little story by the Owl who spoke to them all after the Queen had left. So I know it is a true story and that is why I have told it to you today.

Caterpillar Invasion.

I did not sleep well in fact I got up three times during the night. I carefully checked the doors and windows. The feeling that something was going to happen was very strong. In the morning during my washing and shaving, I still had this feeling. A slight nagging deep down in the back of my head causing light pearls of perspiration to cover my forehead. I eat my breakfast and while drinking my second cup of tea the feeling was so strong that I left the house and went to the woods to see if the Fairies too had this feeling.

Yes, the Fairies had the feeling no one knew anything but all were on tenterhooks something was going to happen. Then from the sky came the attack, thousands upon thousands of caterpillars were dropping from out of the clouds and eating all of the green vegetation. We were under attack! Who were the attackers? Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana came, saw what the caterpillars were doing, and waved her Magic Wand. The caterpillars turned into the most beautiful butterflies and we were once more safe in Fairyland.

Queen Feeana took from her robes a small mirror. This mirror as we all knew was magic it was a truth mirror. The Queen looked into the mirror and saw that the caterpillars were coming to us on the high Atlantic winds that a Sorcerer was sending them from the Amazon. Thousands and thousands of such Caterpillars are on the way Queen Feeana must stop them at once. Another wave of her Magic Wand and the winds dropped. It was so quiet without the noise of the wind that I myself thought I had gone deaf.

The butterflies would not live long here in our climate and Queen Feeana sent them back to the Amazon where they could live a natural butterfly life. The Queen then went back to her lovely home and soon news was that she was on a small holiday for while. In reality, Queen Feeana a Leprechaun and I were traveling by magic to the Amazon. The Sorcerer had underestimated the power of Queen Feeana’s magic and thought that as he was so far away from the Queens home that he was safe.

He had taken no steps to protect himself or his jungle dwelling. We made a perfect landing right in the middle of his living room. The room smelled badly from damp and moldering plants of which many were in the room. The Leprechaun hid himself behind a large pot filled with strange long leaves. I hid behind the sofa and her Majesty disappeared.

We did not have long to wait a hideous ugly old man came through the door and lit a small fire under a cauldron. He threw pieces of leaves and mushrooms into the cauldron. Then a bottle of some oily substance he poured into the mixture and then I saw them. Caterpillars were coming out of the pot thousands were crawling out to the door. In front of the house, a tornado was drawing the caterpillars up into the Earth’s atmosphere.

The Leprechaun threw some orange powder into the cauldron and I found myself pushing the sofa onto the fire. In the middle of all this Her Majesty waved, her Magic Wand and the sorcerer turned into a caterpillar. He crawled to a plant that had long leaves like a banana and we saw him gradually change into a most beautiful butterfly.

The sofa was burning brightly and the flames quickly spread all over the house when we went nothing to show that a wicked sorcerer had ever lived here was to be seen. The jungle soon took over and now trees and plants with some of the most beautiful orchids grow where once the house of the sorcerer stood.

Her Majesty waved her Magic Wand and once more the bright flash a puff of smoke and we were again in Fairyland where the Fairies wanted a detailed report of all that we in the Amazon had seen and done. Knowing that the wicked Sorcerer was now a most beautiful butterfly there was much joy and laughing was the motto of the day in fairyland.

Centaur.

The evening was one glorious glow of red, the setting sun had coloured the sky with such perfection that even an artist would gasp at such noble colouring. Above the red of the evening one could see the first star twinkling down as if to say hey look at me not at the red sky. I turned to go back into the house when I was interrupted by a voice saying, "It’s a nice evening isn’t it?" I knew the voice and it meant for me another adventure in the land of the Fairies. It was my old friend Shamus, The Leprechaun.

"Come on in old Friend I am just about to make a cup of tea, you are very welcome?" Shamus entered the kitchen and made himself comfortable in my old armchair. "I hope that you have nothing planned for this evening," I knew that this was no ordinary visit and casually said "No," I finished making the tea and after placing the milk and sugar on the table I got from the larder a packet of fresh ginger biscuits. We sat for a while drinking our tea and munching on the delicious ginger biscuits. "It will be a long trip, better take some warm clothing with you," said Shamus after a second cup of tea.

Finishing the tea and washing and wiping the cups and saucers, I went upstairs to put on some warm clothing. I happened to see an old pair of motor bicycle gloves and decided to take these with me as well. Going down to where Shamus was waiting he took a grip of my arm and mumbled in the old language the magic words that took us on our magic journey. I never get used to the sudden rise in temperature and the flash of blue light.

We landed in a forest clearing where about a hundred fairies were gathered, no one seemed surprised to see us, most of the fairies had used magic themselves to get here in the clearing. It was then that I saw a most magnificent creature it was half horse and half man. I said to Shamus." That is a Centaur. I have often read about them but never before seen one. We worked our way to the front of the fairy throng and I spoke to the Centaur. "I have never seen one of your race before so please excuse me if I seem rude." The creature spoke to me in a pleasant voice and was not at all embarrassed that I more or less stared at him.

Then Her Majesty Queen Feeana arrived on the scene. The light blue flash, the small whiff of smoke and she was with us in all her glory. Seeing Shamus and myself talking to the Centaur she came and greeted the pair of us. Her Majesty did not waste words but told us straight away that she had a job of work for us to do. The Centaur it seemed was out with its partner, when they were interrupted by the Prince of a Kingdom that was out hunting with all of his court.

The two Centaur were parted the male managed to get away but the Prince caught the female with some netting and now she was in the royal stables. Shamus and I were to get her out of the stables so that Queen Feeana could with magic get the two creatures together again and send them to a far distant planet where they could live in peace. The palace stables were protected by a magic spell that Her Majesty did not know how to break. That is why Shamus and myself were to go and rescue the other Centaur. Her Majesty took us both by one hand and away we went, the strange sensation was with me yet once again, it is not unpleasant but it feels as if one’s tummy is turning over.

We arrived at the palace stables and Shamus and I walked quite openly into the building. All in the Palace knew that there was a magic ban on the stables so no one bothered to guard it. Shamus and myself soon found the stall where the Centaur was being held captive. The stable door was locked with a key a large key that whenever anyone tried to open it, the key it turned red hot. Taking my thick leather motor bicycle Gloves I managed to open the doors of the stables my hands were not burnt but my gloves I threw away they were badly burned.

Leading the Centaur out of the stable to the courtyard where Her Majesty Queen Feeana was waiting for us. We heard a shout from one of the walls; a Sentry must have seen us and given alarm. It was too late though, Her Majesty used her wand and we were all back at the Fairy Gathering. The greeting between the two Centaur was very touching. We were all pleased that they were together again.

Then Her Majesty called all the fairies to pay attention and on her command to point their magic wands at the two Centaur and use the magic words that would transport them to the waiting planet where others of there kind were waiting to greet them. Her Majesty raised her wand so did a hundred and fifty fairies then a bright shower of sparks flew off the ends of the magic wands and the two Centaur disappeared. Once again two creatures like others before them such as the Unicorn, the Dragon and many others were sent to this wonderful planet where there is no war and all creatures live in peace one with another.

Thanking Shamus and myself Her Majesty raised her Magic wand once again and I had the sensations in my tummy and Shamus and I were back in my kitchen. I made another pot of tea and with a few ginger biscuits that were left from earlier we sat and drank our sweet tea. Looking at my kitchen clock I was surprised only a few minutes had gone by since I last looked at it. It was as if we had never left the kitchen.

Chairman.

I could hear the faint chimes of a Church bell in the distance. I hurried my steps and walked a little quicker. I did not want to be late for this very important event. I had received a request to attend the Fairies New Year Resolutions Committee. This body of Fairies included Her royal Majesty Queen Feeana and all of the wise old Fairies. I was to act as Chairman at this conference. I have never attended such an event before and was looking forward to see the Fairies and hear their new resolutions.

Arriving at the clearing a little out of breath I was greeted by Her Majesty with a smile. " You did not have to hurry," she said. "We could not start without a chairman now could we?" I smiled and bowed to Her Majesty and said, "That I was highly honoured to be considered for such an interesting position." I opened the proceedings with greetings to her Majesty and the Wise old Fairies.

Reading the first proposal, which was for all Fairies in future not to argue with each other. This proposal the wise old Fairies were very serious about, when it came to discussing this new resolution. It seems that the Fairies when at play, sometimes as most children do, overstep the line and one word leads to another. Soon a nasty argument is going on. Fairies as you know have magic wands that they can use and during an argument these wands are used with some very peculiar outcomes.

Fairies with a nose like a pig or fairies coloured by magic, very difficult to get rid of the colours. Hairs growing to and under their feet and many more such silly pranks were some of the tricks they played on one another." This," the wise old Fairies said "had to stop." I was in complete agreement myself but waited to hear what Her Majesty would say to such a proposal. Her Majesty agreed and the resolution was passed. I then mentioned what, if any, would be the punishment for a Fairy if they broke this resolution. The wise old Fairies were for a week’s stoppage of magic for each Fairy involved. Her Majesty was in agreement and a Leprechaun wrote down the first new resolution.

The second resolution was about Fairy cakes and the amount that the fairies ate when not under supervision. Some of the Fairies were indeed a little plump through eating too many cakes. A resolution was made that the Fairies were only to receive Fairy cakes at certain times of the day and that all fairies that were a little on the plump side would have to walk to get rid of any extra weight no use of wings was permitted. These Fairies would have their wings tied by magic until they were at a normal weight. The Fairy Queen and myself thought that this was a good idea and would help the bees that worked so hard making honey. Fairy cakes are made with nearly fifty percent honey the rest is Flower petals and finely ground corn which we humans call flour.

The next proposal was that all fairy children were to stay at school another year to get ready for doing housework. It is, said the wise old fairies disgraceful when going into some of the Fairies homes and seeing that they had not cleared away the dishes after a meal or that there was dust everywhere. Not magic dust just the ordinary dust that collects in houses that are not dusted and cleaned regularly. It was felt that all fairies should learn housework and house keeping when they were young it would help and last them all through their long lives. The Leprechaun finely wrote down all these resolutions in a large ledger.

No more proposals were put forward and I thanked Her Majesty and the wise old Fairies for there coming and for their hard work in keeping fairyland so well. I also thanked them for the honour of asking me to be the Chairman at this most important event. The meeting then broke up and after some small talk each went home. Not the Leprechaun his next job was to print out the new resolutions and make sure that each and every Fairy received a copy. He worked hard all through the night and the next day copies of the resolutions were delivered to each Fairy home.

The Fairies were not too happy about the new resolutions. Fairy cakes to eat when they wanted were they thought not a privilege. Others thought that being a little plump, well as long as they could fly it did not really matter. The main grouse though was an extra year at school for all Fairies to learn housekeeping. Everyone knew that one wave of a wand and all dust disappeared and the housework also could be done by magic. This most were agreed was very unfair. No one wanted to stay at school any longer than was really necessary.

A petition was sent to her Majesty saying that the extra year was not necessary as all cleaning could and was done by magic. Her Majesty said that they either stayed at school for the extra year or all magic would be stopped for all Fairies. Then the housework would have to be done by hand like the humans do it. This, the Fairies decided was too much and they went on strike, no flowers were painted, no colours were placed in the world and all became very drab.

Her Majesty stopped all magic. This meant that for the first time the fairies had to see where they got their food. No Fairy cakes, no parsnip wines, it was terrible and soon many fairies were very hungry and called off the strike, asking her Majesty at least to give them enough magic for food and drink. Her Majesty gave them back the magic powers on the condition that they attended school and went on a diet and in general kept the new resolutions that had been made for their own good. Soon Fairies stayed at school longer learning to do housework. All fairies both boys and girls had to do this extra year.

This was the first time that I was asked to be chairman and it was a new experience for me. The wise old fairies and her majesty had more or less shown me how Fairyland is ruled; there is no Government just this council of wise old fairies and Her Majesty The Fairy queen.

Children’s Day.

The other day I heard that the teachers in the local infant’s school were going to take the children into the woods to show them some of the wonderful things that Mother Nature provides. This I thought is good news and I hurried to the woods to ask the Fairies and the little folk to help look after the children. To make sure that no one went missing and that the little ones did not hurt themselves on the thorns of the brambles and the wild roses.

The Fairies were very excited and many Fairy rings sprang out of the ground overnight to show to the children. Fairy rings are toadstools arranged in a circle the Fairies use them to sit on when they hold their meetings and for the Fairy dances. The Fairies went to the bramble bushes, which at this time of the year were full with large blackberries. Here they cleared away all of the thorns that could hurt a child.

All of the poisonous mushrooms were spirited away by magic and the woods were safe for the children.

The Friday morning arrived and after eating my breakfast, I eagerly waited for the children with their teachers to appear. Just before nine o’clock, I saw them all coming two teachers were leading and the children hand in hand, were talking excitedly among themselves. I greeted the teachers and asked if I could accompany them on their exciting journey into the woods. The teachers all knew me and agreed for me to go into the woods with them and the children.

Arriving at the first large clearing, I got the children to all sit and listen to the birds. I had asked the Fairies to get the animals and birds to appear one after another so that I could show the children how many and how different all the birds and animal were. First, I saw a large owl and showed the children how big its eyes were and the way it turned its head to all sides. The Fairies in turn sent robins and wrens, blackbirds and turtledoves and a large number of different birds for the children to see.

Then the animals came one after another, the fox. after the fox a badger mother with two young badgers. It was thrilling for the children to see the animals and birds. Their eyes were shining in anticipation of what would next appear. It was a mother deer with two babies. The children gave off little cries of delight and the fairies now began to show themselves. Two of the Fairies flew to my shoulders, sat, and talked to the children in picture language. This mental showing of pictures was the Fairies way of talking to human beings.

The teachers were surprised at how quiet and attentive the children were while the Fairies showed them different pictures. All that was in the woods the Fairies gave the children a running commentary. The places where the animals slept, the foxes burrow, where the rabbits played all day long. What food the animals eat. I must admit I too went through a learning process as the pictures flashed through my mind.

Then it was time for the children to go off and play. Some were soon eating the lush blackberries other collected mushrooms. Others carefully were looking at the Fairy rings. Each child had a Fairy looking after it there was no danger and soon the teachers were copying the children. This day many blackberries were eaten by the teachers and the children. Lunchtime came around, we all sat down on the grass in the clearing, and the teachers gave the children sandwiches and milk to eat and drink.

The Fairies I had to stop from giving the children Fairy Cakes and elderberry wine. After the meal, I arranged for the Fairies to show us more of the animal world at four o’clock in the afternoon it was time for the children to go home. The children held hands again and in pairs, they set off home with two teachers at the front and two with me in the rear.

I said goodbye to them all as I went into my front garden gate and promises were made for us all to go into the woods again on the next sunny day. I hurried back into the woods and thanked the Fairies for being so kind and for the wonderful things; they had shown to the children and me. Now whenever a child goes into the woods a Fairy is always at his or her side.

Children's Tragedy

A long, long time ago an evil old Sorcerer found a cave that was well hidden in the middle of a huge forest. No one ever came near the place. In fact the only creatures the Sorcerer ever, saw were the wild animals that lived in the forest. Birds were never to be seen, it was a place that was always in half shadow even when the sun was shining. Hardly any light entered the area; which was lit by burning torches made from the wood and saps of certain trees.

The cave had just a few wooden stools and a long table a fire burned just inside of the entrance. The smoke slowly rose to the roof and spread till the top of the room was hardly to be seen. A shelf ran along one side of the cave. On the shelf were all kinds of jars filled with dried herbs and dried small insects. In one of the jars a dried frog with pale dead eyes seemed to be watching over this dismal place and all that was in it.

The Sorcerer spent much of his day in the woods looking for plants and flowers also for insects, spiders, frogs, lizards and newts. Wood for the fire he collected from the branches of old dead trees. At night he spent long hours looking through old parchments that were written in a strange language. He was looking for ways and means to make things invisible. His many experiments always seemed doomed to failure.

One day deep in the forest he came across a plant that he had never seen before. Taking this plant he returned to his cave and tried a new experiment. This experiment with the new plant was a success. He tried at first to make things like a cauldron to disappear. A few drops of the new lotion sprinkled over the cauldron and it was as if the cauldron had never been.

The evil old Sorcerer packed his few belongings and wandered off to the nearest large city. It took him three weeks to reach the edge of the forest and another week to reach the city. Before he entered the city some small children that were playing in the countryside disturbed him. They were throwing mud at each other and having great fun. Some of the mud splashed onto the evil old Sorcerer's clothes. He was very angry and took one of his small bottles with the new lotion and sprinkled it on to the children. The children all disappeared.

As the evening approached and the children did not come home to their respective parents, search parties went looking for them. Naturally the children could not be found, and the worried parents went to the King of this large city and asked for his help. The King sent all of his soldiers and courtiers out to look for the children. It was all to no avail the children had vanished without trace.

The Fairy Queen was informed about the tragic loss of all the children. The Queen called all the wise fairies together and with their help the children were quickly found deep in the forest near to the old cave. The wise old fairies quickly found the plant that caused the lotion to be made to make things disappear and this plant was banned to all human folk. The children were returned home after being sprinkled with fairy dust so that did not remember anything that had happened to them.

The evil old Sorcerer the Fairy Queen turned into thousands of beautifully coloured butterflies. He could no longer make small children disappear or cause any more harm to the human race.

Chinese Sorcerer.

Far away over the sea in a distant land China there lived a very famous sorcerer. It was he that invented Paper and later on Gunpowder. This all happened when the Emperor of all China was a man named Ming. This sorcerer was always roaming the woods and forests for new leaves, flowers, bark of trees and root anything that he could experiment with. He was always mixing some powders or ground down roots to see what would happen when he mixed them together. That is how he came across Paper and then Gunpowder. His first explosion with the new powder was not very loud but he soon knew how to mix the powder to get bigger and better explosions.

He had another much more important hobby and that was silk worms. He at first fed them on mulberry leaves and then as was his nature he started to experiment by spreading mixtures of other plants or fruits on the mulberry leaves. The silk that he produced was first class and could be made into the most wonderful garments for both men and women. The sorcerer was by nature a greedy man that was always wanting more. It was the same with his silk worms he paid the local peoples to bring him every silk worm that they could find.

Soon he became even more famous for his silks they were when woven very strong. Soon the Sorcerer was the second richest man in the Chinese Empire, only the Emperor and his Family were richer. This was the reason for the sorcerer to start planning to overthrow the Emperor He had many ideas but they were not practical. To pay someone to kill the Emperor was not a good plan because he was too well guarded. The Emperor also had a very good friend in Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. It was Her Majesty that warned the Emperor what the Sorcerer was planning.

The sorcerer was on good terms with the local pirates and he thought with their help he could overcome the palace Guards. He built hundreds of bombs that he filled with the new gunpowder that he had made. It was decided that the pirates would attack at dawn by bombing the gates of the palace thereby letting the pirates into the building to do their evil work.

Queen Feeana caused all the pirates to fall asleep just as they attacked the palace it was then easy for the palace guards to capture them all and put them into prison where they belonged. The Sorcerer was very angry with Queen Feeana for upsetting his plans to rule the whole of the Chinese Empire. He swore that he would get his revenge on the Fairy Queen.

His silk worms now produced the silk that was so strong that it took the sharpest of knives to cut through it, With this silk the sorcerer decided to get his revenge on the Fairy Queen Feeana He made some special kimono’s that when put on ones body they shrunk causing the person wearing them to suffer with loss of movement. The arms could not be moved nor the hips or the legs. The silk was at the same time so pretty and soft to the touch that it would be impossible not to put one on.

The Sorcerer made a dozen of the kimonos and sent them off to the Fairy Queen saying that they were a present from the Emperor Ming. The Queen Feeana was delighted to receive such a splendid present. She sent a letter back immediately to the Emperor thanking him. The Emperor wrote back that he had not sent any presents as he was waiting for Her Royal Majesty to visit him in his palace where the Royal porcelain makers were finishing the Presents for the Queen.

It was too late Her Majesty had tried on one of the kimonos and it had shrunk so that she could not move any part of her body. The Queen was nearly helpless but she could still use her voice. She called a robin and asked him to take a message to me. I at once went to Her Majesties home and saw the terrible thing that the sorcerer had done to her. I took Her Majesty’s magic wand and touched the kimono. The kimono immediately grew to a normal size and her Majesty was free.

It took exactly five minutes for the Queen’s punishment to reach the Sorcerer. All of the gunpowder in his home exploded and he was blown up in a loud bang and much smoke. He has not been seen or heard of since. The porcelain vases that the Emperor had made for the Queen are now to be seen in the British Museum.

Conch Shell.

One sunny day last June I was walking through the woods keeping an eye open for the Fairies it was over a week since I had last seen any of the little people. The wild animals were to be seen as I walked quietly through the woods. I had been strolling along for about a quarter of an hour when I saw the first group of Fairies. The Fairies were obviously excited about something and did not notice me until I greeted them all.

The Fairies were passing around a seashell each one taking turns to hold it to their ear. I recognised the shell it was a so-called Conch Shell. I at first thought that they were listening to the noise that the sea makes when putting the shell to one’s ears. Morganfee told me that a Mermaid had given the shell to the Fairies. The shell did not give one the impression that one was listening to the sea but told one about ones life.

On seeing me one of the Fairies asked me if I would like to see what my life held in store for me. I refused; I did not want to know what would happen in the future I liked to take the days as they come. I then asked if Her Majesty Queen Feeana knew about the shell. The Fairies looked rather guilty and then admitted that they had not told Her Majesty. One of the Fairies took the shell and ran off into the woods. On seeing this I smiled I knew that Her Majesty would soon know about the seashell that was telling the Fairies what the future would hold for them.

In a matter of about five minutes Her Majesty appeared on the scene holding the shell in her hand. Her Majesty was not upset about the shell and giving it to one of the Fairies she turned to me and smiled, "It is quite harmless," she told me. "There is no harm in the Fairies knowing about their future." " I see that you refused to listen to the shell telling you, your future." I told Her Majesty that if I knew what was going to happen before hand then there would be no more surprises in my life and that would not suit me as I always look forward to what the next day or week will bring to me.

Her Majesty smiled again and said, "I see that you are a wise man it would be no fun knowing what was going to happen in the future." The Fairies still have the shell but soon got tired of hearing what will happen in the future. Then the Fairies gave me the shell and I took it home and placed it on my mantelpiece over the fire. It made a nice ornament and I quite liked it.

One morning soon after my house was broken into and a few things were stolen. The shell was the first thing for me to see that was missing. Then I saw that the window in my kitchen had been broken and the burglar had entered my house through the kitchen window. Some weeks later I was walking around Chapel Street Market in London and to my great surprise I saw the seashell or its twin brother that had been stolen from my house.

I went into the shop and asked how much the man wanted for the seashell. I was really only going to buy it to replace the one stolen from my mantelpiece. I paid the shopkeeper for the shell and went back to my home. On arrival at my house I put the seashell onto the mantelpiece again. Seeing the shell every day made me really curious, did it still foretell the future? I could not resist it and placed the shell to my ears for a few seconds. The seashell told me that I would write this little story. I quickly placed it back on the mantelpiece it was the same one.

The next day I wrapped the shell in some newspaper and took it back into the forest. I thought I would return it to the Fairies. The Fairies had now another game and were not interested. Then I saw Her Majesty, Queen Feeana and told her that the shell had been stolen from my house and that I had found it for sale in a shop in London. I asked Her Majesty to put a spell on the seashell so that it would only make a noise like the sea and not to tell one’s future. Smiling Her Majesty took out her magic wand and pointed it at the shell that I still held in my hand. There was a shower of sparks from the magic wand and the seashell went into a bright light only to fade back to its original colour. My hand itched for a few days after but now one can place the shell to ones ear and only hear the sea.

If you get hold of one of these shells you may safely place it to your ear and you will hear the sea as the tide comes in or goes out. I still have my Conch Shell and often people that visit me listen to it. It is now safe and does not tell what the future will hold for them.

Conniefee.

Conniefee was a fairy girl that had just finished the fairy school. Like all fairies that leave school, she could make a magic wand and perform small feats of magic. Connie loved painting the flowers and shrubs and the trees. The older fairies paint the animals and each is specialised in painting different animals. All of the colours come from the tips of the fairies magic wands. I myself have often seen the fairies busily painting flower and animals. Conniefee’s first attempt to paint a flower went wrong she had gotten her colours mixed when using her wand. The other fairies laughed at Conniefee’s attempts to paint flowers. They made fun of her flowers giving them names that they made up on seeing a flower not in its usual colours. I smilingly took her hand and asked her whether she had used the right ingredients for making her magic wand. She had not been paying attention and had perhaps gotten one of the roots used to make the wand that she should have used in another magic lesson.

Conniefee told me that she always mixed up the different roots, as there were so many of them to remember. I asked her to make another wand and I would watch her and tell her if one of the ingredients as wrong. Connie agreed and destroyed her wand over the yew fire used by all fairies to destroy old or worn out wands. Conniefee went off to collect the roots and flowers and other things needed to make a wand. I patiently waited until she came back with all of the flowers roots and tree bark needed to make a wand. I carefully watched her as she started to mix the things together in her small cauldron over a magic fire. I could see no mistake all was as it should be and slowly the mixture came to the boil. Taking her small yew twig Conniefee placed it in the brew and muttered the magic words. The new magic wand she let dry off in the sunshine and after clearing away the cauldron and the ashes of the magic fire she tried her new wand. Imagine my surprise when instead of colouring a flower she turned the flower into a dragonfly. Another flower she turned into a bumblebee. This was very strange and I decided to get some advice from Her Majesty, Queen Feeana.

I asked Conniefee not to colour any flowers until I had spoken with Her Majesty. I was half afraid that something else other than bumblebees and dragonflies could come from the end of her magic wand. Everyone knows that one must not play with magic. I sent a robin to Her Majesty and explained what was happening to Conniefee’s wand and the strange results coming from it. Her Majesty called Conniefee to her and asked to see the wand. Conniefee gave Her Majesty the wand and sat down on a toadstool to await Her Majesty’s inspection. On the outside there was nothing strange about the wand it looked normal enough. The Queen then tried to colour a flower but like Conniefee’s attempts the flower turned into a butterfly. This was indeed all very strange. I told Her Majesty that Conniefee had burned her old wand in a yew fire, and I had personally watched her making a new wand, all the ingredients were in order. I myself had lit the magic fire.

Her Majesty took from her pocket a small piece of parchment and reading aloud the words in the old language, she threw some magic dust over the wand of Conniefee. Nothing happened. The Queen Feeana then tried to colour another flower this too turned into a beetle. We were all very confused and her Majesty told Conniefee to get together new ingredients to make another wand. This wand The Queen herself would make. I got some dry yew twigs to make a fire magic fire and Conniefee went off to gather her herbs and flowers to make the second new wand. I watched as Her Majesty burnt the second wand. Conniefee came back after a while with all the things she needed for a new wand and with her Majesty together, they placed flower petals bark and roots in the pot with some deep well water then this time Her Majesty lit the fire and we watched as the mixture came to the boil. The Queen dipped the new yew twig into the mixture and then said the magic words in the old Fairy Language and we watched as it dried in the sun. When it was dry, The Queen gave it to Conniefee and told her to colour a flower. Conniefee did so and a small coloured bird appeared at the end of the wand. This was indeed very strange and a meeting of all the wise old fairies with the professors from the Fairy University all came to the meeting and Her Majesty told of the behaviour of Conniefee’s Magic wands. The professors went back to the Fairy University and the wise old Fairies went back to their homes to think about what was going wrong with Conniefee’s magic wands.

I myself went to the well where the water for the mixture was taken and I tied a string around a bottle and dropped it into the water after a few minutes I pulled out a bottle of the well water and took it to a friend of mine who was a chemist and asked him to check the water. The water was pure and it was just water as far as my friend the chemist could tell. I took the water back home with me and placed a flower in it. I wanted to see if the water would harm the flower or not. To my surprise, the flower started to shrink and then turned into a caterpillar. I went back to the woods where I reported to her Majesty my observation of the flower turning into a caterpillar. The well water was the cause of the magic wands stranger behaviour.

Her Majesty placed a large stone over the well and Conniefee’s wand is now in a safe place in Her Majesties home, all water in the future would come from the stream, then no wand would be able to turn flowers into insects. Conniefee now colours the flowers with the other Fairies and her flowers are always very pretty. The Professors ands the wise old fairies now know about the deep well water and sometimes use it for experiments. Her Majesty went to the well with her Magic Mirror .she wanted to see the history of the well. Years ago a very powerful witch had flown over Fairyland and dropped a packet of magic powder that had fallen into the well it had taken a thousand or more years for the container to rust away and set the magic powder free.

Cookery Spells.

The sun was slowly sinking in the west a few clouds scurried across the evening sky. The moon rose slowly, bright, with that pale glow that one associates with a full moon. I was slowly making my way back to my old house it had been a great day with the fairies. They showed me some new recipes and the fairies just for me put on a show of cooking that left me gasping, their knowledge of herbs is fantastic. The amount of herbs and flower petals that they used has given me enough information to write a long cookery book.

A group of fireflies were slowly flying in front of me to lighten my way through the woods. To tell you the truth I did not need them as the moon was full and I could see well enough but the fairies always thought of their guests, thus the fireflies. I arrived back home greeted by my dog Wag. Wag’s welcome was a short sharp bark just enough to appreciate that I had arrived home.

I fed Wag and refilled his water bowl. I then made myself a light evening meal. While I was eating, I made a few short notes about the various flower petals and herbs that the fairies had shown me during their cooking and with Wag at my heels, I made my way up to my bedroom. A quick wash and change into my pyjamas and I was ready for my bed. It had been a long exciting day and I soon fell into a deep sleep.

Wags short sharp bark wakened me. I looked at my alarm clock and saw that I had been asleep for some five hours. Wag’s growling was getting deeper it now came from the back of his throat. I threw on my dressing gown and taking a powerful torch, I went downstairs with Wag just ahead of me. On coming to the Kitchen I got a shock, the fire was burning brightly in my old fashioned stove. The heat in the kitchen was a little uncomfortable.

Pots and pans were on the top of the old range with all kinds of tempting smells coming from them. Herbs flew through the air to land in one or other of the pots and pans. I could see no one it was all very strange. The weirdest thing of all was a pen that moved over old parchment writing down recipes as they were cooking on the stove. Wag was furious he barked at the unseen beings, he knew they were there but like me, he could see no one.

This went on for another two hours with one spoon after another coming toward my face for me to taste what had just been cooked, To keep Wag quiet a large bone appeared out of nowhere and landed at his feet. Wag was delighted and with only the occasional growl came from his throat. Then it all came to an end, the pen stopped writing. The spoon disappeared and the pots just vanished from the top of the stove all was quiet in my kitchen.

The only thing left to remind me of the strange goings on were the pen and the recipe book. I took the book in my hand and read a few of the recipes. Herbs were at the back of the book with descriptions of what they were and what they were for, some are painted in colours to make their recognition easier.

I made myself a pot of tea and some toast and with fresh water and dog’s biscuits for Wag, I thought about all that gone on in my kitchen in the early hours of the morning. I now had a book of recipes with a wonderful description of herbs for use when cooking I decided to let the wise old fairies check it out to be sure that no one had been playing tricks on me.

I had no idea who the cooks were. I had tasted most of the dishes and I was still alive so it seems that no one wanted to harm me. Calling Wag I went into the woods and sent out a mental picture to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Soon Her Majesty arrived and I showed her the book of recipes and my doubts as to whether all of the recipes were in order. Her Majesty smiled and sent a fairy to the wise old fairies to have them check the recipes.

Her Majesty then smiled and told me that my early morning visitors were the fairies they were so impressed at my being at their cookery show that they had decided to cook for me and write a recipe book at the same time. Soon the fairy arrived back with the cookery book it was not so thick as it had been when I gave it to the fairy and Her Majesty smiled and said that in their enthusiasm, the fairies had written in some very secret recipes and the wise old fairies had taken them out. The ones they had taken out were cookery spells for making something or some one disappear and a few others that no human was ready for just yet.

I still have the recipe book and perhaps one day I will ask Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, if I may have it published so that I can show you all the wonderful herbs and recipes that the fairies use. One thing that I can promise you, you will be surprised at what nature holds for us to eat there are many herbs that we do not know about.

Danger For Me.

Wherever I go I have this feeling that I am being followed. It has got so bad that I often find myself turning around to see what or who is behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand out as if I had just had an electrical shock. It is a very weird feeling and although I am not a nervous person I hurry home whenever it gets dark. I have taken to locking all the doors in my house. The windows I have fitted with small bolts that cannot be seen from the outside of the house. All of my windows are secured in this manner. I cannot go to the Police they would probably think that I was just another freak wasting their valuable time.

I gave this matter a lot of thought and came to the conclusion that I needed help from someone that is very powerful. I sent a robin to the Fairy Queen Feeana and asked for an audience. The Fairy Queen invited me to come to Fairyland I was to be near the old oak tree with the twisted crossed branches. I wrapped myself in a dark cloak and set out to the woods where fairyland begins. I often stopped and strained my ears but I could hear no footsteps. I often turned my head but could see no one following me. This strange feeling persisted until I stepped over the borders to Fairyland then the feeling was gone it was as if I had imagined the whole thing.

At the old oak I did not have to wait long a flash of bright light, a whiff of smoke and Her Majesty stood there in her long flowing robes and a golden crown on her head. In her hand Queen Feeana Held her small golden magic wand. Smiling the Queen asked me how she could be of help. I told her of my feelings of being followed and of my nervousness even in my own home. "From this moment on," said Her Majesty. "You will be accompanied by one of my Fairies she will be wearing a cloak of invisibility and we will soon find out who or what is following you." "During the night two of my Owls will be watching your home so you may sleep in peace knowing that I or one of my Fairies will always be with you.

I thanked Her Majesty and made my way back home I was not alone two Owls flew silently overhead. Back home I made myself a cup of hot sweet tea and went to bed with a book that I had been trying to read for the last two months. I soon fell into a fitful sleep and woke in the morning still tired but with a feeling of confidence that all would soon be well. Three days later I was sent a message by a robin to come to Fairyland as Her Majesty Queen Feeana had some news for me. I went to the old twisted Oak tree and waited for her Majesty. The two Owls were still silently circling overhead.

The familiar flash of light and the small puff of smoke told me that Her Majesty was with me, sure enough the Royal figure was to be seen in her long flowing robes and the golden crown on her head. Smiling she told me that I was right I was being followed because a sorcerer thought that I was going to write about him and expose his wicked secrets. This was entirely new to me I had not known of the sorcerers existence until Her Majesty told me. Now I was very curious and was determined to find out more about this man. I asked Her Majesty for all of the details that she had about the sorcerer. Then I thanked Her Majesty and told her I would report back to her with any news about this man.

The sorcerer lived in the next village to me. I dressed myself in some old clothes and put on a pair of dark sunglasses and with a walking stick painted white I went to the village and pretended I was blind. In this way I walked to the cottage where this sorcerer lived. I soon found his reason for fearing me the man had three children living in his house. He treated them terribly and the food he gave the children was the rest from his meals. Two boys and a girl it was pitiful to see the way this man ill-treated the children. I was determined to help them and went back to Fairyland where I told Her Majesty all that I had seen.

The Queen decided to help the children and we hatched out a plan between us. The plan went like this. The sorcerer would be struck with an illness that would rob him of the use of his hands and legs. He would then have to rely on the children for his daily needs. The fairies that would do the cooking would help the children secretly. The children would just have to tend to the sorcerers needs such as washing, dressing and feeding the man.

Her Majesty put the plan into action the sorcerer was struck with this strange illness and for the next five years he could do nothing without the children’s help. The fairies secretly did the cooking although the girl thought that she was doing everything. The boys washed the old man and saw to his needs. When they were old enough the Queen took off the spell and the man turned back into a wicked sorcerer. The children were now fully grown and as soon as they saw that he was better they left his house never to return again.

Since this episode I have never felt again that I was being followed no fancied footsteps behind me no more nervousness at night in my own home. One thing though the two Owls still watch my house in fact one of them has built a nest in a large Elm tree at the bottom of my garden. I think you know that Her Majesty is still looking after me.

Danger! Magic Wands.

My life is entirely taken up with Fairies. I see them every day and often get involved with their work and their play. It has been like this since I was a very small boy. I was often on my own and my only company were the Fairies. The Fairies taught me much about their life and how they spend their time. Most Fairies have a working period where they paint flowers and birds and all kinds of things such as trees, shrubs and all of the insects. Before the Fairies came to earth all those thousands of years ago the world was more or less black and white. To make this world liveable for the Fairies they went about painting everything with their Magic Wands.

Some of the animals and birds they left in the same colour such as the crow, the blackbird, some of the animals they were only able to paint a white stripe along their backs like the skunk and the badger. Some cows they were only able to place blotches of white on their skins. The black and white cows that one sees are examples of these animals that they could not paint in colour. Some flowers they purposefully left all in white such as the snowdrop, the lilies of the valley and quite a few more.

I attended the Fairy School for two years and it was here that I learned most of my knowledge of the Fairies. All Fairy children are given a wand that can work small spells. When the school period is over the old wands are burnt and each Fairy makes him or herself a new wand. This new wand is much more powerful and if used by the wrong person can cause much damage. This story is about such a wand that was not properly burnt and fell into the wrong hands.

The woman Megan Doubt was walking through the woods looking for mushrooms when she came across a small fire that had some small sticks sticking out of it. These sticks were only singed not burnt and the woman liking the smooth ends of the sticks picked them all up out of the burnt out fire and took them home with her. At home she was cleaning the sticks, which in reality were young fairy wands. When she muttered the words" I wish these sticks would clean themselves." There was a bright blue flash and a small whiff of smoke and sticks were like new. Each one was highly polished and the woman was delighted.

The following day she took the sticks which she had tied into a bundle and going through the woods she said out loud." I wish that I might find many good big mushrooms. Once again the blue flash and whiff of smoke and the ground in front of the woman was covered in mushrooms. The woman quickly filled her basket and on the way home she began to wonder where the blue flash came from and the whiff of smoke. Then it dawned on her it was the sticks that she had found in the fire that had not burned properly. They must be magic.

The woman was rather greedy and whenever she asked for something nice to eat, a dozen or more Fairy cakes appeared on the table in front of her. This carried on for a few days. Fairy cakes, sweet foods and other delicacies were hers for the asking. The woman was now overjoyed at her good luck with the bundle of magic wands. She got even greedier and wished for gold. Bars of gold she thought that the wands would make her a very rich woman.

A dozen bars of gold appeared on the table in front of her. Then she asked for more gold. It appeared and the woman was very happy. She made one more wish for gold and then went to bed as it appeared on the table.

Imagine her surprise when in the morning she went down stairs to look at her gold. There was no gold only a pile of black ash. The young Fairies wands were only to feed the Fairies and to do simple tricks of magic. By tying the wands together into a bundle she had increased the power of the magic. It not only fed her by supplying food and Fairy cakes, It could produce gold but the gold turned into black dust after a couple of hours.

All young Fairies use magic for colouring flowers and animals and all of the other growing things on this earth. The only person that could use a magic wand for making gold was Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Even the wise old Fairies could not produce gold; it too would have turned to black powder in a couple of hours.

Unknown to the woman Her Majesty had let her keep the wands to see what she Megan Doubt would do with them. If the woman had used them the same as the young Fairies for colouring and even for food she would have let her keep the bundle of wands. Instead Her Majesty waved her own wand and the bundle of wands disappeared never to be seen again. The woman still goes into the woods to look for mushrooms, which she sometimes finds. She also looks for small fires with wands in them. Needless to say she never ever found any more of the wands, as now when the young Fairies burn their old wands, there is always a wise old fairy that makes sure that all of the wands are properly burnt.

Dargonwen

Far away in the country called the badlands where nothing could grow because it was too hot and dry. There lived a man that was known to be the world’s greatest wizard. This wizard was so powerful he could turn dust into the most amazing foods and drinks. He was a very rich man for he just held out his hand and money appeared in plenty.

Dargonwen was the name of this wizard, many a tale was told of Dargonwen. No one had ever seen him only a fool would ride into the badlands where there was nothing to eat or drink. He received no visitors. His only companions was a large Bird commonly known as a Vulture and a huge Irish wolfs hound.

Dargonwen had a secret. In the back of the cave where he lived there was another cave. Thick iron bars separated the two caves. In this cave Dargonwen held three Fairies captive. He caught the Fairies one day as he wandered through Fairyland. He tricked the Fairies into going with him by telling them that he had a very sick fairy in his house and did not know how to look after her.

The three Fairies made many a plan to escape but what with the Irish wolfs hound and the Vulture not to mention the wizard Dargonwen it was proving to be very difficult. The Fairies in Fairyland missed their three companions and asked the Fairy Queen Feeana to help them.

Queen Feeana asked the birds of the air to help. After four long years a goose told the Queen as he was flying over the badlands heading south for the winter. He caught a faint call for help and thought he ought to report it to the Fairy Queen.

Queen Feeana thought about the problem for a while then decided that she too would fly over the badlands to see if she too heard the cry for help. The next time when the geese flew back north to the summer pastures the Fairy Queen flew with them.

As they approached the Badlands Queen Feeana sent out a secret signal that could only be heard by Fairies and sure enough the three captive Fairies answered the call.

The Fairy Queen landed near the cave and changed back into a Fairy. Her first problem was the Vulture as it could report back to its Master all that it saw in the badlands. Vultures are greedy creatures and the Queen waved her wand and a large piece of meat appeared on the ground. The vulture greedily ate the meat and fell asleep the Queen had used some very potent drops of sleeping mixture to drug the bird.

The next step was to put the Irish wolfs hound out of action. Queen Feeana let out a high piercing whistle and the dog came running. It too found and ate a huge piece of drugged meat and was soon fast asleep next to the vulture.

Making herself invisible the Fairy Queen Feeana entered the cave and saw Dargonwen standing over a large flat tub of water. In the water he was watching pictures that kept appearing and disappearing on the water’s surface.

Waving her magic wand Queen Feeana set the three Fairies free and together they turned into four large geese and flew off back to Fairyland. The Wizard did not realize that his three Fairy prisoners were free and became very angry when he found the back cave empty.

Dargonwen called for his Irish wolfs hound and his vulture and was even more angry when he heard how easily the Fairy Queen had out tricked them and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on the fairies instead of looking into his water pan looking at pictures of the future.

All the Fairies in fairyland were given a magic bead that they wore next to their bodies. If any Fairy in future was to disappear he or she could be found with the help of this magic bead.

Dargonwen is still living in the badlands and he is still alone with just an old vulture and an Irish wolfs hound.

Dark Cloud.

The sun is shining and deep in the woods the little folk are happily playing. There is much laughing and singing the Leprechauns are teasing the Fairies and the Trolls are teasing the Pixies who give as good as they get. In fact it was one of those midsummer’s days that all enjoyed. The berries on the brambles were in various stages of ripening and some of the little folk are busy collecting and also eating the dark black fruit. Suddenly there appeared in the sky a large black cloud. It stayed in the one spot and the small folk became very anxious. A cloud like this had never before been seen.

The animals of the woods too began to look uneasily up at this most threatening cloud. Mother deer looked for their young and led them deeper into the forest obviously thinking it would be safer for them. The birds began to gather and looked for their nests like they do in the late evenings of summer but this was not a normal day the birds and the animals began to get panicky and all of the time this large dark cloud hanging over their heads.

Some of the Fairies flew off to other parts of the forest they were afraid to stay here with this menacing cloud hanging in the sky. One of the older Fairies sent a Robin to tell the Fairy Queen Feeana about this cloud that was gradually sinking deeper and deeper towards the earth. Most of the Fairies now held their magic wands in their hands the wands were all pointing toward the cloud.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana soon appeared on the scene and studied the cloud for a while. Then she took her wand and waved it at the cloud. The cloud disappeared and in the middle of the sky riding on their brooms were six Witches and six Sorcerers. All were muttering in a strange old language and staring down at the woods of Fairyland. The Queen Feeana smiled a little smile and reassured the Little Folk that there was no danger. Then the Queen waved her magic wand and all of the broomsticks of the Witches and sorcerers turned back into small twigs. One after another the six Witches and the six sorcerers fell slowly toward the earth.

As they were about six feet from the ground the Queen Feeana waved her magic wand again and they stopped falling but were in a very unhappy position. The Queen asked them what they were doing over Fairyland and why was they disguised as a dark forbidding cloud. The leader of the group a Sorcerer with a very long beard told the Queen this story. Where the Witches and Sorcerers lived there was a serious shortage of water and they were looking for a new home. When they first left their country they travelled openly as Witches and Sorcerers. Wherever they went they were either attacked by the Humans or by other Witches and Sorcerers.

The Queen heard their story and then sent them off to a new country this time in a white cloud and with the Queens own guarantee of protection. The Queen went back to her lovely home and the Little Folk went back to playing and singing and eating those lovely blackberries growing on the wild briars. The animals of the Forest came out of their hiding places and went about their daily tasks as if nothing had happened.

Distant Cousin.

The lights in the village are not burning as bright as they were a little while ago. A mist has come in from the sea and all is bathed in a ghostly dim light. I could feel the drops of moisture gathering on my brow and my hands as I plodded through the night. I was on my way to a distant Cousin that had telephoned me for help. I thought to myself this is no night to be out in, by the time I reach my Cousin I shall be soaked through.

A car passed me by its headlights reflecting back as it hit the mist, it did not stop perhaps the driver had not seen me walking along the side of the road although I was wearing a light coloured coat. Every step I took I became wetter and wetter. This mist I thought could not be normal, mists coming in from the sea are not usual at this time of the year and I kept a good look out for anything out of the ordinary.

I passed the lighted front of a public house and was tempted to go in and order hot grog but I knew if I had gone in to the inviting lights I would have stayed. So I kept on walking. My Cousins house was three miles from my own home and normally I would have walked it in abut a half an hour but tonight what with the mist something seemed to be dragging at me. Each step became a struggle to place one foot before the other.

There was a light on in my Cousin’s house and I was thankful when he answered my knock on the door and let me in out of the weather. My Cousin gave me a towel to wipe my head and my hands and soon I was sipping a strong hot cup of tea well sugared. My Cousin waited until I had finished my tea and then told me this strange story. He was being followed wherever he went. There was no one to be seen and he at first thought that he was imagining things. Then an attempt to burgle his house took place. Someone had tried to break in through the back door but fortunately he had some strong bolts on both front and back door that he pushed into position before going to bed.

I had with me a small piece of the magic mirror that her majesty Queen Feeana had given me. Looking into the mirror I saw that my Cousin’s house contained a book that was badly wanted by a practising Wizard. This book held knowledge of herbs that could be used to make things disappear. My Cousin had found the book at one of the old bookshops that he haunted he was an avid reader and could always be found in or near such bookshops.

I asked my Cousin where he kept his books on herbs I thought perhaps I could see what the Wizard was after. My Cousin had a bookcase mounted on the wall of his living room. I looked at the books and saw nothing out of the ordinary. A couple of the books were standing out a little in front of the others and I took them out of the bookcase and there on the back wall of the bookcase was a book it was very old and its covers were of leather. I took out the book glancing through it I saw that it was written in Latin. My knowledge of Latin is not very good and I asked him if I could take the book with me.

My Cousin had got the guest room ready for me and after checking both the back and the front door we went upstairs to bed. In the morning my Cousin told me that he had slept well for the first time in a month. We ate a good breakfast and I left with the book to go home to my house. The mist had cleared and after a brisk walk I arrived at my own home. Taking the book with me I went into the woods to ask the Fairy Queen Feeana what she knew about the book and why it was so important to a Wizard.

Going into the woods I asked a robin to take a message for me to the Queen. The robin flew off and soon Her Majesty was with me. I told her about my Cousin and the fact that he was being followed and the attempt to break into his house. I gave Her Majesty the book on herbs written in Latin. Her Majesty was very impressed with the book and after reading one or two of the herbal remedies she called the wise old fairies and gave them the book to read.

The wise old Fairies recognised the book that had been written seventeen hundred years ago by a Monk that kept an herbal garden. The Monk had also experimented with herbs and found some amazing things one could do with them if they were properly used. The wise old Fairies asked if they could translate the book into the old language so that it could be used by the young Fairies in the school. My Cousin had given the book to me and I gave it to the wise old Fairies.

The book is now in the hands of the Fairies and since I took the book from my Cousin he has not been followed anymore. Things have settled down again and the weather is warm and sunny no more mists coming in from the sea. If you find an old book somewhere that is written in Latin ask someone that knows Latin to read it to you there is much wisdom in the old books that has long been lost to the modern world.

Dragon Eggs.

It was a hot summers day, a day to either be in the woods or in a swimming pool. I had no choice I have no swimming pool so it was the shady woods for me. I sat for a while listening to the birds sweetly chirping away. Wild animals showed their faces. The deer with its young, a couple of rabbits, in fact it seemed as if today all of the creatures were coming just to see me. I sat with my back to a tree and just kept my eyes open. Butterflies dancing their age-old dance between heaven and sky kept me enthralled for a while. It was one of those days when I was at peace with the whole world.

The Fairies came to visit me after a while; they were very excited one of the Dragons had laid three eggs, which were being guarded by the Fairies. This was a very happy occasion as the last dragons to be born in this part of Fairyland had gone with the Fairy Queens help to China. There are a dozen or more Dragons in China they have such a vast area in which to hide their young offspring.

Soon the news had gone all round Fairyland if all went well we would have three new Dragon babies. The mother Dragon was also guarded by her husband he was one big Dragon and when he opened his mouth to call, all of Fairyland heard him. To the Fairies the Dragons were like pets they were fed on the finest of vegetables and given freshly mown hay to eat. Now with the coming of three new babies all the Fairies went out of their way to find fresh berries for the mother to eat.

Unfortunately the news was heard outside of Fairyland and there were many Wizards that would like to get their hands on some fresh Dragon scales. Dragon scales were very potent for making some of the spells that the Wizards use. I must have fallen asleep it was so peaceful and I had slept badly because of the heat, that my body just took over.

When I later awoke I saw a strange man walking slowly through the woods. This I thought was no ordinary man looking for wild berries or mushrooms. His eyes were looking everywhere even under the bushes not to mention up in the trees. I watched him for over an hour as I slowly followed him just to make sure that he was up to no good.

I contacted the Fairies and told them to be on the look out for strangers, in the next few weeks there was an extraordinary rush of both strange men and women wandering through the woods. I told one of the Fairies to mention this to the Fairy Queen Feeana I was now convinced that Witches and Wizards were looking for the Dragons and their eggs.

The next day as I walked slowly through the woods Queen Feeana appeared suddenly before me in her usual way. "You do not need to worry about the Dragons I too have noticed the unusual activities in Fairyland and have made Dragons all over the world invisible." "Only the Fairies and you yourself will be able to see them." "Perhaps in two or three thousand years from now all Peoples in this world will be able to see them."

The Dragon eggs hatched out and three baby Dragons were happily feeding on food that their parents and the Fairies gave them to eat. I found the babies and their mother one day as I slowly walked through the woods looking for mushrooms. I think that I was more surprised than the dragons. I greeted them and was surprised at how big the three young Dragons had become. There were still people coming into the woods if they could not have a young dragon then the eggshells would be able to make their spells more potent.

The Queen had foreseen this problem and as soon as the babies were hatched she had the shells buried in a secret place. Gradually the flow of strangers stopped and the only people that we saw in the woods were local people or the odd Farmer looking for a suitable tree to chop down for building purposes.

Later on Her Majesty used her powerful magic to whisk the dragons to China. She thought they would have more chances to survive in that huge land. Now that they were invisible there was no more danger from the Witches and Wizards and here in our part of fairyland everything went back to normal.

As for me I dammed up the stream that meandered through Fairyland and went nearly every day in summer for a cool refreshing swim. I could not convince the Fairies to come in though as they all had a great fear of their wings becoming wet. They sat on the bank and teased me that I could not swim as good as the tiny minnows that abounded in the stream.

Dragon’s Tooth.

A terrible illness swept all over the world. It affected both the birds and all of the animals everywhere. The birds and animals lost the power to speak. It was not noticed at first and then it became obvious that something was terribly wrong in the animal kingdom. The Fairies noticed this loss of speech the first as they used Robins to take messages for them. The poor Robins were not able to deliver what the fairies had told them. Then it was noticed that all the farm animals could not make a sound.

This serious matter was brought before Her Majesty Queen Feeana. A council of all the wise fairies was called even the witches were asked for help. Witches are not all nasty evil people most of them were famous for their knowledge of healing with grasses, roots and herbs from the woods. The best brains in both the human world and the fairy world tried to fathom out a cure for the poor animals and birds.

The old parchments in the fairy university were studied to find a way out of this predicament. One Professor found a very old parchment with a remedy. This parchment was so old that only a handful of people could read the strange language used by the old fairies that first came to this world from a planet far out in space.

The ingredients for this cure were fairly simple and could be found in most woods or in the countryside. Just one thing was not available and that was the powder from a young Dragon’s tooth. There were no Dragon’s teeth to be found anywhere in the world. Even in ancient China where Dragons unto this very day are honoured, there were no teeth to be found.

The Dragons in our part of fairyland were asked if they would give one of their teeth. Now everyone knows Dragons do not part with their teeth very easily. Just one Dragon was willing to give one of his teeth. He told the fairies they could have just one tooth but it must not hurt him when it was pulled from his jaw. This was no problem for the fairies they had no end of herbs to take away pain. The one big problem was who would or could pull the tooth from a healthy young Dragon.

A lot of thought was given to the matter. It was just a question of who would have the strength to pull the tooth. Then a young fairy that had come to our part of Fairyland on a visit from Canada; came up with the suggestion that a Grizzly Bear from the Canadian Rockies would have the strength. The Fairy Queen Feeana approved this and it was arranged that a deputation of fairies should go to Canada to find one of these Grizzly Bears.

A very big Grizzly Bear was found and asked if he would pull the tooth from the Dragon’s jaw. The fairies promised him plenty of honey if he would come with them. Finally the Grizzly Bear agreed and the fairies spirited him back to our part of Fairyland. The tooth was soon pulled by the bear and was carefully taken by the wise old fairies to grind down in powder so that a cure could be made for the animals and birds.

Enough of the cure was made and the birds were sent flying all over the world with packets of this fine powder to sprinkle all over the woods and countryside. Soon all of the animals and birds were able to speak again and peace settled once again in the world.

Dream Stones.

Just off Chapel Market there is a small second hand shop that sells nearly everything that one could wish for. It was here that I saw the stones for the first time. Five flat stones off white in colour thrown into the shop’s window as if in afterthought. I was I must admit very curious as to what the five white stones were supposed to represent. I thought at first a kind of talisman or even for the old children’s game of ‘five stones.’ I went into the shop and asked the man behind the counter what the stones were for. Oh! You mean the dream stones. I was very much surprised at this answer and looking questioningly at the man I waited for some more explanation.

Those five stones have been in my shop window since before the war. I was a small boy when the man an African came into my Dad’s shop and offered to sell him the stones. He told my Dad that the stones would bring sleep to a troubled mind if placed under the pillow before one went to sleep. My Dad has heard so many stories from people bringing in things to sell that he gave the man what in those days was a lot of money two pence for the stones. My Mum gave him a telling off fancy giving two whole pence for five stones that one could pick up on any beach by the sea-side.

My dad told my Mum the money was not for the five stones it was the story that captivated his imagination. My dad loved to go to the pub on Saturday nights and sometimes on Sunday nights and many are the people that he has amused by his story telling. With just those five stones he had held people amused and even believing in the simple stories that he told. One day my dad came home from the pub and threw the stones into the shop front where they have remained until this day.

I asked if I could buy the stones as they were by now fascinating me and I wanted to see whether there was any truth in calling them ‘Dream Stones.’ The man sold me the five stones for exactly two pence the same money that his Father had paid for them. I thanked him and left the shop and wandered off into Chapel Market road where I caught a taxi to Charring Cross station and took the train to my home town of Dartford .

I arranged the stones in a glass jar next to my small collection of sea-shells they looked quite pretty standing next to the shells. Then I must admit I forgot them altogether for a long time. I had a friendly Leprechaun staying with me for a while and it was he that drew my attention to the stones. I told him my story of how I bought them in a second hand shop in the Chapel Market in North London . I also told him the story of them being ‘Dream Stones,’ as it was told to me by the shop owner.

The Leprechaun who was an expert on stones carefully looked them over and told me that these stones had originally come from Africa where they were very much treasured. Many people believed in them being ‘Dream Stones.’ Many African houses had stones similar to these in their bedrooms. Other people had bored holes in the stones and wore them around their necks as bringers of luck.

The Leprechaun asked me to bring them with me to show the Fairy Queen Feeana on my visit to the woods the next day. I wrapped the stones in a clean handkerchief and strolled to the woods. Soon I saw the Fairies at play and greeted them in my usual fashion. I did not have to wait long for in her usual flash of light and whiff of smoke Her Majesty appeared in the clearing. We exchanged greetings and I took out the five stones and showed them to her Majesty like I had promised the Leprechaun.

Her Majesty carefully looked at the stones and took out her magic mirror; she showed me a picture of an African man who was a prince in his own country. I saw the man on board a ship and of him going down the gang plank on to the docks at Tilbury. He travelled by train to London and things did not go well for him. Soon he had nothing to eat and just the clothes on his back. In his pocket he had five stones which in his desperation he sold to a man in a shop in Chapel Market. Two pence exchanged hands and the man went off with the two pence he bought food and going to the docks at Tilbury worked his way back home to his own country in Africa where all of his family rejoiced to see him once more.

Then the picture in the mirror changed it showed me going into the shop and buying the stones. This said her Majesty is symbolic if you throw those five stones in five different directions you will travel to five continents. I have already visited three of those continents and there are two more to go. So I told Her Majesty that I would keep the stones at home in their jar until I should need them. I dream such wonderful dreams and I often thank chance for leading me to the shop where I bought the stones. No the stones are not for sale if chance wants you to have five such stones perhaps you too will meet an African Prince or even see five stones for sale in a second hand shop.

Dream Threats.

I got myself undressed ready for bed. I have taken my tablets and am hoping for a good nights sleep. My dreams of late have been rather weird. I dream of Fairies chasing me with their Magic Wands. I run away from so much magic that it is becoming unbearable. I know deep down that the Fairies are harmless and sometimes inclined to play silly pranks but they would in no way harm man or beast it is against their nature. Therefore, I ask myself why just these dreams that cause me to wake up soaking wet with perspiration in my bed at night.

I made a note to ask Her Majesty Queen Feeana what it all means. Is it normal for me a human to have bad dreams about Fairies or is there some other reason for my fears at night. After a period of restless tossing and turning in my bed, I dropped off into a fitful sleep. This time it was the Leprechauns menacing me they chased me with all kinds of tools that I found to be most distressing I had many a friend that was a Leprechaun.

It was indeed a rough night, I had two choices, one go to my Doctor, and two go to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana. I decided on the later and got myself ready for a walk in the woods. It had rained for the past two weeks and woods were quite soggy under feet. I pulled on my Wellington boots and placing a cap on my head, I set off for the woods. Joining me were a few fairies and in a matter of minutes, I was telling Her Majesty about my troubled dreams and asking what could be causing them.

Her Majesty gave me some wild herbs that I should place under my pillow and if that did not help, I was to think about what I might have bought that was new in the house. Even the garden I should look at and see whether some one or another had planted some new flowers. Some one that is jealous of your standing with the Fairies and the Little Folk someone that is jealous of your achievements directs the attacks at you.

I searched my house high and low but could find nothing that was new, no picture, not even a photograph. The truth is I do not spend much on the house except when a repair is necessary. My garden I could find nothing out of the ordinary no new plants not even a new weed that I did not know of. This was getting to be very mysterious. The bad dreams regularly came every night one worse than the other I was beginning to feel quite ill.

A Leprechaun came past the house today and saw me pottering around in the garden. "What have you done to the roses?" He asked me. I looked at my roses and could not see what he meant. My roses were the same as they always are. I asked him to explain. He jumped over the fence and pointing to the rose bushes, I saw that some one had replanted them. The bushes were now in a circle in the middle of which was a large black stone. I thought at first that it was a piece of coal.

"I need a large hammer and a fork," said my Leprechaun friend. I went to my tool shed and got the hammer and the fork. First, he dug out each rose bush and laid them in a straight line. Then with the hammer, he smashed away at the black stone until it was powder. Some of the powder he put in a leather sack that he had in his pocket. The rose trees he carefully cut away some of the roots and planted them as they were but this time in a straight row. I thanked him for his help and he went on his way.

I went back into the house and made myself a cup of sweet tea. I went about my daily chores and at nine thirty in the evening, I went to my bed. I slept well for the first time in months. The next morning I went into the woods where I found my friend the Leprechaun and Her Majesty. The Leprechaun was telling her about the roses and the black stone. Taking the sack out of his pocket, he showed the stone powder to Her Majesty.

The Leprechaun was a master of stones and he explained that this stone was from South America . How did it get into my garden? Her Majesty took out her Magic Mirror and placing a few grains of the powder on to the mirror she told us what she was seeing. A Wizard that lived in South America had placed a stone and rearranged rose bushes in the gardens of all authors of Fairy-Tales it was no just me all authors. This is the reason why I am writing this story so that you all take warning.

Please go into your gardens and look to see whether roses or other flowers are in a circle with a black stone in the middle. This is a sure sign that you are or will soon be under attack and you will have the most terrible dreams. The stone comes from a long dead volcano. A most powerful Wizard once cursed its stones because one of the stones hit him as he was flying over the volcano while it was in eruption.

My dream world is now back to normal and I take a drink of hot milk every night it settles me down quickly for a long night of mostly pleasant dreams.

Ducks.

This is a true story that happened while I was on a walking tour of Kent in Great Britain. The weather was warm and sunny as I went through a small Kentish village. I am not going to tell you the name of the village, as I do not want people going there and perhaps make fun of the villagers. The village consisted of ten houses one of which was a tobacconists shop and another was a small bakery. I called first in the bakery where I wanted to buy a fresh loaf of bread. To my surprise there was no one in the shop. Taking a fresh loaf of bread and a pot of honey, I left the money for the items on the counter and walked out of the shop.

The next move I made was to the tobacconists, which also sells newspapers. Here again the shop was deserted no one answered my call and I must admit I was beginning to get a little worried. Even in small villages the owners or someone in charge always tends the shops. I decided to knock on the doors of the other houses in the village. No one seemed to be at home it was as if the village was completely deserted. I did not know of any public holiday that could have caused the people to leave their homes. The village was typical of most English villages a green where on weekends people played cricket or flew kites. At one end of the green was a large duck pond with a few seats arranged around it for people to sit and perhaps discuss the events of the village.

Sitting on one of the seats was a man dressed in black clothes he appeared to be watching a large number of ducks that were either swimming in the pond, or waddling around quacking. It is a wonder that I had not heard them before as they were making quite a noise. I walked to the man sitting on the seat and wished him a good day. "Today is a very good day," he said. Opening my rucksack I offered the man some bread and honey. He thanked me and took the large slice of bread that I had generously spread with honey. Eating his bread and honey he kept looking at the ducks grinning an evil grin. I asked him what was so interesting that he kept looking at the ducks and smiling.

He then pointed to a large drake that was being followed by many of the ducks. That Drake said the man is the Village Constable. He wanted to chase me away from the village. The other ducks are also the villagers apart from those ducks that are swimming so peacefully in the middle of the pond. I must admit I was shocked to hear what the man had just said. Taking a large handful of magic dust from my pocket I threw it over the man. He stopped speaking and remained perfectly still. I then asked him why he had turned all of the villagers into ducks. "They do not deserve anything else," he said. "All I wanted was a drink of water and a piece of bread but they all turned me down and then the Village Constable tried to chase me out of the village." "You must turn them back into people straight away," I said in a very stern voice. "No way," said the man and under the influence of my magic dust given to me by Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies he remained fixed in the one position.

He then pleaded with me to let him go, I was not going to set him free until he turned the villagers back into normal people. He threatened me with some very drastic measures if I did not let him go. I was not worried the magic dust would take care of him until I freed him of the dust. Then uttering some words in a language that I did understand the village people turned back into their own bodies. I saw the Policeman. The baker. The tobacconist and the rest of the villagers both men and women, no children had been involved and I told the people to go back in their homes and not to come out for an hour.

The wizard for that was what he was, I told to go to the pond and walk right to the middle and to duck his head under the water. The wizard did as I told him then he was free, he had washed all the dust from him, but he could only go in one direction and that was away from the village as far as I know he is still walking but has never been back to the village. I threw some more magic dust over the village so that in future whoever asks for a drink of water or a piece of bread, will always get that what they asked for.

Ebony Stick.

The journey to London with the train usually takes twenty-five minutes, today it seemed to be much longer, A Lady sitting opposite me asked me if the train was late as she had an appointment at one of the big London Hospitals. Looking at my watch, I saw that we were on time. " No need to worry; " I said " We are on time and should be in Charring Cross by ten thirty. The woman thanked me and looked out of the train window. I had done the journey many times, as I liked to look around the old shops where second hand articles were for very little money to be had, I have many curiosities at my home that I have at one time or another bought in London. The train arrived on time and I stepped down onto the platform and made my way out on to the street. Walking to the shops in Soho was no problem and I slowly made my way to a shop that sold all kinds of curious things. I have often been to this shop and the owner knows me. He sometimes puts real curious things by for me to look at.

As I entered the shop he greeted me with his usual smile and went to a shelf where took down a cardboard box. Handing the box to me he said, "This came in last week I thought that you might be interested." I opened the cardboard box and inside was a curiously carved stick. The stick was of ebony wood and it appeared to be quite old. It was some eight inches long and a curling motive going right around the stick fascinated me. I wondered what it was supposed to represent. I could see no use for it except perhaps as an ornament. I bought the stick from the shopkeeper and putting it in my pocket I wandered around Soho, had a meal in a Public House and walked back to Charring Cross railway station. I was lucky, a train going to Dartford was waiting on platform one and I gave my ticket to the man at the barrier and walked to the nearest open door. Boarding the train, I looked and found myself a seat in an empty compartment. The journey home was uneventful and I arrived home at five past four in the afternoon.

Making myself a cup of tea, I opened a tin of Pilchards (Fish in tomatoes sauce) and with some bread and butter; I ate my teatime meal. The ebony stick I had placed on the table and after my tea I took it in my hand and looked at it most carefully. Whoever had carved the stick was an expert and had carved a spiralling motive in the stick. I looked at it for a while and then decided to polish it to get it to shine. Going to where I keep my shoe shining brushes, I took a tin of black shoe polish a cloth and a brush. I spent over and hour first I covered the stick with shoe crème and then with the brush I polished until the stick shone. I finished polishing the stick with a soft rag and placed it on the mantelpiece. I was pleased that it had turned out so well it now gave off a soft glow. Putting the black shoe cream away with the cloth and brush, I washed my hands thoroughly and sat down to watch television.

Glancing at the clock I saw that it was just before eleven. Time to go to bed I thought and turning off the light in the living room I happened to glance at the ebony carved stick. It gave off a curious glow nearly red. I was tired and went to bed without thinking any more about the stick. In the morning after my wash and shave, I went down to the Kitchen to make breakfast. To get to the kitchen I must go through the living room. Here I saw the ebony stick it looked dirty which surprised me after my cleaning it so well the night before. I went to the mantelpiece and saw under the ebony stick a small bar of gold. I was now very curious what had produced the gold. There is no gold lying around in my house. I made myself some breakfast and taking the stick with me I sent a mental picture to Her Majesty Queen Feeana I wanted her to find out what had produced the gold and why was the ebony stick now so dirty? Going to the clearing where I usually met Her Majesty I sat myself on a tree stump to await her coming. The bright blue flash and the puff of smoke and Her Majesty stood before me. We exchanged greetings and I showed her Majesty the ebony stick and told her about the small bar of gold that had appeared on my mantelpiece under the ebony stick. Her Majesty took from the pocket of her dress the magic mirror and we both looked into the mirror. A scene opened before our eyes. A large African man sat on the ground carving the ebony stick; Her Majesty told me, he was a witchdoctor who had powers of magic. It appears that the man had a son who was very lazy and did not want to work. The witchdoctor carved the stick and while carving, he worked in some magic into the stick. When the witchdoctor died, he left his son just this ebony stick,

The son gave the stick to a man for something to eat. He was very unhappy that his father had not left him wealth and riches. All he had to do was clean the stick every day and a piece of gold would have been his for the rest of his life. Being lazy, he did not think to clean the stick before giving it away for a meal. The new owner passed it on without knowing its secret. Over the years, the stick had passed through many hands without anyone finding its real power. I had cleaned it thoroughly and it had rewarded me with a piece of gold. The Queen Feeana told me that every time I cleaned the stick my reward would be a piece of gold. I was never to mention its secret powers when I give it away the new owner must find out for him or herself the secret of the carved ebony stick.

I still have the stick and occasionally polish it. I always find a gold bar. If the African witchdoctor’s son had not been so lazy he would have been a very rich man, his father had given him the means but he the son could not take advantage of it.

Enchanted Woods.

The woods at the bottom of my garden hold surprises for those with eyes to see. There are many signs that are easy to read for those in the know. Toadstools forming a ring are just one of the signs. Bluebells growing in abundance is another. Then of course the Yew trees and the Alder bushes all planted by the fairies is another sure sign that the little folk are somewhere near. The little folk are many in number ranging from Fairies down to the mischievous little Imps. There is a coming and a going in Fairyland all seem to be on the move. Leprechauns are renowned for the hand working qualities; they are natural shoemakers and are also very good in making pots and pans and for building houses.

The tales of Leprechauns hoarding gold are so numerous that I will not repeat it here in my little story. Many a leprechaun has found his way into the human world and some work as bankers and stockbrokers. Others have gone into the building trades and yet even others own shoe shops where they make shoes and slippers, which they sell to all who need special fitting covers for their feet.

My tale tells of one of these Leprechauns that had made immense wealth in the world of the humans and had come back to Fairyland to retire. His first work was to clear a space in the enchanted woods so that he could build his house. At first all went well he cut down trees and cleared the bushes until he had enough ground cleared so that he could build his house. Strangely enough at night time the trees that had been chopped down and the bushes that had been cleared, appeared as usual. It was as if no work had been done at all.

This carried on for a week and the Leprechaun did not know what to do next. As fast as he cleared the ground the trees and bushes grew straight back. The Leprechaun moved further into the forest and cut down more trees and bushes but it was all to no avail everything just grew back as it was before the Leprechaun cut and chopped.

The Leprechaun asked for an audience with her Majesty Queen Feeana he could not understand why he of all people could not get to build his house in the woods. After all Fairyland was open to all of the little folk why should he be treated any different to all the others that were building their houses.

Her Majesty asked Mother Nature why the Leprechaun was being stopped from building a house in the forest. The answer was simple the Leprechaun had not once stopped to plant a tree or sew a seed in the whole of his life. He had just made money in the human world and had never once given a single thought to what was going on around him. He wanted the best of both worlds. Mother Nature told the Queen Feeana that if the Leprechaun was to plant trees and sew flowers and grasses in the world he too in a few years would be able to build and live in the enchanted woods of Fairyland.

So a small tip to all those that would live with Mother Nature plant a tree sew some seed do your part to help and you too when the time comes will be able to build your house in the enchanted woods of Fairyland.

Esmerelda.

One day a few weeks ago, I went for my daily walk though the woods. Everything was in growth the snows of winter had long melted away and fresh green grass was everywhere. Here and there, wild flowers were showing their colourful heads as if they wanted to get nearer to the sun. The sun shone down and a fresh breeze blew softly from the southwest. It was then I heard a voice singing. I did not know the piece of music but the voice was strong and melodious. I expected every minute to come face to face with the singer. It was a female voice with a deep tone. It was then that I saw her; she was sitting on a tree stump and did not seem surprised to see me. I smiled and stood listening to her voice then the words seemed to sink in to my head it was as if I myself had written the song. This could not be I do not understand music and have to my knowledge never written anything in the way of music.

I sat listening to her for a while, she sang of a maiden that ran away from her parents and her home. The song was just one of the girls many adventures and I listened until the woman had finished singing. Smiling I walked back home. She had started another song but I felt I just had to write about the girls adventure as sung by the strange woman. The girls name was Esmerelda and she had a nice home with parents that doted on her. Her parents did everything in their power to make the girl happy. The Father had a good paying job and the mother was an excellent housekeeper. In fact, one could say the girl Esmerelda had everything that a child could possibly want. Esmerelda was not happy in her home like many children she was bored and wanted adventure. One day she ran off into the woods and saw a donkey under a tree she managed to get on the donkeys back and off the donkey trotted.

The donkey trotted for two whole miles then it stopped. The girl tried jabbing her heels in the donkey’s sides but it would go no further. Getting off the donkeys back the girl walked along until she too became tired. What is more she was getting hungry and regretted having run off from home. The donkey then said to her "Get on my back and I will carry you until I am tired again," this went on all day long with the donkey stopping to eat grass or drink water as and when they came to a stream. The donkey showed the girl where blackberries were growing so that she too had something to eat. At night, the girl slept with her head on the donkey’s side. This wandering went on for two whole weeks and the girl was very hungry, wishing she was back at home with her parents where there was always enough to eat. The donkey was happy it found plenty of fresh grass and water and it had had no previous home that it could remember.

The girl did not know that the donkey was leading her in circles and that they were always in reach of the girl’s home. The girl Esmerelda grew very fond of the donkey and went out of her way to find fresh grass and leaves for it to eat. The donkey then spoke to the girl for the second time. "I have carried you on my back and you have walked for two whole weeks I think it is about time that went back home to your parents." The girl started to cry and the tears rolled down her cheeks onto the donkey’s head. What Esmerelda did not know each tear was changing the donkeys shape. He was turning into a handsome young man. When she stopped crying the change was complete. He was a tall good-looking young man and taking her in his arms, he carried her back to her parents home.

On arriving at the house, the father and mother were there to greet their daughter and when they heard that the young man as a donkey had carried their child on its back, they invited the young man into their home. After a good meal when both daughter Esmerelda and the young man were comfortably seated the young man whose name was John told them this story. His father a woodcutter sent him to go and work for a Wizard. The Wizard was a nasty man that made John do all kinds of work that he himself would not do. He fed john badly and john got thinner and thinner. The Wizard gave him even less food to eat complaining that John was eating himself into a fat pig. The Wizard then placed a curse on John saying that he would be a donkey until he found someone who would care for him and even shed tears over him. Then the Wizard took a stick and hit John, now a donkey that he ran as fast as his four legs would take him. Esmerelda had found him after a month of his wanderings and he was pleased to have someone to carry on his back.

As a donkey, he knew that they were always within a couple of miles of Esmerelda’s home and he would have taken her straight back home if anything went wrong. Esmerelda has no more longings for adventure the two weeks in the open with a donkey had cured her of wanting to run off. John stayed with the Parents and Esmerelda and as soon as Esmerelda was, old enough they were married and had five children. John earned a living cutting down trees the same as his father had done. He never saw his father or the Wizard again and the new family lived happily for a very long, long time.

I have never seen the woman that sung so sweetly again and I sometimes wonder whether I dreamed it or not. It is a long time ago but I have remembered the story all of these years.

Excalibur.

Bright sunshine streaming through my windows gave the promise of yet another hot day. Motes of Fairy dust were still flying through the air although the Fairies had been long gone. It is a strange thing with Magic Dust when the magic is gone out of the dust the dust still remains. This is what most people see when a room has not been cleaned for a long time. Fairy dust is common it can be seen in every house in the land no matter how well the house has been cleaned. My house is no different I just have the advantage of knowing where the dust comes from that is all.

I entered my front room and as I expected every thing was covered in dust. I remember thinking to myself that I should get out the dusters and the vacuum cleaner and clean the room again although it was seldom used. It seemed such a waste of time to clean a room that I knew in a couple of days would be just as dusty as it was now. That is until I saw the writing on the table. Some one had written in the dust, ‘See me in the Blue-Bell woods this evening, come alone.’

I was very surprised I should go to the Blue-Bell woods, were the Fairies needing my help? What is more when did they write on my table? I had not been in the front room for over a week it was only used when a relation came or perhaps the clergyman. This was one big riddle, I would just have to wait and see what the evening would bring. The day passed ever so slowly although I thoroughly cleaned the front room and the hallway and the stairs.

At last the evening was warm with a promise of stars and a full moon I quickly made my way to the woods. Nothing out of the ordinary was to be seen the trees looked as they always did. Bushes were as bushes always were nothing seemed to be out of place. I sat myself down to wait. One thing I have learned Fairies come when they will. If one wants to see them one must have plenty of patience.

An owl settled on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Go to the Old Oak that is where they are." I was more puzzled than ever why the Old Oak that was not one of our meeting places and the fairies usually played near the yew trees. I quickly made my way to the Old Oak; here I was shocked to see all the Fairies from this group tied with cobweb threads to the Old Oak tree. They could not move any part of their body just their eyes.

Then I saw the spider it was a huge thing and I swear, it, he, or she was laughing all over its ugly face. " They are mine she cackled, all mine." It was then I noticed that one of the Fairies had dropped her wand it was under the boughs of the oak. I had to get it somehow. I had no means of fighting this huge spider. I could think of no one that I could call on for help. This time I was all on my own. I dashed to the spot where the Fairy wand lay and picked it up and waved it at the Fairies. The spider threads broke and all of the Fairies were able to fly off to a safe distance.

How was I to get rid of this huge spider? I waved the wand again and suddenly in my right hand was a large heavy sword. It was very sharp I was surprised at the ease with which I could swing the sword it looked so unwieldy. I advanced on the spider and thrust the sword at her. She was very quick although she was so big. Then I cut off one of her legs and the spider turned into an old Witch.

The Fairy Queen Feeana had arrived and with her very powerful wand made the Witch stand so still that I could have easily have run the sword right through her. It is one thing to attack a huge spider but to kill a Witch was not so easy. I just stood there with my sword-raised ready to strike. The decision was taken out of my hands Queen Feeana raised her magic wand once again and the Witch turned into a thousand small spiders. The spiders quickly scuttled off into the woods in all directions.

"Magic is only to be used for doing good," said Her Majesty. "Look at the sword that is in your hand," I looked and embossed in the metal was just one word. "Excalibur." I had been given King Arthur’s sword to fight the spider that turned out to be a Witch. "Excalibur comes only in times of dire need and it only comes to those that are pure in heart." "Thank you in the name of all the Fairies for your help," said Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies.

I would like to ask your Majesty how the writing appeared on my front room table; without this I would never have known that my help was needed. "The Fairies when playing as you know throw magic Dust in all directions, some of it with the plea for help must have landed in your front room." The rest of the night we sat in a circle on some mushrooms and talked about what the Witch could have wanted. She would not eat the Fairies so why wrap them in cobweb threads to the tree. It was a mystery and after an hour or so I went home to my bed and dreamt of the sword Excalibur.

Fairies And Spiders.

Many thousands of years ago, large forests hid most of the earth. These forests were the living room for many animals and insects. Among these insects there were many sorts of spiders. Spiders manage to live by trapping insects such as moths or flies and other creatures that crawled in large nets that they spun from branch to branch, or by letting a fine silken like thread be carried by the wind to another tree. Here they built the finely spun cobwebs that one sees everywhere in the country and yes even in our own homes.

The spiders were at one time very cooperative one with another. They built large cobwebs together so that they might catch even more insects. The Fairies were sometimes caught in these rather sticky cobwebs and found it difficult to free themselves without help from the other Fairies.

This happened for a very long time until one small Fairy was unable to free herself and some small birds flew to the Fairy Queen and reported what had happened to her. The Fairy Queen had to use magic to free the fairy and was rather upset that the spiders made such large cobwebs that trapped the Fairies.

Her Majesty The Fairy Queen thought about the spiders and their big cobwebs for a long time. Then she waved her magic wand and the spiders all forgot how to build cobwebs with one another. Now one will see cobwebs all over the countryside and in our homes but none so big as they were so many years ago.

Sometimes once or twice a year in the autumn months one may see many cobwebs covered in dew in the country. It is as if the spiders are trying to do what they were once able to do so many years ago. The cobwebs early in the morning sparkle like diamonds when the sun shines on them. This is to remind the Fairies that spider’s cobwebs are around and that they must be careful not to be caught in one of them.

Fairies In Winter.

Have you ever wondered where the Fairies go when it gets cold and the snow is laying on the ground? It was a on a sunny morning late in September when I asked my self this very question. Where do the Fairies go in winter when it is too cold to be out in the open?

I said to myself the next time that I see Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana I will ask her this very question. A few days went past and I saw her Majesty talking to the fairies in my back garden, which you know has been turned into a part of Fairyland. Smiling the Fairy Queen told me to close my eyes and to prepare myself for long journey.

I closed my eyes and full of expectation waited for Her Majesty to cast the spell that would transport me to where the Fairies went in the winter months. A bright flash and a movement of the air and suddenly we were in the largest cave that I have ever seen. Her Majesty told me that we were now under the Himalayan Mountains somewhere between Northern India and the country of Tibet.

The cave was lit by a light that seemed to come from the walls and the ceiling of the cave, the grown ups would say it was fluorescent lighting. Such a big word to say for all around shone in a bright light. The whole of the cave floor was filled with small cottages. Each cottage had a front door and a back door there were windows to the front and the back of each cottage.

Each cottage had a garden in the front and a larger one in the back. The colours here were so beautiful. Every garden had flowers it was one big coloured Picture. I was delighted to have been shown all this loveliness in Fairy Winter land. There were many trees here. All bore fruit such as bananas, nuts, oranges and apples not to mention the cherries and the large date palms that grew here in abundance.

This said Her Majesty Feeana is where we live in the wintertime when it is too cold for us to be outdoors. After the Fairy Queen had said these words she smiled and waved her magic wand. Suddenly the whole of the cave was filled with Butterflies. Butterflies most beautifully coloured and of all sizes. We also invite these wonderful creatures to stay with us in the cold of the winter. They love to be here with us when it is so cold outside. I asked her Majesty Feeana if I could visit again when all the Fairies and Butterflies were at home, I would just love to see them all flying around adding more colour to this wonderland of theirs.

Her Majesty smiled and said you may come any time you wish and she then whispered the magic words that would bring me here. I cannot tell you of course the magic words they were only for my ears but I am allowed to tell you that all the Fairies and Butterflies have a nice warm home to go to when it gets cold.

Fairies, Feathers and Warts.

It seemed as if the rain would never stop. Hour after hour, a steady down pouring of rain, it was as if the heavens were spilling over to flood the earth again. I sat in my armchair watching the rain trickle down the windowpanes. I was a little sad, as I had set this day for tending my garden. There were flowers waiting to be set in the ground. We needed the rain badly. The spring had been exceptionally dry with no rain just the morning dew to water the gardens. It is also against the law to wash cars or to use hosepipes for watering the gardens. In the afternoon about four of the clock, it stopped raining and the sun shone. I was still sitting in my armchair when I saw a white feather slowly drifting down to earth. Ah! I thought a bird has lost a feather and I saw it slowly spiralling down to the ground.

I could not believe what happened next, there was a bright flash and the feather turned into a very pretty Fairy. I got up from out of my chair and opening the back door, I softly greeted the Fairy. She had no fear and it was as if she had expected to see me here. Returning my greeting, she took an envelope from out of her pocket and held it out for me to take. "Greetings from Her Majesty Queen Feeana." she said. "You and your house are being watched by the Wizard of Wentingbury." "Her Majesty wants you to stop writing your Fairy Tales for a while as your stories are being read by many who do not like the Fairies." I told her to tell her Majesty that I would only write again when she Her Majesty expressly tells me to do so." With this, the Fairy turned again into a feather and slowly rose high into the sky until she was out of my sight.

I read the letter it was what the Fairy had told me. I felt sad at not writing about the adventures of the Little Folk. This Wizard of Wentingbury was new to me I had never heard the name before. I am by nature curious and going to my computer, I tipped in his name in the Google search machine, I was surprised he had his own homepage and advertised cures for all kinds of illness and the removal of warts. I sent him an email. I told him that I was interested in curing warts and would like his advice and some of his tinctures. I asked him to send them cash on delivery to a friend of mine living in London. I did not want him to see that I lived in Dartford. I phoned my friend and told him to expect the parcel and that I would collect it from his house when it arrived. A week later, the telephone rang. It was my friend the tinctures had arrived. I went to London to collect the same and returned back home ready to do some experimenting.

Entering my house, I placed the parcel on my kitchen table and took from my drawer the Magic Mirror that Queen Feeana had given me. Opening the parcel I found two small bottles of tincture one was a brown colour the other was colourless like water. I opened first the bottle with the brown liquid and placed the Magic Mirror so that I could drop a small drop of the tincture onto it. The picture that opened up before my eyes was of a man walking through some woods collecting roots and berries the picture changed the man was in his kitchen boiling the roots and berries. A large black cat sat on a table watching every move the man made. After a while, some of the mixture that he was making he poured though a series of sieves and then through a very fine cloth. This he poured into small bottles. This was the colourless liquid that he had sent. I carefully wiped the Magic Mirror dry and poured a drop of the colourless liquid onto it. I got the very same set of pictures the Liquid had been strained but it was the same mixture.

I next read the notes that he had sent with the liquid. Pour on two drops of brown liquid on to the wart. Wait until the morning and pour one drop of the colourless liquid onto the wart. The wart should then drop off with no signs that a wart had ever been on the skin. I took some magic powder and mixed it with the anti-wart mixture. To my surprise, the Picture in the Magic Mirror changed. The black cat turned into a Wizard and the Wizard of Wentingbury turned into the black cat. The new Wizard knew nothing of the old Wizards plans. How could it, it had previously been a large black cat. The Wizard now a black cat sat on the table looking at the new Wizard of Wentingbury.

The picture faded and in the Magic Mirror I now saw Her Majesty. "How did you overcome his power she asked me? " I told Her Majesty about the Magic Mirror and the wart mixtures and how I had thrown Magic dust over them and how the cat and the Wizard had changed identities. Her Majesty Queen Feeana congratulated me. It seems that the new Wizard of Wentingbury is now devoted to keeping white mice. He has no time for wizardry and his cat she looks longingly at the fat white mice that the Wizard now breeds. My house is now free of danger and all of my little friends come to see me as they please and I am still writing my Fairy Tales no Wizard is going to stop me doing that.

Fairy Dancing.

I was invited to a dance to be held in Fairyland it was to be the last dance of the year before the winter months set in. I arrived early and sat myself under the old oak; it was my favourite seat when I was with the Fairies. Here I could see all that went on without myself being in any ones way. The Fairies would come and bring me sweet fairy cakes and goblets of elderberry wine. I sat in my position under the old oak sometimes until the dancing ended and all went home.

The Fairies started to arrive in two’s and three’s until about fifty fairies were gathered. Most were excitedly discussing the dance that was to come. I myself wondered what orchestra would be playing the music. I hoped it would be the Gnomes who although they were so ugly the music they enticed from their instruments was really out of this world. At last, it was to be the gnomes they arrived each carrying his or her instrument. Then I saw the Leprechaun he was handsomely dressed in a forest green suit with large silver buttons. In one hand he held his baton for conducting in the other he held his rucksack.

The musicians were now seated and had finished tuning their instruments. The Leprechaun stood in front of the orchestra and we all waited for her Majesty Queen Feeana to appear. Suddenly a flash of light and a whiff of smoke and Her Majesty stood directly in front of the orchestra. She was dressed in a gown that was so finely spun that is could only be of the finest gossamer spider web threads. The gown glittered with tiny sparks of light and I realised that her Majesty had called the glow-worms to sit on her gown. The glow-worms switched their lights on and off giving the gown the appearance that it was alive. Her Majesty nodded to the Leprechaun who raised his baton and the orchestra started playing one of the well-known Fairy melodies.

It was a catchy tune and the Fairies paired off and a most graceful scene unfolded before my eyes. Slowly large butterflies and moths appeared among the dancers and the pairs were once more rearranged fairies and butterflies, Fairies and moths; I had seen nothing like this before I sat there listening to the music and watching the dancing couples as they gracefully flew by in the dance that only winged people can dance.

Her Majesty came over to where I was sitting and I nearly fell over as I quickly raised my self to my feet. "Are you enjoying the dance Bernard?" she asked. I was so caught up with the music and the dancing that I stuttered that it was out of this world. Her Majesty smiled and passed on to another group of Fairies who were watching the dancing. She spoke to them and as she had appeared so she left a flash of light and a puff of smoke. We were alone again the Fairies I noticed fed the butterflies and moths with fresh honey. Fairies have an arrangement with the bees and they are given all of the honey they need.

When Painting the flowers the Fairies put extra pollen in the flowers for the bees this arrangement is thousands of years old. Most of the sweet fairy cakes are made with honey and they are delicious. One dance after another was danced and the Fairies, the butterflies and the moths did not seem a bit tired. I think the honey and the Fairy cakes were giving them all that extra pep that dancers need when they dance the night through.

A pause in the music made me turn to the orchestra. The Leprechaun waved and called me over. "Would you like to conduct for a while so that I may have one of these grand dances?" I had never before conducted an orchestra. "Are you sure that you want me to conduct?" I asked. The Leprechaun placed his baton in my hand and went to look for a partner. The baton was very light and I walked up to the orchestra who acknowledged me with a fanfare.

I raised the baton and was surprised at how easy it was to conduct. I was actually reading the music in my head and waving the baton as if I had done nothing else all of my life. The Fairies were clapping and cheering me. Me that had never held a baton in my hand before, me with a wonderful knowledge of music I was really enjoying myself. I conducted about five dances then a flash; a puff of smoke and Her Majesty stood there in her magnificent gown and applauded me. She then whispered to me the baton is magic made for just this evening. I bowed to her Majesty and returned to my seat under the oak.

The Leprechaun opened his rucksack and came to me with a pair of shoes made of the finest and softest of leather that I had ever seen. "Put these on, he said and ask her Majesty for a dance." I put the shoes on to my feet and I seemed to float over to Her Majesty. I timidly asked her for a dance and we danced together until the Dance ended. I thanked her Majesty and went to give the Leprechaun his shoes back. "Keep them he said there will be many more dances and her Majesty has no real partner most of us are too small. I then went off home in a dream. I carried the shoes they were made with magic leather. I not only cannot conduct an orchestra. I cannot dance. Now I am looking forward to next year and the Fairy dances that I will attend now as dancer not just as a member of the audience.

Fairy Dangers.

They came streaming by, some walked, some flew, others were being brought in by all kinds of wild animals. It seemed as if the whole of the fairy nation was on the move. An atmosphere of suppressed excitement was in the air. Imps, Leprechauns, Trolls, Bogeys, Pixies and a few that I could not place. The Fairies were in the majority each with its magic wand held in front of it as if to be ready to ward off some fiendish evil.

Fairyland had not seen such a wandering of its folk for a very long time. I tried to find out from some of the pixies what it was all about. I got only one answer; the evil itself was after them. What could this evil be? I knew of only the Sorcerers or Wizards. Most of these were harmless men that were trying to make gold from all kinds of substances. Others were knowledgeable in the plant world and could help in healing. These were surely not evil.

All day and all night the little folk came to this part of fairyland hoping that they could be helped. The Fairy Queen Feeana came with the wise old fairies to find out what was the matter with the little folk. The tale was soon told and terrible tale it was indeed. Four of the most powerful Sorcerers had gotten together to take over Mother Nature. Each experimented with plants and flowers also with the wild animals. The results were disastrous. They had made large areas of land barren. Nothing would grow any more that is why the fairies had all gathered here in this part of Fairyland.

The names of these sorcerers were well known in Fairyland. The best known was Sahara, then Gobi; to finish was Kalahari and Mojave. These four had laid waste to huge areas of land; The Fairy Queen with the wisest of all the Fairies decided that they would be punished in the following way. The four Sorcerers were to be turned into sand and banned to the area that each had destroyed. There was a rolling of the clouds, a mighty blowing of the winds and a flash that was brighter than day. The four Sorcerers are still each in his part of the wastelands that we now call deserts. Here they will stay until mankind finds ways and means to make these areas fertile again.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana told this story to me personally. She said I should tell it as a warning to all mankind not to meddle with Mother Nature.

Fairy Evidence.

One sunny morning, I think that it was on a Saturday that my neighbour’s boy Kevin came to the fence and said, "Mr. Shaw there are some very strange things happening in your garden during the night." What strange things Kevin?" I asked. "Well first I thought I saw some fairies then a most beautiful lady. "They all sat in a circle and seemed to be discussing something." Well Kevin you have made my day for me Fairies in my back garden, what next?" Kevin is a bright seven year old boy and I did not know whether to tell him about my Fairies or not. "I will certainly keep an eye open for them," I said smiling at him.

A few days later Kevin told me that he had definitely seen Fairies in my back garden. Taking proudly from his pocket he showed me a Polaroid photo. "There Mr. Shaw one can see the fairies quite clearly" I took the Polaroid photo and carefully studied it. Kevin had indeed photographed a ring of Fairies with Her Majesty in the middle of a fairy circle.

"Kevin," I said. "I want to show you some newspaper cuttings they are very old." Then I went into my house and came back with some newspaper cuttings about a family that photographed Fairies. The headlines were (Cottingley Fairies); a couple of young girls had supposedly taken pictures of fairies. There was a lot of publicity many people believed the pictures to be real others just pooh, poohed the idea. "Keep the photo’s Kevin but wait until you are older before you show or talk about them." It will save you from much trouble.

Kevin agreed with me and said that he did not want people to think him silly. We often spoke about his photos and he often saw the fairies in my back garden. One evening he got up out of his bed and crept downstairs and went out into his back garden. Looking over the Garden Fence he saw the Fairies again sitting in a Fairy ring, suddenly he too was in the middle of the ring. Her Majesty Queen Feeana smiled and told him that because he was so brave she would take him with the Fairies to see the Caves under the Himalayan Mountains.

Before Kevin knew what was happening he was in the caves with the Fairies. Kevin soon got over the queasy feeling he had in his stomach because of the Fairy way of travelling. He was soon going with the Fairies looking in their homes and generally wondering if this was all happening. Then the Fairies got together to have a small banquet. Fairy cakes were his just for the taking and he ate quite a few of the honey cakes. Then he was travelling once more and found himself back in his own bed. The following morning he told me all about his adventures.

Taking from his pocket a Fairy flute he told me that a Fairy had given it to him. Putting the flute to his lips he gently blew and the sweet soft melodies of the Fairies came floating through to my ears. I wont ever tell anyone about my Fairies and my trips, I hope to go many more times with the Fairies and I have only to blow a certain note on my flute and I will be off away with the Fairies on their travels. Kevin often plays his flute even at school and his teachers are surprised at the lovely melodies that come from Kevin’s flute.

Kevin told me in confidence that the Fairies are very helpful when he has Geography lessons. If the teachers tell them about France for example, the same night Kevin is taken to France and shown all of the sights that are important and worth seeing. Kevin has now seen many strange lands and learned much about other peoples living abroad.

Music is now one of his favourites and he voluntary goes to music classes where he has learned to read music. His Father has bought him a saxophone and Kevin still plays for me the fairy music that the Fairies taught him. He still has not spoken to anyone about his Fairies and his Polaroid photo he has well hidden in a hiding place known only to him. One never knows when and if a Fairy will get in touch with children. So listen carefully if your child starts to sing or play an instrument, who knows it might just be the Fairies.

Silly Sorcerer.

As the sun slowly turned its face away from the earth the first star twinkled brightly in the night sky. The moon silently glided across the heavens. I saw the first of the Witch’s she was flying fairly high and seemed to be in a hurry. Then I saw the next Witch and the next. Somewhere there would be a Witch’s coven in this night. I wondered why they should take the risk of being seen on such a moonlit night. Then I saw what looked to be a small cloud that was following the Witches. Ah! I thought someone or some thing is following them they are surely up to no good.

Then I too was swallowed by a small cloud and found myself following the Witches to wherever they were flying. I smiled to myself. Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Queen of all the Fairies wanted me to observe the goings on of the Witches. The cloud with myself followed the Witches for an hour then the cloud stopped and I found myself on solid ground again behind a large bush. One of my Leprechaun friends silently joined me and we sat and listened to a weird old song sang by the Witches.

The Witches were dressed all in black each wore a pointed hat and sitting on each of their shoulders was either a black cat or an owl. I saw the broomsticks first each neatly arranged in a circle ready to take off. I nudged the Leprechaun and pointed to the broomsticks. With a big grin on his face he crawled over to the broomsticks and the next thing that I saw was the broomsticks all neatly tied together. Knowing the Leprechauns dexterity with his fingers those witches were going to have one big job untying those knots.

The Leprechaun hurried back to where I was hiding. The Witches danced a dance to a song they sang, round and round in a circle, their heads bowing to the music. The noise they were making was terrible. After a while they stopped their dancing and singing and one Witch moved into the circle and lit a fire. On the fire she threw a handful of white powder and chanted another song that sounded even worse than the other songs they had sung.

The fire suddenly flared up and out of the fire stepped a Sorcerer. "Oh! Oh!" I thought to myself, " There is something evil going on when a Sorcerer is invited to a Witches coven."

As soon as the Leprechaun saw the Sorcerer step out of the fire he threw three, four leafed clovers high into the air and a thick fog started to move along the ground toward the Sorcerer and the Witches. It was a perfect cover for us and we could still see the witches and the fire with the Sorcerer but they could not see or sense our presence. The Sorcerer told the Witches that he had found the secret of becoming invisible and he wanted to sell the secret to the Witches not for gold but for their help in taking the Fairy Queen prisoner. The Witches agreed readily to this plan it suited them quite well if there was no Fairy Queen to stop them with her more powerful Magic. Being invisible would be just the thing to do their evil works without being seen.

The sorcerer gave each of the Witches a small bottle and told them they should drink only two drops of the mixture and they would be invisible for twelve hours. When he was ready to kidnap the Fairy Queen, he would send and Owl to each of the Witches, with a plan of what each of them had to do. I told the Leprechaun to hurry back to Her Majesty with this wicked news and I stayed to watch what was going to happen when the Witches tried to mount their brooms to fly off back to their homes.

The Sorcerer stepped back into the fire and vanished just like he had appeared. The Witches each went to her own broom not one of them obeyed the oldest rule of nature no fires to be left unattended. The commotion when the Witches tried to mount their brooms was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Broomsticks rose from the ground with a jerk throwing the Witches off. Their anger when they realised that someone had tied all their brooms together was terrible there were Witches, Owls and Black cats all fighting, scratching, biting and pecking. Quite few feathers flew and fur was torn on this night. One of the Witches then had an Idea she cut her broom from the rest of the broomsticks and flew off with her Owl. The others soon followed her. I put out the fire that was still burning and after having witnessed this funny scene I was whisked away to her Majesties home.

The Leprechaun had already reported to her Majesty what the Sorcerer planned to do and the Queen had a plan ready to be put into action when and if the Sorcerer was really daring enough to try and kidnap her. I told the Leprechaun all that happened when the Witches tried to fly off with their brooms all tied together. The Leprechaun laughed for a long time. I laughed with him. Cats, Owls, Witches and broomsticks all mixed up together it were just too funny.

The Fairy Queen’s plan had already been put into action each Witch was being watched, as was the Sorcerer. The only thing that the Witches and Sorcerer might have seen was the extra number of birds flying around their homes. The birds were operating in shifts, by day it was the sparrows and the robins and by night the Owls and the Night Jays. I myself was posted to watch the Sorcerer I was not alone my Friend the Leprechaun was with me. We made a good team the pair of us.

One dark night the sorcerer sent off his Owls to the Witches homes. The Owls flew in circles as the magic took place that the Fairy Queen had performed. The Witches are still waiting for a message from the Sorcerer and the Sorcerer he was turned into an Owl to keep his other Owls Company. They are still flying around in circles. The Fairy Queen Feeana was not kidnapped and as long as she has friends like the Leprechauns she will live in peace all through her long, long life.

Fairy history as told by Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

Many years ago when this world was young, things were not as they are today. The foliage was green; true there were many shades of green, from very deep to light pale greens. Animals were also very different from the animals of today. Some animals and insects that have managed to survive and are still with us on this earth such as crocodiles and whales among many others. Life started about four or five billion years ago. That is a very long time ago.

The earth as we know it today is not so old perhaps a million years or so. You are wondering what this all has to do with Fairies. When the First Fairies came to this earth, mankind was still living in the treetops to be safe from the wild and fierce animals that roamed on the ground.

In those days so long ago the Fairies found that the colours on this earth were blue for the skies and the seas, brown for the earth and green for all the bushes and trees. When fruit grew on the trees or bushes it stayed green no-one knew when the fruit was ripe to eat. The humans and the animals could smell when the fruit was ripe but the poor fairies had many a tummy ache before the Fairy Queen made the fruit to change its colour as it was ripening. Now we see fruit in many colours, just imagine eating a green tomato; it would probably give you a tummy ache because we have forgotten how to smell as we used to be able to do.

Fairy History Three.

In the old days fairies could only speak among themselves as we humans do but as time went on they began to learn and understand the animals and birds. This is how messages were passed over long distances. Some times when a message had to be sent half way around the world the fairies used the wind to convey messages. As the generations of fairies came and went owing to the use of vegetables and herbs, mushrooms and other plants they began to communicate just by using thought pictures. This means of telecommunication was called telepathy and the fairies nearly lost the use of their voices. The Fairy Queen called together the wisest of all the fairies and it was decided that the voice means of speaking was to be practised so that fairies could still understand the human kind.

Fairies from all over the world collected strange plants and studied them to find out what healing benefits they possessed not only for the fairies but also for the human race. Occasionally the fairies let some of this knowledge slip to certain humans the early Witch Doctors, the Shamans and the barbers that went around Europe in the early times operating on people and pulling teeth and the selling of all kinds of potions. Some were to make one rich. Others to cure all kinds of ailments such as warts and other skin blemishes.

The Fairy Queen told me that there was no truth in the old beliefs that Gypsies were once a part of the fairy race. They were people that liked to travel and went from town to town and country to country. Most of the Gypsy folk could see the fairies and learned many things from the fairies but the were in no way related to the fairies. The same applies to the Witches and Wizards they too are in no way related to the fairy folk. They lived practically the same as the fairies and gained much knowledge of plant life but most of them were just healers a few were wicked and deliberately tried to force the fairies to tell their secrets. But they could not get any real secrets from the fairies folk, who disappeared when thing got to hot for them.

This disappearing of the fairies when they were in danger was simply a means of teleportation; developed by the fairies in their universities and a secret that mankind has been trying to find for generations. The Fairy Queen is looking tired so I will end this short history of the fairies now and hope that it has cleared any doubts that you all may have had. Yes the Fairies are real and will be here when mankind has disappeared from this earth.

Fairy Judgement.

It is late at night; I am getting myself ready for my bed. I had placed my pyjamas on the stool next to the fire to warm. I hate cold pyjamas. My cup of Horlicks was ready on the table a late night drink always helps me to drop off to sleep. I heard a call from outside the kitchen window. Opening the window I saw a Leprechaun. "Good

Evening," "I called. Good evening to you." he politely replied. "I have a most important message for you from Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies." Saying this he dug deep into his pocket and brought out a document that I immediately recognised. It was from Her Royal Majesty Feeana the seal was in royal mauve.

Thanking the Leprechaun I took the envelope and asked if he would like a drink of Horlicks. "No thanks," He said." I must deliver four more envelopes before the night is out. Saying goodbye he disappeared in a whirl of smoke. I closed the window and carefully opened the letter. It was addressed to Bernard Shaw advisor to the Queen. I was to be in the woods at ten o’clock on the morrow. A trial was to be held over a Fairy that had committed a crime against the Fairies code of conduct. I must say I was a little excited as I had never before been asked to attend a Fairy court of law. I drank my Horlicks and went slowly up the stairs carrying my pre-warmed pyjamas. I dropped off to a troubled sleep and woke in the morning still tired.

After eating my breakfast I slowly made my way into the woods where the Fairies held their meetings and dances. There were many Fairies on the way as well as others of the little folk. Arriving at the clearing I saw some Leprechauns putting the finishing touches to the court. A raised platform with a chair for the Judge and on one side a set of benches for the wise old fairies who were playing the part of the jury had been installed. A small raised platform had been built for the fairy that had broken the fairy rules of conduct. Long benches for the spectators had been arranged facing the Judges seat.

The Fairy was brought in between two large Leprechauns and the Jury seats filling up with the wise old fairies. All were dressed in their best clothes. I was shown to a seat that had been placed at Her Majesties right hand. Two notes from a flute and the Fairy Queen Feeana appeared in a dress of pure white silk on her head she wore a cap that reminded me of a scene that I once seen in a local theatre The Orchard at Dartford. Her Majesty raised her hand and one of the Leprechauns read from a roll of parchment. The fairy it appears had given away the secret of magic wand making to an old witch. What is worse she had told the witch the magic words from the old language that are very secret. Without these words no magic wand could be made. This is what the trial was all about.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana asked her whether she was guilty of giving away the most secret of secrets that the Fairies possessed. The old Language without which no spells could be cast; this was indeed a very serious crime. The fairy was not very old and she shyly blushed as she turned to face the Royal Queen. "I did not mean to give away any secrets," The witch gave me some liquid to drink she said it would make me very wise." Her Majesty looked quite concerned and spoke in the old language to the wise old fairies. "Has anything like this ever happened before?" The wise old fairies shook their heads no nothing like this had ever happened before. Her Majesty took from the pocket of her silken robe the magic mirror. Looking into the mirror she turned to the wise old fairies and said," The witch has not made use of her knowledge it is not too late. Taking her magic wand from her robe she waived it once, twice, thrice and the witch appeared before the Queen. Her Majesty said in a very stern voice. "You have given one of my children some concoction to drink and dishonestly gained knowledge of the old language, this is against all the rules." "You will be punished." Another wave of her magic wand and the witch turned into a donkey. Now speak to me in the old language her Majesty commanded. The donkey could only squeak out Hee, Haw. Her majesty told the donkey to go and not to come back into Fairyland. Turning to the Fairy that had given away the secret of the old language her Majesty said, "As for you my child I hope that you have learned a lesson. Never take a drink from a stranger no matter what the stranger says to you.

The Fairy smiled bravely to the Queen Feeana and promised never again to accept anything to eat or drink from strange persons. Her Majesty then thanked me for finding the time to attend the court and also the wise old Fairies for their having attended. Her Majesty then told the little folk that the rest of the day was a holiday and that dancing and feasting would be provided. This day all of the little folk had learned a lesson that they would not forget so quickly.

I heard the other day that a small man has been seen going across Dartford Heath in the company of a donkey. Whether it is the same donkey that her Majesty bewitched is or not I cannot say. Strange though I myself have often been on Dartford Heath and I have never seen a donkey. What do you think was it the same donkey?

Fairy King.

The other day as I was washing the breakfast cup and saucer I was greeted by a fairy that had flown in through the open kitchen door. It was Morganfee. I like Morganfee she is always so cheerful and often makes me smile with her innocent ways of looking at life. "Don’t you like the fairies anymore?" she asked me. I was very surprised at this question. My house is open day and night to all of the little folk. I asked myself why she thought it necessary to ask this particular question. "You do not write about us anymore," she shyly said. This was very true I have not written anything about the fairies for a few weeks. Not because I do not like fairies but nothing has happened for me to write about.

I explained to Morganfee that I only write when I have something to write about and that nothing had happened in fairyland for a long time. I still like the fairies though and I would be going into the woods as soon as I had finished my shopping. The weekend was nearly on us and I had to replace the groceries and other things for the coming week. With this Morganfee said that she would wait for me at the edge of the woods or Fairyland.

Nothing particular happened while I did the shopping and after checking my shopping list to make sure that I had bought everything that I needed, I made my way back home. I put the shopping away in the cupboards and the perishables in the refrigerator. I made myself a quick snack with a cup of tea and went as promised to meet Morganfee.

My bright little fairy was waiting for me and cheerfully greeting me she flew a short distance from my nose into fairyland or the woods as you would call them. I was surprised there were so many of the little folk gathered here that I knew something special was about to happen. I greeted the Pixies and the Imps the Fairies and the Leprechauns and all of the other members that make up the little folk. All were very excited it seemed that the Fairy King was to visit this part of fairyland with his beautiful wife Queen Feeana.

When all were gathered and expectantly looking at the clearing where Her Majesty usually appeared, I heard the sound of two little bells then a bright flash of light and a small puff of smoke and Their Majesties appeared. The King was in full robe with his crown on top of his blond curly hair. Queen Feeana wore a dress of brilliant silk her crown was a little smaller than the kings crown but both shone brightly with small diamonds all around the edge of the crowns. The King greeted us all with a small bow and made a welcome speech. Her Majesty Queen Feeana smiled and waved to the little peoples. There was a roar of greeting from the crowd of little folk who were all gazing up at the royal pair.

Her Majesty nodded and smiled at me and the King waved his hand in acknowledgement. We all stood and listened to the Kings words. Fairyland was to be on its guard as the Royal Couple had received news that a coven of Witches had threatened to attack fairyland with magic. The King spoke in a firm clear voice and all eyes were fixed upon his lips. Then something terrible happened. The King started to shrink. Her Majesty Queen Feeana took her magic wand from a pocket in her dress and waved it at the King. He started to grow again but as soon as he had regained his full height the shrinking started again. This carried on for nearly an hour. I called to Queen Feeana to take the prince to my house away from the little folk who were now very agitated. All of the fairies had their magic wands in their hands and some strange results were to be seen, bright yellow frogs hopped around making it very difficult to move without treading on one of them. Suddenly I, with her Majesty and the King were in my drawing room. The King was still shrinking but not as fast as before. Then I remembered the five pieces of Fairy Gold that the Queen Feeana had once given me to protect me from any magical harm a piece of magical gold at each wall of the house and one piece up in the attic. The attacks from the coven of Witches were not so powerful now and Her Majesty waved her magic wand once again and the shrinking of the King stopped altogether.

I made their royal Majesties at home and brought from my cellar a few bottles of parsnip wine. I knew their majesties loved this drink and it would take their minds off of the witches for a while. I was pleased that I had got extra groceries at the shops that morning and in no time I had a meal ready for their Majesties. After the meal we discussed what was to be done with the coven of witches that had dared to go against the King of all the Fairies. I asked Her Majesty if she had by chance her magic mirror with her. I wanted to see what our opponents were up to. He Majesty Queen Feeana waved her magic wand and in a flash the magic mirror appeared by my glass of parsnip wine.

Taking the mirror I saw some thirty witches sitting around a large fire. They were discussing why their magic no longer affected the King. I had an Idea. "Your Majesty," I said, "Can you make the fire bigger so that it set the witches clothes alight." Her Majesty waved her wand and the fire spread and got bigger and the Witches clothes were soon burning. Hopping on their broomsticks they flew with their burning clothes to the nearest river and plunged in to save themselves from being burnt. One of the witches carried a small jar of some sorts filled with a powder that they had used to make the King of all the Fairies shrink. This powder went also into the water and dissolved and was seen no more.

Their Majesties drank another bottle of parsnip wine with me and sent an owl to Fairyland to tell the little folk that all was well. We spent the night talking about witches and wizards and their greed for power. As dawn was breaking her Majesty Queen Feeana waved her wand and the royal couple disappeared. A couple of days later I received a letter from them both thanking me for my help it was delivered by my favourite fairy Morganfee

Fairy Kites.

Sunshine, nothing but sunshine it is one of those days that stick in one’s memory. A kite flying high in the sky catching my attention as it rose and sank, it is just a plaything of the wind carried here and there by a string so fine that I cannot see it. Although the kite seems to be free, it is really a prisoner at the end of a piece of string. I must write this thought down and perhaps use it one day in a story that I will perhaps write. It was then that the fairies appeared flying alongside the kite, playing with it until one of them a little bolder than the rest actually rode the kite like a cowboy riding a bucking bronco.

Taking my binoculars from out of their case, I spent some time looking at the fairies. Some of the fairies I recognised two of them should have been in school. I remember wondering what excuse they had made to play truant like this. Fairies cannot stay interested in anything for any length of time and soon the kite was flying alone again. The last I saw of the fairies on this day was one of them sliding down the string that held the kite captive. The following day I went for my usual walk and saw many tiny kites flying in the sky. The fairies learn very quickly and some of the little kites were very sweet and skilfully made.

The following Saturday I was walking through the woods at the back of my garden when I again saw many fairies. All were busy colouring paper and collecting finely spun threads from a group of spiders. Spider threads are very strong and very sticky all the fairies know this and give the spiders a special berry to eat so that the threads are not sticky but quite dry. These threads are ideal for kite flying, very light and some of the kites fly very high in the sky. At first, the fairies did not see me, as they were far too busy making their kites. I remained silent and sitting down underneath a yew tree, I watched them in their exciting game of kite making.

I forgot this kite-flying incident and it was much later that I remembered it. Things in Fairy Land were back to normal one school day followed another and I saw the fairies at weekends when the came to my house to stay. Often when it was raining, I had many little visitors. It rained so much that the local river flooded trapping some rabbits that had not run to higher ground for safety. The fairies always help in times of danger and I saw them flying to this island that the river had formed. Each fairy was carrying a kite.

The fairies calmed the rabbits and as the fairies could not carry the rabbits to safety, they were going to try to rescue the rabbits with their kites. Each rabbit became a harness made of cobweb threads and attached to the harness were the kites. Pointing their magic wands to the sky, they made the rain stop and soon kites were flying and carrying the rabbits one by one to safety. Soon all the rabbits were in safety and the fairies all came back home to my house. It rained for over a week but all of the wild animals were safe and those fairies that were not at school stayed at my home until the sun shone again.

I forgot about the kite incident, things are back to normal no fairies are playing truant, and the weather is now sunny and bright. I still go for my walks and often see the fairies and the rabbits. In my back garden, I grow many kinds of lettuce and there are always enough for the rabbits. Carrots too are popular with the rabbits and I grow plenty of these as well. In fact, some times there are more rabbits in my back garden than fairies.

Fairy Mischief.

The Fairy dance had been planned weeks ago. The only snag was that on the evening and night of the dance there were no fireflies to light up the dancing. To make things worse there was no moon to be seen, it was a dark warm night. The Fairies came to me with this problem and asked me for help. I had an idea and that was to place poles all around the dance area and then place lighted candles on the poles. I went into town and bought a large supply of candles and spent the day placing poles in the ground, on each pole I placed a candle.

Before I lit the candles I warned the Fairies not to touch them as the flame from the candle could cause some very nasty burns. Human fire is not the same as Fairy fire. Fairy fire does not burn and is safe for the Fairies to use. The dance began at nine o’clock and I went around and lit all of the candles. The Fairies came in small groups and I warned them all once again not to touch the candles or the flames from the candles.

The orchestra arrived, Nine Leprechauns all with an instrument and after a few minutes warming up for the music and dancing, Her Majesty Queen Feeana declared the dance open. All went well for a while and the fairies were having a wonderful time dancing away to the sprightly music of the Leprechauns. On a side table were glasses and bottles of home made wine and plates of Fairy cakes. The Fairies helped themselves to refreshments and all were having a wonderful time.

The sharp gust of wind caught us all by surprise. It came from out of nowhere and many of the Fairies panicked. Her Majesty thought that we were under attack and waved her wand and all of the Fairies and the Leprechauns were spirited away to the large Fairy caves under the Himalayan Mountains. I too was sent with them. Here all was well and the dancing carried on until the early hours of the morning.

In the meantime Her Majesty Queen Feeana used her magic mirror to see what had caused the mighty gust of wind that had blown out all of the candles. To Her Majesties surprise it was Mother Nature herself that had sent the gust of wind. She wanted to teach the Fairies a lesson because they had painted a rainbow a deep red. No lovely rainbow that one sees after a rain shower but a deep red rainbow.

Her Majesty got in touch with Mother Nature and apologised for the Fairies behaviour. The Queen herself would punish the Fairies responsible and after the dance Her Majesty told the Fairies that at five o’clock in the evening all of the Fairies were to assemble at the dance-meeting place.

The Fairies arrived all were wondering what Her Majesty would have to say. Then punctually at five o’clock Her Majesty appeared. She said, "All the Fairies that were involved in painting the rainbow deep red were to come forward." Nine Fairies came forward and Her Majesty said in a deep tone, "I am still waiting." Then another Fairy came forward and Her Majesty told them all in a very solemn voice that the Fairies that had come forward would have to walk for one whole week. There was to be no using of their wings unless they were in direct danger.

Her Majesty then told all of the Fairies that Mother Nature had so much work to do and it took her all of her time to watch over the weather and the sunshine. The growing things in the fields and forests were all her responsibility that she Mother Nature was very displeased that one of her most beautiful rainbows had been turned into a deep red. It was Mother Nature that had blown out all of the candles at the dance. If such a thing were to happen again Mother Nature would be very angry and it would not be a gust of wind but a real thunderstorm to upset the Fairy Dancing.

Fairy Pictures.

Fairies are encouraged to practice magic from a very early age. One of their favourites is playing with the clouds as they chase each other across the sky. All kinds of pictures are made and then discarded. Like all small children Fairies cannot concentrate on any one thing more than a few minutes. Sometimes the Fairy Teachers will use a little magic to show the children what they will be able to do when they have finished school and go to do what most Fairies do.

One day one of the teachers showed the children how to build a waterfall. The waterfall was magnificent. As the water plummeted down to the bottom of the fall it glistened in many colours of the light of the sun. A lovely rainbow was with a wave of the teacher’s wand spread across the waterfalls. This was such a beautiful picture that the Fairies all wanted to show it to the Fairy Queen.

Her Royal Majesty came to the school and saw what a most beautiful sight this was that she decided to make it permanent for all of the Fairies and of course Mankind. This magnificent waterfall lies between Canada and the United States of America. The Fairy Queen gave it the name of Niagara and it is still so called to this very day. The Queen was so impressed that she asked to the fairies to make other waterfalls all over the earth.

None of these falls was so magnificent as Niagara and it is shown to Fairy children all over the world as part of their lessons and to show them what they will be able to do when the have learned their magic and go out into life as Fairies. Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana told this story to me as I have written it. It is to show that although one as a child may play with wooden bricks and build a house; when one grows up one may build a real mansion.

Fairy Pumpkins.

A long, long time ago, The Fairy Queen was worried about some of the Fairy Children. The children were so mischievous and played silly pranks on nearly everyone. Fairies and Humans alike they were just being naughty for the sake of being naughty.

The Fairy Queen was wandering through the woods with this problem on her mind. What to do to keep the Fairy children out of mischief? Suddenly Her Majesty saw a large green pumpkin growing in the clearing ahead of her and she had a brilliant idea.

Going back to Fairyland she called all of the mischievous children together and proposed this plan to them all. Each child would be given a few pumpkin seeds and the Fairy child that came up with the best pumpkin be it big or be it of any shape or colour. The children would tend the pumpkins and each could use its magic powers to improve the pumpkins appearance or shape.

When the autumn came around the pumpkins would be collected from each child and a pumpkin judging would be held. This simple plan gave the children something to do and the complaints from Fairies and Human stopped practically overnight.

The Fairy children used a lot of imagination and some of the pumpkins were coloured yellow through to orange. The pumpkins were of all shapes and sizes. No more the green pumpkins. The earth and its peoples now had a wide variety of pumpkins to choose from.

At the appointed time all the pumpkins were collected each with the name of the Fairy child that had grown it and brought to the large Fairy Meeting place. The children had been so good and there were pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and colours.

The Fairy Queen was so impressed that she gave all of the Fairy Children a present. The present was a trip to the seaside; the Fairy Children were delighted and until this very day fairies still sew pumpkin seeds and tend them throughout the season.

Fairy Puzzles.

Arriving home at my old house, I drove my car into the garage and closed and locked the garage doors. Placing my front door key in the lock, I turned the key and opened the front door. On the wall next to the front door is an electric light switch. I switched on the light and was surprised to see that I had received a large bunch of mail. I sometimes received the odd bill and from a distant relation the occasional letter but nothing like the mail in my letterbox. The letterbox was so full that it had overflowed onto the floor.

Emptying the box and picking up the mail from the floor I went into my kitchen to make myself something to eat and drink. Soon my kettle of water was boiling and I made a large pot of tea. I made a few sandwiches and soon was eating my meal. I looked at the pile of letters and started sorting them. This one is a bill place it on the chair. The next is a private letter; place it in the middle of the table and so on, until I had sorted out all of the letters.

I started opening the letters that I thought were bills. There was not a single bill among them. All of the letters were in much the same note, please send the following magic puzzles. Then there was a list of about eight puzzles. I was very much at loss to explain the letters. What magic puzzles? I had no puzzles magic or otherwise to send to anyone. In some of the letters were money to pay for the puzzles in the others there was just a stamped addressed envelope.

I finished opening the last of the letters and as luck would have it this was a letter from a friend of mine that lives in the north of England. He too wanted some of my so-called magic puzzles. This was a little too much for me and I decided to go to bed and make some enquiries in the morning. I had a good nights sleep and awoke with a feeling that something had to be done. Then as I was washing my face I remembered the letters and the magic puzzles.

Looking into the magic mirror that Her Majesty Queen Feeana had given me, I saw some magic puzzles. One built a picture and then it turned into another picture and another puzzle could be made. The next step was how could I get such puzzles they must have been produced by magic means. I decided to go and get help from the wise old Fairies, if anyone could help me they could.

I took my bag of post and showed them to the wise old Fairies. They all smiled and told me that the puzzles were what the small fairy children make in their first year at school. If all the people that had written to me wanted such a puzzle, then they would each be sent one. For the wise old Fairies it was a pleasure to send the puzzles off to all those people that wanted one.

The wise old Fairies then asked me if I would like to learn how to make such puzzles. I was delighted that they had asked me and I spent the next few days cutting out pictures and putting them together forty eight pictures were cut out of magazines and then placed one against the other until all of the pictures were facing the same way. The pictures were then lined up and a few magic words were spoken and the cards were thrown into the air and twelve squares came down with pictures that told a little story. One just had to find the beginning of the story and turn the square until the story was complete. Every time one threw the cards into the air new pictures were formed.

I left the sending of the magic puzzles in the capable hands of the wise old Fairies and went back home. I was wondering where all these people had gotten my address and where the magic puzzle came into it all. Then my friend in the north of England wrote a letter and told me that he had received the puzzle and was delighted. He was so pleased to have read my announcement in the magic paper that he bought each week and was looking forward to any more such magic things that I might have.

It was time I thought for me to get to the bottom of such a story. Who had placed the advert in the magic paper? Who had given my address to the paper? There were many questions but no answers. I decided to ask Her Majesty to help me with this. Her Majesty Queen Feeana looked just as beautiful as ever. I told her about the magic puzzles and why should anyone place an advert in my name in one of the magic papers.

Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and showed me a picture that seemed very familiar. An elderly woman with five children was sitting at a table writing. It was she that had written the letter to the magic paper and she thought that she was doing me a kindness. I had rescued her five children and had given them a magic puzzle to play with. Such a puzzle can keep children very busy for hours. She thought that by advertising it she would be helping me earn some money. I thanked Her Majesty and went home and wrote a long letter thanking the women and asking her not to put my address in the paper again. I have not had any letters since and those of you that received such a puzzle take care of it the young Fairies go to a lot of trouble to make them.

Fairy School Trouble.

There was something drastically wrong in the Fairy school. The young Fairies were not paying attention to the wise old Fairies as they tried to teach them the old language that every Fairy must know to be able to perform magic. The old language is used to help keep secret the various spells that must be spoken for the magic to work. Things gradually got worse and the wise old Fairies went to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. Her majesty was much concerned that the children were not paying attention in the school and decided to look into the matter personally.

Her Majesty came to the school on various occasions at first she thought that the wise old Fairies who were all between the ages of five hundred to over a thousand years old. Were slipping in giving the education that all children need. No it was not the wise old Fairies that were to blame. They taught well and wisely it was just that the Fairy children could not or would not concentrate. The main trouble was that the children pronounced the words of the old language wrongly and the simple spells that they were taught to perform went wrong.

One of the things that Fairy children are taught is how to paint flowers using their magic wands and using the old language for the spells. One example to show what I mean the Fairy children were asked to paint some poppies. As you all know poppies are a bright red but the poppies that the children were supposed to colour were of all colours, to make matters worse one of the Fairies had turned her flower into a frog. This caused much laughter but the wise old Fairies were getting desperate. Her Majesty was very worried and turned herself invisible and stayed at the school for one whole week to see how bad the children were learning.

This behaviour only happened in our part of Fairyland the Fairies in the rest of the world were performing their magic tricks properly. The Queen Feeana decided to use her magic mirror to see what the children got up to when there was no school. Most of the Fairy children came to my house. I have told you in one of my earlier stories that the children were allowed to use my house as a playground. One of their favourites was an old gramophone that one had to wind up to make it work. The needles used to make the sound were all old and some of the gramophone records were badly scratched. This caused the loud speaker fixed to the instrument to give off some very strange sounds. The Fairies loved the noises that the gramophone made.

The Queen watched the Fairies playing and decided that it was not the gramophone that was causing the Fairies to not pay attention in school. Looking in the magic mirror Her Majesty saw that nearly all of the children were watching my old coloured television. They looked for programs that were meant for human children. It was in these programs that the Fairy Queen Feeana found what was causing the children to not pay attention and to speak properly when reciting the spells for their magic. Most of the programs the children and even the Muppets did not speak clearly. The words were slurred and this bad habit the Fairies were picking up and carrying into school, what is worse they used this form of slurred speech when saying the words of the old language.

Her Majesty came to me and we spoke about the television. I proposed that I take one of the parts from out of the television so that no sound would be available. This idea although it sounded good to me was not to the Queens liking. Why should you be deprived of your television? I had to agree I like watching good films and especially good music. Her Majesty then had the idea of placing a spell on the television set. This spell would make all characters that spoke to speak in a perfect form of English. This sounded like a good idea and her Majesty took her magic wand from a special pocket and speaking in the old language she spoke a spell. From this day on my television does not use any form of slang or badly spoken words all the characters no matter what part they were playing spoke correctly.

The Fairy children still come to my old house and the gramophone is used and also the television the spell that Her Majesty Queen Feeana placed on it works wonderfully and the Fairy children have improved greatly in the Fairy school. Now the flowers are coloured properly in the colours that we all know so well and there are no more frogs hopping around the classroom. Next year there will be a new class of Fairy children they will I am sure find their way to my old house. The television will still be showing programs but all will be well and wise old Fairies will not have to complain of the children not paying attention.

Fairy Shop.

The fairies are planning to open and run a shop. Not any old shop but one where fairies may buy fairy cakes, flower petals, honey and all kinds of berries and fruit that grow in the woods. As a specialty they would also sell magic wands to other fairies. To get the shop started they had called my friend shamus to build the shop. It was to be built just the same as the fairy houses in Fairyland. Shamus came to me as he did not feel too happy about fairies selling and buying it was something that had never been done in Fairyland before.

I told Shamus to carry on and build the shop and I would get in touch with the Fairy Queen, Queen Feeana and tell her about this new idea that was sweeping through Fairyland. Most of the fairies thought that it would be a good thing to be able to get a new magic wand without having to go to the trouble of making one. The prospect of fairy cakes fresh whenever they wanted one, also appealed to most of the fairies. I told Shamus to take his time with the building as Her Majesty Queen Feeana was away on holiday.

Every day or so I went into the woods to see how Shamus was getting on with the building of the shop, Shamus was keeping his promise and it took him over a week to get the foundations for the shop ready and in place. Then another week went by and only two walls were in place. The fairies told Shamus that they would get someone else to build the shop if he did not work any quicker. On hearing this Shamus stopped work altogether and told the fairies to get someone else if they could. Shamus knew that no other self respecting Leprechaun would take over a half built shop without wanting to know why the builder had stopped halfway.

Another week went by and some of the fairies tried to carry on with building the shop. They did not know of the secrets that go into building a good solid shop and the walls that they tried to build fell down as soon as they were finished. In the end it was decided to apologise to Shamus and ask him to carry on building the shop. Shamus is a very good worker and it took a lot for him to work slowly until I could contact Her Majesty. Then after one month the shop was finished. Shamus accepted only half of what the fairies wanted to pay. He felt bad about building so slowly, the work was first class and a good solid building stood on the floor of the woods. I still had not managed to contact Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

The fairies had stocked their new shop with magic wands, flower petals, honey and the famous fairy cakes. The berries and nuts were to come later on in the season. Many fairies were very inquisitive and went to the shop to buy. It was more of a barter than a buy, as each fairy had to bring something in exchange for whatever he or she bought; the fairies knew that Her Majesty would not allow money in Fairyland. The shop flourished and there were plenty of petals and honey as it was a particularly good year for the blackberries, strawberries and the different nuts that grew in the woods.

The shop had been open now for well over a month, I myself had kept an eye on things just to make sure that all went well. Her Majesty surprised me by appearing in my back garden just as I was picking some strawberries, which were plentiful, this year. There was a blue flash a whiff of smoke and Her Majesty stood before me. I was a little surprised, as I had been concentrating on my strawberries and did not expect such a Royal Guest. We exchanged greetings and Her Majesty asked me about the new shop that was doing so well in Fairyland. I told her that I had tried to get the building of the shop drawn out, as I was not sure whether Her Majesty wanted something like it in Fairyland. I told Her Majesty of Shamus’s help and of how he had deliberately slowed down the building until I could speak to Her Majesty.

Her Majesty then asked me what I thought about such a shop. Should she get rid of it or what would I do if I were in her position. I smiled and told Her Majesty. I would let the fairies get on with the shop they would soon get tired of having to collect everything just to barter it for some fairy cakes or honey. In fact I told Her Majesty most of the fairies were tired of the shop as it was and it would all be a thing of the past in a month or so.

"You are a very wise man Mr.Shaw and I thank you for slowing down the building of the shop I will not close it but I will ban the selling of magic wands each fairy must be in a position to make his or her own magic wand, Soon the shop closed and each fairy went back to making his or her special thing that they could do so well. No one thought about the shop and it is now a dwelling for a fairy family the shop windows are covered in a lovely embroidered flower screen. I paid Shamus with some magic gold for his help in slowing down the building of the shop. He did not want any payment from me but as I insisted that he take the gold. He did so and after thanking me he went on his way.

Leprechauns Gold.

Have you ever wondered why Leprechauns spend so much time looking for gold? This story was told to me by Her Royal Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana. Long, long ago in Fairyland the Leprechauns were all very good and generous workers. Some of them were tailors who made very fine suits and gowns from the finest of cloths. Others worked in leather making boots, shoes, fine buckled belts and leather purses. Then there were the Leprechauns that built houses, finally the Leprechauns that went round Fairyland making pots and pans and fine kettles, In fact it could be said that the Leprechauns were masters of most trades.

The Leprechauns were industrious and very well liked by all in Fairyland. Gradually the Leprechauns changed the little jobs that they had previously done especially for the poor fairies for nothing. They started charging money for every little thing that they did there was no more favours given. The Leprechauns had become very greedy and asked for ever-larger sums of money for all of the work they did. One-day things had got so bad that the Leprechauns started cheating to get even more money for their work.

One Leprechaun made some magic leather with which he made a dozen or so belts. These belts he sold to the fairies for extra large sums of money. The belts being made of magic leather shrank a little every day. To make the belts wearable without shrinking he asked for more money. The same things happened to the clothes and the pots and pans even the buildings shrank. To put these things right the Leprechauns asked for more and more money.

A deputation of the Fairies went to see their Queen Feeana and complained of the treatment meted out to them by the greedy Leprechauns. The Fairy Queen on hearing about the greediness of the Leprechauns banned them from working in Fairyland. The Leprechauns told the Queen that they were sorry and would work for nothing as long as they could stay in Fairyland. The Fairy Queen then had an idea; She told the Leprechauns that they could only come back into Fairyland if and when they had each collected a cooking pot full of pure gold.

The leprechauns that the Human see are those that are still looking for their gold. They are very unhappy and have rued the day that they were so greedy. Those Leprechauns that one sees in fairyland are those that have collected their pots of gold and now work for the good of all in this most magical of places.

I would like to thank the Fairy Queen Feeana for telling me this story, which I willingly pass on to you all so that you may no longer wonder why Leprechauns need so much GOLD.

Feeala Or The Broken Heart.

Many thousands of years ago in a far off land there lived a powerful Wizard. This Wizard knew all there was to know about curing people with herbs for most of the illnesses that were around in those far off days. There was just one illness that even he could not cure. This illness was a broken heart. Nothing it seemed could cure a heart once it was broken.

This of course was not entirely true as there are and were ways to mend a broken heart. These remedies did not always work for everyone. Many were cured by hard work. Others found a new love. This mended a broken heart quicker than any other method. Most people found that by throwing themselves into hard work they were able to forget the pain of a broken heart.

One most serious case to which the powerful Wizard was called took place in Fairyland. One Fairy named Feeala stopped eating and drinking when her friend left her for another Fairy. Feeala became so thin that it was feared she would fade away. There would be nothing left of her. As we all know Fairies do not die like human beings they just disappear without a trace.

The Wizard used all of his knowledge and herbs to try to cure Feeala but she just got thinner and thinner. The Wizard decided to call in the Fairy Queen and the council of wise old Fairies. Her Majesty Feeana was shocked to see the Fairy Feeala in such a bad state. Special herbs and powders were tried and the very old parchments were consulted. Feeala got worse and it was feared that she would just disappear like other Fairies had before her.

A Handsome young Prince passing through Fairyland heard of the Fairy Feeala and asked if he could be of help. The Fairy Queen Feeana threw some magic dust over him and led him to where Feeala was sitting. As soon as Feeala saw the Prince she fell head over heals in love all over again. In a matter of a few minutes she regained all of her beauty and looked as she had before her first boy friend had broken her heart.

The Prince and the Fairy Feeala were married and live in Fairyland with their two children. They are very happy and do not speak about the time of Feeala’s bad Illness or of the Wizard that with all of his knowledge could not heal the Fairy Feeala.

Feeana.

In the year twelve hundred and twenty two an old witch flew over a small Fairy Village somewhere in the south of England. The fairy boys of the village on an impulse decided to annoy the old witch. Pointing their wands of magic up in the air they caused the witches broomstick to get out of control. The broomstick on which the old witch was flying suddenly did a loop nearly throwing the poor woman off. After a few seconds of bewilderment on her face the witch realised what was happening and swore she would punish the fairy boys.

The old witch cast a spell over the village, a terrible spell it was as she was very angry that she had been made a fool of by a bunch of fairy boys. She spoke some words that no one could understand, then cackling with laughter she carried on her flight.

The spell that she cast was that in the village there would be no fairy girls born for fifty years. The villages decided to call upon the Fairy Queen for help but the magical powers of the old witch were more powerful than those of the Fairy Queen and she could not help them with the spell. After giving the problem some thought the Fairy Queen waved her wand of magic and told the villagers that in fifty years time when a fairy girl would be born she would be the most beautiful being that the Fairies had ever seen.

Time went past and only fairy boys were born in the village. There were no fairy girls far or near for the boys to marry, they had to travel very long distances to meet and marry a fairy girl of their choice. The people of the Village got older and older some of the fairy boys brought their brides home to the village but only baby boys were born, it was very saddening for the elders of the village.

At long last the fifty years came slowly to an end and the people of the village were excitedly looking forward to the first baby girl to be born. On this happy day a little fairy baby girl was born and as the Fairy Queen had foretold she was the most beautiful girl that any of the villagers had ever seen. She was a very sweet child and the people were proud of her great beauty. They gave her the magic name of Feeana

As the fairy girl reached the age of twenty her beauty was known to one and all in England and the son of the Fairy Queen who was also twenty heard of her great beauty went to the village to see for him self. The Prince fell in love with the sweet beautiful Feeana and the Fairy King and Queen married them. Time went by and the Fairy King and Queen decided to give the throne to Feeana and the Fairy Prince. The couple are still alive and as happy as they were when they first fell in love with one another. This is a true story told to me by the fairy Queen Feeana herself and she has given me permission to tell the story to all of the children of this earth.

Feeana’s Justice.

I awoke and just knew it would be one of these days. I washed and shaved myself before going down to make some breakfast. I made myself a quick fry up of eggs, sausages, and a couple of rashers of bacon and a piece of fried bread. As I was eating I had this strange feeling that something was wrong, terribly wrong. I could not put my finger on anything; I just knew that there was trouble somewhere.

I finished my breakfast and putting on some Wellington boots I went out to the Forest. The feeling I had that something was wrong got stronger and stronger as I approached the Forest. Looking down at my feet I saw hundreds of slug trails. The slimy trails that slugs leave behind them as they slowly crawl along the ground. Then I saw the slugs, I had never before seen so many slugs here in Fairyland.

I sat myself down on a large stone that was not covered in slime trails and watched the slugs for a while. The slugs started to move again this time they were following some kind of plan. The slugs formed themselves into a word. "HELP." I was now very concerned who would be asking me for help? I only knew the birds and the beasts of the Forest and then it struck me the slugs were my Fairy friends and the Little Folk.

How could I help them and what had caused this catastrophe? I asked them to clear a place on the Forest floor and then I asked if the Fairy Queen Feeana was amongst them. The slugs formed a circle and in the middle slowly crawled a slug that did not seem as ugly as the rest of the slugs. "Your Majesty how may I help you," I asked. Then I slowly got a picture in my head Her Majesty was using the picture language to talk to me.

First a picture of Her Majesties house deep in the Forest. Now I was seeing a Magic Wand it was then that I caught on Her Majesty was trying to tell me to go to her home and get her Magic Wand. It seems that she had left her home in a hurry and forgotten to take the Magic wand with her. An evil Sorcerer had turned her and all the Fairies into slugs without her wand the Queen and the Fairies were more or less helpless.

I hurried as fast as my legs could take me to the Queens home and opening the door by using the Magic words that Her Majesty had told me. The door opened. "I cannot tell you the magic words they are a secret." I then took the Magic wand and ran as quickly back to the slugs as I possibly could. The slugs were still in the same positions as when I had left them with Her Majesty in the middle. I carefully placed the Magic Wand in front of Her Majesty.

Then things happened fast. First Her Majesty stood before me in her royal robes with her golden crown on her head. I was nearly deafened by the noise as all the Fairies and the Little Folk turned back into themselves. There was not a slug to be seen.

Her Majesty spoke to the Fairies and the Little Folk. "Gather these plants, roots, leaves and flowers." Then followed a list of what Her Majesty wanted. The Fairies and the little Folk swarmed out and collected all that Her Majesty had asked for in the meantime Her Majesty had waved her wand and a large cauldron appeared under the cauldron a fire was brightly burning. Into the cauldron all of the roots, leaves, flowers and plants were placed with water. Soon the mixture was boiling and after a while it gave off a terrible smell.

The smell got more intense it turned into a thick brown fog in the middle of which appeared the Sorcerer that was responsible for the Fairies being turned into slugs. The Little Folk and the Fairies watched as the Sorcerer got smaller and smaller until he turned into a large black slug. Her Majesty spoke to the slug, "Go out into the world and live the life of a slug. Do not let a human tread on you for then you will live another thousand years as a slug. Her Majesty knew that when human beings walk they do not look as a rule and since then the black slug has lived over fifty thousand years.

The Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies gave a most royal banquet for all of the little folk. I too was invited and sat at the Queen’s right hand. To eat there were all kinds of delicacies as well as the famous fairy cakes. Many drank parsnip wine others preferred the elderberry wine. The banquet went on for one whole week. The Leprechauns during this time made Her Majesty a magic leather case for her wand. The case was soft and pliable and was so made that even if Her Majesty were to forget it again it would magically follow her. No Sorcerer or Witch would ever catch Her Majesty without her wand again

Feeana’s Revenge.

We were all in the woods it was a Saturday, the Fairies the Elves the Pixies and the Gnomes. I have never seen so many of the little people in one place before. I asked if there was any special do on that, I had not heard about. No one knew why so many were here. The only one that was not here was her Majesty Queen Feeana. All of the wise old Fairies were also here it must be something of importance that was taking place that I had not heard of.

A message to Her Majesty asking why we were all gathered in this spot on a Saturday afternoon. Soon Her Majesty arrived and many were the questions put to her. Why seemed to be the main word this sunny Saturday Afternoon. Her Majesty was just as baffled as the rest of us as to why we were all here. There were no dances planned no general meeting in fact no one should have been here in this spot of Fairyland.

Suddenly there was a bright flash and her Majesty turned into a large stone. There were screams from the little people. The wise old Fairies shook their heads and mumbled in the Fairy language. Looked all around but could find no enemy about this was very disturbing indeed to us all. All of us heard a mocking voice. I am the greatest Wizard in the whole of Fairyland even Feeana has no answer to my Magic.

It was then I saw him hidden behind an old oak tree. By means of magic, He had called all of the Little Folk together. I too had heard his call unconsciously and had made my way into the woods. I got the wise old Fairies to send me to Her Majesties home I had an idea as to how we could get Her Majesty back into a living person.

Four of the wise old Fairies pointed their wands at me and in a bright flash; I was at her Majesties home. I looked for and found the magic mirror looking into the mirror that was cloudy at first I gradually found the Wizard. I wanted to know how he had managed to out magic Her Majesty. I looked into the mirror for what seemed like hours and watched him going into the woods collecting all kinds of herbs. The herbs were all natural there was nothing out of the ordinary. I must admit I was very puzzled.

I remained looking in the mirror until the wizard had boiled all of his herbs into an evil smelling mixture. Going to a shelf he took down a bright orange box in the box was a reddish powder the likes of which I had never seen. The Wizard emptied the box of powder into the mixture, which now gave off sparks. He plunged a magic wand into the mixture and the wand turned into gold. The wand was now looking like the Fairy Queens own wand.

The Wizard experimented a little with his new wand and turned a chair into a stone to turn it back into a chair he took another blue box from the same shelf and sprinkled it over the stone. The stone turned back into a chair again. This is what I need I thought to myself but how to get it away from the Wizards home.

I sent a mental picture to the wise old Fairies and they with the aid of their wands brought me back to where the stone was standing. I had brought the magic mirror with me, showed the wise old Fairies the house of the Wizard, and asked them to magic me there and bring me back in two minutes. This was easy the Wizard was still triumphing over his magic. In a flash, I was in the Wizards home and taking the blue box of powder with me, I found myself back at the stone.

I threw the powder over the stone and Her Majesty returned in her full glory. I quickly explained what had happened. Her Majesties face went white and she took out her Magic wand and with the wise old Fairies began to chant in the old language. From her Majesties Magic wand, sparks flew faster and faster then the Wizard who was still behind the oak tree turned into a flush of water that quickly soaked into the ground and fed the oak tree.

The Little Folk all went home and I with her Majesty and the wise old Fairies looked at the powder that was in the blue box. It turned out to be the ground down teeth of a dragon it was very old and we wondered how the Wizard had managed to get hold of it.

A week later a dance to celebrate Her Majesties being well and to show the Little Folk that the Wizard was just a passing phase all had a wonderful time and the dancing and feasting went on right through the night.

Feedorn.

For a young Fairy it was a long way to walk and fly back to fairyland. Feedorn was just over six years of age and had been visiting some of her Fairy relations in the north of England. Through her own carelessness she had lost her Magic Wand. She could have told her relatives who would have sent her home by magic. But she was a stubborn little thing and so she had to walk and fly back to Fairyland in Southern England. It was a dangerous and very silly thing to do a young Fairy travelling all on her own; it was such a long way back to her home.

What Feedorn did not know the birds, the animals were watching her and even the butterflies were keeping an eye on her. A couple of times the fairy Queen Feeana nearly used Magic to bring her home but on the other hand she though it would be good training for the Fairy Feedorn. To keep her company and to make sure that no real harm would come to her a trusted Leprechaun was sent by the Queen to intercept her and keep her safe.

The Leprechaun was a very strong man that carried a long stick with him he swung it on every stride and it seemed to be part of him. He was singing an old song all about flowers that bloom in the spring. When the fairy Feedorn first saw him she smiled at his quaint way of walking and the swinging of his stick. His singing made her laugh outright he had a loud voice not too melodious, but loud.

"Hello." Said the Leprechaun, Who have we here?" "A sweet Fairy, young and all on her own, where are your Fairy friends?" What with laughing at the Leprechauns ways and his manner of speaking the poor Fairy, Feedorn could hardly speak, but she managed to say that she was on her way back home to Fairyland in Southern England." What a coincidence said the Leprechaun I too am on my way to Southern England." "Do you live at Dartford Heath Perhaps?" Fairy Feedorn was so surprised that she nearly stumbled, "Yes I too am going home to Dartford Heath, I have been visiting some relations in the North and I am now on my way back home."

The Leprechaun opened his rucksack and took out some Fairy cakes and some elderberry wine. They both eat and drank their fill and the Leprechaun seeing that Feedorn was very tired put her across his shoulders and walked with his rolling gait and his swinging stick right through the night with Fairy Feedorn on his shoulders. The next morning when Feedorn awoke they were nearly in London.

Both washed in a nearby stream and feeling refreshed out came the Fairy cakes and elderberry wine. After their breakfast they carried on walking. Near London a man with a mask on his face riding a black horse stopped them and demanded their money or their lives. He had a large ugly looking pistol in his hand. The Leprechaun was so fast that the man did not know what had hit him. The stick knocked the pistol out of the man’s hand and then the man was unseated from his horse.

Seating the Fairy Feedorn on the horses back the Leprechaun with the horse started running. The man with the mask was still on the ground and would be for a while the force of the stick descending on his head was quite heavy. With the help of the horse the pair soon got through London and were well on their way down to Kent. The horse was by this time very tired and they thought it was the kindest thing to do to take off the saddle and the harness and let the poor creature free.

Sleeping once more on Blackheath the Leprechaun and the Fairy Feedorn reached Dartford Heath late in the evening. Here Her Majesty Queen Feeana who rewarded the Leprechaun with a full pot of magic gold welcomed them. Fairy Feedorn was given a sharp talking to about losing her Magic wand. The other Fairies all asked the Queen for a small celebration on the return of Feedorn who was well liked by the other Fairies. Her Majesty thought it was a good idea and if any one was about that night on Dartford Heath they would have seen the Fairies dancing and singing and feasting on Fairy cakes and elderberry wine.

Fire.

One day not so long ago a human being was walking through the woods. Suddenly he had to sneeze and pulling his handkerchief from his pocket he scattered his matchbox full of matches onto the forest floor. He did not realise that he had scattered his box of matches and continued his walk.

A group of fairy children came along the path and found the matches. First they wondered what these strange things were that were laying on the forest floor. The fairy children were fascinated by the bright red colour of the ends of the matchsticks and made a ring by pushing the matches into the forest floor. They soon got tired of this game and one of the bolder of the fairy children rubbed the red coloured head of the matchstick against the rough side of the matchbox. There was a flame and the fairy dropped the burning matchstick on the forest floor that immediately caught fire.

The Fairy children panicked and ran off in all directions. Fortunately a couple of them ran home to the fairy village and excitedly told their parents what had happened. A forest fire is a very serious thing to happen and the fairies called the Fairy Queen who hurriedly flew to the village and told the fairies not to panic, as she knew what had to be done.

The Fairy Queen flew to the fire and waved her magic wand and spoke the very old enchantment spell out that she had learned as a small fairy. The fire was put out and with another wave of her fairy wand she made the woods as they were before the fire.

Before the Fairy Queen flew back to her castle she called all the fairy children together and explained to them how dangerous the Human things were for small fairies. They were not to play with anything that was not of a natural origin and above all that fire which the humans used was not the same as the fairy fire that they were using in their fairy homes.

This story was also told to me by Her Royal Highness Feeana she said it is very dangerous for human children to play with matches as it can cause very bad burns to the skin and also burn down a house or even the woods if human children play with matches. I have written the story down as the Fairy Queen told it to me.

First School Day.

Thomas a young boy living down the street greeted very friendly whenever he saw me. Next week he would start his first day in the infant’s school. Thom as most people called him was not really looking forward to his first day at school. I met Thom with his mother in the town and asking him how he liked the idea of going to school he was afraid that he would loose his friends the Fairies. His mother had told him that there were no Fairies in school and it was about time that he started thinking of other things. " He has got his head stuffed full with Fairies and the like," said his Mother. She shook her head a little too much I thought. Did she not see Fairies herself at Thom’s age?

I went on my way and did not give the matter too much thought I had other things on my mind. Thom had been at school for two days when I next saw him. He was strolling along with half a dozen Fairies flying around his head. As he got nearer to the school other children appeared and they also had Fairies flying with them. At the school greeting the children as they arrived was one of the schoolteachers. She saw no Fairies and rather thought that children were always excited at going to school. I myself thought that the Fairies would leave the children at the school gates but no; they went into school with the children.

The children were not paying much attention to the teacher they were happier laughing at the tricks the fairies were playing. Pieces of chalk wrote simple words on the blackboard other chalks drew coloured flowers. The children were fascinated and many of the kids were excited. The teacher did not see any of this she was facing the class and the Fairies took advantage of this. I quickly put an urgent mental call to Her Majesty Queen Feeana to tell her what was happening and to get her help to rid the school of Fairies. The children were at school to learn, not to play with the Fairies. Besides it was not fair on the teacher who was having a rough time with the kids, as they were at school for the first time.

Her Majesty came at once and quietly told the Fairies to quickly leave the school and to go back to their forest homes. Before Her Majesty left she threw magic dust over the children who then got on quietly with the work that the teacher had given them. On my next visit to the woods I had some explaining to do. Why had I called the fairy Queen and why were fairies not allowed in the school. I reminded the Fairies of there own school days where they too had to learn all of the things that a Fairy needs to know. Now all is quiet in the school and the children are kept busy learning. The only time that Fairies are mentioned is when every day in the last half hour the teacher reads a fairy story.

Thom now goes to a Grammar school and certainly has no time for fairies but I still see him occasionally in the woods. He has learned that one does not talk about the Fairies or other people might think that he is not quite right in the head. I still see fairies flying around him and I know that he talks to them but as he does not want to speak about them I say nothing. Thom still does not know that I myself am very friendly with the Fairies. He still greets me and smiles and I know that one day he too will have children and I am sure he will tell them of the Fairy folk that live in the woods.

Fairies do not accompany children to school anymore not only is it one of Her Majesties own rules that all Fairies obey. They now realise that small children have so much to learn that every minute wasted at school is a big loss for the children when they go on to a Grown ups life.

Flower Painters.

The Fairies in my garden are all flower Fairies. I have watched them for hours painting petals with colours so vivid that my eyes sometimes had to look twice to make sure I was not just seeing things. Fairies do not use paints like the human artists they use their imagination and a small magic wand. I have seen a fairy sitting for hours with just one flower nothing seemed to be happening then the flower would take on a colour that it would be very difficult for a human artist to even try to make a copy of the same. Some Fairies have advanced to a stage where they can not only colour but also change the shape of a flower.

One day as I was watching the Fairies at work a large black cloud moved directly in front of the sun. All was in shadow and not one of the flowers showed any colour at all. I was very concerned, flowers all in a grey tone. This was surely not my garden, then the cloud was gently moved on by high winds and my flowers were again all in the prettiest of colours. I thought for a minute that I would have no coloured flowers in my garden at all.

The young Fairies are given the more simple things to colour like trees and shrubs or small bushes. Nothing much can go wrong and it is good practise for them when they get older. One of the smaller Fairies took a liking to me. I was always quiet and very patient and the Fairies knew that I appreciated their efforts to colour my garden just as I like it. I watered the flowers making sure that no Fairies were about, as they must not get wet especially the younger Fairies. With wet wings it would be difficult for them to fly from flower to flower, bush to bush and tree to tree.

In the Autumn I dig my garden and carefully turn the soil over so that the worms and other little creatures can move more easily through the earth. I dig the garden over leaving large clumps of soil that the winter frosts break down. Some of the flowerbeds I dig and plant the bulbs for flowers such as Daffodils and Tulips and of course the Crocus among others. Some people say that it is hard work keeping a garden but believe me it is really wonderful when the flowers grow so the Fairies may colour them. When I dig I place manure and compost in the flowerbeds so that the flowers find plenty of nourishment to help make them grow.

When the winter months are with us from November to March I leave the garden in peace so do the Fairies. This is the time for me to have my little holiday, as do the Fairies who go abroad to a large cave under the mountains of India and Tibet they take the Butterflies with them. I myself take a trip to the sunny south and have a week at the seaside.

One day while I was in my garden watching the Fairies painting the flowers I saw a man with a large black umbrella walking slowly past my garden. He was very interested in my flowers that were looking particularly nice this year the Fairies had really worked hard colouring my garden. At first I thought that he too could see the Fairies but his gaze was only on my flowers. I nodded to him and wished him a good day but he walked on as if he had not heard me.

That night the neighbour’s dog barking awakened me. I did not give the matter much thought as the dog often barked at night especially if strangers were in the street. In the morning I got a very big shock during the night some one had stolen all of my lovely flowers. I was terribly disappointed and did not know what to say to the Fairies. The Fairies arrived as I was showing my neighbour what some hooligan had done to my garden. The Fairies were very angry, as they too had done a lot of work by painting everything. One of the elder Fairies told me that the hooligan would have no pleasure in my flowers, the colours were made for my garden only and if they were planted anywhere else they would wither away and die. I bought more plants from my local garden centre and told the salesman of my misfortune. "You are the fifth this week," he said. "Someone is going around stealing flowers from the gardens." "Have you told the Police?"

I went back home to my garden I had a lot of work to do to plant all of the new flower plants in my garden. While I was working I remembered the man with the large black umbrella. I told one of the Fairies of my suspicions and he spoke to the dog that had barked during the night. It was as I thought the man with the black umbrella was stealing the plants and flowers from the gardens. The Fairy told me to leave it with him the man would steal no more flowers from any garden the Fairies would see to that.

That night a man was found lying on the ground with a broken leg he had fallen over a garden rake in someone else’s garden. He was found the next day by the owner of the garden who called the Police and an Ambulance. The man was later punished by a court of law and spent some time in hospital with a severe fracture of his right leg. The Fairies came again as soon as the buds were on my new plants and the lovely painting of the flowers started all over again. I am a very lucky man to have friends among the Fairies.

Flower Painters.

Four Elves.

The road was wet from a shower that had for five minutes, come suddenly from a sun filled morning. Stepping carefully, I avoided the many puddles and watched the slight mists that came from the wet road. There had been no thunder just a heavy fall of rain that sometimes appear out of nowhere on a sunny hot day. In the fields to the left of me, I could see sheep busily grazing on the wet grass. I myself was not wet, as I had stood under a tree during the downpour. I was on my way to visit a curiosity shop in the next village. I could have used my car but as the day was so warm, I decided to walk the three miles I was in need of a little exercise and this was as good an opportunity to take rather than use my car.

The village of Green Street Green came into view the roads here were wet so they must have caught the shower as I did under my tree. Passing the Baker’s shop and the Dairy I saw the curiosity shop. The shop was open and I walked into the somewhat dark interior. As I pushed open the shop door a small bell jangled in the back of the house. By opening the door I had made contact between two electric wires this had caused the bell to ring. "Good morni8ng," I called and heard a voice saying, "I will be with you in a moment, have a look around." I had been in this shop a number of times and always managed to find something out of the ordinary.

The shop was filled old pictures, some hung on the wall many were stacked on a long shelf. Old brass horse medallions were also hanging on the wall along with small pieces of china and cups and saucers. Old milk jugs and all the bric a brac that one finds in these old shops, under a long glass topped counter were medals some from the First World War. Next to the medals, there were a few pocket watches and an old compass. The compass interested me the most it was of peculiar design and the needle that points to North was standing still on South. The owner who I had seen many times came from the back and asked me whether I had found anything. I pointed to one of the pocket watches and asked to see it closer. The watch after I had wound it with a small watch key that the man produced started ticking away. I said that I would buy the watch if it was not too expensive and the compass. "The compass does not work you know" he had a pleasant voice and I answered that I would take it apart and clean it. Perhaps I will be lucky I heard myself say.

With the pocket watch and winding key and the compass, I left the shop and made my way back home. The roads were now dry and I arrived home in a couple of hours. Making myself something to eat I sat at my kitchen table and looked at the watch and the compass. Opening the back of the watch I found that it was quite old and had a chain driven drive something one rarely sees today. I decided that I would clean the watch (A hobby of mine) and re-oil it. Then I carefully opened the compass and found a small piece of paper with some writing on it was blocking the mechanism that kept the magnet needle from moving. Taking the paper out of the compass, I saw that the compass needle was now pointing north. Cleaning and oiling the old pocket watch did not take too long and I started working on the compass. I soon had the compass working properly and then concentrated on the piece of paper

It took me at least five minutes to realise that the writing was in very old English hard for me to read but with the aid of a couple of dictionaries I fathomed out the message. If you want to see the cave of the elves follow this compass, it will show you the way. I went to bed at my usual time quite happy that I had cleaned and oiled the watch and got the compass working. The following morning I washed dressed and made myself breakfast and then I packed a haversack with a change of clothes and two pairs of socks. Making some sandwiches and a thermos of tea to take with me did not take long and soon I was on my way. When I held the compass in my hand, it pointed to the north but when I placed it on the piece of paper it change direction to southwest. I followed the compass bearings and soon found myself in a part of England that I had never before visited. I wandered over moor land and eventually arrived at a thicket of trees. The compass needle now swung all the way around the face of the compass. I realised that I was at the end of my journey. Going into the woods, I saw a rock that went deep into the ground.

Looking about me I noticed a huge bramble bush covered with blackberries. Being a little peckish, I started to eat of the brambleberries. Following my way around the bush I came to a small hole in the ground it was large enough to crawl through and on impulse I lowered myself into the hole and found myself in a large cave. In my haversack, I had some matches and a couple of candles. Lighting one of the candles I saw that a table with four stools stood in the middle of the cave along one wall was a roughly carpentered shelf with all kinds of bottles and small very old leather sacks arranged along it. Looking into the bottles all of which were for holding liquids but were now dry, I opened the leather sacks one after another. In some of the leather, sacks were seeds and dust from the leaves of plants all very old.

I looked closer at the walls the candle light flickering casting shapes on the walls. One of the walls had a large crack in it, I used a piece of wood and made the crack larger it was then that I discovered where the four elves had hidden all of their wealth. Four shelves one above the other each held a small pot filled with gold coins. This hide away had been covered with a wattle wall, which if I had not found the crack would still be filled with gold coins. I emptied the gold coins into my haversack and going back into the daylight made my way back home. The compass now worked quite normally and on the paper, there was now a new message. It said, "You are now the rightful owner of our gold, Use it well for all that glitters is not gold.

French Trip.

I have been invited to Paris, France by the fairies that live in my part of Fairyland. I am wondering if I should accept or not after all my knowledge of French is very rusty. Do the French Fairies speak English? Will I have to brush up on my knowledge of French? After all the invitation is for next week it does not leave me much time to learn. Then what do the French Fairies eat and drink I myself prefer to drink a cup of tea with milk and sugar. I am not sure that I could drink wine with my meals. At home we drink water with our lunch I am told that the French drink wine. Do the French Fairies also drink wine or like the English Fairies do they have elderberry and parsnip wine. I like these very much and I am often given a bottle of parsnip wine by the Fairy Queen Feeana.

What shall I wear? Will it be very warm in France or is it still cold as it was a couple of months ago in winter. There are so many questions to be asked I think that my best thing to do is to go to the woods that form my part of Fairyland and get some answers from the Fairies. I first asked for a meeting with one of the wise old fairies she would surely be able to help me. Fairy Normafee was free to speak to me and I spent a very happy afternoon with her discussing France and the French fairies. I now knew that I could go to France with the Fairies and not have to worry about speaking French. The French Fairies also drank the dew that settles overnight on the plants and grasses, trees and bushes. They also drink elderberry wine and parsnip wine. The food is the same as Fairy food all over the world.

The day arrived when I with a small suitcase made my way to Fairyland. All of the little folk were there and it promised to be a very lively trip. Soon Her Majesty Feeana arrived and we were now ready and waiting for her to wave her magic wand. A bright light a small puff of smoke and we were in France. We landed in a huge field of Lavender in the Provence the smell was lovely everywhere the eye could see were lavender bushes all in full bloom. We were greeted by a committee of French Fairies and made very welcome all the Fairies spoke English so I had no need to worry about speaking French.

We were taken from the lavender fields to French Fairyland. It was as far as I could tell very much like all the other parts of Fairyland that I had in the past visited. The small neat houses some built direct in the treetops, others in hollow trees and some under the roots of the trees. Living under the roots of the trees had the advantage that one was always cool in the hot summer months. Here the flowers were much like the English wild flowers. To hang out the fairy washing there were washing lines spun by spiders just like in England.

We spent the first day getting to know the French Fairies. Some of the French Fairies had visited England and knew one or two of the English Fairies. I got on well with the little folk I was a good listener and the Fairies confided in me. A witch that wanted to learn the secret of how to make a Fairy Magic wand was troubling the French Fairies. Through her cunning the old witch had found out that one needed wood from a Yew tree, also that certain flowers were used in the process most of these flowers she knew and it would not be long before she could make and use Fairy wands for her evil purposes.

This was serious and I told her Majesty Queen Feeana of the witch’s evil intentions. Her Majesty was not alarmed and she told me a secret that when making a magic wand one must know the old language and a spell was always spoken in the old tongue. Without this spell the old witch could never make a wand even if she had all of the ingredients. The old tongue was taught to the Fairies in school and it was very difficult to learn. The old tongue as they called it was something similar to the Welsh language and this was based on the old Celtic language that hardly anyone could speak in our day and age.

Queen Feeana dressed as a French country maiden went to see the old witch just to make sure that she had not stumbled on to any of the old Parchments that held the written version of the old language. Going to the witches house she told the witch that she was looking for work as a kitchen maid and would work just for her board and lodging she did not want any money. The witch was delighted to get a strong healthy young girl to do her housework and agreed that the maiden, Queen Feeana in disguise could work for her. The old witch showed Queen Feeana where she could sleep and the small kitchen where she expected her to cook the meals.

The old witch then went off into the woods collecting herbs and roots and flowers for her spell making. This gave Queen Feeana the chance to look for any signs that the witch knew any thing about the old language. Queen Feeana found nothing in the house and was going to leave and then she had another idea. When the witch came back home to her house with a sack of herbs. Feeana sang a song in the old tongue carefully watching the witch for any reaction she might have. The witch did not react at all, she had no knowledge of the old tongue so the secret of making a magic wand.

Queen Feeana told me that I could tell the French Fairies that they had no need to worry the witch would never be able to make a wand and there was no danger for them at all. On the day that we went home one of the French Fairies gave me a present of a leather bag full of truffles. Truffles grow in the ground and normally the humans need a trained dog or a trained pig to smell them under the earth. The fairies need no trained animals they can sense them and just dig them out.

Garden Fairy.

My Wife had done the washing and hung it out on the line. I was busy planting some new tomato plants. I had bought the plants from our local nursery. The nursery had all kinds of plants some potted for indoor growth others like the ones I had bought for the garden. The nursery was a fascinating place to visit one could see all kinds of plants and flowers. There were many plants from abroad but for these one needed a conservatory or a green house. Then there were the many flowerpots all different in shape and size some were coloured others had patterns of flowers or country scenes painted on them. Some of the garden statues I found amusing such as the dwarfs these had lanterns or were leaning on a fork, others were sitting in a wheelbarrow, all had a smile on their faces many people bought them to place in their gardens.

I had just finished planting the last tomato plant and was going to the shed to get the sticks to hold the tomato plants firmly. Tomato plants needed to be tied on to sticks to help carry the weight of the tomatoes. In the shed was a Fairy who had an invitation for me from Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana; I was invited to the small Fairies graduation class that was leaving the Fairy school this coming week. I was ever so excited I had never been asked to a graduation class before. Telling the Fairy that I would be very honoured to come to the graduation festivities I took my sticks for the Tomato plants and Carefully placed a stick into the ground next to each plant. Now all I had to do was tie the plants to the sticks and then water them.

The day of graduation came and I dressed in my best suit with my shoes nicely polished went to the garden shed. The same little fairy was there and taking my hand she waved her wand and with a puff of smoke and a flash of light I was deep in the woods. The Fairy school was not like the schools that I went to as boy. There was a group of excited Fairy Boys and Girls sitting on mushrooms and toadstools. All were watching a point in the middle of a large ring of toadstools, suddenly there was a bright flash and a small puff of smoke and Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared with two other Fairies. The Queen was wearing a dress of purple coloured flowers the two other Fairies had on dresses of light yellow and each was wearing a purple sash. Queen Feeana wore a special crown covered in precious stones. The diamonds in the crown were sparkling away every time the Queen’s head moved.

The small Fairy Boys and Girls stopped their excited chattering and formed a ring around Her Majesty and the two older fairies. Then a song was sung that I did not understand it was sung in the old language. To me it sounded like Welsh or perhaps even French but I couldn’t tell really. The sweet voices finished singing their song and Her Majesty gave one of the two older fairies a signal and the names of the young Fairies were solemnly read from a roll of Parchment that she held. The names of the girls all ended with fee, I can remember a few of them there was Donnafee and Rillofee and many more that I cannot remember. The boys all had par after their name there was a Rinopar and Toonapar and many more. Each child as his or her name was called held his or her magic wand on high and the word Magicus was called out loud. As soon as the names were all called and each child had called out Magicus, The Fairy Queen asked them to speak after her the words that each Fairy child must speak before they leave school for the last time. "I promise that my Magic Wand will only be used for working good spells. At no time will my Magic Wand be used to harm any living creature. I promise." With the words repeated by all of the children Her Majesty waved her own Magic Golden Wand and there appeared Fairy cakes, sweets of all kinds and many other things that young Fairies like to eat and drink. Then the ceremony was over and I after thanking Her Royal Majesty for allowing me to take part in this ceremony was again whisked away to my Garden shed.

My wife was very surprised to see me coming from the garden shed dressed in my best suit and a tie with my shoes highly polished. I could not tell her of course that I had been invited to a Fairy school leaving ceremony. I do not think that she would have believed me. Would you have done?

Gentle Giant.

Many years ago in a far off land there lived a man that even today we would call a giant. This man was so big and strong that he could pull a tree from out of the ground with just his bare hands. He was a gentle man and helped all that needed help. His Mother by doing all kinds of extra work just about managed to feed him and clothe him. As a child he had a really big appetite.

To help feed him the farmers would let him pull the plough and at hay time the heavy hay carts. The good-natured Giant did all of the work without once complaining. Then Bad times came for him his poor Mother died. Some say of a broken heart. Her gentle boy was just so huge and she never got used to the fact that he was used by one and all to do menial jobs on farms to get his food.

The times got so hard what with one harvest after another being bad. The Farmers began to put the blame on this poor Giant of a man. Then they stoned him away from his village where he lived all of his young life. The poor confused Giant was sent on from one village to the next he was allowed to stay nowhere because of the food he could eat.

Soon the Fairy Folk who as we all know are very inquisitive if not downright nosey knew of his travelling. For the Fairies with their powers of magic it was no problem to feed the giant. What could they give him to do to keep him occupied? First they asked him to build bridges. With his great strength he could pull out a tree by its roots and easily snap off the branches and lay a simple bridge for the Fairies. Then the fairy Queen had an Idea. He should level off the top of a mountain so that a huge plateau could be made to hold the Fairy meetings.

Goose Girl.

Many years ago in a village somewhere in Europe there lived a little girl she was called by one and all Goose Girl. Her real name had been forgotten by all of the villagers. Her parents had died when she was quite young and she had been passed on from one villager to the next. Goose Girl had a good appetite and often went hungry. The village was poor and no one had enough food or money to keep the girl more than a few months. When she was five the villagers told her that she was to look after the geese and Goose Girl went every day with the geese down to the local river and saw to it that no fox stole a goose and that no geese went astray.

The work was easy enough except when the geese had young to look after. Goose Girl did her work well and managed to stay on in the village till she was sixteen or so. Day after day she went with the geese to the river and sometimes even to the edge of the forest where in summer the grass was specially green and good. One day as she drove the geese to the forest a small man spoke to her. Goose Girl was a good kind person and she smiled at the little man and asked him how she could help him. The little man asked Goose Girl what her name was and Goose Girl told him that everyone called her Goose Girl so that she said must be my name. The little man smiled a knowing smile and said he would meet her again at the end of the week and by this time he would know her name.

A week went by and Goose Girl drove her geese first to the river and then to the forest. The little man met her again and told her he was sorry but he just could not tell her what her name was. That's alright call me Goose Girl I am so used to being called by this name that I probably would not answer if anyone called me by another name. The little man then said he would look after the geese for her while she went off into the woods to pick some of the delicious blackberries that were now ripening in the forest.

After some hesitation Goose Girl agreed to leave the geese with the little man and off she went into the forest. The blackberries were ever so good and she ate quite a few of them. Soon she found herself deep into the forest. Goose Girl had never been so far away from the village as she was now and was sorry that she had listened to the little man. Then Goose Girl heard the sounds of little bell like voices singing. She stopped and looked around her. Who in the forest could sing like this?

The Fairies for it was they who came singing and dancing around Goose Girl. Goose Girl had never been so happy in all of her life. The Fairies then told her that she was not a goose girl and her real name was Minnafee she had been taken from the Fairies when she was a baby by an old witch. The old witch sold her to her parents or better to the two people that had died and that is how she came to be in the village. Goose Girl was now one very happy girl she had a name like everyone else her name was Minnafee. The little man that was looking after the geese drove them all back home to the village. The villagers were very surprised when they realised that Goose Girl was no longer with them to look after their geese.

Back in the forest Minnafee was singing and dancing with the other Fairies and was delighted when she too grew wings and could happily fly with the other fairies. The little man of course was a Leprechaun he soon met up with Minnafee and told her, her real name. Her Majesty Queen Feeana queen of all the Fairies told this story of the Little Goose Girl to me.

Granddad.

A friend of mine that lives a few doors away from me has two Grandchildren. Their names are Wendy and Tony. My friend is always asking if I have written any new fairy-tales. He reads them to his Grandchildren who listen with deep concentration, any new situation starts off a discussion. One day the Grandchildren asked their Grandfather where he gets all of the Fairy-Tales. He told them that all of his Fairy-tales were written by his neighbour the man that is always working in his garden as they go by his house. The children found it hard to believe that the man they know as the man who works in his garden could write such fairy-tales. "Granddad ask him to write a Fairy tale for us," they pleaded. Granddad later on asked me whether it would be possible to write a fairy-tale with perhaps the children Wendy and Tony as characters in the story. This is something that I had never tried before and said that I would give it some thought.

Later that afternoon the plea from the neighbour came back to me and I decided to see what would come from my pen. This is the story about Wendy and Tony and their day with the fairies. The children’s Granddad on my bidding took the children to the woods where I showed them some fairy rings and the elder bushes and the ash trees that abound in the woods. I told the children about my Friend Shamus the Leprechaun and about the Fairy Queen Feeana and all about the naughty pixies and the imps and the trolls. "Can we see them?" asked the children excitedly. "Who knows?" was my reply "I can see them, the fairies are all around us, some are playing, others are busy doing the work like painting the flowers and the trees and shrubs."

It was then that I saw that Granddad had dropped into a light sleep, walking in the woods had tired him a little and he tires easily when he has to do something that he is not used to. Tony and Wendy you must be very quiet to see the fairies and apart from that your Granddad is tired and has dropped off to sleep. Then Wendy shyly said to me," I can see the Fairies they are over there playing on a swing. Tony could see nothing and said so. I looked and there they were, the fairies had gotten the spiders to weave some ropes that they suspended from the bough of a tree. A piece of wood made the seat and the Fairies were swinging to and fro. I pointed in the direction of the swing and told the boy to look very carefully as the fairies were really enjoying themselves. Tony suddenly pointed and said" there is a fairy with a golden dress and silvery wings. I looked again and sure enough both children were seeing the fairies.

Later I awoke Granddad and told him that it was time that we went back home. The children have seen the fairies and are now content to go home. On the way back to the edge of the woods some of the fairies accompanied us. The excited cries from the children and the good-natured laugh from Granddad who of course had seen nothing told me that all was well. Now the children want to go to the woods every time that they have a spare minute. Granddad asks me every day if I have another story for the children. I told Granddad that it would be better if he went as often as possible to the woods with the children. If they kept quiet and made no loud noises they would not only see fairies but also the animals of the woods. I gave Granddad a couple of books explaining the names of the trees and shrubs and of the wild flowers. Also a book on bird life and of all the animals that one may see in the English countryside if one looks carefully. Now the children are growing older they still go to the woods not to see the fairies, but to enjoy the wild life. Sometimes as they go past my house they bring me small buckets of blackberries or nuts and sometimes even mushrooms. The children Wendy and Tony still like to read my little stories but are happier when they themselves go into the woods to use their imaginations. Who knows one day perhaps the children will write about fairies or about the woods and the wild life. I think that the stories would be very interesting. What do you think?

Heat Wave.

It is very warm here today the sun is shining. I have had two cold showers but the heat is terrible. I decided to go into the woods perhaps there I could find a place to cool me down. In the woods it is shady and not so warm as it is in my garden. I slowly walked through the woods until I came to a shady spot beneath an old oak tree. The stream is very inviting and I decided to place my two bottles of cold drink in the running water. After a while I took off my shoes and socks and dipped my feet in the water of the stream. The water was nice and cool and I left my feet soaking in the inviting coolness. I dropped off into a light sleep and woke up to the noise of the fairies playing in the cool water. The silvery sounds of their excited voices had penetrated my dream and gently woke me.

I opened my eyes a little and watched the fairies, although fairies must not get their wings wet these did not seem to mind. I watched the fairies for a little while and then dropped of to sleep again. This time my dream was not really a dream but a series of pictures running through my mind. I could in my sleep feel the cold running up my legs. Real cold more of a wintry cold that one feels in December, I woke again this time there were no fairies playing in the stream and the water around my feet had turned into ice. I tried to pull my feet out of the icy cold water. I could not free my feet and could feel the cold now creeping up to my thighs. I looked around me to see if there was anyone to help me. At least pull me out of the water. There was no one to be seen. The fairies had all disappeared I was all alone. The owl I saw, as I lay back onto the grass. Calling to the owl I asked it to get help, someone to pull me out of the water I could not move my legs.

The owl flew off and I did not know whether it had understood my message. I dropped off into a sleep again the dreams were terrible. Then I felt a warmth that went right through my body. I quickly pulled my feet out of the freezing water and opened my eyes. In front of me stood her Majesty Queen Feeana, in her hand she held her wand. Looking down at my feet I saw that they were just wet from the water. No ice just the warming glow that spread through my body. Her Majesty smiled and asked me what had happened. I told her of my falling into a light sleep then the fairies playing near the stream and my falling asleep again. I told Her Majesty that what puzzled me was that the water in the stream could freeze and trap my feet, after all the sun is streaming down. Then I remember the two bottles of drinking water that I had brought with me from my home. I pulled the two bottles out of the water and nearly dropped them they were both frozen and one of the bottles had cracked with the cold.

Her Majesty asked me if she could look into my mind. There was no outside harm that could have caused the water to freeze. The first warning that something was wrong was my seeing the fairies playing in and near the stream. No fairy would purposely get her wings wet. Then my second time that I dropped off and all the pictures that ran through my mind that was the second warning that something was wrong. I had obviously ignored two warnings. I told Her Majesty that she could read my mind. I felt the gentle probing of Her Majesty going through my mind. Then she smiled and told me what had caused the stream to freeze and encase my feet in ice also the two bottles of water that I had brought from my house. I myself through my wanting the coolness of the water had used Magic. It was me that had frozen the water around my feet. The two bottles of water were so close to my feet that they too froze causing one of the bottles to split. Her Majesty then told me that I knew so much about magic and spells that in my sleep I had craved for coolness in the water and I had overdone it. Her Majesty had now with my permission placed a block in my brain so that I cannot use magic in my sleep. The water from the bottles I poured into the ground at the foot of the tree. It was my way of thanking the oak for its shady coolness.

Hedgehogs.

A very long time ago there were no hedgehogs, as we know them today. They were at that time like fluffy little balls of fur. Very cuddly and many a wild animal hunted the little creatures. In Fairyland the Fairies played with the hedgehogs and even kept them for pets. One day a terrible thing happened that upset all the Fairies. A weasel that was hunting for prey attacked and killed the mother hedgehog and her five babies. The weasel quickly ate the hedgehogs and ran off into the woods.

These hedgehogs were the pets of a Fairy called Donnafee. Donnafee went to the Fairy Queen Feeana and told her what had happened to her little pets. The Fairy Queen Feeana was terribly upset that such a thing had happened in Fairyland where all animals lived in peace with one another. The weasel would be punished but this would not save other hedgehogs from similar attacks by other weasels and wild animals.

The wise Fairies were called together and soon a resolution was made all hunting animals would be banned from Fairyland. The Fairy Queen Feeana said that this was not enough; hedgehogs were slow little creatures and could not run away when danger threatened them. The Queen spent a lot of time puzzling out what to do for the hedgehogs. While the queen was sewing a new garment her thoughts being on the problem of the hedgehogs. She pricked herself with her sewing needle. This gave the Queen the idea of hedgehogs being covered with fur but the outer fur should become like a pincushion. A wave of her wand and all hedgehogs all over the world had a new coat of prickly spines.

Having looked at her work and the hedgehogs with their new coats the Queen realised that the hedgehogs were still rather slow in their movements. To solve this problem she waved her wand again and all the hedgehogs in the world when danger approached would roll into a ball so that there was no part of their body that was not protected by the prickly spines.

This story was told to me by the Fairy Donnafee she asked me to write it down and tell it to the Children of this world so that they would know when a hedgehog rolls into a ball there is danger about.

Hennessy.

I heard the clock on the town hall strike twelve. I remember thinking, midnight and still not asleep. I will have to get myself a cup of hot chocolate that will perhaps settle me down so that I may get a good nights rest. I had been sleeping poorly this last month or so due I think to the Fairy problems. Strange things had been happening all over Fairyland. It had rained without stop for over two whole weeks. The Forest floor was flooded and there was nowhere dry for the wild animals or for the Little Folk.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana was in constant touch with Mother Nature. Mother Nature said that someone or something had been meddling with the clouds right out in the Atlantic. She had no control anymore. I was asked by Her Majesty to keep a look out for things that are man made that could be causing the huge build up of cloud over the Atlantic Ocean. I phoned the Meteorology office and asked them if there were any experiments going on. They told me that there were no experiments and none were planned. They themselves were beginning to ask where the cloud build up was coming from.

Her Majesty evacuated all of the Fairies into their winter quarters under the Himalayan Mountains between India and Tibet there they were safe from the rain and wet, all the butterflies went with them. I read all kinds of books about the weather and learned new terms such as cumulus and many more. I did not know that mankind had made such progress in learning about the weather. I thought to myself if this knowledge is available over the Internet then it is possible that some Wizard could have studied and experimented with the clouds to flood the fairies from out of Fairyland.

I sent pictures to Her Majesty knowing that she had a part of her mind always ready to accept my mental pictures. Her Majesty Queen Feeana came at once as soon as she received my message. I told her of my suspicions about a Wizard and that the weather office had no experiments going on. Her Majesty took out her truth mirror and looked long and deeply into it. " Yes she said the Wizard Magoricus is up to his old tricks again. He is a very powerful Wizard and my Magic Powers are the same strength as his. Here I must find a way to outwit him just magic alone will not help.

"I must get the help of the Leprechaun Hennessy," "He is very crafty and has outwitted many a sorcerer with my help before." "I am sure that he will help us." Her Majesty put a magic call through to Ireland and he himself Hennessy appeared in a flash of blue light. "You called me Your Royal Highness." "I am here, how may I be of help?" Her Majesty then told Hennessy of the problem. Hennessy asked Her Majesty for the use of her Heating Mirror. Her Majesty immediately gave him a large flat-framed mirror that was covered in a black cloth. Thank you Your Majesty and where do I find this rascal Magoricus? "He is in America in the city of New York he has a studio next to the water front in the docklands." If you will Your Majesty send me to America for I have business with a certain Magoricus." As the Leprechaun Hennessy came so he went a blue flash and he was no longer with us.

Hennessy soon found the studio of Magoricus and taking the fairy Queen’s mirror he directed it at the tip of an antenna that Magoricus was using to cause the rain. The heat from the mirror was so strong that the tip of the antenna melted and the flow of energy that was causing all the rain stopped. Magoricus came home to his studio and saw what had happened to his apparatus that he had spent so much time building. The heat from the mirror had melted the antenna right down to the apparatus and now all was just molten metal. Hennessy stayed in America and opened a shoe shop. He is a very rich man and he often goes off on trips to no one knows where.

Fairyland dried out and her majesty sent all of the Fairies and butterflies back home and the Heat Mirror now has a special place in her Majesties home in case some other Magician should come across the idea of flooding fairyland. Magicians, Wizards, Sorcerers and Witches be warned for Her Majesty, Fairy Queen Feeana has some very good friends all over the world. I myself am one of them and I keep my eyes open for all of your tricks.

Hole in Pebble.

Walking along the pebble beach, the tide was out. I found a stone it was perfectly round with a hole in the middle. Picking up the stone, I looked at it carefully and decided it was one of nature’s small miracles. I decided to keep it and put it into my pocket. Going home, I forgot the stone and it was only when I had taken off my jacket that I thought about it. I decided to place it on the mantle piece, which I did and then forgot all about it. The rest of the day was as it always is, I made and ate my meals washed up the dishes and put them away. Read a good book until I went to bed at half past ten in the evening.

On going down stairs the following morning I opened the back door for Wag to go out and have a good sniff around the garden, when fifteen Fairies came in through the open back door. One of them noticed the pebble that was on the mantelpiece and picked it up. "Do you know what this is for?" asked the Fairy. I smiled and took some washing up liquid and placing the stone in the liquid I blew through the hole and a large soap bubble appeared, This delighted the Fairies and they blew in turns soap bubbles that I am happy to say were drawn into the back yard through the open kitchen door.

Wag had long since eaten his biscuits and drunken of his water. The Fairies were too involved with the stone to worry Wag so overall it was a peaceful day. On the following day, the Fairies came again and all had a great deal of fun. I usually keep some washing up liquid in reserve so I was able to keep the Fairies busy. On the next day, there were no Fairies and I wondered why, the stone with the hole should have kept them busy for days, if not a whole week. I went into the woods and was met by a young Fairy, who told me the fairies have developed sores all around their mouths. I immediately thought about the stone with the hole was the stone responsible for the fairies having sores around their mouths or was it the washing up Liquid?

Going back home, I boiled the stone in hot water for a half an hour that should kill any germs that might be on it. I have used washing up liquid for years and have never had any trouble with it. It could not be the washing up liquid that had caused the Fairies to get sores around their mouths. Another group of Fairies who had been told about the stone and the liquid soap came and wanted to play the game of blowing bubbles. I was now at ease for I had boiled the stone and let them play with it. The next day no fairies again I was now worried and went into the woods and sent a message with a Robin to Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

Queen Feeana appeared and I told her about my misgiving with the stone and the sores around the Fairies mouths. Taking the stone from my hand the Queen looked at it carefully through her magic mirror. Then she showed me the history of the stone that had over thousands of years been turned into a flat round pebble the hole came from a stone that was not so hard as the pebble and caused a hole to form. This was the natural history but the magic mirror showed something else. A Wizard had found the stone and had carefully prepared it with germs that cause sores. I had only blown through the stone once to show the Fairies how to blow bubbles.

The Wizard had purposely left the stone with the hole in my path in the hopes that I would pick it up and take it home with me. This I had foolishly done and let the fairies play with this nasty piece of stone that was covered in sore germs. Her Majesty asked me to bring the stone to her cottage in the woods. The next day I arrived at Her Majesties cottage with the stone wrapped up in some tin folia. Her Majesty greeted me, took the stone, and waved her magic wand over it. The stone disappeared and we both looked through the Magic mirror to see what had become of it.

The stone appeared in the Wizards kitchen where it turned into a fine powder and settled all over the Wizards kitchen and every thing that was in it. Her Majesty told me that she had increased the strength of the germs the Wizard that would now suffer. Saying goodbye to Her Majesty I went into town and bought a handful of soap bubble toys and took them home and boiled them in hot water after which I placed each one in a small bath of disinfectant. Carefully drying them, I placed each one in a small plastic sack and when the Fairies came again to blow bubbles, I was able to give each Fairy a sterilised toy there was no more sores in Fairyland.

Hollow Tree.

Deep in the forest and in the middle of Fairyland there stands an age-old oak tree. The Oak is hollow and is known to but a very few people. The Fairies avoid the oak tree because once a Wizard lived there and the tree was supposed to be still alive with the magic spells that he placed on the tree to keep people away. One day a young Leprechaun came into the forest and found the hollow oak. This he thought is just what I am looking for. Here I can make myself a small garden for my kitchen herbs and the hollow tree will be just right for me to make my home in.

The Leprechaun was a very busy young man and he soon cleared the inside of the tree of all the rubbish that had accumulated over the years. As he was cleaning the large upstairs room he came across a small brown box. The box was beautifully made of a wood that had come from miles over the sea. There was a small lock built into the box and the Leprechaun wondered what was in the box. He found a small bunch of keys and one of which opened the box. Carefully opening the lock the lid sprang open and a small cloud of smoke appeared. In the smoke was small leather bound book. The book too was of very costly leather and its pages were of the finest parchment.

Placing the book back into the box the Leprechaun made himself a few shelves and a small workshop. The Wizard that once lived here had built a fireplace and there was a small table with a few pots and pans. Upstairs was a wooden bed and the Leprechaun soon had made a comfortable little home for himself.

The book he forgot about, as he was very busy setting up a shoe shop. Soon the little folk heard about the Leprechaun that had taken over the Wizards old home and the first customer came to have a pair of shoes made. The shoes were of the finest leather and fitted perfectly. Soon the Leprechaun was making shoes for all the little folk that lived in this part of Fairyland.

After a while the Leprechaun did not have so much work to do and he remembered the little wooden box and the small beautiful bound book.

Going upstairs he opened the box with the small key and again some smoke appeared and in the middle of the smoke was the little book. Opening the book the Leprechaun thought that it was empty. There was no writing to be seen. Taking the book over to the window he looked again this time in the bright light of the sun. Then there appeared lines of small writing written by a master’s hand. The script was exquisite. Reading the first lines he realized that he had found the Wizards book of magic.

Leprechauns are strange little people they work hard and accept Fairyland as it is even with all of its magic. But somehow this little jewel of a book frightened him. Plucking up all of his courage he took the book carefully locked up in its box to the Fairy Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana Thanked the Leprechaun by giving him some magic gold. Then her majesty started to read the book.

The Wizard had written down all of his magical secrets and all that he had done in Fairyland. The Queen Feeana now knew where the missing Fairies were and many other strange things that had happened in Fairyland she could now put right. Waving her magic wand over the book and saying a few words in the old language all that the Wizard had done during his long stay in fairyland was put right. Fairies that had been missing for many years suddenly appeared. Houses that had mysteriously burned down were again as they were before the Wizard had used his magic spells. In fact Fairyland was again as it was before the Wizard had come there to stay.

The Leprechaun was the hero of Fairyland and his shoe shop flourished as no shoe shop had flourished before. Everyone came to buy his shoes and listen to his tale of how he found the Wizards book. Many were the stories that the Fairies who had disappeared had to tell. I will tell you about some of them in my next Fairy-Tale.

Hollow Tree Village.

A long straight road that ran for miles, here and there were farms to the left and the right of the road. Cows and sheep were quietly grazing in the fields alongside. At last the sign post that I had been waiting for came in sight, Written in large black letters on a white background, ‘Hollow Tree Village," then five miles. This was the signpost that I had been looking for. Here I had made arrangements to meet a man that had advertised that he was a Fairy Tale storywriter and translator he was looking for work. All of my Fairy Tales are written in English and this man had promised over the phone that he would translate my Fairy Tales first into German and then into French.

I arrived at the village and soon found the house that I was looking for. The house had seen better days and needed some fresh paint. The windows were dirty and looked as if they had not been cleaned in a long time. My impression was that the person that lived in this house was either very poor or was not interested in the upkeep of the house. There was an old Oak tree in the garden and like the house it looked rather odd. I then noticed that the tree was covered in mistletoe. Mistletoe is a plant that lives off and in trees. In time the mistletoe would kill off this Oak. The garden was untidy and full of weeds it was only the colouring of some of the weed flowers that gave the garden a rather piteous look.

As I got to the door and was going to knock, the door opened and a man rather dark in appearance greeted me. "My name is Walther Margineaux, I am the writer of Fairy Tales." You must be Mr. Shaw; I have read some of your works on the Internet, "You write for the Y.P.D.C (Your Poetry Dot Com.)" "Yes," I said. Rather surprised I did not expect to find such a thing as a computer it was too modern and somehow did not go with the house.

Inviting me in to the house the man showed me into a rather shabby room there was dust everywhere. A small fire burned in the grate and over the fire hung a copper cauldron. The last time I had seen cauldrons like this in use was in Hungary where I was given a delicious meal of Goulash. I thought it rather strange to see such a cauldron here in Great Britain. On a shelf was a mortar and pestle the kind one sees in the Chemist’s shop. I was by now feeling rather uneasy. I did not trust this Mr. Margineaux here was all the makings of a Sorcerer’s den. I decided to be very careful as to what I told him about Fairies and my Fairy knowledge in particular. "Have you any of your manuscripts with you Mr. Shaw?" " No I replied I just wanted to talk to you about terms." "How much do you charge per line and do you add illustrations to my work?"

He then told me about his charges for translating; they were absolutely ridiculous the man had no idea of what it costs to have even a page translated, let alone a whole book. I told him that I was agreeable for him to translate my Fairy Tales and that I would bring him a copy of all my Fairy Tale manuscripts the next time that I came to visit him. After a few more words of conversation I left him standing in his front doorway looking after me as I got into my car and drove off.

In the village I had an impulse to stop at the local shop, it was one of those shops that seem to sell everything. Jars of sweets a couple of shelves with packaged sweets and chocolates, eggs milk and butter, newspapers and glossy magazines. The Lady behind the counter greeted me friendly enough and I asked her if Mr. Margineaux was a customer of hers. "Never heard that name," she said. "Where does he live?" I explained the house with the old Oak tree to her and she said, "That house has been empty for years, are you sure you have got the right house?" I bought a newspaper and a bar of chocolate and left the shop bidding the Lady good day.

On reaching home I walked to the woods and sat myself down beneath one of the Yew trees. I did not have to wait long a group of Fairies came along to play. I asked one of them to take a message to the Fairy Queen Feeana for me. Queen Feeana came as she always did with a bright flash of light and a small whiff of smoke. I told Her Majesty my experience with the man Margineaux. Her Majesty took out her famous Magic Mirror, "Ah yes, now I see him Margineaux." " An old acquaintance of mine he has tried several times to get the Fairy secret of Wand Making." " The last time I punished him for his evil ways I turned him into a donkey." "The spell has worn off and he is up to his old tricks again."

Her Majesty took a golden ring from her finger and spoke some words in the old language, the ring she gave to me saying," This will protect you from all harm for one whole year." Her Majesty disappeared as she had come and I watched the Fairies at their play for a while and then went home to my bed, it had been a long day and I was tired.

In the morning as I awoke I found on my pillow a short story written by Her Majesty. There was a covering note telling me to get Mr. Margineaux to translate it into German. I read the short story and it gave a detailed description of how to make a Magic Wand. I was very surprised at this and wondered why Her majesty had gone into such detail. Then I saw that two of the ingredients did not belong to the formula for wand making. The Queen knows what she is doing I thought to myself and drove back to the village of Hollow Tree. The Sorcerer Mr. Margineaux was waiting for me and I gave him the story that the Queen had given me and asked him to translate it first into German and I would pick the story up at the weekend.

I hid first my car and then myself. I climbed into the old Oak tree and watched all that Mr. Margineaux did. He read the story then started getting the herbs ready to make the spell he had no mistletoe in the house and came to the Oak tree and I though now he is bound to see me. As he climbed the tree to get his mistletoe the ring from the Queen on my finger went all warm and I could not even see myself. He cut the mistletoe with a sickle and went back into the house. He soon had his mixture to the right temperature and saying the magic words he poured it over two wands that he had made ready.

The effect as he raised one of the wands was so funny that I almost fell out of the Oak tree. The wand gave out a brilliant flash and the sorcerer turned into a donkey. I scrambled down from the tree and opened the door and let the donkey out into the fields. Here it happily grazed away as if he had done nothing else all of its life.

I took the second wand that he had made and took it carefully back to the woods where Her Majesty was waiting for me. I told Her Majesty what I had seen and the ring turning me invisible and what happened when the Sorcerer Mr. Margineaux had used the other wand that he had made. Her Majesty smiled and said, "This time he will be a donkey for a lot longer than when I turned him into an animal. Magic that one performs on oneself is extra strong and I am afraid that he will eat grass for many years to come."

Honest Milkman.

Every day except Sunday the old horse patiently pulled the milk cart on its round to the poorer people. Each day the Milkman placed one or two bottles of fresh milk on the doorsteps of his Customers. Most people took the bottles with the silver caps they were a little cheaper that those with the gold caps. Gold caps were delivered to those people with a higher income. The Milkman was a cheerful man he always had a smile for his customers sometimes when times were bad instead of collecting the milk money as did every Friday he would let one of his poorer customers pay it the following week.

The Milkman had been delivering milk for I don’t know how long it seemed as if he had always done this job. He never had a holiday the milk job did not pay much money but it was enough to live on. In his spare time the man dug his garden and planted all kinds of plants for the vegetables and salads that he could grow. He was a kind-hearted man and often one of his poorer customers would find a few potatoes or some beans, on the doorstep with the bottle of milk.

One day on his rounds he found a large golden brooch on the pavement. He asked all of his customers if they had lost it but no one had. It was a complete mystery to the Milkman he had never seen any of his customers even when fully dressed to go to Funeral with a brooch so magnificent as this. He was going to take the brooch to the Police perhaps the owner had already missed it and reported the loss to the Police.

He decided to leave going to the Police until Saturday afternoon. He was free on Saturday afternoons and could make himself fresh before going to the Police. As he was delivering his last bottle of milk for the Friday a small man stopped him and asked him if he had found the brooch. The Milkman did not know the man and said, "Yes I have found a brooch does it belong to you?" "No," said the little man but I can take you to the Lady that has lost it. The Milkman said, "All right but I have to take the horse back to the Dairy and feed and water it before bedding it down for the night." The little man said," That’s alright I will be waiting for you here say in two hours time."

The Milkman was of course rather curious as to who should have lost such a valuable piece of jewellery. He fed and watered his horse and washing his hands and face he went to meet the little man. The little man was waiting for him where he said he would be and the two of them walked down the lane out into the countryside. The Milkman was wondering all of the time who could or did live out here there were just a two farms as far as he remembered. When the little man turned his steps toward the woods the Milkman was somehow pleased that he had left the brooch locked in his cash box that was firmly fixed to his milk cart.

The little man said, "This is far enough the owner will meet us here on the edge of the woods." The Milkman was even more puzzled and wondered who this strange person could be. There was a flash of light and a small puff of smoke and standing in front of the Milkman and the little man was a most beautiful Lady. This said the little man is Her Majesty Feeana Queen of all the Fairies. It is her brooch that you found. The Milkman stammered, "Good evening My Lady." The Queen Feeana smiled and asked him to show her the brooch. This the Milkman could not do. "I have it locked in my milk cart My Lady," he managed to stammer. "Look in your left hand pocket." She smiled and the Milkman more nervous than ever looked in his pocket and sure enough it was the Queen Feeana’s brooch that he managed to take out of his pocket.

"Yes." said Her Majesty." That is my brooch thank you for being so honest. I am allowed to grant a human just one wish." "What is your wish Honest Milkman?" "I wish," gasped the Milkman "That no one on my milk round should want for food and fresh milk." "Your wish is granted in future no one in your area will want for food and drink." With that the Fairy Queen Feeana and the little man disappeared leaving a puzzled Milkman standing at the edge of the woods. Had he dreamed all this or had he really met the Queen of all the Fairies? Strangely enough slowly as the days went past, his area where he delivered his milk became fairly prosperous no one needed the Milkman’s vegetables, salads etcetera any more each paid his milk bills regularly and within a year the Milkman was given the job of Manager. As one can see Honesty always pays good dividends.

Ian and the Fairies.

Ian’s mum and dad were awaiting their second baby, What to do with Ian, Ian’s parents decided to ask Ian’s granny if she would have him for a few days. Granny was delighted and Ian was freshly washed and dressed and taken by car to his granny who lived in the country near the New Forest. Ian was delighted, as he loved his granny very much. She always had special little treats for him.

Ian was very excited about going to his granny and kept asking his mum, are we there yet are we there? They eventually arrived at granny’s cottage that was situated right near the edge of the New Forest. Ian’s dad took the small case with Ian’s fresh clothes in to the cottage where they were all welcomed by granny. Granny quickly made them a fresh pot of tea with some chocolate biscuits; they soon freshened up after the journey and Ian was sent into the garden to play while his parents gave granny a few instructions as to what the boy ate and other details about Ian.

Ian looked around the garden and wondered much at the flowers and the fruit trees and of course the vegetable plot; it was granny’s pride the garden she tended it very lovingly and right through the summer she had fresh fruit and vegetables to eat. Flowers were picked and freshly arranged twice a week. Granny loved her flowers. Ian’s mum and dad came out of the house and said goodbye to their son Ian, telling him to be a good boy and not to cause granny any worries.

Becoming bored with the garden Ian opened the garden gate and walked slowly to the forest. At the edge of the forest Ian found a large bramble patch and started picking the sweet black berries, which were very tasty. Ian did not realise that he was getting deeper and deeper into the forest and much later he realised that he was lost. For a six-year-old boy that had never been outside of his own house on his own it was for him rather frightening.

Ian sat down under an old oak tree and as he was tired he soon dropped off into a deep sleep. When he awoke it was quite dark and Ian became frightened. All alone for the first time in his young life he did not know what to do next. Ian was not really alone there were all kinds of creatures in the woods that lived there all of the time. The shy deer gazed at him while she slowly ate the grass in the clearing where Ian was sitting. In the old oak tree an owl looked down at him. Some mice were looking at him rather curiously and then Ian saw for the very first time in his young life the Fairies.

A dozen fairies were sitting in a ring watching him, the eldest of the fairies told the others that Ian was surely lost and needed help. The fairies of course knew every nook and cranny in the forest it was their home. The light from twenty fireflies lit up the fairy ring that is how Ian managed to see the fairies, as it was now quite dark. The fairies decided that they would help Ian to find his way out of the Forest. One of the fairies blew into a small magic whistle and suddenly there were hundreds of fireflies in the ring. The fairies came over to where Ian was sitting and told him that they would take him back to his granny’s cottage. They all knew granny for she went often into the woods and picked the wild fruits and mushrooms and what is more important she never trampled on any of their fairy rings.

Telling Ian to follow them they sent the fireflies on ahead and a path was lit right up to the edge of the forest. The fairies and Ian followed the fireflies and soon came to the edge of the cottage. Granny was sitting in her garden waiting for Ian. With a knowing smile she told him to go into the house and up the stairs to the bed she had prepared for him they would talk about his adventures in the morning. Granny waved to the edge of the forest she knew that the fairy folk had helped Ian to get safely back home to his waiting bed.

In the morning Ian excitedly told his Granny all that had happened in the forest. He told her about the blackberries and all of the animals and birds that he had seen. Granny let him finish his story and listened carefully to his tale of the fairies seeing him to the edge of the forest and how the fireflies had lit the way for them. When he was finished telling her of his exciting adventure granny became serious and told him that the fairies were not always in the forest to see him safely back home and that he was never to go off in the forest again on his own. Ian promised his granny that he would never wander off on his own again.

This story was told to me the Fairy Queen Feeana she told me to tell it to all of the children everywhere so that no child would ever wander off again on its own. Not from school, not from anywhere must a child wander off without telling its parents where he or she was going.

Inheritance.

The day was very warm for the time of the year. Thirty degrees was beginning to wear me down. I like a little warmth but not much above twenty-five degrees. My body is covered in perspiration. I can feel trickles of water running down my spine. It is a most uncomfortable feeling. The streets of London were yet again sweltering under the heat. Not many people are under way many have straw hats on their heads and the odd handkerchief is being used to wipe the perspiration from foreheads. One little episode made me smile, I saw some children playing in a pond. They were enjoying themselves and I was envious of the water and the half naked bodies enjoying the water.

Going on my way I eventually reached the lawyers with whom I had an appointment. Pushing the old-fashioned brass doorbell which was highly polished I entered a cool hallway which felt cold after all of the heat from the streets. A sign sent me down a small hallway and then I saw the highly polished brass plate of Snipe and Gridley. Knocking on this door that was opened by a woman in a very long dress. I was shown into the office of Snipe.

Mr Snipe has been a Lawyer for many, many years and was a small somewhat tired looking man. He wore gold-rimmed spectacles, which were kept, in place on his head by a black ribbon tied with a knot that looked somewhat out of place in this office. Greeting me with the words please sit down Mr. Shaw he opened a drawer and taking out a large sealed envelope. He opened the seal of wax after showing me that it was still in its original form and taking out a bunch of papers he proceeded to read in a monotonous tone.

I leave my Nephew Mr. Bernard Shaw, My house all of my worldly goods and the sum of one million five hundred thousand pounds. Then followed a row of bank statements and other titles such as the deeds to the house. I knew that my Uncle was a rich man but not as rich as his will proved him to be. The next few weeks were spent going from one bank to another from one office to another. A never-ending round of signatures, then I was finally recognised as the true inheritor of my Uncle’s wealth.

I did not want my Uncles house, as I owned a perfectly comfortable house of my own. I decided to sell the house and all of the furniture. I took three months before I finally signed the papers for the sale of the house my lawyer was Mr. Snipe. Mr. Snipe was a good bargainer and I got an excellent price for the house and its contents.

Going back to my hometown I bought a strip of wooded land it covered some five acres in all. Mr Snipe was the man that attended to all details. When all done I went into Fairyland and gave all the papers to, Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The woods were to be the home of the fairies as long as they wanted it to be. I explained why it was important for the papers to be kept in a safe place. The papers and deeds to the ground are now safe in the Fairy’s University. A fence surrounds the property and it is kept in good condition. The fairies and what is more the wild animals and birds have a sanctuary right in the middle of England that is theirs by right of the deeds of paper.

I have written this story so that no one need look for the moneys and house that my Uncle left to me. It is gone. Gone for a good cause no one can build on fairyland any more and the fairies and wild animals will have the sanctuary that they so badly need. Everywhere one goes one sees Motorways cutting through the greens of the countryside. Lorries blow out particles of dust and chemicals that are ruining the fields and forests. Soon the wild animals and also the Little peoples of Fairyland will have nowhere to play, nowhere to work on their most beautiful colouring of flowers and trees, the birds and the wild animals. What will the human race do when there are no more flowers? When all is a blackened earth with just ugly motorways showing through the blackened ground what will the little people do then?

These five acres is just the start if more people became interested then perhaps we can stop the motorways. There are many parts of England that are worth saving for our children and children’s children, let us place them under a national trust. The Fairies will help I know this from Her Majesty Queen Feeana herself. My five acres are just the beginning.

It is still very warm but we have had a few showers that have helped to cool things down. I will not be going to London again. In summer it is too crowded and hot. In winter it is cold and miserable like most big cities. The countryside is just right for me and I enjoy my flowers and garden with its vegetables and fruits. A good walk over the heath keeps me fit and I enjoy my life. With all the visitors from fairyland that come and keep me company when I am feeling lonely. It still has two months to go before winter shows its head and I use the autumn for gathering nuts of all kinds in the woods. I wish you could accompany me I am sure we would have a marvellous time watching the birds and the wild animals.

Intruders

I had been in bed some two to three hours when I was awakened by the smashing of glass. I put on my slippers and a dressing gown and went downstairs to see what was happening. All of my windows have bars across them to stop anyone breaking in. All the outside doors had been strengthened and have heavy bolts to keep intruders out. In the front room on the left of the hallway I switched on the electric light and saw straight away that some one had thrown a heavy stone through my window. The stone was under the table around it was wrapped a note. Being careful not to tread on the glass splitters I picked up the stone and unwrapped the paper.

Straightening the paper out I saw that a message had been written on to it. This is your last warning. You will write no more stories about Wizards Sorcerers or Witches. This is the only warning you will get. Be warned. The note was not signed and as soon as I had read it the ink faded away, no writing was to be seen. I could do nothing this night so I went back to bed and dreamt that a Wizard, a Sorcerer and a Witch were chasing me.

I awoke and looked at my bedside clock it was not quite six in the morning. I got up washed and dressed and went downstairs to make some breakfast. I went into the front room on the left of the hallway with a dustpan and brush and cleaned the broken glass away. After breakfast I will get the window repaired by a man from the nearby town I thought to myself. In my kitchen I soon had a kettle of water boiling ready to make some tea. That and a piece of toast would have to do; I had business with Her Majesty The Fairy Queen.

Putting on my jacket I slowly strolled to the woods, I did not know whether anyone was following me. In my pocket was the paper that was wrapped around a stone. I wanted to show this to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Threats were not nice to receive and being the ink vanished after I had read the note I assumed it must be from one of the three persons that I had been warned not to write about. In the woods the Fairies and the other Little Folk greeted me and I told them I must see Her Majesty it was very important.

A flash of light and Her Majesty appeared. I explained what had happened at my house during the night and gave the Queen Feeana the piece of paper. Her Majesty spoke a few words in the old language and the writing on the paper came back as it was during the night. Her Majesty looked serious and took from her cloak the truth mirror. Looking into the mirror she said, " This has been written by an old enemy of mine. I am afraid that he now has you in his sight as a target. It is the Sorcerer Mordekan from the land of the three Volcanoes. Reaching into her cloak pocket once again I was given a ring that changed its colour every couple of seconds. If this ring stops changing its colours it will get very warm and you know that Mordekan is very near and there is danger for you.

Going back to my house I had the feeling that I was being followed. I kept looking back but saw no one and eventually arrived home. I am a stubborn kind of man and I sat down to my computer and started writing this story for you all. No Wizard, Sorcerer or Witch was going to stop me from writing about his or her evil doings in this world of ours. As I was writing the colours in the ring on my finger slowed right down and was getting warm. It had nearly stopped changing colour. I went to the window and looked through the curtain. I could see out but I doubt if anyone could see in.

The Sorcerer Mordekan was throwing small bundles of what looked like twigs in my garden. As the twigs landed they grew into thick bushes. I was being bound to my own house by Mordekan. Soon the whole Garden would be one large thicket surrounding the whole house. I would not be able to leave by the front or the back door. I ran up the stairs with some bags of salt that I had prepared a long time ago. A Leprechaun had told me that salt stops the magical powers of Sorcerers, Wizards and especially Witches. One has to throw the salt on to their heads to get it to work properly.

My house has a flat roof. To get on to the roof for repairs there is a door that opens up like a trap door. I opened the door and going on to the flat roof with my bags of salt I started to carefully throw the bags at Mordekan. I caught him fully on the head with my third bag of salt. He disappeared and the shrubs disappeared with him. The ring went back to its changing of colours and was cold on my finger. A human being had beaten Mordekan. This would make him very angry and he would I am sure come again.

I arranged a large number of booby traps around my house, simple traps mainly with trip wires when someone tripped the wire a large bag of salt would be thrown in all directions. This I thought would keep him at bay for a while.

I reported all that happened to Her Majesty and when I described what happened when I had thrown the salt at Mordekan, Her Majesty laughed out loud. From out of her cloak Queen Feeana took five pieces of magic gold. Giving it to me she said that I should place a piece of gold at each of the four corners of the house. One piece was to be placed up on the flat roof. This Magic Gold will keep you safe in future and you will need no more salt for Mordekan.

I Firmly believe that Her Majesty will look after me. That is one of the reasons why I have written my latest story of the Witches, Wizards and sorcerers. Wicked people that want all of their doings to be kept secret cannot threaten me. Look forward to another tale tomorrow from the magic pen of Bernard.

Invitation.

I have often written about my experiences in the woods and in Fairyland. Things that I have seen or participated in, this is such a story. This happened about twenty years ago and it is still as fresh in my mind as it was on the day it happened. I had been in the woods looking to see whether the year would be a good year for blackberries. The brambles were full of flowers and I knew that if we did not get too much rain there would be blackberries enough for everyone. I would go with my large wicker baskets, others would go picking the ripe fruits and the birds too would take their fair share. I had walked further than I thought I would and decided to have a rest under the shade of an old oak tree. The coolness of the shade and the peaceful quiet under the old oak tree I soon dropped off into a doze. When I awoke some half an hour later, I was no longer on my own. The clearing in which the oak stood was full of wild animals. Among the animals were the Fairies that I was seeing for the first time.

I could understand all the voices that spoke, first a fox with its vixen wife said, "I do not mind if he comes to my burrow to see how my family and me live. At the same time he can see how difficult it is to feed my hungry young cubs." To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. I was amazed at being able to understand the fox and what it was saying. Then an elderly Fairy spoke. " I am one of the wise old fairies and I am going to use magic on you. Have you any objections?" "I have no objections," was my hesitant reply. So be it and with a wave of her magic wand I found myself shrinking until I was the size of a fox. "Come with me," said the fox and the vixen and the fox trotting ahead with me in my small size following them. The vixen entered the burrow first and the fox pushed me toward the hole and in I went. The fox followed and I was surprised at how cosy the burrow was. Dried leaves formed the flooring mixed with dried grass it was comfortable and warm. The cubs were delighted to see me and wanted to play. I found that their sharp teeth were like needles and I soon found an excuse to leave. The day was spent with me changing to various sizes where I went off with a doe and her young, The doe showed me how by moving around she made a hollow for her and her young baby to sleep in, in the grass. I was passed around by a weasel, a stoat and other small animals, even the mice showed me where they live.

Later I found myself back by the old oak. The wise old fairy waved her wand once more and I developed a pair of wings and shrunk to the size of a fairy. "Come with us, please come, we have so much to show you." The fairies were very insistent that I flew with them. We flew to a part of the forest that I knew well. Now I saw that the forest floor was filled with small buildings. "These are our homes, we live here," they called. I was invited into one home after another. All of the houses were spotlessly clean and each fairy gave me elderberry wine to drink and sweet small fairy cakes to eat. I must have been with the Fairies for a couple of hours. Later I found myself lying under the old oak. It was slowly getting dark and I would have to hurry if I wanted to get back home before the daylight faded. I need not have worried the fairies were still with me and with the fairies a large school of glow-worms they lighted me right to my kitchen door. "See you tomorrow," they all called and then flew back into the woods. I went into my house and made myself a cup of sweet tea. I sat for a couple of hours going over what I had seen and lived through in the woods. I now knew about all the animals in the woods and the birds and the invitation to the homes of the fairies rounded off a perfect day.

I would have told you all, this story sooner but I must admit I had forgotten all about it until I saw the envelope that the Postman had delivered. It was an invitation to a party that was being held by the local Mayor to celebrate his political party winning the general elections. I have often been invited to dances and parties by the fairies and I have never refused an invitation. But I did refuse the invitation to the Mayors party after all I did not know him and decided to stay at home.

Irish Attack.

Another cup of tea I thought to myself and then I will go and do the garden. The garden I have neglected for weeks, as I have been busy doing some decorating in the house. Where to start that is my problem. Will it be easier to re-dig or take the weeds out by hand? I decided to dig the garden. I could at the same time bury the weeds for manure. I got my fork from the garden shed and started up at the right top corner working my way across to the left.

The earth in my garden is soft and easy to dig I have for years kept it in order. I soon had half of the garden finished when the ringing of the telephone interrupted me. I went into the house and took the receiver from the hook. "Hello," I called, "Shaw here how may I help you?" "Please come to the woods immediately we are all in great danger." It was Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Things must be bad for Her Majesty not to use magic or send a messenger after all every bird would and could bring me a message.

Going into my house I quickly took my magic wand and my mirror from their drawer and filling my pocket with magic dust I quickly went into the woods. I could see nor hear any danger all seemed to be as it always is. Just one thing I saw no traces of Fairies. No Fairy Rings no toadstools in fact nothing to show that Fairies lived here. I soon arrived at Her Majesties house but it was closed, the doors and windows were all locked. I began to wonder whether some one had played a trick on me. Her Majesties house was definitely closed and locked up tight.

I felt something twining around my leg and at first thought that I had gotten too near to a snake. But it was a plant it quickly wrapped itself up and around my body. A plant had caught me and held me tight. This was new to me and I wondered what magic was behind it. I managed to get my hand into my pocket where the Magic Dust was and threw some on to the plant. It quickly untied itself from around my body and I was free again. Saying the magic words under my breath I was transferred to the Fairy caves under the Himalayan Mountains.

Here Her Majesty greeted me. All of the fairies had taken refuge in this their winter quarters. "What is so dangerous Your Majesty?" I asked. "We are under attack in Fairyland, Fairies have been disappearing and I sent all of my Fairies her for safety." I told Her Majesty about the plant that had rolled itself around my body and how with the use of some Magic dust I had overcome it and freed my self. We both took out our magic mirrors and looked for any traces of whom it might be that was attacking Fairyland.

Both of our mirrors showed a large man that was sitting by a wood fire reading from a large book. "Isn’t that Makerigrew The most powerful Wizard in Ireland," I asked Her Majesty? "Yes it is came the quick reply." "I wonder what he has done with the Fairies he has caught, before I sent the fairies here for safety?" There was no sign of the Fairies though; they were not in his house. "Let us look outside of his house into his garden," I quickly said. I had an idea what if he was using fairies to dig his garden. I think it was my gardening boots that gave me the idea.

Another look in our mirrors and this time we were in the garden of Makerigrew. There were some twenty or thirty Fairies all chained together on a long chain all were working in the garden. With their hands they were turning over the rough earth, some of them were crying the earth was hard and had not been dug for years. This was too cruel. This Wizard Makerigrew was to be punished and punished hard for making Fairies dig out the earth with their bare hands.

Your Majesty Take me over to the garden with a saw so that I might free the Fairies. A blue flash a puff of smoke and I was by the fairies. One by one I cut the chain from their legs and told them to hide at the edge of the woods. I finally cut the last Fairy free when Makerigrew came out of his house to see how the fairies were doing in his garden. His face turned a bright red and the anger in his eyes when he saw that all the Fairies were gone. He was in a fit.

I had no pity on him I pointed my Magic wand at some bushes by his feet and the bushes quickly entwined themselves around his legs and body until he could not move. I then showed myself. "You will stay like this until I have the fairies all safe and sound in their own part of fairyland." " I will leave your punishment to Her Majesty Queen Feeana." With that I called all of the fairies together and all holding hands we travelled back to the large caves under the Himalayas.

Her Majesty and I then went back to Ireland to the Wizard Makerigrew. "You want your garden dug," said her Majesty. Then you shall have your garden dug only this time you will do it all on your own," With these words her Majesty turned Makerigrew into a worm, "You will stay a worm until you have dug this garden over thirty times. That is the amount of Fairies that you brought here to dig your garden. Makerigrew is still digging his rather large garden after all even a worm can only dig so much in a day. In future he will leave the Fairies in peace.

The Fairies are now all back in Fairyland their hands are all healed and no one strangely enough likes digging.

Ivory Flute.

One of the things that I often see on my way through the woods as I go to my place of work is the Fairy rings. On some days I see many such rings on other days none at all. Fairy rings are really the dance places of the Fairies. Fairies and all of the little folk love to dance. Why some of the instruments played by the Fairies are made by the Leprechauns who can turn their hands to any kind of work. I once saw two leprechauns working with fire to melt metal that they skilfully poured into moulds of clay that they had built on the Forest floor. When the moulds were cool enough to work on they made a clarinet that gave out the sweetest of tones.

On my way home from work in the nearby town I heard the sweet notes of a clarinet. The music was delightful to listen to. I stood rooted to the spot waiting to hear more of this magical music. The clearing where I was sitting listening to the sweet tones gradually filled with the little people. Some of the little folk had instruments with them. A fairy seemed to be showing the little folk with instruments to a raised earthen bank. Here they settled down and one of the Leprechauns that had made the clarinet took his place in front of the musicians and raised his music stab and then with a swing of his arms the loveliest music was heard. All the animals in the forest also stopped what they were doing and listened to this wonderful treat.

I then saw the Fairy Queen who came flying in on the winged horse. Her Majesty was carrying a most beautiful looking flute it was made of ivory and picked out with small pieces of gold. The musicians finished their piece of music and Her Majesty spoke to the little folk. " This Flute is for the person that can with his or her music bring a tear to my eye." This was to me a little disconcerting, who would want to bring a tear to Her Majesties Royal Eyes? Not one of the Fairies made even an effort to play on their instruments. I thought there are no takers no one will try to win the ivory flute.

I must admit I was surprised when a little Gnome who was really ugly stepped forward and bowed to Her Royal Majesty. "Your Highness may I be allowed to try to bring a tear to your eyes with my violin?" "You may." said Her Royal Highness." With this the Gnome stood in front of the orchestra and played a most bittersweet piece of music on his violin. I have never heard music like it; it was so poignant that it even brought the tears to my eyes. I looked first at Her Majesty then at the rest of the little folk. All were openly crying the music had touched us all deep down where it was understood; in the heart.

Her Majesty then presented the ugly Gnome with the beautiful ivory flute. "Take this flute and play your tunes to the whole world." To the little folk she said the following words, " All of you have made the mistake of calling the race of the Gnomes ugly." "A Gnome to another Gnome is as beautiful as the music that we have all heard played by this Gnome on his violin." "The next time that you think someone is ugly think of this beautiful music." "The Gnome showed us his heart when he played that melody that brought the tears to our eyes. Can someone with such music in his heart be ugly?"

Soon after, all went home and I slowly made my way back to my own house thinking how wise the Fairy Queen is and how beautiful.

Jack Frost.

Many thousands of years ago when forests and Jungles covered most of this world the Fairies were busy gathering all kinds of herbs and flowers. These herbs and flowers were studied by the Fairies to see what would cure the few diseases that the Fairies sometimes suffered from. It was a period of quietness and study for the Fairies. One person that we all know and have met particularly in the long winter months a certain Mr. Jack Frost hated the Fairies and all that they stood for.

The Fairies are the only peoples that do not feel the cold. Certain plants and herbs that they eat keep them warm even through the winter. This is what Jack Frost hated the most. All other Peoples and Animals felt the cold. Over the years those animals and creatures that lived in cold climates developed either a thick layer of fat or coats of thick fur to keep them warm. The Fairies had developed their own way of not feeling the cold.

One year Jack Frost caused a terrible period of snow and ice to appear. It was bitterly cold all over the Northern Hemisphere. The trees snapped like matchsticks with the cold. The lakes and streams froze. It was a terrible period for man and beast. The Fairies took absolutely no notice of the cold and used the frozen lakes and ponds for skating. The snow they piled up and made Likenesses to Jack Frost. A snowman we would nowadays call these snow statues. With rough sledges they tobogganed down the slopes and generally had great fun.

Jack Frost made it snow even worse and the cold was now awful but whatever Jack Frost did it did not worry the Fairies. The animals and the birds had a terrible time and word was brought to the Fairy Queen Feeana asking for help. Queen Feeana immediately waved her magic wand and all over the Northern Hemisphere there appeared piles of hay for the animals with nuts and other foods such as berries for the birds. Some of the animals the Queen gave the power to sleep through such a hard winter. Many an animal such as the bears and the smaller animals all fell into this deep winter sleep and lived through the worst winter that Jack Frost had ever caused to happen.

The Fairy Queen Feeana then waved her magic wand once again and the nasty old Jack Frost lost much of his power and this most terrible of winters never happened again.

Jolanda.

A warm day in late spring, everywhere one could see the new growth of natures awakening. The bushes and shrubs were in bud and everywhere one could see the spring flowers. It was on such a day as this that I first met with Jolanda, Jolanda and I met on the street somewhere in North London. She was looking for an address and asked me if I could be of help. Written down on a piece of paper was the address of a shop that I happened to be a customer of. I took the small case she was carrying and went with her to the shop. The shop is no longer there so it is no use me telling you the address.

It took us five or six minutes to reach the shop and I gave Jolanda the suitcase back and she thanked me and went into the shop. I had nothing much to do and decided to look in the shop window. One could call the shop an old curiosity shop. It sold all kinds of things. Most were second hand goods but also many articles were from abroad. I recognised a fan from China an ebony facemask from Africa and many other interesting things. The shop window was full but not overcrowded. A small ivory box caught my attention. It would look nice on my front room mantelpiece.

Going into the shop I saw Jolanda and the shopkeeper deep in conversation. They were so occupied with each other that they did not notice me. Jolanda it seems was looking for a special present to give (In her own words) to a Witch. I listened more carefully; anything to do with Witches was interesting. Jolanda wanted a special wooden ornament shaped like a heart. These hearts came from Africa and were carved and used by Witchdoctors. What on earth would an English Witch want with a wooden heart? After a few moments the owner of the shop saw me and came over to ask whether I had seen something that I wanted. I am an old customer so he was not surprised to see me in the shop.

I told him that I would like to see the ivory box and if it were not too expensive I would buy it. He took the ivory box from out of the show window and told me that it was priced at ten pounds. I bought the box and Jolanda came to where I was dealing with the shopkeeper. "Hello," I said, "Could the shopkeeper help you?" "No," came the reply "but he has promised to keep in touch." I paid for the ivory box and we left the shop together. I had nothing better to do so as we came to a coffee shop I asked her whether she would drink a cup of coffee with me.

The waitress took our order and soon appeared with two cups of hot coffee and a small plate of sandwiches. I asked Jolanda where she was from and she told me from up north, a town called Wakefield. I told her that I lived in south London, which was not quite true but I would never give a stranger my address. I have too many Fairy friends that trust me to keep strangers away especially those that only want to stand and stare at them.

While we ate the sandwiches and drank the coffee she told me her name was Jolanda. During our conversation she asked me whether I knew of any other shop or shops that sold wooden hearts. I had never heard of them before and wondered what on earth she would want with a wooden heart. The heart she said was for an old friend who practised witchcraft. I asked her for her address and said that I would keep my eyes open for such a wooden heart. "It must be African," she said, as we parted.

I was now on tenterhooks to get home to consult my magic mirror. What on earth would a witch want with a wooden heart? She was definitely up to no good I thought to myself. The train back home seemed to take a long time to reach my hometown. Then it pulled into the station and I jumped out and ran for the exit. Taking a taxi I directed the driver to my home. Paying the taxi driver I hurried into my house and placing the ivory box on the sideboard, I took my magic mirror out from its drawer.

Looking into the mirror I pictured to myself a wooden heart. This is the picture that opened before my eyes. An African Witchdoctor was holding a wooden heart high above his head. From the wooden heart dropped blood. There was quite pool of blood on the floor around the Witchdoctors feet. Then the picture changed there was an African hut, In the hut a woman who was covered in jewellery was clasping her hands to her heart and I could see that blood was seeping through her fingers.

I then placed the address that Jolanda had given me onto the mirror. This was a different picture Jolanda was talking to an old witch. As they talked both laughed at some joke they were having. Then I saw that the witch held a wooden heart in her hands and was trying to squeeze it like the African Witchdoctor. In a corner was Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. It was her heart that the pair of them was trying to squeeze the blood out of.

I took my magic wand from the drawer and pointed it at the heart that the Witch held in her hands, the heart exploded in the Witches hands and she lost all of her fingers. The pair of them could not wait for a real African wooden heart. And had used an imitation heart that they themselves had carved. I immediately called Her Majesty Queen Feeana and told her of my journey and the plot to squeeze her heart dry of blood and what had happened when I pointed my magic wand at the heart that the Witch was using.

On hearing my story Her Majesty caused all of the special trees in the wilds of Africa to disappear there are no more such trees and wood for Witchdoctors to carve wooden hearts to squeeze for blood. Her Majesty had, had a little pain around her heart but thought that it was indigestion. Jolanda is still alive somewhere up in Yorkshire so be careful if and when you have dealings with her. I myself am very pleased that I did not give her my address.

Just Toys.

Along the high street there is a small toyshop. The man who owns the shop is really a Leprechaun. He is small and has a cheerful but lined old face. Whenever a customer comes into the shop he always greets pleasantly and strange though it may seem no one leaves the shop without having bought some toy or other. The toys are all over the shop and some are even piled up on top of each other. It is the right place for any child that is looking for something special.

All of the toys are for sale and the prices are ridiculously cheap every toy costs just one penny. There is no order in the shop, which is half workroom, and half shop. All the toys are made by the Leprechaun who uses materials of magic leather and magic wood his paints he gets from the Fairies they too are magic. It does not matter if a child puts one of these toys in its mouth or not none are harmful.

All toys are made to suit each child’s needs. One of his toys is a small wooden box painted in various colours, in the box is a stone that always feels warm to the touch. This toy is really a comforter it is given to children that for one reason or another feel sad. This stone, like all of the toys has been touched by a Magic wand given to the Leprechaun for his services to the Fairy Children over the years. Queen Feeana herself had made the wand that was just for children’s toys.

No child was ever turned away and the Leprechaun gave those children that did not have any money for a toy a penny so that they too may buy and have one of the toys to call their own. I went into the shop one day I was curious I had often seen the shop and the little old man that made the toys but having no children myself I had never been inside the shop.

As I entered the Leprechaun got up from his work bank and asked me what I would like. I said, "I am just looking." This seemed to satisfy him and he went back to working on his toy. I looked and looked there was so much to see, so many toys all small each could fit into a trouser pocket or into a girls purse. Then I saw the toy that I had secretly wanted all of my life. It was a donkey hanging on string; when one slackened the string the donkey went all flop and looked like a mass of legs and tail with its head bobbing.

I remembered having one of these when I was small but while shopping with my Mother I had dropped it and it went under the wheels of a bus. My Mother had looked high and low for another one to replace mine but there was no such toy to be had anywhere in our town. I asked the Leprechaun what the toy cost, "One Penny," came the answer with a smile on his face. I could not believe my ears, "One penny," I said, "That is very cheap," He smiled and said, "Nothing in his shop was over one penny." I placed the donkey in my pocket and paid the one-penny that had been asked for when the Leprechaun said. " You have just bought yourself a pennies worth of dreams. Good day to you."

I thought his remark was strange but thought no more about it. The donkey is now sitting on my desk at work, People often ask me where I had managed to buy such a donkey, most had seen one like it as children but they have gone out of mode now and were not to be seen in the shops.

My Niece came to stay for a week the other day and she was not very happy for she had forgotten her favourite doll at home. I tried to cheer her up but I could see that she was sad and so I suggested that we go to the toyshop. I thought it was so interesting and there were so many different toys to be seen that she must like it and want one of the toys. As we went into the shop the little man got up from his workbench and smilingly he asked us what our wish was.

My Niece had no shy and I could see that the two of them were on the same level. He smiled a knowing smile and reaching into a huge pile of toys he brought forward a Fairy doll. The doll was dressed in a dress of gold and in her hand she held a wand. The toy was exquisitely made and my Niece fell for it straight away. "How much," I asked and the same answer as when I had bought my donkey. "One penny," I paid the penny and as we were leaving the shop he called after us, "You have just bought yourself a pennies worth of dreams."

That night after my niece had gone to bed I sat by the fire listening to a music program on my wireless. I was listening to a piece of music from Brahms. I felt my eyes closing and soon was in a dream. My niece was in her bed and I watched her for a while she was talking to the Fairy toy that we had bought. Suddenly the Fairy toy raised her arm the one with magic wand and a trail of sparks came from the tip of the wand and my Nieces doll was sitting on the pillow of her bed. I thought that this was impossible it was only a toy and I must be seeing things.

The following morning when my Niece came down to breakfast she had her favourite doll in her hand. Where did she come from I asked my niece. Yesterday you had forgotten her and left her at home. My Niece just smiled and said, "You would not understand Uncle Bernard." I did not tell her about my dream of the Fairy, I called into the toyshop on my way to work and spoke to the Leprechaun. I told him of my dream and of how my Niece now had her doll, which she had forgotten. He smiled and said, "Do you remember my last words as you both left the shop. I told you that you had just bought a Pennies worth of dreams," This is a true story and if you too look carefully in your home town you too might find this shop. Just keep on looking one day you will surely find it like I did.

Leprechauns Gold.

I would like to thank the Fairy Queen Feeana for telling me this story, which I willingly pass on to you all so that you may no longer wonder why Leprechauns need so much GOLD.

Leprechauns Revenge.

Once in the year, nine hundred and eighty two, ten Leprechauns got together to talk about what had happened to them in the previous year. All ten Leprechauns were shoemakers or tinkers, builders or painters all of them could work in metal. Like all Leprechauns, each owned a pot filled with gold. Most of them had their gold well hidden and only went to their gold store to place more gold in their pots. This year the Leprechauns were very angry a well-known Sorcerer had cheated all of them. All swore that they would get their own back on this Sorcerer. They made one plan after another only to discard them as not being workable. The smallest came up with a plan. "Let us all use magic to stop this Sorcerer from cheating, I think too that we should teach him a lesson." All agreed to this plan but how were they going to be in a position to use magic. If they all went together to see him, he would know straight away that they were up to no good.

After a long time discussing how to make the Sorcerer pay for his evil ways they decided to think about it, all year and meet again after twelve months had gone by. Each went on his own way carrying on with whatever work they were doing at that time. The weeks slowly went by and each Leprechaun practised his magic until they were now perfect. Unbeknown to the other Leprechauns each had visited the Sorcerer on some pretext or other, each was trying to find the weak spot that the Sorcerer must have. The time came for their next meeting, after the usual greetings each told of his meeting with the Sorcerer. They concluded that the only way to get their revenge was by means of magic gold. Like all Sorcerers, he was eager to get his hands on magic gold. As the Leprechauns well knew only Her Majesty Queen Feeana had magic gold, it was decided to go to Her Majesty and ask her for some of the precious metal.

Once again, it was the smallest of the Leprechauns who thought he had the best chance of getting some gold from Queen Feeana. Sending him off to visit the Queen to see whether she would give him some of the gold, the other nine Leprechauns waited patiently for him to return. A week went by and the smallest of the Leprechauns came back with a large smile on his face. Her Majesty on hearing why they wanted the gold gave the small Leprechaun two bars of the precious metal. The ten Leprechauns were now ready to face the Sorcerer but how to proceed without rousing his suspicions. Again, it was the smallest of the Leprechauns who came up with this plan. Each Leprechaun was to make an invisible cloak long enough to reach the ground. In this way, they would be invisible to the Sorcerer and could then work their magic on him. The cloaks were made and thoroughly tested and off went the Leprechauns to get their revenge on the Sorcerer.

Before approaching, the house where the Sorcerer lived the Leprechauns donned their cloaks and invisibly went closer and closer. "Sorcerer come out I have some magic gold for you," called the smallest of the Leprechauns. On hearing the words magic gold the Sorcerer ran out of the house to stop puzzled for there was no one to be seen, "Now!" said the smallest of the Leprechauns and all ten used their magic to spin the Sorcerer in the air. The Sorcerer also tried to use magic but only sparks twirled round with him as he flew in a circle in the air. The Sorcerer did not know what was happening to him one minute he was a pig flying in circles then a donkey, Then a rat and a chicken followed the Leprechauns kept their magic working for at least ten minutes before they let the Sorcerer down to the ground. The Sorcerer was now a monkey and had a very puzzled look on his monkey face. The Leprechauns took off their magic cloaks and stood there laughing at the Sorcerer. You will not cheat any other Leprechauns they laughingly said. For we like you better as a monkey than a Sorcerer. Going into his house, the Sorcerer now a monkey came out with a large basket in his hands. In the basket were all of the monies that he had cheated the Leprechauns out of in the past. Take the money and turn me back into a Sorcerer he pleaded. The smallest Leprechaun took the basket with the money and donning his cloak disappeared from the yard. The other Leprechauns also donned their cloaks then they turned the Sorcerer back from a monkey into a man.

The Sorcerer still lives in his house but he has learned his lesson and now pays for every job of work that is done for him. No Leprechaun will ever go near his house and the ten still get together and tell each other of the fun they had with the Sorcerer the cloaks are carefully kept with their gold treasures they after all do not know when they might need them again. The magic gold that they got from Her Majesty Queen Feeana they gave back to the Queen it was not needed the Sorcerers greed was his undoing.

Lost Boy.

Darkness was setting in and the shadows of the forest became more menacing. The moon’s silver rays caused things to appear and disappear. Night birds flew around looking for food and wild animals roamed through the trees it seemed as if all the creatures in the woods had come to watch the small boy that had lost his way in the forest. The small boy was very tired and hungry he had been wandering around for hours getting deeper and deeper into the forest. He had washed his face and drank some water from a stream that he had come across. Soon his legs were so tired that he sat down on the roots of a giant oak. His eyes became heavy and he fell into a troubled sleep.

A group of Fairies on their way to play found the boy and decided to help him. One of the older of the Fairies gently woke the boy and he was soon eating those delicate fairy cakes that the Fairies gave him to eat. The cakes were very nourishing and the boy soon regained his strength and was able to join in the games the Fairies played. The moon shone down and lighted up the forest floor. Soon fireflies joined the group and it was as if small diamonds were darting to and fro in the air. The boy was delighted he had found some new friends where he lived there were no young children and he spent much of his time on his own.

Gradually the light of dawn approached and the Fairies suddenly disappeared. The boy felt very much alone he had spent the night playing with his new friends and now he was on his own in the forest he felt very sad and sat down on the grass and wept. A passing Leprechaun saw the boy as he was strolling through the forest on his way to do some work in a distant town. Come with me my boy I have to eat and I will show you how to mend shoes and if you are a good worker I will show you how to make shoes. Then you will be independent and as free as the air. The boy quickly agreed and the pair walked off through the forest.

Two days later they approached a town. There was no shoemaker in the town and the Leprechaun soon had a small business running. The boy he took on as an apprentice and showed him how to neatly and quickly repair shoes. All went well and after a number of years the Leprechaun gave his business to the boy and went off on his travels. The boy worked well making and repairing shoes soon he was considered to be a rich man. Everything would have been well with him but he wanted to find out who he was and why he had been wandering through the forest. He closed his shop and went on his was retracing his steps through the forest. Soon he came to the place where he had seen the Fairies and decided to spend the night there.

Laying him self down to sleep he listened to the noise of the forest and dropped off into a deep sleep. Sometime during the night he woke up and saw the Fairies flying around. It was just the same as he remembered. The Fairies offered him sweet cakes and soon he was telling them about the Leprechaun and of himself becoming a shoemaker. The Fairies asked him why he did not stay where things had been going so nicely for him. The boy now a young man told the Fairies that he wanted to find out where he came from and why he was wandering through the forest as did on the first occasion of their meeting.

The Fairies waved their wands and a large glass ball appeared. The boy gazed into the ball and saw an old cottage and some people who had dug two graves at the edge of the forest. Then he saw some men laying two bodies in the graves. This said the Fairies were the bodies of your Mother and Father they died in the year of the Great Pest. The Pest did not affect you and we saw to it that you forgot who you were and sent you off into the forest. You were never alone a Fairy was always looking over you. Your Mother and Father were good friends to the Fairies and the Fairy Queen Feeana gave orders that you were to be looked after. That is why the Leprechaun came your way. The Queen saw to it that you learned a trade and could keep yourself, as you grew older. Now it is time for you to go out in the World and make your way on your own. The Fairy Queen Feeana will always have an eye on you as you wander but your time of wandering will soon be at an end and you will settle down and marry and have children.

Things came to pass as the Fairies had foretold and there is a very happy shoemaker that is sometimes visited in his dreams by the Fairies. They are still looking after him after all these years.

Lost Prince.

Many years ago a young Prince and his page went for a ride through the forest. The page happily whistled a tune; it was an unexpected pleasure for him to be out in the fresh air. Suddenly a fox ran in front of the Princess’s horse. The horse bolted and it was as much as the Prince could do to stay on the horses back. Deeper and deeper into the wood ran the horse. Eventually the Prince managed to stop the creature and calm it down. His Page was nowhere to be seen. The Prince was not worried about his stay in the woods he had often been alone and had with him in his saddlebags food and wine. There was water to be had from the stream that ran though the woods he could wash and drink whenever he wanted to.

Making a bed for himself with fresh twigs and leaves from the bushes the Prince then saw to his horse. The animal he tethered to a low bush and left the horse munching on grass and fresh leaves. Going to where he had made his bed he lit a small fire from dried twigs and branches that he found in plenty on the forest floor. Cutting some bread and a piece of cooked meat he eat a small meal then settled down on his improvised bed to try and get some sleep.

When he awoke he found that his arms and legs were tied with some very strong rope. He had been tied during his sleep. Struggling to remove the ropes or at least to reach his dagger so that he could cut them through he saw a little man sitting on the ground in front of him. "Did you tie me up?" Asked the Prince. The little man just looked at him and said nothing. The Prince became angry. Free me at once. Why have you tied me up like this? The little man smiled and told the Prince that he would release him as soon as the Prince had given his promise not to marry Moonfee. The Prince did not know anyone called Moonfee and said willingly you have my promise.

The little man then cut the ropes that bound the Prince and quickly ran off into the forest. Stretching himself and rubbing his wrists where the rope had cut into him the Prince called his Horse and was soon riding back home to his castle. On the way he met his page that was in the company of a beautiful Fairy. The fairy whose name was Moonfee had found him wandering around looking for his Prince. To stop the Page from getting lost she had made herself known to him and she had watched over the Page while he slept.

The Prince had never before seen such a beautiful maiden as the Fairy Moonfee and fell deeply in love with her. Moonfee fell in love with the Prince and a wedding was arranged. On the wedding day a small man crept into the Castle and as the wedding ceremony was about to start he called out to the Prince remember your promise you said that you would not marry Moonfee. The Prince told his men to arrest the little man and threw him into a dungeon.

The Prince now had second thoughts he had promised not to marry Moonfee when he did not even know Moonfee as a person. He told Moonfee his problem and she flew to the Fairy Queen Feeana and told her the problem. The Queen thought for a few moments and then said the promise is not valid as it was forced from the Prince. The Queen waved her magic wand and said you have been and always will be known as Starfee a flash and the fairy now called Starfee was whisked back to the castle and the wedding took place. The little man was released after Starfee placed a spell on him. The spell was; as soon as he wanted to put rope on another person to tie them up the rope would so entangle him that he would not be able to set himself free without help.

The Prince and his bride Starfee still live happily in Fairyland and the Page still serves his Prince. The little man was never seen again.

Lucky Clover.

As I got out of my car, I happened to look down and saw much to my surprise a four-leafed clover. I plucked the clover and placed it in my wallet. I thought no more about it until in the woods I met a Leprechaun. He was looking a bit miserable and to cheer him up I gave him my four-leafed clover. "Where did you get this wonderful exemplar?" He asked. I told him about my finding it as I got out of my car. He went straight to the spot and stated an intensive search for a four-leafed clover. This Leprechaun could not keep quiet and soon from all over, the Leprechauns were coming to look for clover.

I had an idea I went to my local florist and asked him if he had any of the four leafed clover plants left from the New Year. As luck would have it, he had two flowerpots full of the four-leafed clovers. He gave them to me, as there was no sale for such things during the year. Taking my pots filled with four leafed clovers I went to four different fields and planted a few pieces in each field. I did not like to see the Leprechauns so unhappy. In The whole of Ireland , there were no four-leafed clovers to be found. It was very worrying and I reported the story to Her Majesty Queen Feeana about the lack of four-leafed clover in the world.

Her Majesty was delighted that I had placed my plants in the four fields it at least kept the Leprechauns busy and stopped their moaning. Her Majesty asked me to show her where I had found the clover. I took her to the spot where I had stopped my car and showed her the clover plant it was still there. Her Majesty bent down and to my surprise found another four-leafed clover. Taking her magic wand, she waved it over the clover plant and murmured a spell. Now one can find clover all over the world.

To commemorate the spot where I had found my four-leafed clover the Leprechauns have buried ten pieces of Fairy Gold in the ground. The finder will have a long and happy life. Remember though there is only one four-leafed clover with gold buried under it so please do not pull out clover in the hopes of finding the gold. No I know better than to touch the gold. I know where it is but I also know the responsibility of having riches. I would sooner see a baby smile than find ten pieces of gold.

Now all of the Leprechauns have gone back to doing all those things that Leprechauns do such as shoe making and repairing. Mending pots and pans, Building and many more they are a very busy folk with just one or perhaps two little faults. One they lay too much value on having gold and two they go crazy when they find a four-leafed clover. It means that their search for gold is over and they can go to live in Fairyland. This is what all Leprechauns really want just to live in Fairyland.

Magic Gold.

In Fairyland long, long ago it was the custom to reward people with a small bar of magic gold. This magic gold if placed in a purse would ensure that the purse would never be empty of money. The magic always suited the person that it was given to. The gold was given to all those that had in one-way or another helped the Fairies.

One day a wandering Leprechaun made for the Fairy Queen Feeana a pair of new shoes. The leather that he used to make the shoes was so soft that it fitted nicely to her Majesties feet. The Queen Feeana had never before had such a wonderfully soft pair of shoes. The queen was so pleased that she gave the leprechaun a bar of magic gold.

One night the leprechaun met and fell in love with a lovely Fairy girl. He could not stop thinking about how pretty she was. What lovely manners she had and her long golden hair fascinated him. One day while he was making some new shoes for a customer he had an idea. His piece of gold from the Fairy Queen Feeana he would make into a flute for his newfound love.

The very next day he started making a flute by melting down the gold and pouring it in two moulds that he had made. Next he placed the two pieces from out of the moulds and joined them together. The golden flute was nearly ready just the mouthpiece had to be made. The leprechaun took great care to make the mouthpiece. When he was finished he placed the flute to his lips and blew a few notes. It was as if he was a singing bird. A Nightingale or a Thrush. The tones from the flute were the most beautiful that the leprechaun had ever heard.

Excitedly he went to his newfound love and shyly gave her the flute. The Fairy also blew a few notes and was immediately answered by all of the birds that heard her melodious notes. The Flute is to be heard on most mornings of the year very early before the break of dawn the Fairy blows on her flute and all the birds everywhere immediately answer it.

If you hear the birds early in the morning you must listen very carefully. Is it the birds or is it the Fairy?

Magic Pen.

I used to write poems about love and friendships and about many more topics. The pen I was using at the time was an ordinary biro it was the only pen I possessed, with it I wrote over a thousand poems. Then the ink ran dry and I had to get myself a new pen. This time I bought myself a rather expensive biro with a refill packet attached to it. With this pen I started off writing poems for children.

The poems were well liked and I placed them on the Internet for many children to read. Now my pen has taken on a life of its own it writes Fairy tales one after another.

I have always believed in Fairies from a small child living in an Orphanage. I was an unhappy child and fled into my own world of imagination. My imaginary world was filled with good people among them were the Fairies, The Pixies, The Elves and a lot more. One day I read a story of a Leprechaun whom I took straight into my world of make believe. My Fairy Tales come from my pen I sit in my armchair with a note pad in my hand and the pen in the other I do not have to think; just push the pen over the paper. It is as if a Fairy from my childhood guides my pen.

Today this story came on to my notepad I have called it the Magic Pen. I was walking in the evening across the Dartford Heath and saw a small bunch of Fairies they were singing and dancing along the ground then in the air it was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. Soft music was playing and then in the background I saw the musicians they were all dressed in green with large silver buttons on their jackets. This orchestra was made up of two-dozen Gnomes with a Leprechaun doing the conducting. An owl sitting in one of the trees nearby called out too-whit too-who as if in protest at the softly playing music.

I took my pen from my pocket and started to write in my notebook at this wonderful scene that I was privileged to see. As luck would have it my pen ran out of ink and I could not write any more. One of the Fairies had seen me and being curious she had flown over to get a better view. On seeing that my pen had no more ink in it she took her Magic Wand and waved it at my pen. My pen glowed golden and then much to my great delight it started off writing all on its own just as it is doing this very minute.

It wrote about the dancing and all about the little people that I was seeing dancing and singing to the music of a group of Gnomes who looked very ugly in their faces but the music they made was really out of this world. Later there was a pause to the music and Gnomes the fairies and the Leprechaun came over to where I was sitting and offered me some of their Fairy cakes and elderberry wine. While we were all eating or drinking my pen was scribbling away over the notepad and I remember thinking to myself I hope I can read what it has written. It writes much faster than I could ever write.

The Fairy that had made my pen Magic smiled at me and said, "Do not worry you will be able to read every word that the pen writes." "We have chosen you to be our spokesman to the world of humans we have been watching you for months now and what is more we know that you can see us." "People that do not believe in Fairies cannot see us." I drank some more of the elderberry wine and must admit that I was now in a state that I did not wonder any more about the Fairies they had all come back to me from my childhood days. They were all there all of my old friends, they danced until the sun rose and I went back home.

At home I made myself some strong black coffee and then looked at my notepad. The pad was full of writing not my old scribble but all was written in copperplate handwriting. I had no trouble typing it in to my computer. When I was finished writing my story I went to my bed and the little folk were all there again in my dreams as they were when I was young in the Orphanage. After all these years they have come to keep me company and I am now well over seventy-five. I look after my pen not as if it were made of solid gold. A pen that writes what I see is too good to be true and I thank the young Fairy for waving her Magic wand and giving me a Magic Pen.

Magic Wands.

Her Royal Highness, Feeana, Queen of all the fairies told this story to me. Since the beginning of time all Fairies that left school had to destroy their children’s wands and make a new more powerful wand suitable for grown ups. The old children’s wands were to be destroyed by each fairy in a ceremony called the, "Burning Of The Alder," This meant that each Fairy had to collect the dried wood from Alder trees and light a fire with the wood. Each child then had to see that his or her child’s wand was properly burned.

The great day arrived and the Fairies got together to burn their old wands. They decided to just have one fire and burn all the wands together. This seemed like a good idea and the children collected dried Alder wood and made a fire. Then they all threw their wands onto the fire and left to go and do what fairies love doing the most painting flowers and butterflies. Suddenly there came a huge down pouring of rain, a terrific storm that put the fire out before the wands were properly burned.

The old wands were only slightly damaged but enough for their magic spells to go haywire. A group of Pixies came singing and dancing along the forest floor and found what was left of the fire and of course the slightly damaged wands. Each Pixie took a wand and started casting magic spells. One small wild pig that was busy looking for roots trotted past the Pixies. Promptly a Pixie waved her wand and said the pig should now become two pigs. Imagine her surprise when the pig suddenly had two heads. To correct her mistake she used the wand again. This time the pig had four tails and two heads. Another Pixie tried to use the same magic on a mother deer; this too went wrong and the Doe now had horns all along her spine. This was getting out of hand but one of the Pixies tried to use the wand to make herself grow. She had always wanted to be taller than what she was. She used her wand. There was a flash of light and she had a huge growth on her back. She was a proper hunch backed little Pixie. The other Pixies laughed at her mishap and she became very angry and waved her wand again, this time all of the Pixies changed colour they all became a vivid green. They looked awful.

Another Fairy that had been delivering messages for the Queen happened to fly overhead and saw the terrible damage that the Pixies had caused with the magic wands that had not been burned properly. The Fairy reported this to the Royal Queen; Feeana who immediately went to the spot in the forest and cast a magic spell that put everything right again. The Pixies she considered had suffered enough by using the wands. The Fairies that had not obeyed the ancient custom of, The Burning Of The Alder," were severely punished. The Queen said that they could only use one of their sets of wings on the left side of the body. The right side the wings would be useless for flying for at least one year. The Fairies forgot of course and tried to use their wings and such havoc had never before been seen there were Fairies going around in circles and bumping in to each other. It was a terrible punishment. The queen relented and the Fairies were able to use both wings when flying. This story is told to each Fairy Child as a warning not to leave the magic wands on there own until they had been thoroughly destroyed by the Alder fire.

Magical Garden.

Elder and Ash as far as the eye could see; the whole forest was one big garden full of flowers, bushes, shrubs and all kinds of healing plants, I had discovered, The Fairies Garden Of Healing. From here all kinds of medicines, herbs, potions and lotions, powders were sent to all parts of fairyland. I now began to wonder why I had been allowed into this part of Fairyland that had been kept a secret from me for all of the long years that I had known the fairies.

All the plants and shrubs, bushes and trees, some of whom only the bark of the tree was used for healing purposes. All these growing healing things were tended to by the busy Leprechauns, Trolls, Pixies and Elves. All worked away to make sure the plants and other medical herbs were looked after and watered and then harvested. Many of the herbs were for the fairies own use most of them were given to the women that in the old days when there were no Doctors, healed the poor peoples.

The Old Fairy that ran the whole garden was the most famous fairy in the whole of Fairyland. She held great knowledge and was always called upon whenever there was fever or any one of the many illnesses that young children get for no reason whatsoever. Most of the herbs and remedies were dried and then packed and sent off to where ever they were most needed.

The Old Fairy beckoned me to come nearer. She smiled and showed me a dried shrivelled old root that she took from one of the many pockets of the dress she was wearing. I saw that her hands and fingers were green from the long years of tending the trees and plants. I was chosen she said to take this old root back to the human peoples where it would in a few weeks be desperately needed to cure a strange illness that was sweeping all over the world.

The dried root and some seeds that I could grow in my Garden were carefully wrapped in a huge leaf. Tied together with some string made from the spiders silk that was used to make spiders webs. I was very curious as to what kind of flower or shrub would grow from the seeds and or the dried root that I had been given. I thanked the fairy and made my way back home to my old house. Here I carefully planted the seeds and the dried root into the ground after I had soaked the root in water for a whole day. The dried root sucked in much water and I then planted it in a freshly dug garden beet.

The root grew first followed by the seeds a lovely flower deep yellow appeared. This flower would with the rest of the plant and roots make a potent juice to ward off fever, which was part of the illness that was sweeping the earth. The flowers grew fast and I harvested and dried them as the fairy in charge of the Magical Garden showed me.

All the fairies and trolls, leprechauns and the winged horse with the pixies and gnomes were sent with this herb preparation to all of the healing women on this earth and so was mankind saved from a terrible illness. I vouch for the truth in this my little story. You all want to know the name of the plant with the yellow flowers. I may not tell you but you can find it nearly everywhere on this earth. Just look for the large yellow flower that will sink fever if used properly.

Magical Music.

The tide was coming in fast. The boats that had been hanging on their mooring chains as if helpless were now riding the swell. Each wave that came into the shore made the boats gently rock. I was or rather had been paddling and at the same time looking for shrimps which usually were to be found in abundance on the shores at Whitstable. Cockles were to be found in plenty but I had fancied some of the delicious shrimps it would have made a nice dish for my tea. I had left it rather late to go looking for shrimps it would have been better as the tide was going out.

Leaving the sea and the stony beach I walked back along the road towards Sea-salter where I had been tenting for a week. On a fortnight’s holiday from the busy streets of London my job was a representative for a firm that sold car parts. It is a difficult job trying to sell things to people that had no desire or even a need for car parts. With the big Garages and petrol stations it was not so bad, they at least bought what they deemed necessary. The smaller firms and shops only bought in what they thought they could sell. The money was good and the Firm provided a car with expenses paid but one had to sell like mad to earn a real provision that is why I was tenting I could not afford a real luxury holiday abroad for example.

On arriving back at my tent I took my small propane gas cooker out of its tin box and getting some water from the nearby stream I boiled a kettle to make a cup of tea. Sugar and tinned milk with a couple of buttered rolls spread with soft cheese was my evening meal. I took my sleeping bag from out of my tent and hung it up to air before placing it in my tent. The book that I had brought with me was quite interesting and while eating I slowly read a couple of chapters. As soon as it got dark I crawled into my tent, It was not very big just enough to hold my sleeping bag and some clothes that I had brought with me. My sleeping bag was warm and soon I fell into a light sleep.

What awoke me was someone playing music I remember thinking to myself that is a trained musician. Being curious as to whom or what was producing such delightful music here in the countryside I unzipped my tent opening and crawled out into the night. I was listening to the music and tried to make out where it was coming from. Then I saw a little distance away on the right hand side of my tent two little men they were playing this lovely music. Listening to them were some twenty fairies all sitting around the two musicians in a ring. I moved quietly towards them and still listening I sat myself down for some divine music. One of the little men was playing a fiddle, the other a very old looking flute. Both kept perfect time. The fairies were swaying to and fro listening to this out of this world music.

Two of the Fairies stood up and to the music danced like I had never seen anyone dance before. Soon all of the Fairies were dancing. No one took any notice of me and I moved a little closer. To see this kind of performance in a theatre I would have had to pay more money than I could afford. One of the musicians it was the one playing the fiddle called me by my name and asked me to join them. I was flabbergasted I thought that no one from the party had seen me and I was extra careful not to make any noise.

Strange I thought to myself how does he know my name? Going closer I stopped outside of the ring of dancing Fairies and quietly asked how he knew my name? I had never met him before of this I was certain. It is not often one sees two small men together playing such delightful music in the middle of the night. "When a human can see us we know he means no harm." "Not many of you see the Fairies and the Leprechauns most of you are too preoccupied with the things that you think so important." I had to admit that this was true of many people that I know. I myself had seen Fairies and Leprechauns and many others of the Little Folk since my fourth birthday. I once told this to a teacher at my school he reported that I was not quite right in the head and I had to see a Psychiatrist. After this I never ever mentioned to any one that I had and still do see Fairies.

The Leprechauns played for a long time and the Fairies did not seem to get tired. Two of the Fairies came to where I was sitting and offered me a drink from a goblet that was made of the purest gold. The other Fairy offered me small Fairy cakes, which were delicious. I thanked them both and they returned to the dancing after smiling at me. Suddenly there was wisp of smoke a very bright flash and they were all gone. I went back to my tent and crept back into my sleeping bag. I slept deeply for the rest of the night.

In the morning I got up and went to the stream where I thoroughly washed myself the water was cold and very refreshing. I soon made myself some breakfast and then went to where the fairies had been dancing and the two Leprechauns had made such beautiful music. All I saw was a ring of mushrooms and two small marks in the ground where the leprechauns had tapped their feet to the music. I have never told this little story to any one before but I would like everyone to know that the Little Folk are with us even in this age of aeroplanes, cars and atomic energy.

Magicus Lectorum.

I have always liked animals and it seems as if most animals like me so it was no surprise to feel a soft cold nose rubbing against my right hand. I looked down and saw this Golden Retriever its soft eyes looked into mine. Its tail was wagging to and fro. I unconsciously fondled its beautiful head. I then saw that its collar held three strands of grass. The Queen of all the Fairies, Queen Feeana had sent this dog to me. I had never before had a dog as a messenger it must be urgent. I pulled the three strands from its collar and with a last wag of its tail it left me as silently as it had come.

That afternoon I went into the woods wondering what her Majesty wanted of me. I did not have to wait long. The now familiar flash of light and the puff of smoke and Her Royal Highness appeared in front of me as beautiful as ever. Her Majesty smiled and asked me if I would go to London for her. There was a book in a London bookshop it was ever so old and contained many secrets that were not meant for Human eyes.

The book was in the famous shop of Foyles in the Charring Cross Road. I was to buy it and bring it back to Her Majesty for safekeeping. I took the fast train from Dartford it had one stop at Woolwich and then went straight through to Charring Cross One of the terminal stations in London.

Arriving at Charring Cross I walked to the Charring Cross Road and walked into Foyles bookshop. I went straight with the lift to the top floor and quickly found the book I was looking for. In faded gold letters I made out the title Magicus Lectorum. The book was quite old and I took it to the woman at the pay desk and was charged forty-five pounds for it. To make sure there were no other copies of this book I asked her to look in the computer. The woman assured me that there were no other books with this title.

I returned to my hometown Dartford and made my way to Dartford Heath where in the small woods I gave the book to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The Queen told me that the book had been in one family for over five hundred years. It had stood on the library shelf for years on end and was only moved when the books were dusted. No one in the family was interested in magic and the title ‘Magicus Lectorum,’ was not the type of title to encourage anyone to look in the book.

The book had belonged to a Family that had seen better days and had lost all of its money they had found the book in a cave. The cave was one long twisty hole that went far back into the mountainside. The cave had once been the home of a Famous Sorcerer he had written this book and a few others, it was just this one book that was really dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands.

Nowadays the cave is the home of the flying bats harmless creatures that feed on fruit and small insects. Many a person has been startled as a few hundred bats have been disturbed and left the cave in panic.

Her Majesty looked quickly through the book and found what she was obviously looking for. Showing me the book I saw written in copperplate a passage or two in a language that was indeed very strange to my eyes. Her Majesty waved her wand and I too could now read the writing. How to make Fairies disappear so that no one can find them, turn them into Bats. This was serious there had at one time, long ago whole groups of fairies had vanished and never been seen again.

Her Majesty was now looking very serious indeed and took the book from my hands. With a wave of her magic wand the book burst into flame and we both watched it until it was just ash. Her Majesty now looked relieved and said to me I wonder how many Fairies he made disappear. The Magic Mirror was now in her hands and Her Majesty gave a startled gasp. "What so many," she said.

Then with a deep chanting voice she cast a spell and waved her Magic Wand and soon the air was full of flying bats. The bats circled Her Majesty and changed into fairies. I had never before seen so many Fairies. There must have been hundreds of bats in the cave. If you know of any caves with bats living in them treat them carefully who knows they too might just be Fairies that have been turned into bats. In the old days there were many sorcerers with magical powers and who knows they too might have owned a book with the title Magicus Lectorum.

Magoridorm.

The clock struck nine and at the same time, the postman knocked on my front door. I could rely on my postman he was always punctual every day at nine o’clock he knocked on my door. Opening the door, I could not help but see that he was not his usual self. "Parcel for you," he gruffly said. "Sign here", I was not expecting a parcel and told him so. "Your name on it", "It must be for you". I took the parcel it was quite heavy. Then I realized why he was so grumpy the weight of the parcel. It was a long way from the Post Office to my house and he was perspiring slightly. Thanking him with a small tip, I took the parcel into the Kitchen where I keep a pair of scissors.

Opening the parcel, which was wrapped in a linen cover with plenty of sticky tape, ‘The type used by do it yourself people.’ In the parcel were two envelopes and many gold coins. One envelope was for Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The other envelope was for me. Use your influence to persuade the fairy Queen to help me; my wife and child are in danger. I have sent the gold to show you that this is no silly prank. I really do need the Queen’s help.

Taking the envelopes with me, I went to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Showing her the two letters, I was on tenterhooks to know what she would do to help the Leprechaun. Her Majesty read the letter addressed to her and then passed it on to me. The Sorcerer Magoridorm had taken his wife and his child while he was at work. He was keeping them prisoner until the Leprechaun was willing to go to The Old Irish Castle of Blarney . Here he was to loosen the Blarney stone that is famous all over the world, throw it down to the ground where it would smash into small pieces.

This loosening and smashing of the Blarney Stone was to punish the Irish peoples for there lack of interest in what the Sorcerer Magoridorm was doing. He was trying to get rid of all the four leafed shamrocks all over the world. Any person or persons that manage to kiss the Blarney Stone have the power of eloquence. Blarney Castle is in the county of Cork and many of Irelands Famous Poets and writers have kissed the Blarney . It would be terrible if anything happened to the stone.

Queen Feeana took her magic mirror and looked into it for a long time. The Sorcerer Magoridorm is holding the Leprechauns wife and child in a cave near to Blarney castle. It will be easy to free them but why does Magoridorm want to get rid of all the four leafed shamrocks, this is the big mystery. The wise old Fairies came up with the answer if anyone finds a four leafed clover or shamrock he or she are under the protection of the Fairy Ring of Merlin. Morgan gave this ring to Merlin after she had sent the sword Excalibur back to its rock under the sea. Those wearing shamrocks are still under this protection even today when most people do not believe in Magic.

Under the protection of the Fairy Ring the Sorcerer Magoridorm could not get people with shamrocks to do his will this had over the years made him very bitter against all things Irish especially the four-leafed clover. He hated the Irish peoples so much that he was willing to break the Blarney stone so that no Irish men or women would ever be able to write all the wonderful things that they have written in the past. The Leprechaun was a brave man but he knew the Irish People would be no longer friends of the Leprechauns if he broke the Blarney Stone.

Her Majesty Fairy Queen Feeana and I worked out a plan. I was to go to the Sorcerer Magoridorm and offer to show him a field where the Irish people were growing in secret the Shamrocks. This would get him out of his cave and the Queen could save the Wife and child of the Leprechaun. The usual flash of light and the whiff of smoke and we were in the County of Cork right next to the sorcerer’s Magoridorm cave. I on my guard slowly walked up to the entrance of the cave and called out in a loud voice who wants to buy my shamrocks cheap, four for one penny. This got the Sorcerer Magoridorm out of his cave and soon I was telling him of my field of four leafed clovers. I went with him for about twenty miles telling him all of the time that the field was not far away. Her Majesty had given me Fairy gold to protect me from the sorcerer and in my pockets I had magic dust which would if I threw it on him turn him into a stone..

The Sorcerer Magoridorm was not used to walking and complained that the field was so far away. I got a mental picture that the Leprechaun and his wife and child were now safe and I said that I would go no further. No one had a field of shamrocks everyone knew that one finds a four-leafed clover when one is lucky, shamrocks can be found everywhere and anywhere not in fields growing like hay. The Sorcerer Magoridorm was so angry at my fooling him that he tried to cast a spell over me. I was quicker and threw my Magic dust. He now stands in a large field as a stone.

I was whisked away magically and found myself back at my home waiting for me in my Kitchen was the Leprechaun and his wife and child. I gave the brave little man his gold back to him and they now have a home built in Fairyland where they are safe from all sorcerers. It was her Majesties way of thanking him. The Irish People all believe in Leprechauns and now they know how one brave Leprechaun saved the Blarney stone from destruction. Many more people will kiss the stone and many will be the stories written by those people.

Man or Beast.

The day started like many other days. I got out of bed had a wash brushed my teeth, combed my hair and dressed ready to make my breakfast. On going downstairs, I picked the newspaper from off the floor of the hallway and went into the kitchen. I soon had water on the boil ready for a pot of tea. Toast I made in my old toaster and butter and marmalade I took from the larder. The same routine as every day of the year one might say if it was not for the newspaper article. In large print were the headlines. Strange creature found roaming through the woods. One did not know whether it was animal or human.

I hurriedly ate my breakfast and drank a couple of cups of hot sweet tea. Grabbing my hat, I closed the front door and ran to the woods. I wanted to see at first hand what this strange creature looked like. Arriving in the woods, I found to my surprise no Fairies or indeed any of the Little Folk. I looked high and low but could find no trace of the strange creature. What I saw made me a little uneasy there were many strangers roaming the woods some of them had a folded newspaper with them. I remember thinking scandalmongers until I realized I was doing the same as they were.

I slowly made my way home to my house to prepare the midday dinner, No Fairies crossed my way, no creatures just a lady down the road that when she saw me told me about the Fairies in the woods. This she did on every occasion we met so I was not worried. I prepared and ate my dinner and went to bed for my midday sleep. I carried over from my time abroad in hot climates this habit. I jokingly told people that I held my siesta.

The next morning there was a new headline in the newspaper something about a fast ship that had broken the record while crossing the Atlantic . I walked slowly to the woods hoping to see the strange creature. Whether or not it was a summer filling of the newspaper because there was no news, I did not know but I surmised the same.

In the woods down by the old oak, I saw the Fairies tending to a creature that had a horse’s body and a man’s head. The poor thing had a few nasty looking cuts on its flanks.

The Fairy Queen was away on holiday and the Fairies did not know what to do with the creature apart from tending its wounds and making it invisible if humans came across it. That is why no one had seen it the day before and all thought it was some joke of the newspapers. I tried to speak to it in French then in German and at last, in English it did not understand me. One of the Fairies told me that the creature’s words sounded like the old Greek language. Not many people apart from a few professors spoke this language nowadays.

Thousands of years ago these creatures lived peaceful lives with the human race but the humans were jealous these creature could run faster and were even more intelligent that the humans of that day. War between the two species broke out and the humans won the war. This creature the Fairy Queen of those days cast a spell over it and she made it invisible to all human beings thus saving its life. The spell the old Queen cast was so powerful that it increased the creature life to such a span that it was practically not possible for it to die of old age.

A week later the creature felt much better and it told us of its journey through Europe from Greece to France where it boarded a night ferry and landed in Dover from Calais. The wounds healed nicely and the creature felt fit enough to carry on its wanderings. Then with her most accurate timing, Her Majesty Queen Feeana greeted us all with the words. "You have tended its wounds? That is good." I now only have to free you from the old spell cast on you by my ancestor in mistake.

The spell she performed in such a hurry, as she wanted to hide you from all humans that she made a mistake. You were given the gift of longevity, which meant that you were unable to die a natural death. I have the power to take this away from you. It is your choice. The creature opened its large brown eyes and I saw tears of joy running down its face. Please Your Majesty free me from this spell I am so lonely I have no friends and it is only the Fairies that can see me. Her Majesty Queen Feeana waved her magic wand and spoke in the old language.

The creature trotted away and the last I saw of it, it was disappearing until nothing was left of it.

Midget.

Something very strange happened to me on Thursday of last week. I was walking in the town doing my weekly shopping when I felt as if I was shrinking. Looking down at my feet, my legs and feet were getting smaller and smaller. At some point I lost my shoes I stepped straight out of them. My hands were so small that I dropped my shopping it was so heavy that I could not hold it any more. I remember a bottle of milk fell on to the pavement and the bottle broke, there was milk all over the pavement. I looked around me to see if anyone was watching. I even hoped that someone would help me; soon I was no bigger than an egg. It took me two days to get back to my house. Fortunately for me, the previous owners had built in a cat’s door for their pet to get in and out of the house at will.

Now my problems were even worse I could not reach anything. The drawer where I kept my magic wand and mirror that Her Majesty Queen Feeana gave me were so high. I was getting desperate. It took me a long time to get a chair to fall against the drawer. I managed somehow to climb the chair to the top of the chest of drawers. Now my problem was to get the drawer open. This I eventually managed to do after tying myself with a ball of string so that I was in a sling. This I tied to a heavy metal flowerpot full of earth and a plant the name of which I have forgotten. Here I was dangling in my sling trying to pull the drawer open, little by little, I managed to get the heavy drawer to slide open so that I could get into it.

It was dark in the drawer and by chance, I fell into the bowl of magic dust. What happened next was frightening. I regained my normal size and my weight broke the drawer whose contents fell onto the floor. My magic mirror was in a thousand splinters of broken glass. My magic powder had vanished into the air. My wand that Queen Feeana had given me was the only thing in the drawer that did not break. I carefully picked up the magic wand and pointed it at my feet. I now had a new pair of shoes. I must admit I was really angry and stormed out of the house. I nearly fell over my shopping bag, which stood on the doorstep the bottle of milk was now as when I bought it no broken glass, no spilt milk. I went down the street this time with my eyes wide, open and my magic wand held at the ready.

In the town the hairs on the back of my neck stood out like the bristle of a brush, it was then I saw the black cat. Hiding in a doorway, she watched every move that I made. I whipped my wand into position and a bright blue flash came from the tip it caught the cat that changed into an ugly woman dressed in long black robes. On her head, she had a pointed hat; her face covered in warts. She screamed at me threatening to turn me into a toad on the next occasion. I pointed my wand once more and although her face was in a rage and her mouth wide open, I could not hear her threats. My magic wand fixed her to the spot so that she could not move. There were many people in the street doing their shopping but no one took any notice of the women or me.

I quickly crossed the road and looked into her eyes she was silently crying in rage. The anger and hate for me was so terrible that I decided to use my wand yet once again. This time I turned her into a stone and transported her into a foreign land. I then went back home and found that my drawer had been repaired my magic dust was as it always was in my drawer and the magic mirror was as new. It was then that Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared on the scene a blue flash a small puff of smoke and she stood there smiling. "Well done." " It was I that sent the witch." " I was testing you, you see with the magic wand the dust and the mirror you are the most powerful man on this earth." " I wanted to see whether you would use them wisely." "You have passed my little test and everything is now back as to what it used to be. There was no black cat." " No witch you did not shrink and there was no broken milk bottle" "Just let us say you had a bad dream."

Strangely enough I always take my wand with me when I go anywhere outside of my house. Magic dust I have in a special pocket. Just the mirror I leave at home in a safe place. It is too precious to risk carrying it with me.

Money Belt.

In the summer months I often go into the woods after a shower of rain. The fresh rain and the warmth cause the mushrooms and field champignons to grow. I collect these and some I cook while they are still fresh, others I clean and cut and dry to use in the long winter months. On one such a day I was walking through the woods looking for mushrooms. I saw some mushrooms away to my left and wandered over to them. It was at this time that the wind blew a strange smell in my direction. I stopped and sniffed the air. I did not want to be caught in woods that were on fire. The smell was so penetrating that I felt obliged to follow the smell to see what the cause was. I forgot about the mushrooms and walked as quickly as I could through the sometimes very thick undergrowth. I followed the smell until I came to a small clearing. In the clearing were two Leprechauns they had a pot hanging over a fire. In the pot something was boiling away. This was what was causing the smell. There was no forest fire thank goodness, just these two Leprechauns.

I did not know the two and felt obliged to ask them what it was that they were cooking it stank so violent that even the wild animals were running away from the smell. The larger of the two said, "I know you, you are a friend of Shamus, I think that it is safe to tell you what we are doing, we are making some magic leather. Here is the only place where we can do so without being disturbed." I was now very curious they knew my friend Shamus and making magic leather is a very complicated thing to do. Why do you want the magical leather I asked them, are you going to make some shoes for someone special? "No came the answer, no shoes, we are making a money belt for a man that deserves some help in this world. The man helps everyone that comes his way. He sends away no one that is hungry or needs a bed for the night he has helped many Leprechauns over the years and now that he is old we want to help him." The smell from the pot was getting worse. I went away and picked some wild lavender and threw it into the pot. For a few minutes the smell was sweet and then it went back to its original smell, which absolutely stunk.

"Some thing seems to be terribly wrong with your making of magic leather I told the Leprechauns. Have you put in the right things and spoken the old spells correctly?" They assured me that they had done just that. "Lets start again," I said pushing over the tripod that was holding the cooking pot. The smell was now so bad that I placed my handkerchief over my nose and mouth. Putting out the fire making sure that no glowing embers could catch the woods alight we moved to another spot in the forest and started all over again. A fire was lit under the tripod and the large cooking pot suspended over the fire. First two buckets full of fresh water from the stream this we let boil then a piece of Kid leather and the two Leprechauns threw each his herbs into the pot muttering the spells as they did so. All went well until one of the Leprechauns fell and a piece of tree bark went into the pot. Then the smell started all over again. I quickly kicked the tripod so that the contents of the pot fell onto the fire putting it out. Now we will have to start all over again and this time, you I told the smaller Leprechaun will sit over there in the corner and watch.

The bigger of the two Leprechauns started all over again, he lit a fire and placed the tripod over it then the large pot was put back on the tripod to boil. This time the Leprechaun placed his ingredients into the pot and murmured his old spells and the new piece of kid leather started to boil. Soon the pot was bubbling away and there was no smell to be smelt and after an hour the Leprechaun said that the magic leather was now finished and could be taken out of the pot.

The Kid leather was now soft and pliable and the Leprechaun hung it over a bough of a tree to dry off so that they could cut and sew it into a purse. Soon the animals came back into the area and the smell was completely gone. The Leprechauns quickly cut the dried leather and sewed a small purse together with some magic thread. Come with us they invited me when they were finished you can meet the man that this purse has been made for. I followed the two and the woods were now very familiar the two led me right to my own back door. He lives here one of the Leprechauns said with a laugh. Then they gave me the purse and ran off laughing into the woods. The purse is indeed magic it fills as quickly as I take the money out of it. Opening my back door I went into the kitchen and to my great surprise a pan of mushrooms was frying on my kitchen fire and on the table were laying dried mushrooms ready for putting away for the winter.

Moonfee.

Fairies as we all know are very mischievous. Playing pranks on each other causes lots of excitement. Sometimes a real argument breaks out among them. Her Majesty Queen Feeana cast a spell over the fairies. If they got into an argument they would for one whole hour become a forest flower. At the same time all forest flowers that are Fairies have a special protection. They become invisible to all, both animals and humans. The Fairies hate it to be still for one hour so there are not many arguments, as you may guess.

One little Fairy, Moonfee thought that this was a very strange punishment for the Fairy Queen to impose; she decided to get all of the fairies to go against this punishment. The Fairies were all for sending a message to the Queen saying that they will not accept the punishment any more, after all who wants to be a flower for one hour and stand perfectly still without speaking.

Moonfee went to her Majesties cottage and told her Majesty what the Fairies had decided. Her Majesty, Queen Feeana smiled a knowing smile and said the Moonfee if it is your wish not to be a flower for one hour and you would rather quarrel and get into silly fights with one another then you shall have your way, You and all of the other Fairies. A wave of her wand and with another smile on her face Her Majesty said to Moonfee, " You have now got your way and no fairy will be a flower any more." "Go and be happy."

Moonfee went back to the Fairies and told them that she had got the Queen to do away with the punishment. No one will any more become a flower if they argued. Then Moonfee made a big mistake instead of leaving things alone, she started boasting that she was the only one with enough courage to go and face the Queen. The other Fairies were much too scared to have done such a thing she was the only one that dared do such a thing.

One terrific argument broke out as to who else would have gone to Her Majesty. The Fairies started calling each other nasty names and were in one big row. Then one Fairy threw a stone and hit another Fairy on the head. This started a general stone throwing and soon there were Fairies with all sorts of wounds. The Fairies shamefacedly went to the Wise old Fairies to have the cuts and bruises seen to. The wise old Fairies had already been told about the ending of punishments of one hour standing still.

Fairies were going about their work and play with bandaged arms and legs even some of their heads were bandaged it seemed as if no Fairy had not been in the quarrel. It was a bad, sad day, for the Fairies. One of them cried out it is all Moonfee’s fault if she had not gone to the Queen we would not have argued and there would have been no silly rows. How stupid were we all to listen to her. Moonfee on hearing these words picked up a stone and threw it at the Fairy. The stone hit the Fairy right in the middle of her forehead and she dropped down into faint.

The other Fairies rushed her to the Wise old Fairies and left her in what was really a small hospital for Fairies. The Fairy was in a bad way and Her Majesty was told about this new state of affairs. Now if a Fairy wants to quarrel or have a sill row with another Fairy the punishment is now back but the time has been increased to four hours of stillness as a flower of the woods. Soon all of Fairyland was back at peace with one another. The last Fairy to be hit by a stone has a bright red mark on her forehead to show all of the Fairies how silly they had been not to trust the wise thinking of their Queen Feeana.

Now all is quiet in Fairyland the Fairies go about their playing or working without arguments and silly rows. All is as it should be in a land ruled by a Queen so wise and just as Queen Feeana. This story was told to me by Her Royal Highness Her Majesty Queen Feeana after I had remarked how well behaved the Fairies are.

Moranium Flower.

Three thousand years ago Her Majesty Fairy Queen Feeana used her magic wand to cast a spell over a Wizard that had been terrorising Fairyland for months. Queen Feeana waved her wand and just one small spark fell off of the end of the wand. This was terrible it meant that until a new wand was produced Queen Feeana could not use her very powerful magic this meant that Fairyland was without her protection.

To make a new wand special wood was needed this was no problem as Yew trees grew everywhere in Fairyland. Then some special flowers and herbs most of which grew in Fairyland were required to make the new wand. Just one Flower that was very rare grew abroad in the Austrian Alps.

Fairies were sent to France, to Southern Germany, to Switzerland and to Austria to look for this very rare flower. There was none of these flowers to be found. One month went slowly past then a second and finally a third. Then a Fairy found the flower called a Moranium in the garden of a little girl. The little girl did not want to give her pretty flower away not to anyone. There were no other flowers like her Moranium anywhere in Austria it was white and ever so pretty. The Fairy tried all kinds of things to persuade the little girl to give her flower for the new wand. It was all to no avail the flower was to remain in her garden so that she could see it every day.

Then a Leprechaun tried his luck he thought I can easily get a child to give me a flower. He offered her gold and a pair of new shoes but the little girl said to him, "I have Gold, which by the way is not so pretty as my flower, Shoes are in my cupboard and I have no need for new shoes. I will not give my pretty flower away not for anything. The Fairy Queen was sad that the little girl would not give her Flower for a new wand she decided to send one of the wise old Fairies to try and persuade the girl.

The wise old Fairy spoke to the little girl and showed her a beautiful doll that she had made. "This doll for your flower." The little girl brought out a few of her own dolls and said, "No there is only one of these pretty white Moraniums, dolls I have in plenty." Then the wise old Fairy tried it with sweets many different kinds of sweets but the little girl would not give her pretty white Moranium away. In the meantime the other Fairies and all of the Little Folk were hunting high and low to see if they could find a Moranium flower anywhere else in the world.

One little Fairy she was very young asked Her Majesty Queen Feeana if she could go and speak with the little girl. In desperation the Fairy Queen Feeana told her she could go and try her luck. The little girl went to the Austrian Alps and found the cottage where the girl lived and waited for her to come and play in the garden. The little Fairy looked at the flower called a Moranium and wished with all her heart that she could bring it back to her Majesty so that a new wand could be made.

At last the little girl came into the garden and saw the little fairy. "Will you play with me? She asked the fairy. "Yes I will play with you have you no friends of your own age?" "No." said the little girl in my village I am the only little girl. There are two boys but they are so rough. The little Fairy played with the girl all of that day and the next. On the third day the little girl gave the flower Moranium to the little Fairy. This is my most valued thing I want you to have it. The little Fairy thanked her for the flower and saying, "I’ll be right back she flew off to the Fairy Queen Feeana with the flower and a new magic wand was made. The little Fairy went back to the little girl to play with her.

The Fairy Queen Feeana thought a lot about the flower and the new magic wand she decided to use the wand to make a new flower with same magic qualities as the Moranium flower. With a wave of her wand a new flower appeared in the Alps the Fairy Queen Feeana, named the flower Edelweiss. The Edelweiss grew prolifically for years and years but so many people picked it that it has had to be placed under protection. With the new magic wand the Fairy Queen soon cast a spell over the Wizard that had been terrorising Fairyland he is now an Oak tree in the middle of Fairyland where the Queen can keep an eye on him.

The little girl is now grown up with children of her own but she still remembers the Moranium flower and the little Fairy that came to play with her when she was so alone. Her garden is full with lovely white Edelweiss and she often tells her children of the Fairy that came to play.

Motorbike Mad.

Robert or Bob as his friends call him has one main interest in his young life and that is motor bikes. Bob has taken a motorbike to pieces and put it back together in two and a half hours. His Dad says he was born on a motorbike, His Mum; let us hope he does not die on one. His Father was very proud of his son his Mother was thinking of the risks involved in riding a motorbike.

Bob always used the sunny days to drive his motorbike around the countryside. He was not so keen on the scenery it was the sense of thrill that riding a machine gave him. He loved speed and opened the bike out whenever and wherever he could. Weekends he used to go for long drives along the motorways, with the wind whistling past his ears he thoroughly enjoyed the sense of speeding along the tarmac roads.

On one such occasion, he traveled right through to Northern England and as he always had a sleeping bag with him, he often slept overnight in a field or in a barn anywhere that he could find. Food he stopped and ate along the way. There was always a café somewhere along the road. Bob’s Mum would have made him sandwiches but Bob refused saying it was better if he had a hot meal as and when he felt hungry.

On this particular night, Bob could not drop off to sleep although he was very tired. He heard a clock somewhere striking eleven and dozed off into a light sleep. Music woke him. Music the likes of which he had never heard before. He slid out of his sleeping bag and went to see where the music was coming from, Then he saw them a small bunch of Fairies were sitting in a circle in the middle of which a Leprechaun was playing some of the sweetest music that Bob had ever heard.

Bob listened for a while until the Fairies flew off taking the Leprechaun in their midst. Bob had never believed in Fairies he had time only for his motorbikes, he had two bikes and as I have said before he spent all of his spare time, polishing them or cleaning them both gleamed after such a cleaning. His Mum often said, "If he would only spend the same time on his shoes he would look very smart. The rest of the day Bob spent cleaning his bike and waited impatiently for the evening to come.

He heard the same music again and went to watch the Fairies and the Leprechaun. This time the music was a little livelier and Bob felt his feet itching to dance in tune with the music. He just could not resist and soon was dancing to the melodies of the Leprechauns Magic Flute. The Fairies took it in turn to accompany him and Bob spent three hours dancing with these delightful dancers with their gossamer wings.

The next day Bob started his motorbike and putting on his helmet, he drove back to his home. He kept his speed down to about fifty miles per hour and although this was very slow for Bob, he got home in time. Now he still cleans his motorbikes and goes for rides but mainly to the woods and fields around his area of the country. He now sees the Fairies and all of the little people and when the Fairies want, he takes them for short rides on his motorbike. I have seen them riding along on a summers evening Bob and his fairy friends enjoying the evening breeze as he drives along the country lanes.

Bob is married now and has bought himself a car him and his wife and children I often see driving in the evenings out to the countryside. Both his wife and their children see the Fairies and dance to the Leprechauns Magic Flute. The Children’s bedroom is covered in pictures of Fairies and Leprechauns. Trolls and Gnomes, Pixies and Imps and there is one large Photo that is framed and stands in a place of honour of Her Majesty Fairy Queen Feeana. Bob took this Photo just after he had taken his children to the woods to see the Fairies. The Queen herself attended the evening dance and this gave Bob the opportunity to take what to my knowledge is the only Photo of a Fairy Queen in the whole world.

Mouldy Magic.

I had never been to this part of Fairyland before. There was a smell of rotting dampness; it offended my nose. I looked about me hoping to see something or someone that I knew. There was nothing just this horrid damp smell of foulness. No birds, no wild animals not even the buzzing of an insect. I became more and more uneasy as the seconds slowly passed. Where was I? How had I strayed so far away from the Fairyland that I knew? Questions nothing but questions and an uneasy feeling that someone or some thing was watching me.

The feeling became more intense as I slowly walked on my way. I was not frightened just very uneasy. I had after all my magic wand and a good sack full of magic dust with me. As my eyes became more accustomed to the darkness that seemed to hang over the whole area, I noticed that the trees held no leaves. There were no flowers nothing but this smell of dampness and foulness.

After an hour or more I saw in front of me a large cave. The entrance was half blocked by stones that had fallen by a landslide or placed there by purpose. The cave was not easy to see. I had by chance seen it out of the corner of my eye. I slowly approached the entrance my magic wand held out in front of me. I had no idea of what I expected to see. The smell of foulness was even more present the closer I got to the opening.

The cave was dark. As I moved on deeper into the gloomy place a saw a faint shimmer of light. The cave opened out into a large cavern. Around the walls of which were torches that gave off a flickering light that made the place look even more mysterious. Fully alert I walked slowly into the cavern. At first I thought this was just a rubbish dump that had been placed deep here in the woods so that it would be out of the way. Then I saw two long tables full of cauldrons and dried herbs. In one corner from floor to ceiling were piles of rotting herbs and small animals. This was what was causing the most horrible smell.

I heard voices behind me. I looked for a place to hide and found a niche in one of the walls. I made myself as small as I could and waited for the voices to come nearer. Then they appeared twenty Witches and twenty Sorcerers. All dressed in black robes with tall pointed hats. On the clothes there had been sewn stars and moons. On the chief of this band there was a sun that shone. It got brighter or darker as he moved around.

They all gathered round one of the tables and took all kinds of plants and small animals from their pockets. I must admit I had not seen the pockets when they entered the cave. Each went to a cauldron and the chief sorcerer spoke some words in the most ancient of languages and a fire appeared beneath each cauldron. From the shelves behind the tables various bottles and phials were poured into the big pots with the leaves herbs and small animals.

When all were finished each came to the cauldron of the chief and carefully poured their evil looking brew into his pot. A loud noise filled the cave and the smell got even worse. Then a burst of light and a most ugly creature appeared out of the pot. The creature had the legs of a man with hoofs as feet. The body of a snake with the arms and head of a man I had never seen such a weird creature before in all of my life. Not even in my worse dreams had I seen anything like this. The witches and the sorcerers all fell on their knees chanting some old chant that made me feel quite ill.

I decided it was time for me to report these strange happenings to the Fairy Queen. A wave of my wand and I was transmitted directly to her Majesty. I asked her Majesty to read my mind, as I was sure I would forget something important if I were just to tell her what had happened.

Her Majesty told me the meaning of the weird chant that I had heard the witches and sorcerers sing. They were asking the powers of darkness to take over Fairyland and do away with all of the Fairy folk. I could not imagine that there would be no Fairyland. No more Fairies and little folk. Who would paint all the flowers and butterflies and all the other creatures living on this earth?

The Fairy Queen spoke in the ancient language for over an hour then turning to me she told me that all danger had now been banned and the Witches and Sorcerers had been cast away on the moon where there was no plants or small creatures to enable them to cast spells. On the moon one day we will find the twenty Witches and the twenty Sorcerers they are now very deep craters filled with the dust from centuries.

Moving House.

I had spent a whole month collecting large cardboard boxes. I was going to move to a new house where I could be nearer to the Fairies. A large house on the Heath had been up for sale for a long time and I went to the sales agents and enquired about the price. I was surprised, I could afford it with the sale of my house and my savings I could comfortably buy the new house and have some money left over in the bank. I had a large collection of cardboard boxes ready and started packing.

First I cleared the attic it was surprising the amount of things I had dumped in the attic over the years old clothing, shoes, pieces of furniture and books. I had not been up in the attic for a long time. In one corner were all of my old toys. I started with these first they were all like new even my old teddy bear. These I placed in a couple of boxes and wrote on them for the Orphanage. The books I placed in other boxes and by the time I had finished there were six boxes of books. These were for the library if they wanted them.

From a firm I had, had a container delivered all of the old furniture would go into the container and be taken to a charity shop that mended and resold the articles for cash. My old clothes that were hanging in the loft I placed in sacks these were for the Red Cross. It took me two days to clear the attic of all the accumulated bits and pieces that I no longer wanted. My last job was to sweep the attic floor so that the next owner would find it clean and tidy.

The bedclothes and linen I placed in boxes and marked them so that I would have little difficulty to find things in the new house. The upstairs rooms I swept and dusted and then came the downstairs. All of my cutlery and my china I wrapped in newspaper and placed them in boxes ready for the removal firm. There was I am happy to say nothing in the cellar but the oil heating and a few pipes that led up into the upper floors for water and electricity.

When I was ready I telephoned the removal firm who sent two lorries to take the furniture and boxes to the new house. I in the meantime went into town and registered my new address with the Authorities. After a drink in the coffee shop I went to the new house and waited for the removal vans to bring all my things from the old house to the new.

The Fairies were delighted at the idea of my living so close to them and I had offers of help from the Leprechauns. They wanted to be in on any decorating that I might have to do in the new house. The Fairies could hardly wait until the removal men had moved all of my furniture into my new home. I only had to tell them where I wanted the furniture; the boxes they piled in the large entrance hall. I gave the men a good tip for the work they had done and as soon as the men drove off in their lorries the Little Folk invaded my house.

I was surprised at how they all managed to empty boxes and put things away into the various cupboards. The China for the kitchen was put neatly away in the Old Dutch dresser that I had, had placed in the kitchen next to the dish washing machine. Soon most of the boxes were empty and I told them that we would finish things off in the morning. I was by now tired it had been a busy day and I had decided to stop overnight in a hotel.

The next day as I opened my front door of the new house I heard singing and laughing coming from upstairs. I went up the stairs and to my delight and great surprise the Leprechauns had painted and wallpapered all of the upstairs rooms. The hallway had now been cleared of the cardboard boxes and in the back garden a bonfire was burning. All the old newspapers and cardboard boxes were burning away; around the fire I saw the little folk dancing and having a real good time.

I telephoned the delicatessen shop and asked them to send me a few large cakes and any Parsley Wine they might have. I had decided to throw a party for the little folk. My Gramophone had been taken over by one of the Pixies and music was played in the lounge the television was showing a film about Peter Pan and Captain Hook the Fairies were enjoying the film immensely.

A ring at the front door bell it was the delicatessen van delivering an assortment of sweet cakes and a large crate of Parsley wine. Soon the party was in full swing all were happy and enjoying themselves. Suddenly an unexpected guest arrived it was Her Royal Highness, Queen Feeana who had come to wish me a very happy life in this my new home. I thanked Her Majesty and bid her to take a seat and drink a glass of my Parsnip wine. I knew it was her favourite drink.

An hour later Her Majesty told me that it was time for her to go back to her own home but before she left she gave me five pieces of Fairy gold I was to place it at each wall of the house and one piece in the attic. Living so near the Fairies own playground I could come under attack from a Witch or a Wizard or what is worse a Sorcerer could make my life a misery but with the magic gold guarding my new house I would be protected by Her Majesties great Magic Power.

I have been living in my new house now for two years and I am regularly visited by the Fairy Folk. I feel quite safe I have Her Majesties Magic Gold to protect me. The Leprechauns who look on my house as if it was their own do any repairs that are needed. I have visits from Fairies from all over the world and there is never a dull moment.

Music or Magic.

I was asleep in my bed. It was the early summer and a soft music had woken me. I lay awake listening for a while. My mind was still in a sleep phase although I was fully awake. I grumbled to myself for having left the television switched on. It was not the television or the radio. The music seemed to come from outside the house. Beautiful enchanting music played by expert musicians. I did not know the music it was new to me but it seemed familiar as if I had heard it a hundred times before. I listened until I decided to get up from out of my bed and find out where this delightful music was coming from.

Dressing myself I went down the stairs and out into the kitchen where I opened the back door. The music was a little louder now and I found myself walking down my back garden out into the woods. Here I followed a path that I had trodden a hundred times before. This was my way into the woods when I looked for blackberries for making jam and nuts for the Christmas season. I did all my own bottling of fruit and jams for the winter months. Whenever I found mushrooms I pickled these they too are delicious and it would be a waste to leave them in the forest.

I followed the path until I came to the clearing where the fairies play their age-old games. The music came from here. There was a small orchestra playing, the musicians were gnomes, ugly little people with a sense of music that was hard not to enthusiastic about. Conducting the orchestra was a Leprechaun who although he conducted excellently kept his eyes mainly on a large pot where every ten minutes a piece of gold appeared. Whenever he saw a new piece of the gold falling into his pot he moved his arms quicker and the music would liven up. It was now that I saw the fairy couples dancing under the trees.

The fairies were paying the Leprechaun to conduct every ten minutes a fairy would wave its wand and a new piece of gold fell into the pot. The orchestra were kept happy with fairy cakes and strong drinks of barley wine. I went up to the where the orchestra were sitting and looked into the Leprechauns pot it was three quarters full of gold they had been playing all night from the early hours of the evening onward to the break of day. A ray of sunshine shone on to the orchestra and there was a scramble to leave the clearing. The pot of gold was knocked over and the Leprechaun spent five minutes looking for his gold. The fairies had disappeared and my ears were ringing at the sudden silence that had come into the woods.

The birds seemed to realise that they were now responsible for the daily music and started whistling and chirping one tune after another. Soon the birds were just part of the daily background noise. Traffic on the nearby motorway caused the air to hum and as my ears got used to the noise it was another normal day. I went over to where the Leprechaun’s pot had been standing and looking carefully on the ground I found a piece of his fairy gold. This was a real piece of good luck I knew that I could get the Leprechaun to do me a favour of one kind or another.

The following evening I went to the woods and watched the fairies playing I did not have to wait long when the Leprechaun came into the clearing. He went straight to where his pot of gold had been standing and searched all around one or two of the fairies also helped him look. I strolled over and asked if he had by any chance lost something or another as he was parting the grass so thoroughly with his hands. He then in a high pitched complaining type of voice lamented that he had lost one of his most valuable pieces of gold. What will you give me if I find your gold I asked? I knew that when speaking to a Leprechaun one had to be straightforward and speak in a no nonsense kind of voice. What do you want from me? He asked. I replied that I would like to hear some more of his music. The same music as on the previous evening I boldly asked for.

He grumbled then taking a golden flute from out of his pocket he played a few notes and the clearing filled again with gnomes all carrying music instruments. Soon this wonderful music was filling the air and as promised I took the piece of gold from my pocket and placed it in his pot. He smiled and instead of conducting he started playing on his golden flute the fairies danced and sang and I stood there taking in this wonderful music not knowing whether it was magic or were they really playing. After a while another piece of gold flew into the Leprechauns pot and it was then that I saw her majesty Queen Feeana. She threw some gold into the Leprechauns pot and smiling she waved me goodbye and vanished as she had come. I listened to the magical music, which ended the same as on the yesterday this day though there was no hectic rush and the leprechaun was able to take his pot of gold, which was now full, with him.

I walked back to my home listening to the birds and the roar of traffic as I walked through the woods. Soon I was in my bed and fell into a deep sleep. No Leprechauns, No fairies, No royal Queen. Just myself and my old brown teddy bear.

New Forest Birds.

On the edge of the New Forest deep in England many years ago there lived a man that spent his time taking young birds from their nests and training them to do various tricks. His main speciality was young Owls also Magpies. The Birds he taught to steal especially the Magpies. The Owls he used as messengers. He was a wicked man that hated anything to do with the Fairies of this world. He often caught glimpses of Fairies while he was robbing the nests of the young Owlets.

His method of teaching was very simple when a bird did, as he wanted he fed it with a piece of raw meat. If the bird was slow or did not understand what was expected of it he did not feed it. Each of the birds had a leather thong tied around its left leg. This thong was long enough to let the bird drink but not long enough to let it fly. Through the cave he had led a small stream of water from a nearby river. This water was so clear that he himself drank of it as well as the birds.

The other smaller birds in the area were afraid of the man but as he left them alone they did not complain. It was a Fairy that brought the attention of the Fairy Queen to this wicked man and asked her to do something about him. The Fairy Queen was reluctant to do anything about the man after all he was a human being and so she asked Mother Nature for her help.

Mother Nature thought about the man and his treatment of the birds. What was she to do? If she caused the waters of the stream that ran through his cave to flood she would harm the birds. If she caused a landslide to block his cave it would still be the birds to suffer. The main problem as she saw it was the leather thongs that kept the birds tied to their perches. She asked the Mice to help her. They should enter the cave and chew away on the thongs until the birds were free. The mice refused. Every one knows that Owls eat mice. Then she had another thought the Weasels could easily chew through the thongs so she asked the weasels to help her. Weasels are awful creatures they rob the nests of eggs and eat young birds. The Weasels were out of question as far as help would go.

Mother Nature told the Fairy Queen Feeana about the problems she had. Queen Feeana said she would think about the matter and for Mother Nature to leave everything to her. In Fairyland there lived a young Leprechaun who was always boasting about how strong he was and how courageous. He would fight anyone and anything in the whole of Fairyland. The Queen Feeana called the Leprechaun to her house and put this plan to him. If he would go into the cave and free all of the birds she would reward him well with some magic gold and a bundle of magic leather. The Leprechaun who had opened his mouth too often to back out agreed with trembling heart to go and free the birds.

One late summer night the man went to catch some more young birds in their nests in the forest. The Leprechaun plucked up courage and went into the cave. He freed all of the birds and turned the cave upside down. The perches where the birds had been sitting he threw onto the fire all the furniture such as it was he also burnt. The bed a table and a chair and one three legged stool all went into the greedy flames. The birds flew off into the woods and were never to be seen again.

The evil man robbed three nests of young Owls and was on his way home to his cave. Now Mother Nature had her chance she uprooted a large tree, which fell onto the man. He died straight away and from this time on the woods of the New Forest has been free of such evil men. The fairy Queen Feeana placed the New Forest out of bounds to all men that capture birds for whatever reasons be they good or bad all birds must be left in freedom.

Night Adventure.

Night had fallen over the forest. Just a few night animals and birds were busy doing what all creatures must do hunting food for their young. An Owl and a Night jay were competing with each other catching mice that too were looking for food on the forest floor. The moon was full and stars flooded the night sky with light. A badger made his way with many a grunt as if complaining of the light. A fox trotted past on his way back to his vixen with her five cubs, in his mouth a chicken that he had stolen from a nearby farm. A couple of shy deer were grazing quietly in a clearing every few seconds they would raise the heads from the sweet grass and look around them. Both were very sensitive to a real or would be danger. It was in fact a night like a thousand other nights.

This night though there was something out of place I got a feeling of being watched although I was well hid lying in a small hollow that I had covered with large ferns it was, I thought a perfect hideout enabling me to see without being seen. I had come to the woods early and made my hideout so as to be present when the Fairies arrived. I had heard about the Fairies from an elderly woman that collected wild flowers and herbs. This elderly woman I had helped by carrying a large bundle of firewood back to her cottage. Whilst drinking a cup of her honey sweetened tea she told me a few stories of the Fairies that she often met in the forest.

I had been laying there for an hour or more with just the wild animals to keep me company. I must have fallen asleep for when I awoke it was daylight and the birds were happily whistling the age-old melodies they had whistled since the beginning of time. I yawned and was very disappointed at not seeing the Fairies. Slowly I made my way home where I had a good wash in cold water and eat some bread, washing it down with some tea.

The next night I went to the forest very early and climbed a large oak tree. The tree was covered in rich foliage of green leaves. I made myself comfortable on a branch high up in the tree determined this time to keep awake. Dusk came and the moon slowly rose in the night sky the stars twinkled as they have always twinkled and I full of hopes that I would at last see the Fairies. Settled down to what promised to be a night like the previous night. I saw the animals and heard the night birds going about their business.

Suddenly I saw a bright flash and in the clearing below the tree were twenty fairies. All had a pair of silken like wings and their voices were like the bells I had heard when I was a small child. They were very excited. Up on my branch I was afraid to move in case they saw me. Then I got an even bigger surprise a beautiful white winged horse slowly flew down into the clearing. Sitting on the horses back was a Fairy she was a little elder that the other Fairies and had a golden crown on her head. The Fairies greeted the newcomer calling her Queen Feeana. The Queen smiled and waved a small golden stick at the tree where I was hiding. The tree split down the middle and I found myself lying on the forest floor right at her majesties feet.

Her Majesty smiled and waved her golden wand again. There appeared a large ring of fire floating some two inches above the forest floor. "Step into the ring of fire if you have the courage." The Queen spoke the words gently and I moved the two steps necessary to pass through the blue yellow flames. There was no heat coming from the flames, which surprised me. I thought that such flames would at least singe me. Inside the ring I saw a beautiful maiden who smiled at me. "I am your future," she said. " We will go through life together and I will be the mother of your two children," As she spoke these words a small boy and a sweet little girl holding hands together smiled and said, "Hello Daddy," Then the flames died down and instead of a ring of fire there was a ring of mushrooms. The Fairies and Queen Feeana had disappeared with the ring of fire along with the white flying horse. I slowly made my way home tired but yet very excited I had been granted the privilege of seeing my future. I would have a lovely wife and two sweet children. I would surely be the happiest man in the world. I told the elderly woman about my experience. She smiled and said, "The Fairies are always good for a surprise did you pick any of the mushrooms? I said, "No I just wanted to go home and think about what I had seen." Then your future will be as the Fairies have foretold it. If you had picked just one of the mushrooms the spell would have been broken. Then the elderly woman told me about her meeting with the Fairies. She was shown a wonderful house with a husband and three children but she was so hungry that when the flames of the ring of fire had died down for her she eat one of the mushrooms and since then she has collected herbs and flowers and the bark of trees to make lotions and potions which she sells to the villagers, Firewood she gets from the forest. The Fairies always treat her kindly and show her where the best places are in the forest for wild strawberries and the blackberries and at the right time the nuts that the forest provides. Through her eating just that one mushroom she had broken the magic circle and her future turned out to be completely different to what the Fairies had shown her.

Night Flight.

The ten o’clock night plane flew on its way from Croydon to Paris in France. It passed overhead every night; it was so regular that one could set a watch by it. I turned over in my bed glad that I was in the warm. It was a bitterly cold and I was pleased that I did not have to fly anywhere on such a night. I heard the Church clock strike eleven and my eyes finally closed and I dropped off to sleep. I really cannot say whether I dreamed this that I am going to tell you or whether it was true.

I was in a gondola hanging under a large balloon I was alone and saw the landscape flowing slowly past beneath me. Wrapped in a large red blanket that was wound around my body from the neck down to and covering my feet. I was not afraid it seemed to be the most natural thing in the world late at night to be flying through the sky. Soon I was joined by a host of Fairies. The Fairies hung on to the gondola and to the balloon itself; soon we passed over the English Channel. I saw the boats with their red and green lights ploughing their way through the sea. Each boat had a whitish wake trailing behind it. The night ferry steaming across the channel to Calais caught my eye. The coast of France soon appeared and we flew across the sandy beaches.

I asked the Fairies where they were going, "Oh with you." Came the reply. This surprised me, as I did not know myself where the balloon would land. I had never in the whole of my life before flown in a balloon. I asked the Fairies if they were cold, I felt sorry for them hanging on to the ropes of the balloon and the gondola, they must feel the cold. Fairies do not feel the cold or the heat came the reply from one of the Fairies. As we were flying over Normandy a large flock of birds, they looked like crows started attacking the balloon. I was not in the least worried I knew the Fairies would not let me be in any danger. Suddenly there was a rip in the Balloon and we started to sink. Slowly we reach the ground. I felt a sharp bump but I was not hurt and awkwardly climbed out of the gondola.

The Fairies were still with me and my one worry was what do I do in France without a British passport. The Fairies took me by the hand and we went to a small wooded copse. Here were some French Fairies who had obviously been waiting for us. Greetings were exchanged and my red blanket disappeared. To my surprise I was dressed in a blue smock and on my head was a black beret. I was given some Parsnip wine to drink and a small plate of Fairy cakes. One of the French Fairies asked, "Has he come to read the message?"" Yes," said the Fairies that had joined me over the Channel, "He will read the message to us all." I must admit I was getting very curious, what message? If it was written in English the English Fairies could read it if it was written in French the French Fairies.

Then one of the French fairies handed me a papyrus roll like one that I had seen in the British Museum in London. I opened the roll and saw that the writing was in Hieroglyphics or the language of the Ancient Egyptians. Why did they want me to read it I was no learned professor from some University. I was just me, a little boy of nine years of age. To my surprise I started reading out loud so that all could hear. Be it known to all peoples. This message is a guarantee that all Fairies may travel throughout the known empire of all the Egyptian Territories, Safely and without hindrance. At the bottom of the roll was the name Cleopatra with the royal seal. The Fairies were delighted at my translation and there were many cries of, Well done!

Then it was decided that the English Fairies would take me home not in a balloon but in the secret way of travelling that the Fairies use. There was a general saying of goodbyes and one of the Fairies waved her Magic Wand and a bright light and a small puff of smoke and I was back home in my bed with my eyes wide open. My one big question now, is how could I such a small boy read a thousands of years old document in the picture language of the ancient Egyptians?

Not Sheepish.

It had rained for over a week now and today was the first day where the sun shone down and it was very warm. I was in the woods looking for mushrooms. I like mushrooms and often go into the woods looking for them especially after a period of rain. My basket was nearly full and I thought about going home, just another couple I thought and then I am off.

I must say I was a little surprised to see a mother sheep coming towards me in the woods. Sheep are usually out on the fields and meadows. One does not see sheep in the woods as a rule. Thinking that the sheep was lost or had been chased into the woods by a dog I tried to catch it to lead it out of the woods.

The Fairies saw me trying to catch the sheep and thought it was a game and joined in having great fun. I then saw the look in the sheep’s eyes it was not at all sheep like but very angry. I had come across another piece of badness in the woods. I shouted a warning to the Fairies and suddenly the sheep changed into an old woman. I recognised her straight away she was the same old witch that been in the London Zoo and stolen all the crows.

The witch tried to run out of the woods and I threw my nearly full basket at her running feet. She sprawled full length to the ground and I easily caught her. I took some string from my pocket and tied her hands behind her back. Now she could not do any harm.

I looked in the pocket of her apron and found some powder I took a pinch and threw it over a small bush. The bush disappeared. Now I knew that she was after catching some fairies coming dressed as a sheep she thought no one would take any notice of her. Normally Fairies have no trouble with animals. Sheep and cows were as familiar to them as were the chickens on the farms.

I sent a robin to fetch Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana appeared in her normal flash of light and small puff of smoke. I told her Majesty what I had seen and my suspicions regarding the sheep. The Queen agreed with me sheep do not as a rule wander around in the woods. Then I told her about the powder and how the bush disappeared when I threw some powder on it. I gave Her Majesty the rest of the powder this she wanted to take back home to see how the old witch had managed to make it.

Then Her Majesty recognised the Witch. "I sent Lumbago to punish you before and I made sure that your broomstick would not fly. What shall I do with you this time?" " Shall I turn you into a toad or an ant?" "Ants are very busy creatures and you would have work to do for the rest of your life." "Perhaps then you will leave the fairies and the little folk in peace."

Her Majesty then waved her Magic Wand and the Witch got smaller and smaller until she turned into an ant. She was a little bigger than the other ants that meant she could do more work. If she ever was seen again in the woods I do not know as there are so many ants running around busily clearing up all of the dead and dieing insects and taking them back to the anthills for food for the winter when they cannot get out and to feed their young.

Nothing Doing.

Another week has gone by and I am still sitting here waiting for some inspiration. I have no ideas in my head. My thoughts are on anything but Fairies. I look out of the window; the day is dull with a promise of rain. I am thinking of closing down my computer and look for something else to do. As I sit here wondering what I should write about there are so many things happening in this world of ours. One has only to go out in the fields and woods there are so many animals and birds to see. Putting on my coat I walked out of my house carefully locking the doors. Strolling across the large meadow at the back of my house I saw about fifty rabbits eating the lush grass. I made myself a reminder to make sure all the fences around my garden were in order. Rabbits love to eat my salads and carrots.

Walking along I came to the woods and walked in to the cool shade under the trees. I always walk quietly when I am in the woods and I saw a doe with her young baby. I watched them for about ten minutes. The doe kept throwing up her head and I could see her ears twitching as she kept a sharp look out for any danger that might threaten her or her baby. In the treetops birds were busy going about building their nests. Then I saw the fox as it came stalking along looking for something to eat. The mother deer saw the fox and with a low noise both she and the baby disappeared in the undergrowth. That I thought is one meal that the fox wont get.

Going on further I tripped over what I thought was a tree root. I fell onto the ground my fall being broken by the leaves from the previous autumn. As I got up from the ground I saw that I had fallen over an old metal box. Clearing the leaves away from the box I opened the lid and inside was a letter tied in a piece of silk. There was nothing else in the box just the letter. Carefully I placed the letter in my pocket and carried on with my walk. I had chosen a path that I knew would take me back to my garden. An hour later I was back home in my kitchen and thought of the letter. I took it from my pocket and laid it on the kitchen table.

Undoing the piece of silk I took the letter from its envelope. On reading the letter I realised that I was not reading a love letter or anything like that. This letter told a story. The letter, read, I John Upperton being of sound mind do hereby give account of what happened to me in the year of sixteen hundred and ten. Walking over the Dartford Heath on my way to Bexley I felt tired and sat down with my back to an old oak tree. I fell into a deep sleep, upon wakening, I realised that I had been tied hand and feet. The material that held me captive looked to be the garn from a spider. The knots were so cunningly tied that try as I might I could not free myself.

Night came and I dropped off to sleep, I was thirsty and hungry but in spite of this I dropped off into a deep sleep. In the morning I awoke and was no longer tied beneath an old oak tree. My hands were free and I could move. My legs had been shackled together by means of iron bands and a small length of chain. In front of me were a jug of milk and a large cob of bread. Being so thirsty I drank the milk in one long pull and then I ate the bread. I then tried to get the leg irons off of my legs to no avail. An expert blacksmith who knew his trade had made these. I tried to walk off in spite of the leg chain.

Next I saw something that I myself would never have believed it if it did not happen to me. A bunch of beings small with delicate wings came and flew around me. "You are now our prisoner and will stay with us for five years." "You will do that what we tell you and you will never be able to break the iron that holds your feet together." "Come with us." I was led to field where some cows were feeding. "Milk these cows and fill these buckets with milk." From nowhere there appeared five small buckets. "What should I do?""I milked the cows." Looking all of the time to see whether there would be a way to free myself from what I now know to be Fairies.

The months passed by slowly and I did all that the Fairies asked of me. I had it seemed fallen asleep on that fateful day in a fairy ring. The Fairies had taken me prisoner and a prisoner I would remain until someone could break the iron bonds that held my legs together. One day a small man happened to see me working for the Fairies. He told me that he was a Leprechaun and could free me if I promised to give him a piece of gold. The small man or Leprechaun had a small rucksack on his back and a pot half filled with gold coins.

I promised the Leprechaun a piece of gold if he would free me but that I would have to go back to my home to get the gold. He agreed and taking the rucksack from his back he took out a fine saw. You will soon be free he promised me and started cutting away at the iron around my left leg. It took him ten minutes to saw through the iron and my hopes began to rise that I would soon be free. The Leprechaun startled me by saying that the other iron he would cut off of me as soon as he received his piece of gold. "Where do you live?" He then asked me. Dartford Heath I replied. The Leprechaun turned around and told me to follow him. I had not walked so fast for a long time and found it difficult to keep up with him.

The following day we arrived at Dartford Heath and took the little man to my house where from a secret hiding place I took a piece of gold and gave it to him. He looked at it very carefully then threw it in his half filled pot of gold. Taking his saw he quickly freed my other leg from its iron and I was now free. He turned to leave and his parting words were. "Do not sleep in a Fairy Ring." "It is very silly and a dangerous thing for a human to do. I might not always be around to free you even though you paid me well.

I have written this down in case someone finds it and may be warned against the little folk. John Upperton residence Dartford Heath.

Old Trail

One could not call it a road it was just a winding trail that led over the mountains. Legend has it that the trail itself was a relic from the smugglers of old that took salt over the mountains and brought back with them anything that could be sold. The times were hard the only work was on the farms and the Farmers had no money. Men and women worked for their food and a place to sleep. Once a year if all went well and the harvest was good the Farmer gave his workers a few shillings for pocket money. This was the main reason why so many went smuggling it was the only way to help keep families together.

The path is no longer used by smugglers the times are much better now and most men and women work in the factories in the towns. The old trail is still used by wandering Leprechauns that travel from town to town, mending pots and pans or repairing shoes. The Leprechauns know all of the short cuts and what is more important all of the places where shelter could be found. Snowstorms in the mountains had cost many a smuggler his life. The cold high up is terrible even when one is wrapped up well but in the old days not many had warm clothing and the cold was feared the most.

This tale tells of such a Leprechaun that had often wandered over the mountains following the trails. He had walked from East to West and from West to East. His step was sprightly and at a guess I would say he was about fifty years of age. Weather did not seem to bother him at all he had a good weather sense and if he said it would snow then snow it did. One-day bad weather set in and he ran along the trail to the next sheltered spot. This spot was really a small cave it was known to but a few. On reaching the cave the Leprechaun saw that there had been a landslide and the cave was now a huge hole the old entrance had been swept away.

Running in to the cave to get out of the pouring rain the Leprechaun stumbled over what at first seemed to be a large stone. On a closer look the stone turned out to be a large block of solid silver. The Leprechaun could not believe his eyes. Pure silver as far as he could judge he went further into the cave and found that one of the walls was covered in silver not the silver ore that one has to heat before the silver will run out. This was something that no one had ever seen before. Pure silver.

Packing the lump of silver in his rucksack he sat and waited until the rain had stopped and then made his way into the next town. Here he sold the silver to a jeweller and with his pocket full of money he bought provisions and a donkey. Going back to his cave along the old smugglers trail he had the feeling that some one was watching him. He made a couple of detours until he safely reached his cave.

The Leprechaun knew it would not be wise if he made his cave with the silver public. In the old days it would have been no problem but today there were so many offices and so many permits needed that someone else would probably claim the cave. In the town he had bought some dynamite and proceeded to dynamite the entrance and leave the cave without digging more silver out of it. He lit the fuse and ran with his donkey to a safe place and waited to see what would happen. There was a loud bang and then a rumbling and a landslide once again covered the cave.

The leprechaun set his donkey free and lifting his rucksack onto his back he walked back along the trail until he reached the town. All the way along the trail he had the feeling that he was being followed. At first he thought that the jeweller had been following him; such pure silver would be worth a fortune for a jeweller. On reaching the town he went to the jewellers and asked him if he had been following him. The Jeweller told the Leprechaun that he had not been out of the shop since he had bought the silver from him.

The Leprechaun went to an inn where he thought to stay the night. He booked his room and then went to the restaurant and had a meal. After his meal he went into the bar of the inn and ordered himself a pint of beer. It did not take long and a man came and sat next to him at the bar. They got into conversation and the talk was neatly steered by the man into silver and the finding of silver mines. He tried his best to get the Leprechaun drunk so that he would give away the secret of his finding silver. A Leprechaun can never get drunk. Not on beer or wine or even the hard drinks such as whisky, gin or any other alcoholic drink. Leprechauns have stomachs that turn any alcohol into water.

It cost the man ever such a lot of money but the Leprechaun ‘who on the quiet was thoroughly enjoying himself.’ He had never had such a clever talker and he learned a great deal about silver that he did not previously know. Late that evening the Leprechaun excused himself and went up to his room to have a good sleep. He left the man sitting at the bar and as he got into bed he had a good laugh over the man’s foolishness.

Very early the next morning he paid his bill for his room and with the rucksack on his back he wandered back over the smugglers trail and with every step he got further and further away from the man that had tried to get the secret out of him. Only three or four people know about the Leprechauns silver mine. Me of course and Her Majesty, The Fairy Queen Feeana, the Leprechaun and the silly man that tried to get the secret out of the Leprechaun.

Pearls.

Nothing out of the ordinary has happened in a long time. I have the occasional visits from Fairies, Leprechauns and many other peoples of Fairyland. I have heard of nothing new, no new stories just the hum drum days of summer. I go to the woods nearly every day there is always something new to be discovered. The new born deer babies and the young fox cubs. The nicely coloured otter snake sitting basking in the sun, I always gave him plenty of room by walking a distance away around him that way he is not disturbed and I do not have to fear a bite from him. Then in turn there are the different berries and mushrooms to collect and make jam or to dry off the mushrooms for the long winter months. The delicious Hazel nuts and the Chestnuts that I collect and use over the winter months for baking cakes or just to eat are always there for my taking.

In other words it was a normal summer and my going into the woods was that which I do every year. Walking through the forest I saw something gleaming in the grass. Stopping to look closer I saw that someone had dropped a pearl. My first thought was that a fairy had dropped the pearl while playing. Picking up the pearl I put it in my pocket and carried on walking then I saw another pearl it looked as if someone had lain a trail for me or some one else to follow. All in all I picked up and placed in my pocket over thirty pearls.

I was now fairly deep into the woods and still saw no one who had placed the pearls for me to find? It was quite a mystery then I saw sitting by the edge of the river a fairly young Mermaid. "Did you place the pearls for me to find?" I gently asked her. "Yes she said I thought that who ever finds the pearls would be able to help me get back to the sea where I belong. "How did you come to be here I asked her"? "An old sea wizard wanted me to show him where the best ship wrecks were, he wanted to take the gold from them." "When I refused he used magic to throw me far inland so that I could not get back to the sea." " I myself can use a little magic as can all mermaids and I had just enough power in my magic to stop me from landing heavily and hurting myself.

"Getting you back to the sea where you belong is no problem for me," I said. "But I will have to carry you back to my house and then sit you in my car and drive the thirty odd miles to the sea shore." "Will that be all right with you?" The mermaid said, "Yes that will be all right with me as long as I get back to the sea before I dry out." "There is a big danger of my drying out without water." I asked the Mermaid to put on my Jacket which I had soaked in water to stop her from drying out and lifting her up I carried her back to my house following the river so that I could occasionally wet the jacket with river water.

On arriving at my house I ran a bath filled with warm water for the mermaid and then got my car from out of the garage. I placed a couple of buckets of water in the back of the car and wetting a blanket I wrapped the mermaid in the blanket and took her out to the car. The evening was settling in and it would soon be dark. With the Mermaid wrapped in the wet blanket I drove carefully down to the sea. I stopped a couple of times to wet the blanket with water from the buckets and drove along the seashore until I came to a deserted spot. Quickly lifting the mermaid out of the back seat I ran with her to the waters edge.

Placing her on the edge of the water I took off the blanket and then remembered the pearls. "Wait a moment little one," I said, and taking the pearls out of my pocket I placed them in a clean handkerchief and wanted to give them back to the mermaid but she would not hear of the idea. "The pearls are for you," she said. "Thank you for all of your kindness and your bringing me back to the sea." With that, she with a flip of her tail swam off and the last I saw of her she was waving one of her hands. I hurried back to the car with the pearls still in my handkerchief and drove back home.

The following day I went to the local jewellers and asked him if he would string the pearls for me. "No problem," said the jeweller and then he asked me where I had the pearls. I told him that I had received them from an Aunt that lives abroad. He seemed happy with the answer and I left the shop. Later I picked up the stringed pearls and took them home with me. On the Fairy Queen’s next birthday I will present her with the pearls. I have never seen the mermaid again and was only too pleased to be able to help her at her time of need.

Pixie Promise.

A long, long time ago a young Leprechaun wandered through Fairyland making shoes for all those that needed new shoes. The Leprechaun was a quick worker and his shoes were very comfortable to wear. One day a Pixie asked him to make her a pair of shoes. The Leprechaun said he would make the shoes if the Pixie promised to kiss him. Yes I will kiss you said the Pixie.

The Leprechaun was an ugly person with a hunched back and the Pixie had no intention of kissing such an ugly man. The shoes were made and the Pixie tried them on. They fitted perfectly. As soon as the shoes were on her feet the pixie ran off without giving the Leprechaun his kiss.

What the Pixie did not know, the leather that the Leprechaun used to make the shoes was magic. The Leprechaun muttered a few words in the old language and the shoes started to dance. The Pixie danced day and night she just could not keep her feet from dancing. She even danced in her sleep. She felt just awful.

Soon her dancing became the talk of Fairyland and the Fairy Queen Feeana heard the news. This was indeed very strange behaviour even for a Pixie. The Queen soon found out about the promise that the Pixie had made and did not keep. The Queen was very angry at the Pixie. Everybody knows that a promise must be kept by all people not only those in Fairyland.

The Queen Feeana waved her wand and the Pixie and the Leprechaun appeared before her. Another wave of her wand and the Leprechaun turned into a handsome young man. The Pixie fell in love with the young man but he did not want to know her. A promise he thought she could not keep when I was ugly why should she keep her promises in future.

The Pixie lived a very long life and was unhappy about the handsome Leprechaun who married another Pixie that kept her promises. It is better not to promise something if you know you cannot keep the promise. This is the lesson that the Dancing Pixie learned. I myself felt sorry for her but it was entirely her own fault.

Pixies Trouble.

I am sorry to say that yet once again there is trouble in Fairyland. It is the Pixies they want Fairyland to be split in two with a border running through the middle with control points just like the humans with their silly customs and check points. I saw myself, at least fifty pixies with banners on which were written Pixie-land for the Pixies! Another group of fairies had also gotten mixed up with this most silly of quarrels. They were carrying banners much better painted with pictures of animals saying we can live with the animals but not it seems with the Pixies.

This weird behaviour carried on for at least a month with neither side seeing how silly the whole idea was. Fairyland is big enough for all of the little peoples to live in peace, so why the new trouble about a border and customs houses it all is stupid and a waste of time. I myself wondered what Her Majesty Queen Feeana thought about it all. It was later that day that Her Majesty came to see me. She entered my house by way of magic so that none of the pixies or Fairies could see her.

"What shall I do?" asked Her Majesty. "The whole situation is getting out of hand soon all of Fairyland will be involved and that is something that we do not want." I suggested to Her Majesty that the Pixies get their own way and a border made between two halves of Fairyland. One half should be called New Fairyland and only Fairies should live there. The other half should be called Pixie-land and only the Pixies should live there.

I suggested at the same time that if the Pixies wanted to come to New Fairyland they should pay an entry tax. This entry tax can only be bought on one day of the week. Monday. If they wanted to bring anything else with them they should pay an entry tax on all articles. The same if they bought anything in New Fairyland there should be a tax. The taxes must be paid in Fairy cakes. Fairy cakes are well like by all in Fairyland and what in future would be called Pixie-land. In other words until there was agreement again between the two folk there would be this cutting in two of the land and taxes must be paid.

Her Majesty waved her wand and the Fairyland was divided into two equal parts one was called Pixie-land the other New Fairyland. To pass between the two countries taxes had to be paid, to buy or sell in either country, taxes must be paid. As you may well imagine there was utter chaos until things settled down. Then a most serious thing happened people began to hoard the Fairy cakes soon there were no cakes to be had. This meant no travel no shopping. Now all were really unhappy and started to blame each other for the state of things in the two countries.

Her Majesty went on a long holiday during the parting of the two countries and there was no one for the Fairies and the Pixies to take their troubles to. I myself kept out of the woods, as I did not want to be seen taking sides. I like both the Fairies and the Mischievous Pixies and did not want to be a part of all there silliness. Soon it came about that no one could travel anymore there were just no Fairy cakes to pay one’s way.

Monday was a bad day to want to make travel arrangements and soon both the Pixies and the Fairies wanted to go back to old Fairyland where no one paid taxes and there were no restrictions on travel and what is more Fairy cakes were to be had by all, whether Fairies or Pixies and in the old days they did not cost anything. Then a very strange thing happened. Both the Fairies and the Pixies decided to get together and talk things over. A messenger was sent to my house asking me to come and see that all was carried out in an orderly manner.

The borders were opened for everyone and all came to Fairyland where I sat waiting patiently for them to start their meeting. I had decided only to say something if I thought things was getting out of hand. Something stranger happened fairy cakes appeared as if by magic one only had to take a cake and eat it. It was like the old days. Soon all settled down and one of the Pixies and one of the Fairies was chosen to start the meeting.

All the complaints of only being able to arrange travel on Mondays were discussed and it was decided that one could travel at any time. Then came the hoarding of Fairy cakes, all were against this, as it is difficult to make Fairy cakes at home. One has to go far a field to get all of the ingredients and then the honey can only with the permission of the bees be collected and not all Fairies or Pixies were granted this privilege.

I sat quietly and listened to all of the complaints and when no one else had anything to say. I spoke to all of the Fairies and Pixies; " I hope that you all have learned a lesson from this agreement to part the country in two. It brought nothing good for either the Fairies or the Pixies. Go back to the old way where all lived in Peace and there was no want of food and travelling was just as you pleased. No taxes are also a very good thing. You all got on well before taxes so why pay taxes to travel and buy what is given to you in plenty."

Now there is peace in Fairyland there is no Pixie land, no New Fairyland it is once again just Fairyland. No taxes, No travel restrictions and all are at peace with one another. Her Majesty came to see me late that night and thanked me for my help. I too now have a small stock of the delicious Fairy cakes in my pantry but I only eat them whenever I need a little fresh energy.

Race.

I have never seen Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies so worried. I asked her what was troubling her so much. The Fairies are using their wings to go even the shortest of distances. Their legs are getting so thin that I am afraid soon they will only be able to fly. I had an idea, "Your Majesty what if I organised a race for the Fairies not just a race to see who comes over the finishing line first, a race with obstacles built in." My idea was for the Fairies to compete in looking for mushrooms and berries, each would have a basket and the first to fill the basket would be the winner. Her Majesty was delighted that I would run such a race for the Fairies.

Calling a meeting of all the Fairies Her Majesty told them that there was to be a race to see who could fill a basket with berries or mushrooms the first. There was just one condition all Fairies must not use their wings but to go on foot, I was to be the judge and any Fairy caught flying would be disqualified. The race will be held on the coming Tuesday and all Fairies are to take part. This Idea pleased the Fairies and all were ready with a basket on the Tuesday.

I called to the Fairies that all were to walk no one must use his or her wings. Flying was definitely not part of the race. Off went the Fairies excited at the thought of winning the race. I kept my eye on them and got the birds to watch them so that none would use their wings without my knowing. Soon the Fairies were showing signs of distress none had used their legs for a long time and walking was very tiring, Soon some of them gave up looking for berries or mushrooms, all of these I sent back to the starting place and I said that no one was to fly.

One by one, the Fairies came back with more or less full baskets. Just one small Fairy seemed to be taking her time. I waited another hour and then went off to look for her. Morganfee that is her name gets very excited and does not notice the time, mostly she lives in a world of her own. We would call her a scatterbrain but she was very sweet and all that knew her loved her. I began to worry the time is going so quick and I still have not found any sign of her. I then thought to ask the birds if they had seen which way Morganfee had gone. A young robin told me that she was last seen walking towards the old wishing well.

I now retraced my steps and went off to the old wishing well. There was no trace of Morganfee then I came across a heap of mushrooms and berries that had obviously been emptied from a basket. I now decided to call Her Royal Majesty, Queen Feeana to help in the search. With a small flash and a puff of smoke, Her Majesty stood before me. I told her of Morganfee’s and how she was missing.

Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and we both looked intently at the picture that unfolded before our eyes. Morganfee’s basket was nearly full of berries and mushrooms. She appeared to be looking closely at something that glittered on the ground. It was like a small star bright and silvery. Then she saw another and beyond that another, Morganfee emptied her basket, (That was the pile of berries and mushrooms that I had come across earlier.) Then she picked up one star after another getting deeper and deeper into the woods. Suddenly it happened! A man appeared and threw a net over Morganfee. Picking her up with the net and the basket full of stars, he went off in a northerly direction.

Her Majesty said, " I recognise the man it is the sorcerer Mugamwit," "here is he taking her to I wonder?" Shaking her head Her Majesty took out her wand and speaking in the old language, she cast a spell. The sorcerer and Morganfee appeared right in front of us. Setting Morganfee free Her Majesty told her to fly home as quickly as possible and to leave the stars here. The sorcerer she turned into a star and sent him shooting straight up into the heavens above. "He will remain there as a star until there is not a fairy left on earth. We went back home where we called the race off and a new race would be held on the morrow this time a proper race with start and finish.

The Fairies were told of the Queens misgivings as to their flying everywhere and they promised that in future they would walk wherever possible and leave the flying for long distance travel or if they were in danger of any sort. Morganfee was given a basket with small glittering stars that were guaranteed to be harmless.

Rag Doll.

I received a parcel through the post. The Postman was surprised as I only get letters and bills as a rule. Thanking the Postman I closed the front door and took the parcel into my kitchen. Carefully opening the same, a large rag doll with a message written in a childish hand saying this was a present for me for writing so many Fairy-Tales. I was I must admit a little taken aback at reading the message. Where had they gotten my address? Something made me distrustful. The face was composed of two glass eyes with a pair of lips sewn carefully under a rather long nose. The doll is not ugly just a little strange. I put the doll on my sideboard and folded the wrapping paper to put in the bin for salvage. As I prepared my breakfast, I had the impression that the doll’s eyes were following my every move.

After breakfast, I put on my overcoat. It was quite a cold morning and I did not want to catch a cold. I left the doll on the sideboard and forgot about it as I went into town to do some shopping. After my shopping, I returned to my home and felt a strange feeling that someone or something had been in my house in my absence. The doll was still on the sideboard. I looked carefully at the sideboard and saw that the doll was not in the same position as I had left it in. Someone or something had tried to open my locked drawer where I keep my Magic dust and mirror and of course my magic wand. I was not particularly worried as my house and all that was in it is under the protection of the Fairy Queen Feeana.

I decided to keep an eye on the rag doll and placing a wall mirror in such a position that I could see what was happening in the kitchen I went into my living room. At first, nothing seemed to be happening the rag doll sat as I had left it on the sideboard. After an hour or so I saw the rag doll move, first it straightened its legs and moving to the edge of the sideboard it tried to open the drawer where my magical things were kept. I ran into the Kitchen and the doll tried to get back into its original position. I took it out into the garden where I have a couple of rain butts and placed it into the water holding it down with a large stone.

The next morning I went out to the rain butts but there was no stone and no rag doll. Then I saw it was sitting on the old cherry tree still looking at the house, I went to it and with my pocket knife I cut off the two eyes, The eyes I placed in a box and buried them in a hole that I dug in the garden. The rag doll I threw onto the small bonfire that was burning the old leaves and garden rubbish from last autumn. I then went about my business and forgot the rag doll. Since the doll had been with me no Fairies had shown themselves in my house or garden, this was very unusual and I wondered whether someone had cast a spell over my house and garden.

The following day I went to the back garden and could not believe what I saw. The rag doll was sitting once more in the cherry tree watching the house, there was not a burn on it and its eyes were back in place. I decided to call Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the Fairies. I had no sooner thought of her Majesty and she appeared in the usual flash of blue light and a small puff of smoke. I told Her Majesty of the Postman bringing me the rag doll and the message that came with the parcel. I also told Her Majesty of the doll’s attempts to get into my locked drawer where I keep my magic dust, mirror and wand. Her Majesty took out her own magic wand and pointed it at the rag doll. The doll caught fire and burned, until there was nothing left but dust then another wave of the wand and a wind came out of nowhere and blew what was left of the doll into the winds. I saw no more of the doll. Going into my house, I showed Her Majesty the wrapping paper and the message that came with the doll. Her Majesty took her magic mirror from a pocket and placed it on the wrapping paper. A picture appeared in the mirror in the picture was a man dressed like all Wizards dress his high hat was covered in magic symbols and he was looking into a small mirror that as we watched turned milky and whatever it was that the man had been watching vanished. "His screen can work no more without the eyes of the rag doll he is now left with an empty mirror, it will take a long time for him to produce another pair of magic eyes to place in another doll." "Shall I punish him for his trying to steal your magic wand?" I thought for a minute and then spoke these words to Her Majesty. "Let him produce as many dolls as he wishes and make it so that all the dolls that he produces are not sent to me or anyone else that he wishes to harm. Make them safe and send them to hospitals where sick children need toys to help them get better." Her Majesty on hearing my words smiled and said, "he will no longer have the powers of a Wizard but he will be the most famous rag doll maker that the world has ever seen. Therefore, if you see a rag doll or even own one then the Wizard that sent me a rag doll could have made it.

Rainstorm.

The wind had been howling right through the night. Looking out of the window I see that most of the garden is under water. I thought to myself it must have been one of those one hundred year storms that one hears about occasionally. It is still raining and I certainly am not going out into the woods in such weather. I even thought about going back to my bed and sleep the day away. This I knew that I would not do, there is always something to be done around a house and my house is no exception. I gazed for a while out of the kitchen window then I caught a movement going on at the bottom of the garden. Pulling on my raincoat and hat, I put on my Wellington boots and opened the back door. The wind caught me and I nearly went off balance. Struggling against the wind I made my way down to the bottom of the garden where I had seen the movements.

The storm had washed a nest out of one of the bushes and a Blackbird pair was trying to feed and rescue the young birds in the nest. I carefully picked up the nest and poured most of the rain water out of it then placed it as securely as I could in the bush that it had fallen out of. The water was now running off my waterproof coat and my hat was getting soggy I decided to go into the woods to see what if any damage had been done. The floor of the woods was very muddy and I had to be very careful not to slip. I walked for about an hour and saw that although the winds have been very high there was no real storm damage to be seen. The wild animals that I normally saw have all taken cover, I have not even seen one of the many shy deer.

Slowly I made my way back home, I was now quite wet and although my feet were dry due to the wearing of the Wellington boots my feet are tired as the boots are rather heavy. As I reached my garden I looked to see whether the Blackbirds had managed to anchor their nest in the bush where I placed it and to my great delight the nest was now dry and the parent birds are busily feeding the three young birds in the nest. I went on into the house taking my Wellington boots off in the scullery and hanging my coat on its usual peg to dry. I placed my hat on its shelf and went into the kitchen to prepare a meal for myself.

I had just finished washing the dishes when the telephone rang. Answering the phone I was surprised to hear a well-known voice. Shamus my Leprechaun friend is phoning me from somewhere in America. The line was not very good and I had difficulty understanding Shamus. Suddenly the line was clear and I heard Shamus clearly. He wanted me to tell The Fairy Queen Feeana, that he was in difficulty and needed her help. He had got involved with a circle of witches and could not break free from them. It was still raining and I once more donned my Mackintosh and Wellington boots. Grabbing my hat, which was still damp, I went once more into the woods.

Her Majesty was waiting for me due to her magical powers she had already heard of Shamus’s dilemma. "How can we help Shamus? Said Her Majesty. I cannot locate him with magic, as the atmosphere is full of your human radio signals. "I myself cannot go to America at this time of the year, because of the Fairy Universities Grand opening." I can go Your Majesty," I heard myself saying. "I have a new passport and a green card should not be too difficult." Two days later I was in an aeroplane on a direct flight to Washington. It was not too difficult to locate Shamus it was the witches that were the problem they were using the Pentagon Building for their meetings. The witches were able to fly under the radar screens over the Pentagon building and had established themselves on the roof of the building. No one would ever dream of looking for them in this well guarded building.

After establishing the whereabouts of Shamus I used Her Majesties own magic wand to take me to the Pentagon roof. Here I waited until it was dark then I saw the witches flying in on their broomsticks. One of the witches threw some powder on to a very small fire that she had lit and Shamus appeared. Shamus it seemed had done some work for one of the witches. The witch knew that Leprechauns kept reserves of gold all over this world. She wanted to turn Shamus into a very large toad if he did not tell her where his gold was hidden. I decided to use the magic wand on the witches. A small shower of sparks and the witches all scrambled for their broomsticks as they took off to fly away they were forced by the magic to land in the grounds of the pentagon.

The witches were all caught by the security guards and taken into custody. None of them could give a satisfactory explanation of how they got into the grounds and what they were doing there with their broomsticks. All were given a long term of imprisonment. Shamus and I used the wand once again to get back to my house. It was still raining. It did not take long for me to get a fire on the go and to make some sandwiches and get the ginger biscuits out of the larder and each with a large mug of sweet hot tea Shamus told me of his adventures since our last meeting.

Dream Stones.

Rainy Summer.

A very poor summer hardly any sunshine and very much rain. It had been one of those summers, which one wants to forget. Two whole days of sunshine the rest of the time nothing but rain or rain showers a summer to forget. Flooding took place over most of the country even the countries surrounding us were in the same position. The fruits on the trees grew but without sunshine, they did not ripen. The bees too were in a terrible state with all the rain it had been a rough time for them to collect pollen to make the honey.

This year the Fairies told me that they were going into early winter quarters. I had seen the vast caves under the Himalayan Mountains . Here the Fairies and the butterflies live together during the cold wet months of winter. In the caves, there are houses and fruit trees with hundreds of different flowers. Talk was that the Fairies were going to ask the bees to spend the winter with them. I was thrilled at the idea of taking the bees with the Fairies for in the caves the flowers are so big that a bee would not have to travel far to get its portion of pollen for the hives.

In October, the Fairies came to say their goodbyes we would not see each other for about four months. The butterflies and the bees the Fairy Queen had sent on to the caves. I myself settled down to a long hard winter without my friends the little people. I spent a few days getting in supplies and filling my deep freeze unit and my larder with things like rice, sugar, tea, coffee, and a few crates of drinking water. One year my pipes had frozen and I had no water for days until I could get a plumber around to fix the problem.

There were many tears as the Fairies said their goodbyes, I told them that spring would soon be here, and new adventures would be ours again. It stopped the tears but the little ones were very sad. When the Fairies had left, I put on my heavy boots and went into the woods to see that all was well. It would have been easy to miss a small Fairy that is playing hide and seek or some other exciting game. All was well there were no Fairies in the woods and everything was as it should be. Spiders were busy spinning their large nets across the Fairy Paths so that no one would go along them and perhaps find some Fairy toy or jewel that had been lost.

Satisfied that all was well in Fairyland I walked back to my house. I suddenly had this feeling that not all was well a sixth sense had made me feel uneasy. I hurried along to my house and managed to open the back door without dropping the keys. In the house all was quiet but the feeling remained something was wrong. I went into all of the rooms and down into the cellar and even up into the attic something was out of place but what?

Shrugging my shoulders, I made myself a pot of tea and some toasted bread, which I thickly spread with butter and strawberry jam. Placing two spoonfuls of sugar in my tea, I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. I knew that something was not right, but what was it? Then she suddenly appeared a small Fairy girl, why she had not even left Fairy school so her Magic wand could only do small magic tricks. I smiled and asked her if she would like some toast with butter and strawberry jam. All small Fairies love strawberry jam it is a real treat for them.

With her Magic wand, she soon held a cup of elderberry wine in her fingers I drank my tea. Fairies do not like tea; they say it is too bitter for their delicate tastes. I then asked her why she had not gone with the other Fairies to the winter Quarters. She shyly told me that she had been playing with some mouse babies and had not heard the signal to leave. With her small wand, she could not utter the magic words to fly her to the caves.

I went to my safe where I kept the two magic words that Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana gave me with these two words I could go to the caves under the Himalayas at any time. This was such an emergency that I did not think twice about it but spoke the two words. I had the Fairy girl by the hand and with a flash of light and the whiff of smoke; we landed in the caves. Surrounding us were Fairies and butterflies the Fairies wanted to know what had happened. I had no time to explain her Majesty Fairy Queen Feeana came to me and thanked me for transporting the little one to the winter quarters.

I stayed with the Fairies and the butterflies for two whole weeks and watched with glee as the bees collected pollen from all over the caves. I have been asked not to tell the name of the fairy girl in this story she is after all not quite two and a half years old and small children do get carried away when they are occupied and forget even the most important of things.

Ride Into Town.

There were many people waiting at the bus stop, I was the last in the queue. I thought at first that I would not be able to get on the bus if it was full. Slowly the Double Decker bus came into view. Stopping on the white line the people in the queue started moving slowly forward. I was lucky being the last to board the bus. The conductor called out no more, standing room only. I rarely use the bus as it is only a few minutes walk to the local shops but today I wanted some electrical equipment and that meant going into the next big town some five miles away.

Pulling off with a jerk the bus slowly rolled along the street. It seemed as if we hit every bump in the road. On the way the bus stopped a few times to let people get off and others to get on. We reached the town and I rang the bell for the bus to stop. I jumped off the bus and walked to the next electrical shop. Telling the man behind the counter what I needed he went off to the back of the shop and I waited patiently for him to return.

He came back with a few boxes; I looked the electrical parts over and then paid the man for his goods. Leaving the shop with my boxes in a plastic carrier bag I walked to the next bus stop. As I reached the stop a man said to me "The bus has just left, the next is in an hours time." Thanking him I decided to walk back to my village. Off I went and the carrier bag seemed to get heavier and heavier. Then after about a mile and a half it started to rain. By now I was rather fed up with myself and on my decision to go into town to get the electrical parts. I needed them for my computer.

A horse and cart that had been following me stopped, and the man on the cart asked me if I wanted a ride. The cart was covered in front and as I was by now very wet I thanked the man and climbed up onto the seat beside him. We got into conversation and he told me that he was a Tinker going around the country mending pots and pans. Kettles and anything that was metal. I had some pots at home that needed mending and offered him a meal and a comfortable bed for the night in exchange for him mending a few things especially my watering cans both were of metal, both very old and both leaking.

We arrived at my house and I told him to put his horse in the shed it was at least dry. I still had some oats, so feeding the horse was no problem, that and a bucket full of water and the horse was seen to. I went into the kitchen and made a large pot of tea. When the Tinker had fed and watered his horse he came into the kitchen and we sat down to a hot cup of tea. I gave him some clothes of mine so that he could get out of the wet clothing that he was wearing. Then I made us a meal and showing him to my spare room we both went upstairs.

I myself slept well. The Tinker was up before me and had the kettle on the go for breakfast. After we had eaten he asked me to show him my old pots and pans. I gave him the two watering cans. Taking one in his hands he slowly looked at it and then said to me, " I have repaired this watering can before, Look here, here is my mark." On the can I saw that a repair had indeed been made to it and on the repair there was a cross scratched into the repair. Taking the other can in his hands he soon found another repair with a cross marked on to it.

He then told me that he had been this way some forty years previously and my father had also given him a room for the night. He soon repaired the watering cans and asked me if I too had children. I said no. Taking me by the arm he led me to a part of the garden where there was an old apple tree growing it had been there for years. When you were a little boy I took you to this tree and showed you a good hiding place. Can you remember you were very young only two years of age? I could not remember and he put one of his hands into what looked like bark from the tree. Taking out of the hiding place he placed a piece of fairy gold in my hand.

This piece of gold I gave to you all of those years ago and it is still here you must have forgotten all about it. Place your hand in the hole just push aside the bark that is covering the hole. I put my hand into the hole and felt something like a tin whistle. Taking it in my fingers I took it out of the hole and looked at it. Placing it to my lips I began to play a tune. It was a lively tune and the Tinker was tapping his feet to the melody. I taught you that tune when you were still a little boy I see that you have not forgotten it.

"Why did you give me the gold?" I asked, why not my Father? Why the hole in the tree? "Your Father was a very proud man, very generous to us wandering folks but he would in no circumstances take payment from us. There is another hiding place where the Fairies placed their little gifts to your father. He was well known to all the Fairies and Leprechauns and Tinkers. No one was sent away hungry all were made welcome. I am glad that you too are the same. But come I will show you the other hiding place.

In the shed where the horse had spent the night he went to the front wall where the manger was fixed to the wall. Brushing away the dust of years he pulled out two bricks from the wall. "Reach in and know that the little people for his kindness have given all of this to your Father." Reaching in I pulled out a rough leather sack. In the sack were pieces of gold. A few precious stones and a piece of bark completed the contents. Written on the bark was this message (Be warned this treasure is for Stanley Shaw or his heirs. Any one else taking the treasure will be very unhappy). The bark was not signed but as I read it the letters faded away.

You are the rightful Heir to the Fairy Treasure the Tinker told me. The disappearance of the writing proves that. The warning has fulfilled its purpose. All of my cans, pots and pans have now been repaired and the Tinker has gone on his way. I have two hiding places that might be useful at a future date who knows?

Ring of Fate.

The Williams Family had lived in the house for five generations. It had once been a very large family but know only Mary Williams was still alive. She was about fifty years of age and poor. Money was always a problem or should I say the lack of it. Mary worked all the week for the Family in the big house. She had gone to the big house as a young fourteen-year-old girl into service. In other words she did all the hard or dirty work. Her payment was board and lodging with one day off a week and at the end of each year she was given four golden guineas.

Mary was not the type to complain and worked well, she was not even noticed by most of the people that came to the big house to stay. On her off days Mary tended the garden of her small house. Most of her money was spent on flowers and Mary when she was finished with her work at the big house would sneak off to her own home and water the garden or pull out weeds. Her garden was a picture to see. All through the summer and autumn there were flowers to be seen in all shapes and sizes.

One day Mary decided to dig up the small strip of land at the back of the house. This strip had been lying empty for years and Mary had to first cut down the weeds and long grass. She had been meaning to do this for years but somehow never found the time to do it. Taking the scythe that one of her great grandparents had bought years ago she sharpened the scythe with a sharpening or whet stone and cut back all of the grass and weeds.

All that Mary cut she carefully put onto her compost heap, it would come in useful to enrich the flowerbeds. Mary dug the new plot, it was hard work but she did not seem to mind. She had dug about half of the new bed when she saw something glistening in the earth. A piece of glass thought Mary and set her fork to dig the next piece of earth. As she dug the fork into the ground the earth fell from the glittering thing and Mary saw that it was a ring. Picking the ring up Mary wiped it on the sleeve of her blouse and the sun caught the stone. It was a large diamond at least three carats. Mary put the ring into her pocket and then finished off the digging before she went to make herself a cup of tea.

Inside the house it was spotlessly clean, Mary was poor but she always had time to clean the house as well as tend the garden. As Mary drank her tea she remembered the ring and taking it from her pocket she washed it thoroughly under the kitchen tap. Inside the ring were the words ‘Ring Of Fate.’ engraved. Mary thought very hard did any of her family ever own such a ring? Then she came to the conclusion that none in her family could ever have owned a ring like this. On her next day off she went to the local Police Station and there she explained to the Police officer how she had found the ring in her garden.

"How long does your family own the house?" Asked the Policeman. "I do not really know." Said Mary. "But it has been in my family for at least five generations." Well said the Policeman I should say that you are the rightful owner. Mary went back to the big house where she had worked all these years and told the cook about the find in her garden. The cook told all and sundry about the ring and soon the owner of the house heard about the finding of the ring. The owner was a greedy person and she was always complaining of what it cost to keep servants. She was a woman that was never satisfied and always found excuses to complain.

The owner of the house told her personal maid to tell Mary to come to her immediately with the ring. Mary took the ring with her and went to the owner of the house. "Show me the ring that you have supposedly found." She roughly said. Mary took the ring from her pocket and gave it to the woman to look at. "This is the ring that was stolen from me two years ago." she said. Mary told her story yet once again of how she found the ring in her garden. The woman placed the ring on her finger. Mary got the surprise of her life. The woman turned into a Donkey. Mary rushed to tell the other servants about the woman who was now a Donkey.

All were agreed it was the woman’s own fault for being so greedy. Mary looked down at the Donkeys feet and there was the ring on the floor. Mary placed the ring on her own finger and heard the words in her head. You are the owner of the ‘Ring Of Fate.’ Mary went back to her work and the owner of the house turned back into a frightened old woman that did not realise what had happened to her.

Two months later a Lawyer turned up at the big house looking for Mary. One of Mary’s relations who had gone abroad had died and left everything to Mary. Mary was now a very rich woman and although she has plenty of money and a few houses scattered around the world she still lives in her own little house and lovingly tends her garden.

Rubbish.

One of the last things I would do, say no to a plea for help from The Fairy Queen Feeana. The woods where fairyland exists is gradually filling up with waste, Rubbish of all kinds is being deposited on the floor of the woods and when a wind blows paper and plastic are blown through the woods covering all kinds of plants, some of which are necessary for the Fairies to live. Old bicycles, motor wracks some of which drip oil onto the ground spoiling the growth of plants for a very long time.

When Queen Feeana asked me to help in clearing away all of this terrible rubbish I knew that I would not be able to things on my own. I asked at the local school whether the children would be willing to help me in my efforts to clear up the woods. The children were delighted and plans were made as to how they could help. Being successful at the school I decided to have a word with the Mayor of the town after all it was public property and the council should help.

With the Mayor it was more difficult he had many excuses it would cost taxpayers money to tow away the old vehicles that were in the woods. It was only after much persuasion on my part and the fact that the children were willing to help and I forgot to mention, there would be a council election in a few weeks that I got help at all from the council.

I bought large black plastic sacks for the children to put the rubbish in. Yellow plastic sacks for the old tins that were littering up the woodlands floor. The great day arrived and the children were very enthusiastic and collected all the rubbish they could see and placed it either in the black sacks or in the yellow. The council had sent a towing lorry from a local firm and all of the old car wracks were taken and disposed of at a breakers yard.

The children had a day off from school and I on the following day went to the school and thanked them all for doing one very good job of cleaning the woodlands. Can we do it again next year came a question from a cheerful young face sitting in the back of the hall? I myself thought it was a great idea and proposed that the Headmaster of the school apply to the local council for permission.

The Fairies were delighted with the cleansing of the forest floor and wanted to give the children some kind of present for their help. I said, "No it is not necessary to give the children a reward it was all a part of the learning process which all children go through." I then told the Fairies that whenever the children came into the woods they should make sure that the children find only the largest and ripest of the strawberries and Blackberries, the same with the various nuts that would help the children to enjoy the woods even more.

Her Majesty herself thanked me in the name of all of the little folk for my efforts in getting the woods clean again. For the children she gave me a golden coin that I changed at my bank and spend the money on ice cream for the whole school. This as you may imagine went down very well with all of the children. Now we have a clean woodlands floor, there is no more paper and plastic choking the young plants and littering up the woods, all of the old wracks are gone and Her Majesty has now placed a magic ban on the woods. Anyone towing an old wreck towards the woods is given the feeling that he or she will be faint and very ill. All peoples that carry rubbish with them to leave on the forest floor will also be subject to such feelings. The little folk do not want their homelands being turned into rubbish tips. As for myself, I have since made it a habit to collect any scrap of paper or tin can, bottle or whatever that I may find and take it with me to place in my rubbish bin, which is emptied once a week.

Strangely enough now that the children have cleaned the woods many more people come visiting and many make the remark, that the woods look lovely and doesn’t it make a change to find that Mother Nature still has a say in the lovely countryside of which the woods are only a small part.

Sand Rain.

I will never forget the day that it rained sand. The sand is from a sand storm in North Africa and is being carried by the high winds coming in from the south. The fine sand goes into everything in ones hair in ones clothes and the housewives were complaining the loudest. Even with closed windows the sand caused a fine dust to appear over the walls the shelves even in the bed clothes. The weather people said that this happens every year or two and is nothing for any one to worry about.

I myself was worried this could be a personal attack by some weird wizard who wanted to get revenge on the fairies. The last attack was green caterpillars, now sand. What would come next I wondered. I listened carefully to the weather forecasts and the sand was coming from North Africa we could get sand for another two days if the high winds kept blowing.

I went into the woods to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana with her magic mirror she could see whether this was a normal occurrence or if some evil person was behind the attack. Consenting to see me Her Majesty listened to my thoughts about the sand and took the magic mirror from her pocket. In the mirror there was nothing to be seen it remained clear. We were not under attack this was normal weather caused by the sand storms and the very high winds there was nothing to worry about.

Her Majesty went to put her mirror back into her pocket when she saw a deep red setting of the sun. This was not a normal setting of the sun the colours were too deep and the red too dull. Giving me the mirror Her Majesty asked me what I thought about the picture. I in all my long life had never seen such a sunset it was frightening and I told Her Majesty so. A meeting was called of the wise old fairies, all looked in the mirror no one had ever seen a sunset such as this before.

The professors in the fairy universities were called in for their opinions this was considered very serious. Some even thought that the end of this world was nigh. Others said we should flee to another world before it was too late. Fairies travel by magic through the universe looking for new worlds. They had found many over the years and with the help of magic they could easily leave this world and go to another planet. Many suggestions were made as to how and what should be done. All seemed to fail on one thing or another.

I asked myself if the picture we had seen was real or was the mirror in some way responsible for the redness of the sunset that we had seen. I asked Her Majesty whether the mirror could go wrong and if there was any way one could test the results that we had seen. My question seemed not to surprise Her Majesty for she with her magic wand produced another such magic mirror. The new mirror showed another sunset this one was beautiful a sunset that I had seen a hundred times or more in my long life.

We were all pleased that the mirror was at fault and not that some evil person or worse still that the world was coming to an end. The professors went back to their universities and the wise old fairies went back to doing what wise old fairies do. I sat in the woods hoping that the high winds would soon drop and that the sand would disappear.

Later that evening I went home to my house and started to clean away the sand it was to no avail I would have to wait until the winds dropped before I could clean the house thoroughly. I slept the night in my old armchair my bed was full of sand particles and not very inviting. The next morning the winds had dropped and there was no more sand in the air. I got myself a duster and the other things I would need to clean the house and started to dust the furniture and shelves.

Suddenly the room was full of the little folk all wanted to help me to clean my house. They started up in the attic and worked their way down until the whole of my house was perfectly clean. Then each took a handful of magic dust from their pockets and magic dust was thrown into every room all was back to normal and I threw a party for the little folk. Soon all were busy carrying food and drink, ice cream and other things to the woods where we all spent a very pleasant afternoon.

Sheer Magic.

On a visit to Austria , I went up into the mountains to an old gold mine. This mine was up to the most modern safety regulations and many people came to visit to see how the miners in the old days dug out the gold. Nowadays there is electric light in all of the shafts and tunnels that over the years by generations of miners by their digging had made.

I with about twenty other people boarded the small train that took us to the last diggings in the mine. On the way in, I noticed something written on the mine walls it was in the old language used by the Fairies. It was surprising that no one else had seen this writing it was very old and nearly faded when I saw it. I was determined to come back when there were no visitors in the mine. The mine shut at six o’clock in the evening and as it was summertime, I could easily come back and go into the mine on my own.

The wooden doors to the mine were easy to open no one had bothered to lock them and with a powerful torch and a supply of fresh batteries, I began my evening adventure. With my bare hand and using the torch, I retraced the writing on the wall. Suddenly as I got to the last letter, a flash and a puff of smoke and I was in another mine. In this mine there were twenty or more Leprechauns going about their work of digging the gold ore from the mountain. I understood all and even helped them by pushing the heavily filled carts to a large oven. Here the gold from the rocks was smelting under the expert hands of the Leprechauns. Charcoal for firing the oven was stacked to one side and I could see the sweat pouring off the Leprechauns that were working there.

The Leprechauns offered me a drink from what I thought was water bottles in fact what I drank was sweet barley wine. I felt a surge of strength running through my body and continued on helping to push the heavy carts filled with ore. Soon I saw the gold running into moulds in the ground. As soon as the moulds were full all of the Leprechauns stopped work and we all went to the mine’s entrance and walked off to a small clearing. Here the Leprechauns had made themselves comfortable and I saw skins sewn together from wild animals that were forming a roof over their heads. Food, eaten from a large cauldron was a very good vegetable stew. I slept the night on a bed of ferns under the skins and awoke in the morning quite fresh.

We all went back to the mine and the gold in small handy bars was now cold and had set hard. Each Leprechaun took one of the bars of gold and saying the two magical words disappeared. Finally, I was the only one in the mine and there was one gold bar left lying on the ground in its mould. I took the gold bar and said the two magic words but nothing happened. I thought perhaps that I had spoken them wrong after all; it was a very ancient language. Then I had an idea I wrote the two words on the inside of the mine on the wall. The now familiar flash and I was back at the mine in the Austrian mountains.

I looked at my watch and saw that only one-half an hour had gone past. How could this be? I had worked and slept overnight in the old mine with the Leprechauns I had a bar of gold in my hand to prove it. I had no more batteries for my torch it must have been much longer than a half an hour. I walked back to my hotel and went to my table for my evening meal. I kept my little episode a secret. How could I explain a small bar of solid gold to anyone other than to a Leprechaun?

Soon I was on my way home with one small bar of gold in my luggage. This gold I took to jewellers who weighed it and made a small chemical test. He then told me that I was in the possession of two ounces of twenty-four carat gold. He offered to buy it from me but my gold is not for sale. I have never been back to the mine in Austria it is still there and who knows one-day some one else will trace the magic words and go back in time to when the Leprechauns were smelting gold in the mine.

Silly Sorcerer.

The fire suddenly flared up and out of the fire stepped a Sorcerer. "Oh! Oh!" I thought to myself, " There is something evil going on when a Sorcerer is invited to a Witches coven."

One dark night the sorcerer sent off his Owls to the Witches homes. The Owls flew in circles as the magic took place that the Fairy Queen had performed. The Witches are still waiting for a message from the Sorcerer and the Sorcerer he was turned into an Owl to keep his other Owls company. They are still flying around in circles. The Fairy Queen Feeana was not kidnapped and as long as she has friends like the Leprechauns she will live in peace all through her long, long life.

Space Fairies.

Late in summer I went to the woods looking for mushrooms. I came across a large clearing and saw the Fairies. Sitting in two circles facing inward were a hundred of the little people. The outer circle held their magic wands up to the heavens the inner circle had their magic wands pointing into the middle of the circle. All were gazing up in to the sky. I could feel the tension mounting as they waited for something to happen.

Suddenly floating down to earth came a large crystal, shaped like a cigar. The two ends came nearly to a point, in the middle a completely round ball like structure. Sinking slowly it landed in the middle of the circles of waiting Fairies. The magic wands were put away and in the centre of the object an opening appeared and out flew a hundred or more Fairies. All were wearing dresses of shimmering light material each was carrying a small handbag. Greetings were exchanged with the waiting Fairies and slowly the clearing emptied of Fairies and the cigar shaped object slowly disappeared from sight.

I knew that I had witnessed a coming to earth of new Fairies from the Fairies mother planet that is in the Andromeda section of space. I went back home and started to write this story for you all. A Fairy appeared in my room where I write all my little stories and asked me not to tell anyone about the Fairies transporter to earth. Showing the Fairy all that I had written she agreed that it would be a pity not to tell the story, as it would answer many questions as to where the Fairies come from. Fairies in the planet somewhere in the Andromeda system of space have a long hard training behind them each has been to a Fairy university and holds the title equivalent to Doctor, Professor or some such qualification before they are sent to earth.

The machine that transports them is made of finely spun atoms that are the strongest thing that the Fairies have ever made. Nothing can destroy the atom structure and it is ideal for travelling through space. Fairies need oxygen twice a year and after taking a deep breath they do not need to breath again for many months. Oxygen is no problem as the cigar structure holds complete nurseries with growing plants, Trees and other oxygen producing plants. The Fairies travel faster than the speed of light starting off at a very low speed in just one week they reach the high speed of light. It takes them three weeks to reduce speed so that they can land on the planets many of which they have visited.

The two circles of Fairies that I had watched were guiding the Andromeda Fairies to the right landing place. The magic wands were not only guiding but also helping to reduce the high speed of the ship the inner circle of Fairies were guiding the ship and the outer were braking the ships entry into the earth’s atmosphere. I was asked to show this little story to the wise old Fairies before I showed it to you all. The Fairies wanted to know whether I had inadvertently given away any of their secrets.

The Fairies from the planet in Andromeda all carried with them a small bag. In this bag were the histories of all the Fairies written down in a language that no one but the Fairies can speak. Each new generation of fairies that came to earth carried this information with them. It was collected and placed in the Fairy University here on earth. This knowledge holds all of the secret formula’s for making medicines and pills to cure most of the known illnesses on this earth. You might ask why each generation carried this knowledge with them. Sometimes the ships of the Fairies go off course and land on different planets to earth they need the knowledge to survive.

This space ship comes to earth every fifty years. It is piloted by all of the Fairies who picture this earth of ours in their minds and off they go. The fairy told me in confidence that in the far future mankind would also fly through space using similar ships with the power of their thoughts. Mankind is wasting too much time and energy building motor rockets and the like. They should be training their minds for such future travels. I hope that one day a child will read or be told this story and that the idea of such travel would become part of the future experiments that he or she will take part in. If the Fairies can fly with just the power of their concentrated thoughts then so can man.

I am going to have a cup of cocoa and then go to my bed I will finish this story tomorrow morning when I get up. After a good night’s sleep I awoke refreshed and had my usual cold shower then a hearty breakfast. After breakfast I went to my study and was just thinking what to tell you next in my story of the space fairies. Suddenly on the table before me an envelope appeared from nowhere. It was addressed to me and in it was the Queen Fairy’s written permission for me to tell you of the space Fairies and their trips to earth over the generations but I was asked to keep the landing place a secret as it would be difficult for the Fairies to concentrate as they guided the ship down to earth. I have purposely not told you of the landing place perhaps you too will see such a landing if you keep your eyes open as you walk through the countryside or go through the woods.

Spider Witch.

It was a quiet sunny day. Deep in the woods an old woman dressed all in black was quietly digging out roots, collecting herbs, and the occasional wild flower. The woman had a large leather sack with her and was putting all that found deep inside. The woman had been collecting for six hours and was getting tired. Suddenly the peace and quiet was broken by a small group of Fairies who were happily playing. Their voices were as sweet as a bell it was this sweetness that disturbed the old woman. To have one of those Fairies she thought would save me a lot of hard work. If I can just catch one of them and put her to work in the house.

The old woman who was really a very nasty witch walked back slowly to her home on the edge of the woods. She thought about the Fairies and how much work it would save her if one of them were to go out every day in the woods and collect her roots, flowers and herbs, It would give her more time trying to work magic spells. The witch gave it a lot of thought but could think of no way to catch one of the Fairies they were so quick and the fact that they could fly did not help her in her plans.

On arriving home she put carefully away all of the herbs and flowers and roots in different green glass jars that she kept on a shelf that ran along one side of the wall. Each of the green jars was labelled as to its contents. When she had finished the witch sat down in front of a small fire and thought hard about catching one of the fairies. She looked up at the ceiling and saw a small spider spinning its web. Then she had an idea. She would mix a potion from her herbs to turn herself into a spider. Taking various plants and roots and the back leg of a frog she placed them all in a small pot that was hanging over the fire. Occasionally stirring the mixture, which was simmering away in the pot she caught the spider that had been building its web. Threw it in the pot and mumbled some words in a strange language. As soon as the mixture had cooled down enough for her to drink she took a cup and going outside of the house she drank the mixture.

After drinking the mixture she shuddered it must have tasted horrible, then she turned into a huge black spider and scurried away into the forest. She found the place where the Fairies played and started spinning large black cobwebs from the branches of the trees. From each cobweb she ran a line to the other cobwebs. As soon as she was finished she sat on the edge of the largest cobweb and waited her time until the Fairies should appear. She sat there patiently all night and then the whole of the next day. No Fairies appeared and she thought that she might have wasted her time.

Suddenly she heard the bell like voices of the Fairies and waited hoping that just one fairy might get caught in one of her webs. The Fairies played all kinds of games but none went anywhere near her cobwebs. The Fairies changed their game to one of hide and seek and one of the Fairies in her excitement forgot about the dangers that lurk in the woods. She gave a loud cry as she got entangled in the spider’s web. The witch that was now a spider quickly ran down one of the lines and spun a cocoon around the fairy leaving just her face free.

The other Fairies quickly flew back to their home where they told their Parents what had happened. In the meantime the old witch cut the cocoon from the web and carried it back to her cottage. "Here you will stay and be my servant," said the old witch nastily. She had drunk some other mixture and turned back into an old witch. She roughly cut off the cocoon that she had spun around the fairy and with a chain she chained the poor fairy to a post. The chain was long enough to reach into all the corners of the room, in other words the poor fairy had enough freedom to do what the witch wanted of her.

Back at the fairy village the Fairies sent a bird a robin to the Fairy Queen Feeana. The robin told the queen what had happened to the poor fairy while she was playing. Queen Feeana took a small mirror from a drawer and looked into it. This magic mirror could show what was happening anywhere in Fairyland. The Queen soon found the witches cottage and sent a Leprechaun dressed as a fairy prince to rescue the fairy.

The Leprechaun went to the cottage and hung around until the old witch went out of the cottage. As soon as the witch disappeared into the woods the Leprechaun went to the door of the cottage and forced open the lock with which the old witch had locked the door. Going into the cottage he saw the poor Fairy and cut off her chains with a file that most Leprechauns carry with them.

They quickly left the cottage and made their way to the Fairy Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana decided to punish the witch in such a way that she could no longer be a menace to the fairies. Waving her wand the Queen turned the old witch into a small spider. She will remain a spider for all time and will live in the same woods where she made the fairy a prisoner. One of her punishments was to watch and listen to the Fairies singing and playing. The old witch is still a spider and if you go into the woods you will see her spinning her webs and listening to the Fairies playing.

Spring Ball.

Spring came early to the forest in the year of thirteen hundred and six. The trees were showing their first tender buds. A promise of beautiful green leaves bright foliage of many hued greens. The first spring flowers were pushing through the forest floor. The first warm breezes gently caused the old grasses of the previous year to wave as in acknowledgement of the coming budding newness. Birds busily greeting the first warm weather of the year singing their age old melodies to this great renewal of Mother Nature. Shy wild animals were to be seen such as the timid deer. A fox busily making its way on a business known only to foxes. The stoat, the weasel and the badger all hurrying on most important of rendezvous known only to themselves. One could truly say that spring was in the air.

In the middle of this awakening of Mother Nature a large brown Owl flew slowly over the forest and passed on a message to all that were able to hear. Her Royal Majesty Feeana Queen of all the Fairies invited all of the little folk to a new years ball. It was the very first ball of the season. The little folk were to come dressed as they were. There was to be no evening suits or ball dresses it was to be very informal. The music was to be provided by an orchestra of green frogs. Frogs are the best musicians in the whole of the forest. Food and drink would be provided by Her Majesty.

This news swiftly spread through the forest and the little folk were happily telling each other of Fairy Dances that had been held in the past. All knew that the Fairy Queen’s cakes were out of this world. The drinks were all home made and there would be apple cider and elderberry wine and if the little folk were lucky also some of the Queen’s very own parsnip wine. Soon all of the little folk were busy clearing the forest floor to make place for the dancing. What the little folk did not know they too were being watched by a Wizard who was jealous of the Fairies power to use magic and above all that each Fairy possessed a magic wand.

The evening of the Fairy ball came around and all of the little folk turned up to attend the dancing. Most of them were dressed in their very best clothes others came as the Fairy Queen had invited them, dressed in their ordinary everyday clothes. Soon the party was in full swing Fairies were dancing others were eating and drinking other just stood around watching what was going on. The Wizard was watching things from a very high tree. Food and drink appeared from out of nowhere every so often. No plate or cup was empty for more than a few seconds. This irritated the Wizard who had hoped that he would be able to see how the magic was performed.

In the early hours of the morning the orchestra of frogs went back to their ponds and the Fairies slowly disappeared. Soon the dance floor was empty and the Wizard climbed down from his high tree and looked very hard to see if he could find any traces of the magic that had obviously been used. He found nothing not even a crumb from the fairy cakes, not a drop of the precious cider and elderberry and parsnip wine. He was very disappointed and made his way slowly back to his dwelling.

The next day the Wizard was back in the forest he thought that by the light of day he would have more success. Needless to say he found nothing for the birds had eaten what was left of the fairy cake crumbs. Muttering to himself the Wizard left the forest, his thoughts were very dark and promised no good to the little folk. On arriving at his dwelling the Wizard made one plan after another then he had an idea, he would turn himself into a baby deer. Everyone likes baby deer’s he thought. He then mixed a potion of herbs in his cauldron and waited for them to cook. He then drank a portion of the liquid and slowly turned into a baby deer.

Going back into the forest he soon found the fairies and played with them for a little while. His chance soon came and stole the magic wand from one of the fairies that had been just a little careless whilst playing. Going back to his dwelling he experimented with the magic wand. Soon he was able with the help of the wand to produce the fairy cakes and drinks that he so coveted.

The Fairy who had lost the magic wand reported the loss to the Fairy Queen Feeana. Feeana looked into her crystal ball and saw that the baby deer had taken the wand. She then looked further and saw the Wizard in his dwelling experimenting with the wand. Smiling to herself the Fairy Queen waved her wand and the cakes and the drinks turned into potent laxatives. The Wizard ate so many of the cakes and drank so much of the wine and cider that he just had to run to the toilet. He spent quite a few days in his toilet in the meanwhile the Fairy Queen Feeana turned the magic wand that he had stolen into a normal stick. There was nothing magic left in the wand. This needless to say stopped the Wizard from wanting any more fairy cakes or drinks. It is said that he went on a strict diet and turned into a Farmer.

Springtime.

Spring is in the air. One hears this old phrase often and one wonders what is meant by spring is in the air. For the Fairies it means a leaving of the caves under the Himalayan Mountains and a return home to Fairyland. At the same time all of the butterflies return to the different countries of their origin. For me it is a start of the work in my garden. There is so much to do. First all of the vegetable beds have to be freshly dug. Then the sowing of seeds and planting of various plants such as tomatoes takes up much of my time in the spring. Such a lot of work to be done, to have all of the fresh vegetables and salads that I love to eat, fresh from the garden as well as planting the flowers that I love so much.

So you see (spring is in the air.) means many different things to many different people. In spring I love to wander in the countryside to see the new growth. The fresh colours of new flowers, flowers that come every year to delight the beholder, the animals with their young, that is my spring is in the air. Other people see spring as a new beginning, a time to begin anew. Children find spring, the time when their energy is at a new high. More time is spent in the great outdoors. There is so much newness to be seen.

This spring is for me a new beginning in many ways, I find myself writing more little stories, and in the long winter months I seem to dry up. There is no story coming from my pen, it is as if some winter ghost from long past has taken over my very active mind and forces me into a period of unwanted rest. It is no good trying to force myself to write, just nonsense comes from my pen. It is most annoying and I am glad when spring comes in at long last.

March came in cold with snow showers all in all a bad month for my liking. Then the new miracle appeared like it did every year. The sun shone down brightly on the young green buds and I knew that soon the trees and bushes would be covered in fresh green leaves. I walked into the woods a little quicker, I wanted to see the Fairies I had missed them all during the winter and it was time to greet old friends and perhaps make some new ones.

I passed by the old oak and then I saw little Morganfee. Morganfee is a bright young Fairy who has travelled the world and is now a member of the wise old Fairies. She had come to see whether any damage had been done to our part of Fairyland. Sometimes when the falls of snow had been very bad in the winter months, trees have been known to break and fall, Morganfee’s job was to see and repair any damage done during the long winter months. Morganfee cleared the paths and made sure that the fresh young flowers had room in which to grow.

One very large tree had fallen right across a clearing that was used by the little folk for dancing and for their meetings. Morganfee was having difficulty moving the tree by magic. I suggested that she cut the tree into small logs before attempting to move them. It was of no use Morganfee’s magic wand was not as it should be and she was very near to tears. I then told her that I would go home and get my chain saw to cut the tree into lengths in that way we move it quicker and the clearing would soon be free of wood.

Going back home I got my power saw and went back into the woods. Morganfee was waiting for me and I soon cut the tree into logs that Morganfee could move with magic out of the clearing. The last log I cut in two and Morganfee moved it into a part of the woods that was completely overgrown. The clearing was now free and Morganfee went about her work after thanking me for my help. Later I received an invitation to the first Fairy Ball of the season. The invitation was in Her Majesty Queen Feeana’s own handwriting.

I dressed myself in russet brown and in forest green with a sprig of gorse in my hat and I must say I looked very smart for the occasion. The evening came and I went early to the clearing, as I wanted to see all of my friends that would be at the Ball. The first to arrive were the rather naughty pixies these were followed by some imps then I saw my friends the Leprechauns each was carrying a music instrument. Shamus too was in their company and we greeted each other with a big hug. Shamus the Leprechaun was a very good friend of mine and we had often worked together whenever it was necessary.

The Fairies came in two and threes and soon a very large gathering of the little peoples had gathered in the clearing. The Leprechauns were busy tuning their instruments and soon I heard parts of Fairy melodies as each practiced with his instrument. A large green frog turned out to be the conductor and he swung his baton high in the air and caught the Leprechauns attention then the frog waved his baton and a royal fanfare came from the Leprechauns instruments. Her Royal Majesty appeared in a bright flash of blue light and a small whiff of smoke. Her Majesty wore a robe of shimmering silk with small spring flowers neatly sewn on to it. She looked most beautiful indeed.

Declaring the ball to be open Her Majesty came to where I was standing and thanked me for helping Morganfee with the tree that had covered the clearing. "Your power saw will need no fuel to keep it going. I have taken the liberty to change it into a magic saw." "Now you will be able work without filling it with oil and petrol." I thanked Her Majesty and asked whether I might have a dance with her. Her Majesty was as light as a feather and we danced to a most beautiful Fairy tune that was ever so old. I thanked Her Majesty for the Dance and then went off to where Shamus was playing his instrument.

Winking to Shamus I motioned to him that I would like to speak to him before he left the gathering. In the next break of the music Shamus came over to me and I made him this proposition. I told him of my cutting the tree into lengths so that Morganfee could move it and of how it was a very good wood most suitable for building. I needed a new garden shed and the wood would only rot away if left in the woods. Shamus agreed and on the morning after the dance we were busy moving the wood to my back garden. Morganfee saw what we were doing and waved her magic wand and all of the wood was neatly piled up in my back garden.

Shamus and myself cut and sawed the wood and soon a new shed was standing in my garden. Morganfee also helped with cutting of the wood into planks. Her Majesty had given her a new magic wand and it was very powerful. After the shed was finished I thanked Shamus and Morganfee for their help. Morganfee just said, "You helped me it is only right that I should help you. Shamus smiled and said, "Good Friends always help each other." Then the two of them left by means of magic and I was left with my new shed, a very happy man knowing that I had such good friends.

Squirrels Ears.

I awoke this morning with a feeling that something was wrong. I have no real complaints health wise just a feeling that something out of the ordinary was happening. Washing and dressing took me longer today for some reason it was the same as I made my breakfast. The kettle seemed to take a long time to boil. The toaster was not new but I cannot remember it taking so long to toast a piece of bread

Usually I have a boiled egg for my breakfast but as things were taking so long I decided to do without an egg.

Reading my morning paper I could not concentrate. This was getting to be silly a full grown man not being able to concentrate on reading the paper. I took a look at the clock and saw that although things seemed to be taking awfully long to happen only a few minutes of real time had gone by since my getting out of bed. I thought that I would take a stroll through the town it might put some other thoughts into my head. I went to the mirror and taking my electric razor I shaved myself it was then that I noticed something that was terribly wrong. My ears they were long and pointed at the top. Something like a squirrels ears.

I carefully examined my left ear then my right; yes they had changed since yesterday what was going on? Am I under attack? Grabbing a coat from the hall stand I hurried to the woods, I wanted advice from the Fairy Queen Feeana. I stood in the clearing where the Fairies played and called but there was no answer. No Fairy Queen, no Fairies and me with ears like a squirrel. What shall I do? I waited for a long time hoping that one of the little folk would come my way. Disappointed I made my way home.

I had been in the woods for at least four hours but my clock said that I had only been away for a few minutes. I switched on the radio hoping for the time to be given through. Yes my clock was right I had only been in the woods for a few minutes. What on earth was going on with me? I looked again in the mirror something that I was often doing now that my ears had grown to this new shape. Then the Fairies came in to my kitchen they were moving so slowly as if each was carrying a heavy burden. I was pleased to see them but at the same time wondering why they all moved as they did.

They asked me why I had run away from them while I was in the woods. Why I had not answered their calls. They were very worried then it was that they noticed my ears. My ears were not only pointed like a squirrel but were also sprouting red hair. I was desperate I could not go shopping like this. I could not show my face in town what was happening to me. The Fairies left me to tell the Fairy Queen what was happening. They seemed to be gone for hours but my clock told me that it was only a few minutes before they returned.

In their midst was Fairy Queen Feeana. Greeting me she looked closely at my ears and asked me whether the time was going fast or slow for me. I told her that it was going very fast but when I looked at my clock it was but only a few seconds. You are under a severe magic attack. Taking out her magic mirror her Majesty looked long at something that I could not see.

Turning to me she asked me if I had eaten anything from the woods. I thought for a minute and said, "Yes Your Majesty I always eat of the blackberries when I go into the woods." That is the answer you are under my personal protection here in your house but in the woods I thought that you would be safe. The wizard Magendom has placed a spell on all of the fruits that grow in the woods. This is indeed serious anyone eating from the fruits will have the same symptoms as you now have. Time is out of proportion and their ears will turn into squirrel’s ears.

Placing her hand on my head Her Majesty waved her magic wand. I was transported to a hut in the woods far, far away. I saw the wizard looking into a large pan of water. He was looking to see how many people had been caught by his magic. I was so angry I ran to the wizard and tipped him into the large pan of water. He was soaking wet and had lost his magic wand. I grabbed the wand and broke it in two.

Then I took out of my pocket two of the blackberries that I had taken with me from home. These I forced into his mouth and with Her Majesty I waited until his ears turned pointed and sprouted red hair like a squirrel’s ears. Her Majesty waved her magic wand again and spoke in the old language. There was no way out for the wizard Magendom he would remain for the rest of his long life with a corrupted sense of time and his ears would become famous as the years went by.

Her Majesty waved her wand again and we were both back in our part of fairyland where now the time could play no more tricks on me and my ears were back to normal. I thanked her Majesty for her help and then threw a party for the fairies with ice cream and puddings, custard and jellies. Fairy cakes they brought with them and of course the parsnip wine of which I am very fond. We celebrated for three days and I left them as I needed a much earned rest in my four poster bed.

Squirrels Grey and Brown.

The year had been good to the folk in Fairyland. The trees had given more fruit than was needed. Fairies had collected all the nuts from the trees and even those that lay around on the forest floor. In fact there were no more nuts to be found anywhere in Fairyland.

The animals especially the squirrels could find nothing to store away for the coming winter months. It would be a long hungry winter for them indeed. Even the birds were finding it difficult to survive without the nuts and dried berries that were always to be found on the trees and bushes. Yes the Fairies had collected even the dried berries that meant no food for the birds in winter.

It was a very serious time for the squirrels and the birds how to get through the winter months without food. One of the birds a cheeky little Robin flew to see Her Majesty The Fairy Queen. He bitterly complained of the Fairies hoarding all the nuts and dried berries. How could he and all the other animals live without food?

The Fairy Queen was very upset to hear this bad news. She ordered all of the Fairies to attend a meeting. All of the little Folk came and wondered as to why Her Majesty should order a meeting at this time of the year. The year was nearly at an end and there would be no more work for the Fairies until the spring when all the new flowers would have to be painted. Not to mention the butterflies.

Her Majesty spoke for a long time in a really serious voice. The Little Folk she scolded, not for collecting dried berries and nuts but for their lack of feelings for the creatures that lived in the woods. Without food all the creatures would die of starvation. This would be a terrible thing for the wild creatures and certainly not worthy of the Little Folk.

The Fairies and other wee folk were so ashamed of their rather greedy behaviour that they rushed off home to their store-houses and gave half of the food to the birds and the other wild animals. The Squirrels were overjoyed at getting the nuts and berries that some of them turned from Grey into Brown as a token of thanks to Her Majesty. Now one can see all over the world brown and grey Squirrels thanks to the Fairies who shared their food at a most difficult time.

Storm Clouds.

The sky was dark and foreboding black clouds hurried across the heavens as if being chased by daemons out of some long forgotten hell. Large drops of rain came down slowly then with an ever-increasing tempo. The God Thor roared his defiance to the world and bolts of lighting lit up stretches of chaos that was causing much havoc on the earth below.

People cowered at the fierceness of the storm; some hid under their bedclothes others gazed defiantly out of the small glazed windows. A Farmer ran through the night to the cowshed. One of his cows was due to give birth. Cursing at the rain the farmer entered the stall and saw that all was well with his cow and sat down to wait for the birth.

The calf was born in the early hours of the morning and wiping the newborn calf down with hay the Farmer went back to his bed. It was still pouring down with rain, which made the Farmer curse the weather all the more. It was time to cut the grass in the long meadows; this rain if it kept on would make the Farmer late with his haymaking. In one field the potatoes needed harvesting not for the first time the Farmer cursed the day that he was born to be a Farmer.

The rain was upsetting for the Fairies; as well no Fairy likes to get wet, as it is very difficult to fly in wet weather. None of the Fairies wanted to play and most just sat under the trees, the smaller of the Fairies sat under the extra large toadstools. The fairies on days like this when it was wet and uncomfortable played with their magic wands turning grass and weeds and bushes and trees into the most beautiful coloured pictures that anyone had ever seen.

Such was the day when the rain turned to snow. In the middle of summer terrific rain and now snow. The Farmer was angry, his wife had given birth earlier in the month to twins, two little boys and had all her hands full to look after and feed the children. She had very little time for the dairy where she normally made cheese and butter. This with the eggs from the chickens brought them in enough money to live fairly comfortably.

The snow brought with it the cold and not only was it wet and cold but one of the newborn babies was quite ill and the Farmer’s wife did not know what to do. There was no Doctor in the area one had to travel nearly fifty miles for the next medical advice. The only one that could help them with the baby was the Old Woman that lived next to the woods. The farmer trudged across to the cottage of the Old Woman that knew all about herbs and cures for many illnesses. Told her about his sick baby the Old Woman pulled her old cloak around her shoulders and carrying a basket with different bottles of medicines and teas she went with the Farmer.

Arriving at the farm she took a quick look at the baby that was ill and felt its forehead. The baby was running a temperature. Taking one of the bottles out of her basket she poured a teaspoonful into the babies mouth. "We can only wait now," she said. "I think that the fever will go down shortly and all will be well again." The Old Woman asked the Farmer’s wife how things were on the farm. The Farmers wife told of her husband’s problems. The weather being so bad, now the cold and in the fields their was hay to be cut and potatoes to be dug. The Dairy work was behind and no butter or cheese had been made for days.

An hour later the temperature of the baby was back to normal and the Old Woman went off back to her home with a dozen fresh eggs in her basket and half a cheese. On the way she met a Leprechaun who had smelled the cheese and wanted it badly. The Old Woman had an idea if you cut the hay for the farmer and dry it and bring it in to the barn loft. I will give you the cheese and half of my eggs.

The Leprechaun agreed to the deal and knowing that the Fairies were bored he thought to get their help. On his own it would have taken him too long but with the aid of the Fairies he could manage it well enough. The Fairies owed the Leprechaun some favours and when he asked them to help him they all said yes and off they went to the Farmer’s meadows and soon with the aid of their magic wands the grass was cut and dried and placed in the Farmers loft. Then the potato field was dug and the potatoes placed in sacks and transported to the Farmers barn.

The Leprechaun gave some of the cheese and the eggs to the Fairies and all were happy that their minds had been taken off the weather. The Farmer to this very day does not know how his hay was cut, dried and transported to his barn and the potatoes are still a big mystery. The Old Woman never told anyone of her meeting with the Leprechaun, and to this very day no one knew what happened that summer so long ago.

The Fairies minds had been taken off the weather and the farmer had been helped. The Old Woman was not alone anymore she had made friends with the Farmer and his Wife and often went across for a visit. She always took a few of her herbs with her. When the twins were old enough the Old Woman took them with her and showed them all of the wonderful things to be seen in the Forest.

The Old Woman knew the Fairies well and it was not long before the twins could see the Fairies and as soon as they lost their shyness they played with Fairies and joined in all the games that the Little Folk play so well.

Story Teller.

The moon was full and it was a clear starry night. Glow-worms darted to and fro as if they had something important to impart. The steady buzzing of an insect was the only noise to be heard. The forest seemed to be waiting for some very important thing to happen it was as it had been for hundreds of years. Just a moonlit night with millions of stars giving off a light glow as they had always done since the beginning of time. Just one weary traveller was abroad on this night he was in no hurry. Time was for him nonexistent his was a coming and going his feet taking him wherever he went slowly but surely. This man was a storyteller that went from village to village to tell stories to the children and the grown ups.

What he did not know this night was to be the most important night of his long life. The man was not alone. All around him were the little folk they had all heard of the story teller and were hoping that he would tell them one or two of his famous tales that he had collected from near and far on his wanderings. The storyteller was deep in thought when suddenly an Owl began to hoot. This disturbed him and he stopped and sat down with his back to a tree. As soon as he was seated and had made himself comfortable one of the little folk showed himself to the storyteller.

"Will you please tell me a story his little voice asked?" The man showed no surprise at being spoken to this late at night in the middle of a forest. It was as if he was always being asked to tell stories and he always told a story that was exciting and yet giving a good hint on how to go through life. His deep voice said, "I usually tell stories to a large crowd of people but you are just one. "With that the rest of the Little Folk showed themselves they were all there, the Fairies, the Imps, the Pixies, the Trolls, the Bogies and of course a couple of Leprechauns.

"What story would you like me to tell you?" his deep voice was surprisingly gentle and one could see that he had often told stories to children. "Tell us a Dragon story," at least a dozen voices replied as if with one voice. "All right a dragon story it will be," said the storyteller. He cleared his throat and told the children of the Dragon that was lost in the Rocky Mountains of America. Once upon a time a many years ago there lived a Dragon named Skurliont. He was a young dragon and was always playing tricks on his parents. When his mother called him to have his meals he would run off and hide. It was only when his dad called him in his deep rough voice that the young dragon came for its meal. It was always a problem with the young Dragon to obey his mother when she called or wanted something.

One day the young Dragon went off to play and wandered a long way from home. He could not yet fly like his parents his wings were too small to hold his body so he had to walk. When the young dragon did not come home his Father grumbled and flew off to look for him. He flew in large circles with his eyes fixed to the ground but he saw no sign of his Dragon son. After a couple of hours he flew back to their cave and told the mother Dragon that he could find no trace of him it would be better if they both looked for him. Off flew mother and father Dragon but there was no trace of their lost son.

The young Dragon had been caught in a trap that a Wizard had made. The young Dragon being nosey walked straight into the trap that was baited with honey bread. "His Favourite food." And was promptly caught by the Wizard. The Wizard chained the young dragon to a tree that was very old and very thick, from the air one could not see through the leaves and branches. The Wizard did not want the young dragon, just a few of his scales for the experiments that he made in his cave deep in the forest. A young Dragon gets rid of its old skin just before its fifth birthday and a new skin grows and this is what the Wizard wanted more than anything.

The young dragons parents were very upset when they could not find their son and flew back home to look for him on the morrow and this they did for a couple of months until they decided that he must be dead. They had looked everywhere for him and were very sad for a long time until one day the mother Dragon told the father Dragon that she was going to have another baby. They did not forget their son and continually looked for him when they were flying in the sky.

In the meantime the young dragon had got his new skin and the wizard took the old skin for its scales. He did not want the young dragon anymore as he ate too much so he broke the chain and let the young dragon go. By this time the young Dragons wings had grown and he had used them on every occasion to strengthen them up. When the wizard let him go he immediately flew up in the sky and looked for his old home. He arrived back at his home and the surprised parents were glad to see him. There was just one problem the mother dragon had a new baby Dragon and it was all the parents could do to find food for the three of them. They sadly told the young Dragon that he must go and find himself a new home. Off flew the young dragon and the parents saw him no more but they were happy that he was alive.

The little folk had listened to the storyteller and his tale and the young Fairies that were among the listeners waved their wands and refreshment appeared and they invited the story teller to eat and drink for the story had been exciting and they had been entertained for over two hours. The storyteller told the little folk that they must never wander off on their own and always be where their Mothers or Fathers can find them if there is an emergency.

Before the storyteller went on his way he made the little folk a promise that he would come back and tell them stories on other occasions. In other words he would often come this way through the woods. The little folk were delighted on hearing this and one of the fairies gave him a piece of gold for telling them the best story they had heard in a very long time.

Strange But True.

The beach was deserted; a lazy tide slowly made its way up the beach joining countless puddles that had been left by the tide going out on its way to the sea. Here and there, the cry from a sea gull broke the stillness. It was one of those sunny days at the seaside that I remember from my childhood. It could have been the same tide even the same sea gull. Along the beach, seaweed that had been washed in to the shore was once again covered in seawater. The rising tide as it played with the pebbles that covered the beach caused a slight grating noise. A peaceful day one would have thought but something was not quite right.

I could not place what was wrong it might have been my imagination playing overtime with my emotions. No! There is something wrong; all is not as it should be. It was then that I saw the stranger that had collected wood and now made a fire. This is unusual to light fires by day, in the evening one often sees the local young people sitting around a roaring fire but not by day. I decided to keep my eye on the man. His clothing was very old fashioned and he could have come out of an illustrated book by Charles Dickens.

When his fire was burning brightly the man deliberately threw wet seaweed over the flames causing the fire to give off a terrible smoke. He then took from his shoulders an old fashioned cape. With this cape he sent smoke signals into the sky. I thought at first that he was playing some kind of Cowboy and Indian game. Then I saw out to sea a rowing boat. The boat slowly made its way into the shore. Sitting in the boat was a man that was used to rowing; the oars glide smoothly through the water pushing the boat into the shore.

The man in the boat took a small sack and threw it to the man with the cape. Then as he had come he rowed away from the shore until I saw him no more. I decided to follow the man in the cape to see what he was up to. I thought to myself I had just seen some smuggling going on and I was curious to know what was in the sack. Following the man he led me quite some distance from the seashore then he just disappeared behind some bushes.

I cautiously walked to the bushes and carefully parted them. The bushes were covering the entrance to a large cave. I slipped inside of the cave and saw the strange man standing by a fire over which hung a large iron pot. He poured a bucket with what looked like water into the pot. Taking bunches of herbs, some of which I recognised; he threw them into the pot. Then he carefully opened the sack that had been handed to him on the beach. Taking a fistful of blue powder from the sack he threw this too into the pot. The last things he put into the pot were two eggs. Eggs from a chicken, three of which he had penned in a corner of the large cave.

Carefully stirring the mixture he read some words from a very old looking book. I could not hear the words I was too far away. Then something strange happened. A blue smoke rose from out of the pot and gathered a few feet above it. Suddenly the blue smoke changed into a Dragon. A real live Dragon, I was fascinated to see such a magnificent beast. The man then placed a large iron chain around the back leg of the dragon and more or less imprisoned it.

This was too good to be true a real live Dragon, I went carefully out of the cave and called the magic words that would bring Her Majesty, Queen Feeana to me. Her Majesty appeared in a bright blue flash and a puff of smoke and I quietly told her of what I had seen and heard on this fateful day. We both went into the cave and Her Majesty held her Magic Wand high in her hands. As soon as she saw the man she said some magic words and the man fell into a heap of blue powder.

We quickly freed the Dragon from its chain and left the cave by magic. We arrived in the cave under the Himalayan Mountains where the Fairies stay in the long winter months. I Fed the dragon and gave it water to drink. Her Majesty said it is a bit young to send all the way to the system of planets where all of the other fable beings such as the Pegasus’s, The Dragons and above all the Giants that once roamed this earth. All were now in safety on a planet where peace prevailed.

The cave exists no more Her Majesty caused the roof to fall in and all was covered with earth and rocks. The Dragon soon was able to travel by magic and is now on the planet with others of his kind.

Stranger.

One day in late spring the fairies and the other little folk of Fairyland came to me and told me of a strange creature that had been seen. Fairyland as you all know has a very strong magic boundary that separates it from the rest of the world and nothing could enter unless they were pure in heart or possessed magic powers. I was not very alarmed that a creature had found its way into Fairyland.

The Fairies and especially the Leprechauns insisted that I go with them to see this creature. I left my old house and entered Fairyland by way of my back garden. I followed the Fairies and the Leprechauns as they moved deeper into the woods. I always enjoy my strolls through this enchanted land. After an hour or so we came to one of the many grass clearings that abounded in this magic place.

Right in the middle of the clearing was a donkey an ordinary grey little donkey. On seeing this I laughed out loud, a strange creature indeed what nonsense. Then I looked at the donkey more closely. Strange was that its front hoofs were a pair of human hands and its back hoofs a pair of human feet. Apart from that it was a grey donkey. I immediately informed the Fairy Queen Feeana of this strange being. I sent my message with one of the many Robins that nested here.

An hour later the Robin arrived with Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana. I told her Majesty about the unfortunate donkey that had two hands and two feet where its hoofs should be. The Queen agreed with me there was something not right in this our Fairyland. We gently spoke to the donkey and found that he was indeed a Royal Prince that had fallen foul of a powerful Sorcerer. The Sorcerer had muttered a magic spell and the prince was turned into a donkey.

The donkey explained that after a year of his wandering his hooves started turning back into hands and feet. It would be ten or more long years for it to become a Prince once more. The Queen cast a spell that was even more powerful that that of the Sorcerer and behold the donkey turned back into a Royal Prince. The Queen asked him if he would like to stay and rest here in Fairyland. The Prince agreed and stayed with me in my old house for one year.

I was very sorry when I heard that the Prince wanted to return to his own Palace and Land. The year he had been with me I with permission from the Fairy Queen Feeana taught him all the magic he would need to overthrow this evil old sorcerer. He set out at dawn one beautiful sunny day promising he would return and let us know how he had got on.

A year passed and one day a Robin flew into my window and told me this story. The Prince had returned home just on the day when his beautiful Princess was to be married to the Sorcerer. The Prince turned the evil old sorcerer into a black stone that stands to this very day. The Prince married his Princess and they lived a long and happy life. The Princess gave birth to two sons who, when they were old enough sent to me here in Fairyland to be taught magic. The Prince would have no sorcerers in his land.

I have been asked by Her Majesty Queen Feeana to tell you this story and to warn you not to trust strangers. You never know it might be one of the evil sorcerers in disguise. You would not want to be turned into a Donkey or some other poor animal would you now?

Stranger.

Stream Fun.

A hot day in Fairyland many of the Fairies were using their wings to fan each other. One of the Leprechauns had made a large fan high up in the trees. A group of Pixies was pulling on a rope setting the fan in motion. It gave off a little coolness but was not very effective. I had an idea. I took my deep freeze bags that I use for shopping, went with the bags into town, and filled them with packets of Ice cream. Hurrying back to the woods I gave each of the Fairies an Ice Cream. They were delighted.

The next day Ice cream once again, I went and fetched enough so that each Fairy could have an ice cream. I could not do this every day it would have become suspicious. What did an old man like me want with so much ice cream? I then had what I thought was a brilliant idea. Blocking the stream that ran through Fairyland I built a dam. The water piled up behind the dam and a pool deep enough to swim in was waiting for some swimmers.

As you, all know Fairies must not get their wings wet as it stops them from making a quick get away if danger nears. To get over this I ran an electric cable through the woods and fitted up a hair dryer just to the side of the pool. I had to set an example and running home, I changed into a swimsuit and ran back to the pond. It had gotten quite big by now so I made a small hole in the dam so that some of the water could run off.

Then I jumped in to the water the Fairies watching and wondering what I was doing. I had a quick swim, then came out of the pond, and dried my hair with the hair dryer. The Fairies caught on quick and soon there were fairies of all ages swimming in the dammed up stream or using the hair dryer. To make sure that no one could catch them by surprise the Fairies posted lookouts around the woods. The day went as in a dream for the delighted Fairies.

So that it would not cause any suspicion, I took to buying ice cream in different towns and villages and bringing it back home by car. In this way, my Fairies were able to enjoy ice cream and swimming. Soon the dammed up stream became very popular with the wild animals of the woods many of whom also came for a quick swim mainly at night or when the Fairies had gone for the day. I had to buy another hair dryer to dry the Fairies wings one was just no enough.

Fairies came from all over the world to my swimming pool now the buying of ice cream was getting more difficult I had to go farther every day for ice cream. Some

of the fairies were now asking for exotic things like coconuts or fruits from their home countries these wishes I could not fulfil. In the end, I asked Her Majesty Queen Feeana for her advice. I could not cope any more what with ice cream and strange fruits. I had bought six new hairdryers and they were running all day, my electricity bill would be very high this time.

Her Majesty smiled and said this year for the first time the Fairies have been able to enjoy Mother Nature’s gift of water not just to drink but also to swim. For years, we have been thinking up ways ands means to dry Fairy wings when they get wet. You have the means with your hair dryers to dry the wings off in seconds. The only difficulty is for us to get the electricity to run the hair dryers. I will ask Mother Nature if she can help; there is enough electricity in a flash of lightning to keep hair dryers going for years.

Mother Nature was all for this splendid idea and now once a year a flash of lightning hits the electricity grid and feeds it so many thousands of volts. Up until now, none of the electricity firms has noticed that Fairies all over the world are now using hair dryers to dry their wings. I still go looking for ice cream for my fairies we do not get so many visitors now as most Fairies have built their own dams across streams and can swim to their hearts content.

Sometime when you come across a stream in the woods listen very carefully, you might even get to hear the excited voices of Fairies swimming for pleasure. You might too hear the sounds of the hair dryers, which sound like the wind blowing through the trees. One must listen very carefully though.

Sunday Afternoon.

It was a wet Sunday afternoon. I had just put my feet up on to the settee when a knock on my front door disturbed my peace. I had this book that I had been wanting to read for a fortnight or more. I just had not got around to reading it; there was always something that came in between.

I went to the front door and opened it. Standing on my doorstep was a man that said he was from the Fairy Queen Feeana. Now I was fully on my guard; Queen Feeana would never send a human to contact me, it would have been a Fairy or a Leprechaun or even a bird of the forest never a human.

I gave the man an old fashioned look and said," There must be some mistake, I know no one of that name." What did you say the name was again?" "Queen Feeana," came the reply- " I know a Queenie Johnson but Feeana, Sorry," I said. "I know no Feeana does she live near here?"

The man took from his pocket a small box of white powder and threw it at me. I was too quick for him and slammed the door shut in his face. I was worried that the man meant harm to my friends the Queen and all the Fairies and Leprechauns not to mention the Little Folk such as the Pixies and Imps and all of the others that live in Fairyland.

I took my invisible cloak that Queen Feeana had once given me and made my way to the Forest. The rain was now coming down in torrents and I was pleased that I had put on my Wellingtons and my rain cape with my wide hat that my brother had sent me from Australia. There were no Fairies to be seen all were safely in their houses because of the rain.

My thoughts must have been read because suddenly I was inside Her Majesties home. I told Her Majesty about my visitor and the white powder that he had thrown at me when I denied all knowledge of Queen Feeana. Her Majesty took out her truth mirror and showed it to me. A picture of the man that knocked at my door was clearly to be seen in the mirror.

"Yes your Majesty that is the man." "I know him as a troublemaker," said her Majesty. He is the sort that kidnaps people and then tries to get privileges by holding the person or person’s to ransom. It is time that I taught him a lesson." "Would you mind leading him into the forest the next time that he comes?" " Yes your Majesty I do not like people that throw powder at me." " I will lead him into the woods if and when he comes again."

The next day it was still raining and I took my book from the table and made myself comfortable on the settee by the fire. I had read five chapters when there was again a knock on my front door. I thought it was perhaps one of the local traders trying to sell me something. I must admit I was a little angry at being interrupted while reading my very interesting book.

I went to the door and a tall woman stood on my doorstep. She said she was selling tablecloths and if I would let her in she would show me her tablecloths. I felt sorry for the woman having to go out in this weather to sell a tablecloth or two. I invited her in to my living room and she opened her bag and showed me some extra finely made tablecloths the embroidery was perfect and I knew at once this is the work of a Fairy. Where did the woman get such finely stitched cloths?

The hairs on the back of my neck started prickling and this is always a sign that I am in danger. I said to the woman I will buy two of the tablecloths from you and I have a friend that will buy the rest from you. I paid the woman what she asked for the tablecloths and I told her that my friend lived just on the other side of the forest although it was still raining heavy she agreed to come with me.

I dressed myself in my rain clothes and we went into the forest. Little did she know that the moment we were in the forest we were being followed by the Little Folk. They too had sensed danger and word had been sent to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Each of the Fairies had their magic wands ready to use and if the woman had known that of the danger she herself was in she would I am sure turned around and run out of the forest.

The Queen appeared as she always did, a flash of light and a small puff of smoke and Her Majesty was blocking the woman’s path. The woman now realised the danger she was in and suddenly changed into a man, it was the same man I had seen the day before on my doorstep.

Queen Feeana waved her wand and the man was rooted to the ground he could not move a muscle. "Why do you want to see the Queen of all the Fairies?" Her Majesties voice was quiet and the look on her face boded no good for the man. You are a Sorcerer that means harm to Fairyland and all that live here or are under my protection.

The Sorcerer managed to speak but he could not move. "I want some magic powers that only you can give me." What was the powder that you threw at the human yesterday?" "It was a sleeping powder it would have done him no harm." "Good," said her Majesty. "I too have here some powder and it will do you no harm." The Queen threw the powder over the Sorcerer. He could not move or avoid the powder and suddenly he started shrinking and turned green then I realised Her Majesty had turned him into a Toad. He was a big ugly looking Toad.

"As a Toad," said Her Majesty "You will do no more harm and I will always have my eyes on you." "You wanted some magic from me and I have given you the magic that I consider the best for you. After all the excitement had died down I went back to my warm fire and my settee and finished reading my book. There were no more knocks on my door for along time.

The Dog.

Now the summer is here I go more often into the woods. I love to watch things growing from grass to ferns to bushes and trees. I see all as through the eyes of a small child. The ripening fruits such as wild strawberries and blackberries, hazel nuts on to chestnuts all mine just for the taking. It was on such a day that I first saw the dog. One of those stray mongrels that seem to enjoy life and its freedom one sees them nearly every day. I called to it but it only wagged its tail and went on its way.

The following day I saw the dog again and called to it but it did not come near me just a Wag of its tail as if in returning my greeting. I thought to myself on the morrow I will bring it some dog’s biscuits and a piece of meat it certainly looked hungry. I forgot the dog and went on my way through the woods there was much to be seen such as the nests that different birds had built in most were eggs with one of the birds sitting on them to hatch them out.

The following morning I went as usual to the woods but this time I had a piece of fresh meat a bone and some dog biscuits. The dog was there and this time I called to it and showed it the piece of meat. The dog’s head went up and I could see its nostrils move as it sniffed the air. Its tail started to wag and with a small bark it came towards me and I gave him the meat. The dog biscuits vanished down its throat so quickly that I thought it must surely choke. Then I gave it the large bone, which still had some meat on it. I sat and watched him slowly crunching the bone. Its large brown eyes showing signs of deep content.

The dog had no collar and was a so-called stray. I thought to myself a dog around the house is definitely and asset and I thought if it here tomorrow I would take it home with me. The following day I waited early in the woods hoping that the dog would come. I had bought a dog’s collar and a bottle of dog’s shampoo, a bath I thought would do it good and I would see what colour he really was under all that dirt.

He came trotting into the clearing and I gave him some meat, while he was eating, I placed the collar around its neck. It did not protest and I walked slowly away from him holding the dog biscuits in my hand every so often I dropped one and following the biscuits the dog came back with me to my back garden. In the garden, I had placed one of the old tin baths that used to be used years ago for bathing. I soon got some warm water in the bath and lifting the dog up I placed him in the warm water. He was delighted and his tail was wagging furiously.

I bathed him with the dog’s shampoo and rinsing him off I lifted him out of the bath. He shook and shook himself until I got the clean but old bath towels and dried him off. He had another treat coming and that was my hair dryer. I blew the warm air onto his body and he just stood there wagging its tail. One more thing was necessary and that was to give him a name. I decided to call him Wag it was short and the way its tail moved it seemed appropriate. He soon got used to the short name of Wag. I then got an old rug and placed it on the porch for it to lie on. Soon when he was not on the mat he followed me wherever I went. I did not need a lead he had, at some time been well trained and understood and obeyed my short commands.

One evening I had just gone to bed when I heard Wag bark I went downstairs and saw that Wag had cornered a man in the garden. "Call your dog off me," he said. I asked him what he was doing trespassing in my garden. He had no answer. Suddenly Wag turned into the beautiful Fairy Queen Feeana. I was not surprised I knew that Her Majesty looked after my house and me. He has been looking at you and your house for some time this Mondarkson. That is why I came to you as a stray dog so that no one would know that I am always looking after you and your house.

"What mischief were you up to this time?" said her Majesty but Mondarkson did not answer. "What shall I do with him?" The question was for me. I thought for a few moments and then said, "Your Majesty let him become a dog. A dog like Wag obedient and always happy. This idea pleased Her Majesty and with a wave of her wand, the wizard turned into Wag. I called him and he happily trotted to my side he has been with me ever since.

Her Majesty told me in confidence that she only turned herself into a stray dog because she knew that I would look after it. Wag now sleeps at the bottom of my bed and is still the watchful obedient dog that he was as Her Majesty, Queen Feeana.

The Elf.

Raindrops, small and glistening in the early morning sun most of them rolling slowly off the leaves to splatter on the ground. Getting together to form small pools, an invitation for the black and yellow spotted Salamanders to come out of hiding and let the water cool their bodies as they chased each other over the forest floor. Frogs were easing their way up out of the ground where they had been hiding from the heat of the sun. I myself wrapped in a green coloured rain wrap trapped in the downpour like all of God’s other creatures that live in the forest. Such was the scene as I slowly made my way back home my boots wet and heavy my socks damp and sticking to my feet. Why had I not put on my Wellingtons? I had smelt the rain coming on the previous evening the air had been heavy and somehow sultry.

It was too late now I was well and truly caught in this rain and decided to shelter under an old Oak tree that offered some protection. The Oak tree was very old and I could not place my two arms around its trunk. I then heard a somewhat squeaky voice saying, "This is my tree; do not wrap your arms around it." It was only then that I noticed this small Elf he came only to my knees and was wearing a suit made of silken cloth. On his head he had a cap that was long and hung down to one side with a small tassel on its end. "Your tree," I heard myself asking. "Yes My tree. Can’t you see my front door it is big enough?" Then I saw the door it was very difficult to see and only by looking hard at it, was it possible to make out the outline of a very solid looking door.

I found myself wondering about the Elf, could such a small person make a home in an Oak tree; after all an Oak is a very hard wood. Then I got a very large shock the Elf had spoken to me again but this time I heard his voice directly in my head. "Of course I can build my own house, I am much stronger than I look." "Was that you?" I asked him. "Yes that was me. All Elves can speak with each other using just our thoughts." " I did not expect a Human to be able to do so." He then asked me inside his home. I took of my boots it would be a pity to make a mess on his flooring or mats if he had any.

He opened the door by placing his hand on the bark of the tree and saying a few words in a language that I did not know or understand the door slowly opened. The inside was beautiful. The oak floor was highly polished and shelves had been set into the living Oak a table and a bed made up the rest of the furniture. His home was spotlessly clean and on the table there was a small vase with wild flowers it looked so peaceful and I was so big. I felt uncomfortable and out of all proportion in this perfect little house built in an Oak tree.

The voice appeared again in my head. "I can offer you elderberry wine and fairy cakes would this suit you?" I without thinking formed the words, "Yes Please." in my head and the Elf smiled and took from one of the shelves a jug with elderberry wine and from another shelf he took two glasses and two plates and placed them all on the table. From a cupboard that I had not noticed before he took a large leaf on the leaf were a dozen or so of the famous fairy cakes. He poured two glasses of the elderberry wine and offered me the leaf with the fairy cakes. As we ate the fairy cakes and drank the elderberry wine his words formed pictures in my head. He would not have invited me in to his home or even spoken to me if I had not passed his little test. Normally a human would not have understood him when he spoke in picture form in the head.

I much to my delight had found a new friend this little Elf was very wise, most Elves are likely to play a silly prank on you when you least expect it. This Elf was well educated he had been selected to attend the Fairy school as a young Elf and had been taught all that the Fairies knew. He even had his own Magic Wand although I only saw him use it when he wanted the fairy cakes to eat or the elderberry wine to drink. I often visited him in his little home and he was very interested in all that happened in the human world. Books he read with an amazing speed, it was all I could do to bring the books without being thought an Idiot who takes books into the wood to read. Then we made an arrangement I would pile the books up at my home and he would magic them into his home. Then I would not be running any risks of someone thinking that I was crazy.

One day I asked the elf if he would like to come and visit me in my world. I wanted to show him my home and where I lived. The Elf was thrilled and could hardly wait to visit me. There was one drawback though he could not or must not use magic in a Human’s home. How to get him there without arousing someone’s suspicion that was a problem. Then I had an Idea I took his measurement and went to the shops to buy him some human clothes. He dressed himself in the clothes that I had bought and I checked him over to make sure that all was well with his clothing. Then we walked out of the forest across a field and into the road where I lived. As we went past a few of the houses I introduced my Elf as a nephew of mine come to stay for a few days. It was with a sigh of relief I closed my front door. I was happy that none of the neighbours suspected anything and the elf stayed with me every year for six years. It was a summer holiday so to speak for him.

His interest after he had settled down in my home and he had adjusted himself to the new food was enormous. The television, the radio, in fact all of the electrical things in my home interested him greatly. His biggest pleasure was my computer here he amazed me how quick he was to pick up things that I had taken weeks to learn he grasped them in minutes. One day he wrote a story about how he had saved me from a falling tree while I was in the woods. A terrific storm with thunder and lightning was raging in the air over the forest. I was sheltering under a tree when a stroke of lightning split the tree; He my Elf had seen this and with a wave of his wand spirited me away to another tree. He wrote this story but now I have reread it. I am wondering whether it was just a story or was it the truth? There had been a terrific thunderstorm before I got to know my Elf and there was a tree split by lightning. I had not of course seen his magic wand spiriting me away from the tree but now I do not know did it really happen and was this story his way of telling me that he had saved my life. I will leave you to answer this question, was it a true story or just a figment of his imagination.

A Short Fairy History.

More of the fairy History on some other day, there is lots to be told I am writing it all down as the Fairy Queen tells me about it.

Fir Tree.

Many years ago a young couple chopped down a small Fir tree. A Man and a Woman then carried it off to their cottage, which stood at the edge of the forest. The Fairies and I were terribly disappointed at seeing this lovely Fir tree cut down; more though we were curious as to why two people should cut down such a splendid tree. The Fairies asked me why someone would want a tree that was green and still in sap. I could not answer them, as I too was puzzled at such behaviour.

The Fairies decided to follow the man and woman to see what would happen to the tree. They could not chop it up for firewood, as it was still green, apart from that there was plenty of dead wood lying on the forest floor. We followed the couple to their cottage on the edge of the woods. A small boy and a girl greeted the couple. The children were delighted with the tree. The man cut the bottom of the tree to a shape that fitted into a cross like piece of wood in the middle of which was a round hole. The tree was then carried into the cottage and placed near the window.

The Fairies and I were still puzzled but it was getting late and I had to go back to my home where my evening meal was waiting for me. The next day we carefully went back to the cottage and were surprised to see the tree covered in pretty coloured glass balls fruit, nuts and on the top of the tree was an Angel. Then it dawned on me it would soon be Christmas. The couple had cut down the Fir tree to give their children a wonderful Christmas.

I explained to the Fairies as well as I could about Jesus and the stall in Bethlehem where he was born. I also told them of the three wise men that visited Jesus bringing presents of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The Fairies were delighted with this Christmas story and decided to celebrate Christmas themselves. They often went back to the cottage on the edge of the forest looking to see what was happening.

As Christmas approached the Fairies decided to have their own Christmas tree. Fairies as you know just cannot cut down a tree or anything that is growing it is against all that they have learned. A number of Fir trees were decorated and the Fairies placed nuts and fruit for the birds and for the wild animals they placed bundles of fresh cut hay. The Fairies went back to the cottage and looked through the window and watched the two children undoing pretty wrapped presents. Then they put a large basket of fresh fruit at the cottage door. One of them knocked on the door and all the fairies vanished. They were still there of course but the Human Folk could not see them.

The Family often speak of the Christmas where a large basket of fruit was placed on their doorstep. Little do they know that it was the Fairies playing at celebrating Christmas that placed the fruit there for them to eat. All in all it was a wonderful Christmas for the Fairies and also for the Human Folk that lived so close to the forest.

The House.

Down the bottom end of my street there is a house it is rather large with a big garden both front and back of the house. A local man I often see him working looks after the Gardens. Twice a week when the lorry comes to collect the rubbish and waste, the rubbish bins are always placed outside of the front garden gate. I have never seen anyone but the Gardener at the house and as far as I know nor has anyone else. The new owners moved in late one night with their entire furniture etcetera moved in by a large removal firm. People in our street are curious. There is no nameplate on the front door or on the garden gate.

My neighbours have often asked me who the new people are, what are their name and all kinds of questions. No one saw them going shopping even in the evenings they did not leave the house. Many of the grown ups in the street talked about them and the children must have got some weird ideas as to who lived in the house. Some of the children one of whom had a head of red curly hair; started daring each other to open the garden gate go up to the house and ring the front door bell. The kids soon were tired of this as no one opened the door or even looked out of a window.

I myself was rather bothered at not knowing who the new people were. Were they decent respectable people after all I had the Fairies in mind and would not want any thing to happen to upset the little folk. I kept my eye on the house for a long time but no one appeared. It was one big mystery. In our street, everyone knew each other. The housewives always had a little chat with one another when time permitted. I decided that I would watch the house by night as by day it seemed as if the people in the house at the bottom of the street slept.

On my next visit to the woods or should I say Fairyland I asked for an audience with Her Majesty Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. I told Her Majesty about the house and the people living in it. As I had hoped, Her Majesty took the Magic Mirror from her pocket and looked into the same. "I see an elderly woman lying in bed she is not at all well and has not been for a long time." "There is no danger to be feared from the people living in the house." I thanked her Majesty for her kindness and left to go home.

At home, I wrote a message and pushed it through the letterbox of the house at the bottom of my street. In the message were my telephone number and a request for one or two neighbours to come and visit the sick person. I did not have to wait long late that night I received a telephone call. It was from the sister of the sick woman. She herself would not be at home, as she worked in the local hospital on shift work that is why no one had seen her. The back door was unlocked and I was welcome to visit the sick woman.

The next morning I cut the prettiest of flowers in my garden and making a posy, I with an old friend that lived down the road went to see the sick person. We found her lying propped up on a couch she had a novel in her hand; she had obviously been reading from the same. My friend of long standing a JeanWinter asked her if we could help to pass the time, which must be very long and boring until her Sister came home. I put my flowers in a vase with water and placed them so that she could see them. Her name she then told us was Doreen Ventnor and she was a widow. She and her Sister had bought the house because the road was usually very quiet.

Jean and I soon made friends with Mrs Ventnor and spent the afternoon getting to know each other. After a pleasant afternoon we promised to come another day and get the neighbours to visit her as well. I soon had the neighbours organised, and there was a regular coming and going of people to the Ventnor house. I had not been with the Fairies for over two weeks and one evening as I was sitting in my armchair watching Television a small deputation of Fairies appeared in my lounge. I explained why I had not visited them for such a while and they were very understanding. One of them asked if she could come with me on my next visit to Mrs Ventnor,

The next day accompanied by my Fairy friend, I went to the Ventnor house and with a large bunch of fresh flowers the pair of us made our way up the stairs to the bedroom of Mrs Ventnor. I called out a cheery hello and walked into the room with my Fairy friend on my shoulder. After her first greeting, Mrs Ventnor asked me who the Fairy was on my shoulder. I got a surprise I did not think that any one could see the Fairy I introduced my Fairy Friend as Donnafee. The two of them were chatting away and I felt a bit put out then I noticed the smiles on the face of Mrs Ventnor she had never really smiled before. Soon there were Fairies and Pixies, Leprechauns and Gnomes all visiting the house of Mrs Ventnor.

Nowadays in our street, there are birthday parties for the children the evenings were for the adults who took it in turn to be host to the rest of the street. Mrs Ventnor now has a wheel chair and one can often see one of the neighbours going with her to do some shopping. The Fairies accompany her wherever she goes and as soon as she is up to it, I have promised to take her to the woods so that she may see the Fairy rings and all of their houses. Now the house at the end of my street has a name Ventnor House and the curtains are always wide open letting in the sun. The children do not ring the doorbell and run away any more. No, I am sorry there are no houses to be sold in our street the people are too happy to want to move.

The Lady In The Lake.

A long, long time ago when most of the earth was covered in trees something happened that is still talked about in Fairyland today. The lake Mondamere situated in the middle of Fairyland was where something strange occurred. An Elf who was walking along the edge of the lake saw a most beautiful lady floating on her back in the water. The Lady looked as if she was sleeping but as much as the Elf tried to awaken her it was to no avail the beautiful Lady just slept on. In her hands she held a mirror and a hairbrush she was dressed in a lovely pink dress with long silken ribbons.

The Elf did not know how to help the Lady further and he called out in a loud voice, "Is there no one to help me?" Some Robins heard his call and flew off to the Fairy Queen. Suddenly there was a flash as if a bolt of lightening had suddenly exploded and there stood the Fairy Queen Feeana. She saw what was wrong and lifted the Lady out of the water. The Elf she thanked for helping a stranger. Then just as quickly as she appeared The Queen with the Lady disappeared in a bright flash of light.

The Queen Feeana took the Lady to her own house and found out by magic what had happened to her. Her looks were so pretty that she was in her own land called the most beautiful maid in the country. One day a passing Minstrel happened to see her and from that moment on he sang one lovely song after another praising her beauty. The Minstrel became famous. Nowadays we would say he was a pop singer. As his fame grew and his songs got better and better a woman happened to hear of the maid of great beauty. She had always considered herself the most beautiful women in the world and was extremely jealous of this maid that according to the Minstrel was so very lovely. She decided to get rid of this unwanted beauty that was even lovelier than she herself.

Calling her manservant to her room she told him that he could be very rich and would no longer have to work for his living. This greedy man would do anything to have a lot of money. The woman decided that the manservant should kill the beautiful maid and she would then be the prettiest woman alive. Giving the manservant a large sum of money and promising him more when he had committed his foul deed. Off the manservant went and soon found the beautiful maid. He decided that it would be easiest if he gave her a sleeping potion and then throw her into the lake. This plan he put into effect and soon he was carrying the beautiful maid to the lake. He had put the sleeping drops into her tea when she was not looking.

After throwing the maid into the lake he watched her drift off and then went back to the woman for the rest of his money. The evil woman had him thrown into prison for murdering the maid. What both of them had not known the beautiful maid was half Fairy and half human. She could not be killed but just floated off into the lake where she was found by the Elf.

Queen Feeana after hearing this terrible story immediately waved her wand and the evil woman turned into a large black stone. The lovely maid she sent back home with the promise that she the fairy Queen would in future be her guardian. The Fairy Queen Feeana told this story to me knowing that I would pass it on to all of the children everywhere in this world.

The Leprechaun.

All day yesterday it poured with rain. It was a day to be comfortably perched on the sofa or in one’s favourite armchair. It has been raining for a few days now with fairly high temperatures. I thought to myself if it stops raining tomorrow I would go into the woods looking for mushrooms. Mushrooms like a humid temperature and if the sun shone in the morning I would spend a few hours or more combing the woods for mushrooms. I placed my book on mushrooms on the hall table ready to put into my pocket if tomorrow was fine.

I also checked my weather boots to see if they were in order. Good strong boots are just the thing for rambling through the woods.

In the morning the sun shone bright and I left my house after eating a good breakfast. It is to be recommended to have a hearty meal before going in to the woods. No cafes or restaurants in the woods. A few blackberries or even wild strawberries if I was lucky to find them I would definitely eat. I had packed a couple of cheese sandwiches to take with me also a bottle of sweet cold tea without milk. In my jacket pocket I had my Swiss army knife and an old beret to cover my head.

On reaching the woods I started looking for mushrooms. I found quite a few that I did not know so out came my little book and I carefully compared the mushrooms to the coloured pictures in the book. It was around midday that I found my first eatable mushroom it was quite fresh and there were no worms in it. I carefully eased it out of the ground and with my knife I cleaned the root end of the mushroom. I then placed the mushroom in my basket and carried on looking to see if I could find some more. Glancing at my watch I saw that it was three in the afternoon and I had only found six mushrooms. I thought this is not my lucky day and carried on with the intention to go home at four o’clock.

Suddenly from behind a tree stepped a little man he was dressed in brown trousers and a green jacket, on his head was a cap with a four-leafed clover fixed with a safety pin. I greeted him and he smiled and said, " You haven’t had much luck with your mushrooms have you? I returned his smile and said, "No not really I have found about six mushrooms that I know I can safely cook and eat." "If you give me your little book on mushrooms, I will show you a place where you can fill your basket without any trouble." I thought for a moment the book was fairly old and a new book would only cost me a few pence. "All right." I said and gave him the book that he wanted so badly.

He carefully placed the book in his pocket and beckoned me to follow him. A few minutes later we came to place where there mushrooms galore. I thanked him and quickly filled my basket. I now had enough to give my neighbours some mushrooms that they too could make themselves a meal. I wandered back towards my home with my basket brimming over with mushrooms. I was very pleased that I met the little man that was so strangely dressed. One question though was on my mind how did he know that I had a book about mushrooms in my pocket. As soon as I reached home I took off my boots and placed them near the kitchen sink to wash them and later to rub them in with a special polish for boots.

As soon as I had changed my clothes I went to my two neighbours and gave them each a large portion of the fresh mushrooms. Then I went back to my kitchen and prepared a large fry up with mushrooms, eggs and bacon and a couple of sausages with a few tomatoes. I really felt that I had earned the meal it had been a long day and I was feeling tired from the walking in the woods. I went to bed later still thinking of the little man and his knowing that I had the mushroom book in my pocket.

I dropped off to sleep and towards morning I had a dream it was about the little man in the woods. The dream was at first a little hazy then I found myself in the middle of a small group of Fairies one of them said, " He made a deal with a Leprechaun and did not ask for some of his gold." "The Leprechaun would have given anything to get the book from you." I objected and said." The deal was for some mushrooms and he fulfilled his part of the deal." Another Fairy said." Both kept their part of the deal why should he ask for gold?" This was a very good question, why should anyone want a Leprechaun’s gold. The first Fairy said, " Everyone knows that a Leprechaun’s gold is magic one can do such a lot with a magical piece of gold." I found myself replying, "Gold is not everything I would prefer my good health to all the gold in this world." With that the little man appeared and said to the First Fairy. "You owe me a piece of gold the man was not greedy and I have won the bet that we had this morning."

Slowly I awoke and remembered the dream quite well, the little man was not in the woods by chance he had deliberately gone there to meet me. He knew from the start that I had my little book of mushrooms with me. The Fairy had told him that I would want gold from him all Humans want gold from the Leprechauns. Then they made the bet. The Fairy had been in the woods all of the time and they were more or less testing me. I smiled to myself glad that I was not a greedy type of person who only thought about gold and riches. I would like to meet the little man again to ask him why he had wanted the mushroom book so badly was it just the bet or did he really have an interest in Mushrooms? By the way I went into town the next day and replaced my mushroom book with one that held much more information than my old book.

The House.

Nine o’clock the postman has pushed two letters through my letterbox. One is a bill the other was from a firm of lawyers in London . I opened the letter from the Lawyers first. A Great Aunt has died and I am it seems the only living relative. I have inherited according to the letter a large house fully furnished. I with means of identity could claim the keys and the papers of ownership by going to the lawyer’s office. An appointment for the following Friday was suggested. To corroborate the appointment there was also a telephone number that I could ring.

I made the appointment and on the Friday, I was a few minutes early for my meeting with the lawyers. Welcoming me the senior partner congratulated me on my new house with all of its contents. The address they had written down on paper for me and after signing some very important looking legal documents I left the lawyers office. Before going to see my new house, I stopped at a café and drank a hot cup of coffee.

The house was at Highbury in North London Placing the key in the lock I entered the house and opened all of the windows. It was quite stuffy and I do not think that my Great Aunt had aired the place for months. The furniture was antique and had been highly polished over the years. What surprised me was the amount of Fairy pictures on the walls. There were also small porcelain figures of Fairies behind glass in nearly every room of the house.

In the drawer of the bedside table I found a letter address to me from my Great Aunt in the letter she asked me to look after all of her Fairy Friends. In the letter was also a direction on how to find the safe, which was in the dining room behind a large picture of a Fairy couple dancing. I took the picture from the wall and there was a modern safe My Aunt had left the combination to the safe in a small envelope addressed to me in her bedside table.

Opening the safe I saw that on the top shelf there were bundles of bank notes. On the bottom shelf were five boxes. In the boxes, I thought my Great Aunt had her jewellery but to my great surprise in the first box I opened, there was a Fairy Magic Wand. My name, in copperplate writing was on the wand. I waved the wand at one of the small Fairy figurines and it came to life. Opening the glass cupboard, I set the Fairy free and asked her for her name. Stellafee was her reply, are you the new owner of the house? I said yes I am now the new owner.

"Please set us free we have been locked up in this house for years and only the owner of the Magic Wand with the name Bernard Shaw can set the Fairies free." I must admit I was more that upset to think that my Great Aunt all these years had been keeping fairies locked away behind glass. "What about the pictures?" I asked the fairy. "Yes they too are Fairies being held captive." I waved my wand again and all of the Fairies in the glass cupboards and in the pictures came to life. I was thrilled that I now had the power to help the Fairies.

I explained to the fairies that I was a friend of the Fairy Queen Feeana and it was my pleasure and a privilege to set them free. I asked if they would like to stay with me for company until I had sold the furniture and the house. They agreed and as soon as I possibly could, I sold the house with all belongings except the picture frames that I burnt out in the back garden; I wanted no more Fairies in such a prison.

I received a good price for the house and furniture and with the money from the safe, I returned to my own home. I now have a hundred or more Fairies enjoying my hospitality. The Fairies on the next day I took with me into the woods and soon all of Fairyland was rejoicing at the coming home of all the Fairies that had been considered lost for so many years.

My Great Aunt had been trapping and collecting Fairies for years, I think that she was not quite right in the head. Ah! the magic wand with my name soon after my birth the Great Aunt had taken three hairs from my baby head and forced the Fairies into making the magic wand. Little did she know that one day I would be responsible for freeing them all?

The Spell Collector.

For the last five months I got no end of telephone calls, letters and a man had followed me from my house down into town. I was I admit getting a little worried what could the man possibly want from me? The local newspapers know that I write about Fairies and their doings in Fairyland and they have talked about it. Could it possibly be something to do with my story telling?

Monday last at nine in the morning an invitation to meet a man in the local coffee house of my town came through on my much-abused telephone. I was by now very curious as to what the man could possibly want. I had nothing that could possibly interest a stranger or so I thought.

The man was sitting in the coffee shop as I entered and offered me a seat at the table where he was sitting. I sat myself down and ordered a coffee. The waitress knew me well I was so to say a regular customer at the coffee shop. The man came straight to the point and told me that he was a collector of spells. I was very surprised at this remark and wondered what a man could want by collecting spells.

I will be writing a book about spells and their effects on man and beast. He told me. This I thought to myself was a dangerous thing to do. Much harm could come from it if the book was to fall into the wrong hands. I decided that I wanted nothing to do with the man or his book. I told him that he had the wrong person as I only wrote about Fairies as a hobby and all my stories came from my imagination. Did he really think that I believed in such things as fairies?

The man left and I could see the disappointment written on his face when I told him that I could not help. Going back home I put my walking shoes ready to go into the woods. I wanted to know more about this man and the only person that could help me was Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana. Telling one of the robins that I would like to speak with Her Majesty, he flew off and a few minutes later Her Majesty appeared.

I told Her Majesty of my meeting with the, ‘collector of spells,’ Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and soon I was able to see the man in full detail. He was a journalist that was looking for a story about Wizards, Sorcerers, Witches, and their spell making abilities. I spoke about my worries that such knowledge could fall into the wrong hands and what work it would involve putting things right after such a spell.

Her Majesty agreed with me and it was now her turn to cast a spell. The man now writes historical stories where Witches, Wizards and Sorcerers, all help to make his stories readable. His knowledge of spells the fairy Queen dispersed and that was the last that I saw of him. My telephone does not ring at odd times of the day or night and no one is following me any more.

I write about my friends the Fairies as I have always done and I specially make sure that I do not give away any of their secrets. My story telling I tell people comes from my overwrought imagination and there are no such things as Fairies and Leprechauns. We all know of course that my stories are true and I would not write a story that was not up to my imagination.

The Tallest Tree.

Some very unusual things are happening in Fairyland. It seems that some of the fairies got into an argument as to what tree in the woods was the tallest. All kinds of tricks the fairies got up to, to measure the trees. Some used long pieces of twine that they got the birds to fly with up to the tops of the trees to measure how tall they were. Some of the fairies asked me to help them to measure which tree was the tallest. I did not know how to measure the exact height of a tree. I asked a friend of mine who is a professional gardener, how he measured trees. This friend smiled and said that the only time he measured trees was when they were chopped down and lying on the ground. This of course did not help a lot, as the fairies could not chop down all of the trees to see which was the tallest.

I told the fairies that I would go back home and look in my books to see how one could measure a tree. Needless to say there was nothing in my books on how to measure a tree. I phoned the British Broadcasting Company called the "BBC," to see whether they could help. No one could help me and I am still wondering how to measure a tree without chopping it down. Going back into Fairyland I called the fairies together and told them that I could not find a way to exactly measure the height of a tree. All I could think of was to look at the trees and decide which was the tallest by using my eyes. This seemed to be all right with the fairies and we formed a procession and wandered through fairyland.

There were Oak trees and Elms, even the Weeping Willow and all of the other trees but no one could decide on which was the tallest. I myself thought that the fir tree was the tallest but the fairies would not have this. On we wandered with no real knowledge as to which tree was the tallest. When we were under a tree looking up though the foliage they all seemed to be very tall. It was decided to ask Her Majesty the Queen Feeana which tree was the tallest. Her Majesty only smiled and said that the fairies should occupy their time with things more important than which tree was the tallest. Trees grow a little each year and while they were growing one could not possibly tell which was the tallest.

We decided to ask the Leprechaun Shamus as to which tree was the tallest, after all Shamus had been all over the world and he should know. Shamus thought for a while and then asked the fairies if they would take his word for it that the tree he was going to tell us about was the tallest that he had ever seen. The fairies agreed to take his word and Shamus wrote down on a piece of paper the words Sequoia Tree. "This tree is the largest and the tallest that I have ever seen," said Shamus. "It is also called the Sierra redwood or the big tree." The fairies each looked at what Shamus had written and all went off quite happy that they now knew which was the tallest tree although it did not grow in our part of Fairyland.

Now when the fairies want to know about something or other they ask first Shamus, if Shamus could not answer their questions they come to me. Later in the year in the winter months when the fairies were in their winter quarters under the Himalayan Mountains. I asked friend of mine who is a general Surveyor, That is a person that measures the size of mountains or roads and the country in Particular if he would measure the trees in the woods so that I might tell the fairies which tree is really the tallest in our part of fairyland. He brought his measuring instruments and as I thought the fir was the tallest tree in our part of fairyland. In the spring when the fairies returned back home I told them that the fir was the tallest tree in Fairyland but what do you know no one was interested all had forgotten the long arguments about which tree was the tallest.

The Trail.

It was an old trail used mainly by the wild animals of the forest. I myself use it whenever I want to go deeper into the woods. Many are the wild animals that I have seen on the trail, from the fox, the wild hares, weasels, stoats and many more such as the shy deer. The trail is old, but one must look carefully to find the beginning of the path made by the wild animals, it is well hidden and I myself only came across the trail by accident. I was following a wild pig with her young and being curious I followed them until I lost them in a part of the woods that even I could only follow with difficulty.

It was on such a day that I first saw the cottage. It was built in the old Elizabethan style and I fell in love with it at first sight. The cottage was beautifully kept with its walls white and the oak beams showing their age. The front door was painted green and the two windows were placed one each side of the door. The roof was thatched and had been recently renewed. I looked at it for some time then I saw a wisp of smoke coming from the red brick chimney. A movement from one of the curtained windows told me that someone was in the cottage and had obviously been watching me, as I looked the house over.

The front door of the house opened and a small woman of about sixty years of age or so asked me if she could help me. She it seemed did not often get visitors and I think that she was curious as to what I was doing so deep in the woods. I greeted her and asked if I could have a glass of water. Going into the cottage she came back with a glass of the most delicious fruit juice that I have ever tasted. Thanking her for her kindness I turned and was about to go back the way I came when she said," You are the man that writes fairy-tales for children." "Yes," I answered surprised that she knew what I did in my spare time.

"Won’t you come in for a while and I will tell you a story that might be worth telling in one of your stories." Going into the cottage I saw that all was spotlessly clean and in the middle of the table there was an arrangement of wild flowers that had been placed so that each flower showed itself to the viewer as if it was still growing wild. I had never before seen such flowers so delicately arranged.

"Please sit yourself down at the table, she said. I sat myself down wondering what story she had to tell." " I have not always lived here in the forest she began I once lived in a big city but that is so long ago. One day I found a fine porcelain cup with the picture of a fairy painted on it. I thought that it had been painted but on arriving at my home with my new found treasure I gently washed and dried it and was going to place it in the glass cupboard with a few other cups that I had collected over the years.

I was very much amazed when the fairy started to slowly wave her wings. It was so real the movements of the wings and the look on her sweet little face that I just had to help her. I could see that she was not painted on the cup but that someone had fixed her there before covering the cup so that it shone. What was I to do? How could I help her? I was just a working girl living in a big city and knew no one that could help me.

Placing the cup very carefully in the cupboard I told her that I would help to free her as soon as I knew how. The next day I met a small man that had come to work in the same factory as myself. This small man whistled such happy tunes while he was working that soon everyone that worked in the factory liked him. He spoke to me quite often and one day he said to me, "You have a secret, will you not tell me what your secret is? A few weeks later he asked again what my little secret was and could he be of help to me in any way. It was then I decided to tell him about the fairy imprisoned in the porcelain of my cup. This did not surprise him and he offered to come and see whether he could help me with my problem.

The following Saturday he came as promised bringing with him a small bunch of wild flowers that he had picked on the way. I made a cup of hot sweet tea and then showed him my treasure the cup with the fairy. "We need help," he said, and taking from his pocket he took out what looked like a piece of root from a tree. Putting this strange looking thing to his lips he blew a sweet melodious note. It was easy on the ears but it must have carried a long, long distance. There was flash of light and a small puff of smoke and the most wonderful person that I have ever seen was standing in the room. A long silken gown covered her delicate body on her back a pair of wings so fine that one could see through them.

"Now Hennessy why have you summoned me?" the being spoke in a soft sweet voice and I knew she must be a Queen or at least a Princess. Hennessy was the small man’s name I had not heard him being called by name before. "Your Majesty I summoned you, for you to have a look at this cup and to help the trapped fairy that is being held prisoner." Her Majesty took the cup in her hands and looked carefully at it. Then she sang in a sweet voice what sounded to my ears like, "One two three, Set this being free." There was a flash of light and from the cup stepped a small fairy that soon grew to a full sized woman. "Thank you for being so kind" she said to me. Thank you Your Majesty for freeing me." Then she looked at Hennessey and smiled, "You have saved me once again I see. One more time and I will be your wife as the old rules foretell it."

Hennessy’s face went a deep red and he smiled timidly and said. " It was not I that saved you this time. It was this lass that works in the factory with me." Her Majesty then took hold of my hand and said some words that I did not understand and I found myself in this cottage I have been here ever since and you are the first man that I have told my tale to. I often get visits from Her Majesty and sometimes Hennessey comes past. The strange thing is that I know all about the fruits and nuts and the herbs and about gardening which in my old life I never knew. I bottle fruits and make Juice cordials from my fruits. My garden gives me all the vegetables that I need and I am a very happy woman. I was very pleased to get away from that horrid old factory with all of its smells and noise. Here I live in peace and my visitors are the wild creatures and of course the fairies.

The Truth Top.

In Fairyland a long time ago something mysterious was taking place. A series of small thefts had the Fairies worried. Things disappeared not only the Fairies personal belongings but also objects that had been in Fairyland for years. At first everyone thought that it was the Pixies being mischievous as usual. Then word went around it was not the Pixies but the Trolls. Some went as far as to say it was the Leprechauns. Everyone was annoyed and also troubled what would disappear next.

Things went on like this for over two months but the stealing just went on and on. The birds were asked to keep a sharp lookout especially the Owls. Everyone knew that the Owls could see very well and it was hoped that the thief or thieves would soon be caught. This strange behaviour went on for a long time until a Fairy’s magic wand was stolen. This was serious a magic wand in the wrong hands could be very harmful and cause very much damage.

Soon the Fairy Queen Feeana heard about what was happening in Fairyland and she made a royal statement that if the thief or thieves would own up to this strange behaviour and give the stolen articles back to their rightful owners no punishment would be meted out to the culprit or culprits. No one owned up to the stealing and the Fairy Queen reached into he large pocket and took out a child’s spinning top. The top was brightly coloured. The Queen threw the top into the air and it started to spin. It spun and wandered around all of the Fairy Folk. The spinning top was magic and it asked each fairy the same question, guilty or not guilty? None of the little folk was guilty. There was no need for anyone to steal in Fairyland. None went hungry or thirsty all were provided for.

The top span for three whole days and finally stopped spinning but there was not one of the little folk to be seen. The Queen Feeana raised her magic wand and there was a flash and a small Witch appeared. This Witch had been stealing things in Fairyland not because she needed them but just to make the Fairies think that they had a thief in their midst. The Witch raised the stolen magic wand and muttered a spell but the magic wand was not her property and there was just a couple of sparks to be seen. The Fairy Queen Feeana waved her wand once more and the Witch was sitting beside a huge pile of dirty washing. The Witch could not leave Fairyland until she had finished washing all of the dirty clothes. For weeks there was Fairy clothing hanging on the cobweb lines that the spiders spun for the Fairy Queen. Finally the Witch vanished and was no more to be seen in Fairyland.

Wooden Cottage.

The path took me deeper and deeper into the forest. Trees and bushes lined the way and I thought for a moment that I would soon be lost if I carried along walking on this way through the forest. I came across the occasional clearing most were occupied with wild animals. I made no noise and went through most of them without the animals seeing or hearing me. The wild mushroom was to be seen as well as toadstools but I was not interested in the mushrooms, blackberries or nuts and other things to eat.

This journey of mine through the forest was to keep a promise I made over a year ago. I had met in the forest a Leprechaun who I was able to help. Come and see me when fourteen moons have gone by and I will show you a Cottage fit for a Prince. I will build the Cottage myself and you will be amazed at what a Cottage I will build. There will be nothing like it in the whole world. I made one rest at midday to eat some corned beef sandwiches that I had prepared at home. I washed the sandwiches down with a cup or two of cold sweet tea.

The miles went past and I thought to myself it is about time that I got to where I was going. Mile after mile and still no Cottage to be seen, then I saw it the Cottage shone in a pale blue light through the trees. It was not large but built in a bungalow style. As I got closer I saw that the Cottage had been built with living trees. The roof was thatched and the Leprechaun appeared as I began to wonder if there was anybody at home.

"Welcome to my new home was his first words. I have, as you see, used the trees to build the Cottage. I did most of the work with magic. The trees that were in the way I with magic transferred them elsewhere. There was not a tree chopped down for the Cottage. I got the trees to grow branches, which I intertwined to make the walls of the Cottage. The windows I made in the same way. If you look closely at the windows you will see that the glass is no ordinary glass. "Throw some dirt on the windows." I did as he asked me, not a piece of dirt was to be seen. The windows are of magic glass they let the light in by day and keep the dark out by night.

We spent the rest of the day going through the Cottage I was amazed at what he had got the tree branches to do. A table with some stools stood in the middle of the floor the fireplace with its chimney he had built with slabs of stone that can be found in the forest. In the bedroom there was a bed that had also been made of the branches of the trees. I was very impressed with it all and told him that he had really built a home fit for a Prince.

A warm meal was soon prepared and we both ate a simple but very nourishing soup. I was given the bed to sleep in while he made himself comfortable with the tabletop. The bed was very springy and I dropped off into a well-earned sleep. The Leprechaun awoke me in the morning and for breakfast there was wild strawberries and some fresh bread that he had baked while I was sleeping. To drink there was fresh cold water from the deep well that he had dug.

As I was saying my goodbyes and thanking him for the hospitality he smiled and said, "Surely you do not want to leave your new home. This Cottage I built for you. It is yours." What could I say to such a generous gesture? I did not like to refuse him and at the same time I had my house with all of my belongings at my house. I did not want to leave my comfortable home. In the end I agreed to keep the cottage as a weekend house and to use it when I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the small town where I lived. He agreed on this and we parted and I went on my way back home.

At home I emptied my pockets as I always do before having a bath and changing my clothes. In one of my jacket pockets there was a piece of tree bark. Written on the bark were two magic words and this message. This is the key to the door of your new Cottage without the magic words the door will not open. Learn the two words carefully and then burn this piece of bark your friend forever Shamus the Leprechaun.

What shall I say; I now have a house and a cottage deep in the woods. In the cottage in the woods I will never have to clean the windows. No one will be able to enter the cottage without knowing the magic words. I sometimes go off to the cottage to write my little fairy stories. This tale was written in the cottage with the magic windows.

Three Pixies.

The feeling grew stronger and stronger someone or something was watching my every move. Raising my head from my pillow, I slowly looked around my bedroom. All I could see was the old-fashioned chest of drawers where I kept my socks and shirts and my underwear. I looked in the large old mirror that hung on the back of the door. I could see nothing. The feeling grew stronger and then something strange happened. I floated at least two feet above my bed. Now I knew that a Pixie or Pixies were in the room playing these childish tricks on me. "Show yourselves," I commanded in a sharp voice. In the corner of the room, three Pixies materialised. "What do you want from me I asked in a gentle voice? What can I do for you?" The three slowly dropped me back in to my bed. One of them started speaking, "We want to get back into Fairyland. "We have been banned for misbehaving ourselves." We know that you can help us, as you are the Fairy Queens helper."

I thought about it for a few minutes and said, "I will help you if you promise not to get into too much mischief in Fairyland." " The rules are there to be kept it is the only way that one can live a safe settled life." " Do you all agree with me?" A chorus of yes we promise came back to my ears and I told them to go down stairs and wait for me. They left my bedroom and I got up had a wash and shave and cleaned my teeth, after combing my hair I went down stairs and saw the three of them sitting on my kitchen chairs. I quickly boiled a kettle and made a large pot of tea and taking a jar of honey and some rolls I invited them to have breakfast with me. I must admit for Pixies they were exceptional well behaved and breakfast passed without any mischief on the part of the Pixies After breakfast I told them that they could stay here in my house until I had, had a word with Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

It had rained during the night and I put on my heavy boots to go into the woods. On the way, I called to a Robin asking it to take a message to Her Majesty. The Robin flew off and I sat patiently on an old tree stump until the Queen appeared. A bright blue flash and a small puff of smoke and Her Majesty stood in front of me looking as beautiful as she always does. I rose to greet Her Majesty and told her the tale of the three Pixies that had awoken me this morning and their plea for me to help them, Her Majesty looked very grave and then told me why the Pixies had been banned. One day the Pixies having nothing better to do got into mischief for which most Pixies are famous. The story Her Majesty told me was a good example of Pixie mischief. It seemed that at one of the Fairy dances the Pixies had volunteered to make the fairy cakes, in fairy cakes there are many flower petals involved as well as honey. The Pixies had collected the flower petals: For mischief’s sake they decided to mix in a few mushrooms that they knew when eaten would cause the Fairies to see strange pictures. What the adults call Hallucinate. The dance took place in the woods and all of the little people were present.

Dancing is something that all Fairies love to do and at this dance, all went well until it was time for refreshments. The Fairies ate the fairy cakes in fact all of the little people ate of the cakes and as the Pixies knew, all fell into a trance like daze. All saw Pictures some nice but a lot were ugly pictures that frightened the Fairies especially the smaller ones. This had gotten back to her Majesty who took out of her pocket her magic mirror. She saw the three Pixies and what they had done and it displeased her very much. Her Majesty then spoke out the ban that made the Pixies leave Fairyland what the Pixies were thinking of when they mischievously picked the mushrooms that all the little folk knew about. The Fairies were taught in the Fairy School that such mushrooms were not for the Fairies or any of the little people.

I pleaded with Queen Feeana to punish the Pixies some other way not to turn them away from Fairyland it sounded so cruel that they were never again be able to play and dance with the other little people. Her Majesty thought for a while and then gave me her answer. The Pixies could come back into Fairyland if after one whole year they could show that they helped People. Not just the little peoples but also the members of the human race. I went back home to where the three Pixies were waiting and told them of the Queen’s decision. They looked disappointed at first then when I explained that a year could go so quickly, they cheered up. The three of them went around the world helping people and after one year, they found themselves back in Fairyland. The punishment was over and the three of them gave Her Majesty a full report of the help they had given to different peoples all over the world. Her Majesty was pleased with their report, they are now back home in Fairyland, and no one scolded them for their very bad behaviour with the mushrooms.

Three Witches.

The sun was beating down mercilessly most of the farm animals had taken shelter under the trees or in the sheds surrounding the farm. It had not rained for some months and people were getting desperate. Farmers were driving the animals to the river which was a mile or so away. Most of the ponds had dried out and the deep wells were being used just for the people to drink.

Many of the local people started putting the blame for the lack of rain on the three old women that lived at the edge of the Forest. Naturally these women had no blame and could not influence the weather in any way whatsoever. They themselves were forced to go to the river for water. This did not stop the local people from blaming them.

The three old women had often been accused when things went wrong on the farms. When the cows gave no milk or the milk turned sour. Even at the lambing season when the snow and frosts were responsible for the loss of the lambs they were looked at with suspicion. The three old women were of course not to blame but the villagers and the local farmers blamed them; it was easier to accuse the women than admit the weather was at fault or even themselves for the mistakes they sometimes made.

Most of the time the three spent tending their small garden. In summer they collected berries and made jams, in autumn they could be seen collecting the nuts that fell from the trees. Theirs was a hard life they had no comforts not like the farmers and the villagers who had at least the farm produce and what vegetables they could grow in their gardens.

Shoes were a luxury that the three could not afford they walked bare footed summer and winter. The bottoms of their feet were hard like leather and they spent hours in the Forest looking for mushrooms and berries and anything else that a human could eat. It was indeed a very hard life. The women though, were never once heard to complain. They were used to such a life from a very early age on. Their parents had died when they were young and the three sisters had stayed together ever since.

There was no chance of any of them marrying, no one in the local area wanted anything to do with such poor people. The sisters asked no one for help and most of the time they were dressed in rags. The meals that they eat were very frugal and the only sweetener they had was the honey they took from the wild bees in the Forest.

The villagers through the lack of water at last vented their spite on the three. They drove them away from their home it was a terrible thing to do. The villagers had no mercy on the three that they now openly called witches. The three had to run for their lives fleeing through the Forest that they knew so well.

Whether one of the villagers set light to the Forest or a flash of lightning one does not know suddenly the trees bushes and grass were burning fiercely. The women ran for their lives. Then they saw a wild deer trapped in a burning ring of fire. The three without hesitation ran through the burning grass, their feet did not feel the burning and picking up the frightened animal they ran and ran until they were out of danger. The deer they set free and continued on their way constantly looking back for signs of the fire or even the angry villagers.

Tired and thirsty the three settled down as best they could for the coming night. During the night a Forester found them and listened to their story. He was a kind hearted man and took the three back to his home. His wife made the three welcome and gave them a meal the likes of which they previously would perhaps have dreamed of. Fresh brown bread a slice each of meat and a glass of pure water to wash it down.

The next day the Forester’s wife gave each of them a dress and after washing in the nearby river the three put on their new dresses and felt marvellous. Shoes they refused they were so used to walking barefoot that shoes would most likely have hurt or even damaged their feet. The Forester took them next to a cottage that was on the edge of the Forest and told them this was their new home.

They had for the first time a well for drinking water and a large piece of ground that they could use for growing vegetables. They still went into the forest for the wild berries and the nuts in season and always there was something for the Forester’s wife. They never went back to their old cottage and nothing more was heard of them by the villagers who had driven them away.

The house that they were born in eventually fell down and the local people still call it the Witches Plot. The children of the village are frightened to go anywhere near it after it is dark. The ruins are now covered in wild bramble bushes that the three loved so much.

Thunderstorm.

The Professors at the Fairy weather institute have sent a warning to Her Majesty the Queen that a thunderstorm, the likes of which have never been seen before would appear over Fairyland. Then a second warning came to the Fairy Queen, from Mother Nature. A thunderstorm had got out of hand and was now rushing across the Atlantic and would hit Great Britain in a matter of twenty-four hours.

This storm being out of Mother Natures control would cause much damage. The Fairy Queen Feeana decided to send all of the Fairy Folk to the huge caves under the Himalayan Mountains. Here they would all be safe and come to no harm. The Queen waved her magic wand and all of the Fairy folk were transferred by means of magic to the caves. Not a Fairy was to be found in the whole of Great Britain.

First it started to rain, and then the heavens opened and down came the rain in such quantities that no one still alive on the earth had ever seen anything like it. The streams became raging torrents. The water covered the fields to a depth of one meter. Many of the human folk thought that a new time, flood had hit the earth. Many animals and even insects drowned it was indeed a terrible time.

With the rain came the thunder storms, one flash of lightning after the other, the clouds grumbled their ways across the heavens bumping into one another causing the thunder that was so loud it hurt one’s ears. Her Majesty had offered me to go with the Fairies but I did not want to leave my house in such weather. What I thought, if lightning struck the house. There would be no one to call the Fire Brigade and my house would burn down to the ground.

From my kitchen window I watched the weather closing my eyes at each flash of lightning. The storm lasted exactly three hours and seemed to be going around in circles. Then as it had started it stopped with a last shower of rain. Pulling on my Wellington boots and placing an old cap on my head I went out into the woods to see what damage had been done. Many a tree had been struck by lightning even my old Oak tree where I often sit had been badly damaged. The floor of the woods was just water and I found it very difficult to walk without falling over tree roots where the water had washed them clean of earth.

I arrived at the cottage of Her Majesty Queen Feeana and saw that it had not been hit by lightning and all seemed to be in order. Then I heard a familiar voice saying, "Do you think that Her Majesty would mind if we went in to dry off and make a cup of tea?" It was my friend Shamus the Leprechaun. I said, "Yes let us go in and make some tea and you can dry off." Opening the door I saw that there were all kinds of birds and animals that had come in by the windows that Her Majesty had left open.

We made a large pot of tea and one by one the small wild animals slowly went back into the woods. The birds had flown out as we entered the front door. I had just poured myself a second cup and there was a shimmering in the air and the bright blue flash and her Majesty stood in the kitchen. I greeted her Majesty and poured her a cup of rather sweet tea. We stood in the kitchen and Shamus whose clothes were now dry came into the kitchen and on seeing Her Majesty he bowed very deeply as only Leprechauns can bow. After drinking our tea we three went out into the woods to see what damage had been done. I asked Her Majesty whether she had forgotten to close her windows or had she left them open purposely. She had left them open purposely so that any bird or animal that could reach her cottage might find shelter. She was very pleased when I told her of the wild animals and birds that had indeed found shelter in her cottage.

Going through the woods Her Majesty took out her magic wand and repaired the damaged trees as we came across them. The water had started to drain off the wood’s floor and in a couple of days nothing would be left to show that such a terrible storm had blown across Fairyland. Then Mother Nature to show that she now had the storm under her control sent a most beautiful rainbow that covered the heavens from one horizon to the next. Such a rainbow had never before been seen on earth.

Shamus came back to my house and getting my long ladder he scrambled up on to the roof and repaired the odd slate that had come loose in the thunderstorm. Shamus stayed a few days at my house and we both observed the return home of the Fairy folk. That evening as they arrived back at woods her Majesty threw a party and a dance was quickly arranged. All took part even Shamus had found a partner with one of the wise old fairies. At the first light of dawn all was quiet no fairy to be seen just the birds singing away showing the world that they at least were glad that the storm had passed on so quickly.

Trapped Deer.

Early in the evening, I went for a stroll to the woods. It was a warm night and cloud was covering the moon. It looked as if we would rain before the night was out. I wondered at the amount of glowworms that were flying in the woods there seemed to be hundreds of them busily flying around. I suppose they were doing what a glowworm usually does although the darting here and there looked rather confusing to me. I had my pocket lamp or torch with me sometimes as one got into the woods the tree roots could be very tricky. I strolled along with my thoughts rambling as they usually do.

Then I heard a commotion ahead of me switching on my torch I hurried along the path and saw a cloud of glowworms flying over a bramble bush. A mother deer had gotten herself caught in the brambles. In her efforts to free herself, she scratched herself rather badly by the thorns that we all know so well from blackberry picking. There was blood dripping down her flanks. The more she tried to free herself the more she entangled herself in the brambles.

I quietly stopped beside her and taking my knife from my pocket freed her slowly but surely from the brambles. The poor thing was shivering with fright I suppose she had never been this close to a human before. Freeing her completely from all of the brambles, I picked her up bodily and set her down on the path. Raising her head by the light of the glowworms, I could see the deep dark brown eyes looking at me. Then with a swing of her short tail, she sprang in the air and went off down the path without looking back.

I carried on my evening stroll happy that I had been able to help such a lovely creature. I soon caught up with a small group of Fairies and I spent the evening with them talking about the flowers and what new colour shades they would use for the next spring flowers. The glowworms were still very active and a goblet of parsnip wine appeared in my right hand. I could see the bubbles rising to the top of the goblet and taking a sip of the delicious wine I saw about twenty yards away the mother deer that I had freed she had with her a baby that she gently nudged from time to time. Raising her head, she gave me a last look and both of them turned and trotted down the path.

The goblet of parsnip wine refilled itself as soon as I drank this was indeed magic, all evening the goblet was never empty. Soon the effects of the parsnip wine began to tell on me and I said my goodnights to the Fairies and made my way back home being accompanied to the edge of the woods by the glowworms. On reaching my back door, the first drops of rain fell from the sky. I went to bed and dreamed of deer that I rescued from all kinds of danger.

In the morning, I saw that I still had the glass goblet it was empty and I had a bad conscience I should have given it back to the Fairies but I forgot. I knew the Fairies would not be angry for I had drunk just a little too much of the parsnip wine it was easy to forget things when all are enjoying themselves. I took the goblet, washed it under the tap in the kitchen, and dried it on a tea towel.

On reaching the woods, something strange happened the goblet filled itself with parsnip wine. I drank to quench my thirst and the glass refilled itself again. The more I drank the more the glass refilled itself. I soon reached the Fairy meeting place and the fairies were there waiting for me to appear. I explained about the goblet, how I had somehow forgotten to give it back to them. The Fairies smiled a knowing smile and one of them said. "That is a personal present to you from Her Majesty Queen Feeana. This is Her Majesties way of saying thank you for rescuing the mother deer last night. The goblet will as soon as it is in the woods fill itself with parsnip wine. When you take it home with you, it is just an ordinary goblet with no magic powers. Here in the woods it knows Her Majesties most potent magic.

Treetop Homes.

The year had started of with a January that was bitterly cold. February it snowed non-stop then in March came the rains. It was a bad start to the year and the summer promised to be wet as well. In April the showers were practically every day and all day. The little Folk were really worried the forest floor was flooded and the water could not soak in or even drain away. It was then that they decided to build their homes in the treetops.

Leprechauns were called from as far away as America to come and help with the rebuilding of the new homes; The Leprechauns first built gangways from tree to tree. Then they started building the houses in the treetops. Leprechauns are known to work quickly and silently there was no noise to be heard apart from the sawing of wood and the blows of the hammers that were used to nail the planks of wood together.

Trees were chopped down or with the help of the Beavers chewed down with their very sharp teeth. The wild deer transported the planks of freshly cut wood each had a plank tied to its back by a Leprechaun. When they arrived another Leprechaun untied the plank from the Deer’s back. Where it was hauled into the treetops on a long thick rope. One house after another was soon built and the Little Folk quickly removed their belongings into the new homes.

The houses were built just in time as the summer months came along there was thunder and lightning and it rained and rained. The forest floor was completely flooded. The only good thing about the weather was that through the hot damp climate the leaves grew and grew and soon one could not see the houses from the ground or from the air. It was as if Fairyland had completely disappeared.

The Leprechauns were paid for their work and all went back to their homes. The stream through the Forest was now a raging torrent and it was impossible to cross on the old stepping-stones that the Fairies had laid when the all lived on the ground. The Leprechauns had built a bridge across the stream in the treetops it was one of the last jobs that they did.

The wild animals had with the help of the Fairies found new places where they could live and eat on the higher regions of the Forest. The only ones not to be upset by the weather were the beavers they had built a dam with a living apartment above the water level. The dam itself was made with the trunks of two Oak trees and it was a strong wall against which the water had to run around the edges to find its own level again.

Each Fairy now had a cover for his or her magic wand and it was made from the finest leather by one of the Leprechauns. Wands and wings must not get wet it was one of the first things that the Fairies learned in the Fairy school.

In October it was once again dry the sun had decided to show itself it had been hidden for a very long time in Fairyland. The fruit on the trees and the bushes were not worth collecting for the winter and it promised to be a hard year for the animals and the Fairies. All the Fairies were agreed that this bad weather could only have been wished upon them by one of their enemies a Sorcerer, a Wizard or a Witch. The Fairy Queen had been trying to find out who was responsible for such weather.

In the fairy Queens home appeared one evening an Owl. It whispered just one word. Madrigopar. Madrigopar was a Wizard that had been taught at first by Merlin. Merlin dismissed him because he was dishonest and lazy and tried to poison him. He had gone from one Wizard or Sorcerer to another and from each of his teachers he picked up the bad spells. He was not interested in good spells he hated everyone. Humans, Fairies, animals, birds and yes everything that walked or flew on this earth.

Madrigopar had sworn revenge on the Fairy Folk and on Queen Feeana in particular. It was Queen Feeana that had stopped him from taking over at King Arthur’s court. In an unguarded moment He had mixed a potion of poisons together and gave them to Merlin. Queen Feeana had caused Merlin’s hands to become weak and he had dropped the evil potion. Queen Feeana had at that time not punished the apprentice to Merlin, Madrigopar, she wanted to give him a chance to mend his evil ways, but he just went from bad to worse.

Queen Feeana decided to punish Madrigopar this time and thought of all the harm he done to the Animals and the Fairy Folk by sending them such bad weather. Madrigopar came to the Forest disguised as an Imp; he was very surprised at not seeing any trace of the Fairies. In fact he saw none of the Little Folk as all life now was above the trees in the treetops. The Beavers eventually found him wandering around looking for the Fairies. Madrigopar was well known to all of the animals and other creatures he had meddled in their lives too often. The Beavers told him that there had been no Fairies here in this part of the Forest for years.

A message was taken by one of the Beavers to Her Majesty who looked in her Magic Mirror just to make sure that it was the dreaded Madrigopar. Seeing the Imp she uttered a few words in the old language and the Imp turned into a hundred or more raindrops. Nothing more has been heard of Madrigopar and all went back as usual.

Troubled Fairyland.

The Elves are not talking to the Fairies. The Fairies are not on speaking terms with the Pixies. Imps are being very cheeky to everyone in Fairyland. Just the Leprechauns took no part in the quarrels and stupid arguments that were shaking the whole of Fairyland. Soon it became unbearable. Tricks were being played on one another with some of them quite dangerous. Nobody knew what was wrong in Fairyland such behaviour had never before been seen. The Trolls were not speaking with any of the other folk they grinned and whispered to themselves as if they were sharing one big secret.

All that happened in Fairyland was reported to Her Majesty the Fairy Queen. Queen Feeana asked the wise old Fairies to look into the matter and to find out what was wrong. A troubled Fairyland boded no good for the little folk. The days slowly passed and things got worse and worse. The wise old Fairies could not find out what was troubling the little people. The Queen Feeana then asked the birds to help especially the Robins and the Owls Robins always reported any thing that was out of the ordinary it was in their nature to do so. The Owls not only known for their wisdom were very keen observers of all that went on in Fairyland.

After a month the Queen Feeana not hearing any news as to what was causing the trouble dressed herself in some old clothes and played the part of a Troll. She wandered in Fairyland and went with the Trolls as one of themselves. The Trolls soon accepted the Queen and told her the secret of what was causing the trouble in fairyland.

A Sorcerer that wanted to take over Fairyland had gotten the Trolls on his side with a promise that he would give each Troll a Fairy wand so that all the Trolls could use magic just like the Fairies. All that the Trolls had to do was to cause trouble even if it meant that someone would be hurt. The Sorcerer gave the Trolls a small leather bag, which held a powder that would harm the fairies. The Trolls were to put the powder in the Fairies water supply. This the Trolls just could not do, everyone knows that Fairies drink the early morning dew that they find on the flowers, the bushes and all that grows in Mother Natures garden.

When the Trolls told the sorcerer of their difficulties with the water supply the evil man went back to his home to find some other way to harm the fairies. He was soon back in fairyland this time with another dust that the trolls should throw into the wind. The wind would then spread this dust directly on the Fairies and their wings would drop off. The Fairy Queen Feeana was angry with the sorcerer that would go to any lengths to destroy the Fairies happy way of life. Unknown to the Trolls she changed the powder with a good powder that would make the Fairies forget all the troubles that had been happening in the last two months or so.

Queen Feeana called all the wise old Fairies to a meeting and it was discussed what to do with this evil sorcerer that was causing so much trouble. After a long discussion and many plans to make the sorcerer stop his evil ways. The Queen and the wise old Fairies decided that the Trolls through their bad behaviour were more to be pitied than blamed but the sorcerer should be punished very severely even if it mean turning him into a block of stone.

The Queen Feeana went to the Sorcerer’s home and waited until he left to go into Fairyland to get the Trolls to make more of his mischief. Waving her wand the Queen turned the Sorcerer into a snake. No longer will you make mischief in Fairyland, no longer will you get the simple Trolls to do your evil work in future instead of speaking you will only hiss. Instead of walking you will crawl. The Queen returned to fairyland and waved her magic wand once again and all returned to normal and every one of the little folk immediately forgot about the troubles they, had, had. Fairyland was back to normal and the Robins and the Owls went back to their usual ways of life.

You are wondering why the Leprechauns were not involved in all of the arguments that were taking place. This is simple to answer. Leprechauns eat every day a four-leafed clover it stops them from listening to gossip, which is the cause of so much trouble not only in Fairyland but also in the world of the Human kind. Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana told this story to me last night just before I went to sleep.

Turtle Doves.

A very long time ago when all was in its infancy a large group of Fairies came to this earth from Andromeda that is a star in outer space. Their old world had become very hot and dry and they could no longer stay without having to practically rebuild the planet. Groups of fairies had been searching through the universe looking for a suitable world to live and had come across Earth. Earth promised to be a world they could safely live without facing the dangers of a hot dry world where only a few strange trees and shrubs could grow.

The fairies quickly settled in their newly found world, which we know as Earth. The rest of the Fairies came and made their new homes all over the world. There were no human folk at this far distant time just large animals. These animals were in two groups the hunted and the hunters. Or those that ate meat (the hunters) and those that ate green plants and grasses (the hunted.)

The fairies avoided both groups and being inquisitive they studied the plants and trees. Much new knowledge was found in this way and the fairies wrote down all the known facts and started off schools for the fairy children. These schools were not like the schools of today. No brick buildings no playgrounds. The school was always in the open air in the middle of forests or even high up in the trees. The fairies studied all of Mother Nature; notes were made of when it rained how much sunshine every day. The fairies decided that Earth was to be their new home.

Thousands of years passed the fairies were happy with their new home. Nature was continually changing the very large animals had over hundreds of thousands of years become extinct others animals were now taking their place. One of these animal groups was early man. The fairies had been watching these ape like creatures for a very long time. It was decided by the fairies to help these early creatures. They were shown how to use primitive tools that they could make for themselves. Different berries and roots the fairies placed for them to find.

The years slowly passed and man developed many new things in the early world. Some became hunters and others farmers. Many were the early quarrels of the primitive man. At one time the fairies refused to help them until they stopped their foolish quarrelling. It was to no avail men quarrelled then and still do today.

The fairies gradually kept themselves to themselves and the human kind was tolerated more or less. Two of the fairies were born without wings and this was reported to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana thought about the problem for a very long time and came up with a solution. She called the two fairies that were very sad that they could not fly and offered to make them into birds by day and by night they would revert back into fairies. The fairies being of very gentle nature asked the Fairy Queen Feeana if they could become doves by day the fairy Queen Feeana agreed to this and so that all fairies would know that the two turtle doves were fairies she placed a dark ring on the necks of the turtle doves. By day one sees often a pair of turtledoves sitting either on a chimney or an electric wire or even on the bough of a tree. At night though they are nowhere to be seen.

Two Leprechauns.

The shortest way is not always the quicker way as my story will tell. Two Leprechauns met and decided to walk together; all went well until the elder of the two who was slightly bigger, started to moan that the smaller leprechaun could not keep up with him. "It is easier for you with your long legs you make bigger steps and I have to take two steps to your one said the smaller of the two."

The conversation carried on like this for quite a while until the bigger of the two started to boast. "I know I can be in Fairyland before you," My legs are the strongest in the whole of Ireland. The smaller Leprechaun smiled and said if you carry my rucksack for me I will be able to beat you to fairyland." "Good then I will carry your rucksack and you think that you will beat me, I can only laugh, with or without your rucksack my legs will carry me much faster than you."

Off they went each in a different direction. The Bigger Leprechaun knew a short cut that would he knew take him to Fairyland. He would beat the smaller Leprechaun easily. The smaller Leprechaun now without his rucksack walked on in a steady pace and although it was the longer way he covered the ground quickly and was well on the way to fairyland.

The larger of the Leprechauns was by now perspiring the rucksack seemed to be getting heavier and heavier. He decided to look in the rucksack to see what was in it that could cause so much weight. He was surprised to find only one shirt and one small pair of trousers. These could not be so heavy he thought putting the garments back into the rucksack.

The smaller Leprechaun came across a small stream and had a drink of the clear fresh water. I have plenty of time he thought to himself; I think that I will have a small rest. With that he sat himself down on the green grass and soon dropped off into a light sleep.

The other Leprechaun was now getting very tired and although he had taken the short cut he was still a long way off from Fairyland. He more often thought of throwing the rucksack away it was very, very heavy and was getting heavier all of the time. Then he thought, "I cant throw it away I would be the laughing stock of the whole of Fairyland." So on he trudged getting more tired every minute.

The smaller of the two Leprechauns woke and yawned and remembered that he was to be in fairyland before the Larger of the two Leprechauns. Off he set whistling a happy tune he could now see the edge of Fairyland, which was marked by a few elderberry bushes. Still whistling he walked the last few feet and sat himself down under the oak tree where they had arranged to meet.

He was there for a long time, at least two hours before the bigger Leprechaun showed up. Tired and perspiring he threw the rucksack at the feet of the little Leprechaun and ungraciously said, "If I did not have to carry your rucksack I would have been here hours ago. The smaller of the two thanked him with a large grin on his face. "I won because you carried my pot of gold for me,"" It was in my rucksack but you could not see it because it was invisible."

The larger of the two was now ashamed that he had boasted about how his long legs would get him to Fairyland quicker than the smaller of the two Leprechauns. The pair of them then sat down and made a cup of tea. They ate a few Fairy cakes and then both of them laughed until the tears came from their eyes. "How daft I was said the bigger of the two and how clever you were my small friend." This caused the pair of them to laugh even more. I last saw them travelling together going towards Dublin. Both had a big smile on their faces and both looked very happy.

Under Attack.

Another day of waiting for news from the Fairy Queen, Queen Feeana herself is going to come and see what is wrong with my garden. Nothing will grow no matter what I do. I have re-dug all the beds. Replanted flowers and shrubs for the umpteenth time, I am desperate. What am I doing wrong? Where are my green fingers? I cannot believe that no flowers will grow in my once lovely garden. The back garden is a wilderness nothing but weeds. My compost heap is sour and smells terrible. I have bought different plants and flowers from various garden centres to no avail, as soon as I plant something it rots away. My garden I will have you know was always the talk of the road, why even my neighbours came to me for advice before setting new plants. Now I have front and back of the house a wilderness. Even the birds avoid my garden.

A week has gone and still no sign of Her Majesty I am now worried that something has happened to her. Her Majesty always keeps her promises and normally would have come to see me. I decided to go into the woods to see whether the Fairies knew what was wrong. In the woods, I saw the same as in my front and back garden. The trees were loosing their leaves and the shrubs had all withered and died. There was not a Fairy to be seen no wild animals and above all no birds. I could not even send a robin with a message. I was now thoroughly alarmed something was drastically wrong. I walked back home to sort out my thoughts and try to find an answer to all that was happening.

At home, I shut the windows to keep out the smells from the compost and hoped that my neighbours would not complain about the stink that is coming from my back garden. I made myself a light meal and after washing the plates and cups with the cutlery and placed everything back in its place. Opening the drawer where I kept the Magic wand and other things that Her Majesty had given to me over the years I muttered the two words that would take me to the Fairy Hide out under the Himalayan Mountains. A bright blue flash the familiar feeling that I know so well and I was in the middle of the huge underground caves. Here all was as usual. There were Fairies everywhere and millions of butterflies.

I had landed in a clearing between two Fairy homes. I spotted her majesty straight away. " We have been awaiting your arrival I knew that you would soon be here with us." Her Majesty looked very serious and said quite simply, "We are under attack." "I do not know who or what is attacking us or even why". "I have brought the Fairies here for safe keeping. I am very pleased to see you, as you seem to find a way to get behind the attacks that are being made on the Fairies from time to time." "Your Majesty I have brought with me all of the magical things that you have over the years given to me." " Let us try to find who is behind these troubles." Taking her Magic Mirror from her pocket we both looked long and deep into the mirror. We could see nothing the mirror was blank. Taking me by the hand Her Majesty whisked us both to a lake. The water was so pure one could safely drink from it.

Here we will not be disturbed this will be our magic mirror. Nothing can withstand the power that goes out from this the freshest of all waters in this world. Both of us gazed long and deep in the water. At first, I thought that we would see nothing. Then a picture appeared. Her Majesty gave a gasp of surprise and said." Why that is Mezzelwit my great grandparents banished him from this earth three thousand years ago." We watched as Mezzelwit took sand from the Sahara Desert this he mixed with a grey green substance and placed it in a cauldron over a blazing fire. The heat caused the mixture to give off a foul looking smoke carried by the wind to my house and Fairyland. "This is what is causing all to wither away," said Her Majesty. "I must put a stop to this at once he can sense Fairies but not a human being." "Will you put a stop to his evil spell?" "Yes, Your Majesty send me to him but before I go I would like you to increase the strength of my magic dust." Her Majesty waved her magic wand and I felt the familiar thrust or surge that comes with travelling by magic. I landed softly on my feet a couple of inches away from Mezzelwit. I threw a handful of magic dust at him and watched as he suddenly started to spin. Just like a kids spinning top. He whirled around and around some three inches over the ground. Then Her Majesty appeared beside me and touched the spinning Mezzelwit with her magic wand.

Mezzelwit rose higher and higher into the air until he was out of sight. " I have renewed the ban that my grandparents put on him he will be in space for the next three thousand years," said Her Majesty now it is time for us to return home to undo the mischief that Mezzelwit has made." A touch of the wand and we both landed back in my front garden. Another wave of the wand and my garden both front and back were as they always are at this time of the year. Flowers in every shade and colour my compost heap now were normal and the penetrating stink has gone. I do not know how I can explain things to my neighbours but no one mentioned anything to me so perhaps the magic from the wand made them forget what had happened in our part of the world.

Unusual Christmas.

The time seemed to drag, just as it did when I was a small child. Nothing came quickly whether it was the school holidays or my birthday; even Christmas never came, as I would have liked it to come. All went remarkably slow in those far off days. I remember well the waiting and then sometimes the disappointment when all was over so quickly. It was like this last year, The Fairies had gone to the caves under the Himalayan Mountains to escape the cold and wet of wintertime.

Even the trees carried no leaves that is apart from the Holly Tree and one or two evergreens. Mistletoe was hanging for sale on the stalls. In the town the shops were full of coloured decorations. The fruit shops were selling all kinds of nuts ready for the Christmas season. Christmas cakes were on show, some most beautifully decorated with coloured icing sugar. All reminded me that Christmas was coming and that two whole months to go before Christmas. I am I suppose in a waiting mood just as a boy there is a great promise in the air but one had to wait. I learned to wait at an early age.

The days slowly passed by and I crossed another day off from my calendar that hangs on the wall. Slowly ever so slowly one day went after the other, then the great day arrived the twenty-fifth of December. Getting out of my bed and putting a dressing gown over my shoulders I went down and banked up the fire. I still use wood that I get from the forest. Then I went back upstairs washed and dressed and had my morning shave. This part is my daily routine, and then I went down to make breakfast.

I slowly ate my breakfast and sat in front of my fire that was now giving off a good heat. Pictures flooded through my mind of other Christmas’s, Christmases long gone, by the odd toy that had impressed an image on my mind. A jigsaw puzzle, other pictures came into my memory and I felt a longing for long lost days. I was in this mood when all of a sudden I felt the strange pull of flying and not flying. I was being transported by magic. It could only be Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

I arrived at the caves under the Himalayan Mountains in time to see a most wonderful spectacle. A large green Dragon was slowly flying through the air with a dozen Fairies on its broad back. The Fairies were having a wonderful time. A hand gently touched my shoulder. " You are here," said a well-known voice. It was Her Majesty. "I could not help but pick up your thoughts this last couple of months and I did not want you to be all on your own." I thanked Her Majesty for her kindness and soon we were joined by dozens of fairies all wanting me to take part in one game or another.

The time passed all too quickly, again a voice in my ear, "Now for your Christmas Present." Then I was back to my time as a child. All were there Mum and Dad my sisters and my brothers, We were sitting in front of a large Christmas Tree, under the tree were presents all differently coloured. On the mantelpiece were hung stockings full of sweets and nuts, small toys and many other coloured things. Each child was given a stocking and we spent a happy couple of hours playing with the small toys and we ate a few sweets and nuts then it was time for Christmas Dinner.

Dad carved the chicken and Mum put the vegetables and gravy on the plates. We said grace and the meal was eaten. A Large Christmas Pudding appeared on the table and Mum warned us about the small three-penny silver coins that were in the pudding. I found two such coins and we all had one as far as I can remember. Then it was time for the Christmas tree. We all were told by Mum what colour was ours, each child went to the tree and took his or her coloured parcels or toys. In my Parcels were a racing car that worked on a battery and a pullover and socks a shirt and a new pair of shoes. After all this we were told to go upstairs and have a lay down, as the evening would be long. I remember lying down and I woke with a start in the caves.

Her Majesty wished me a very happy Christmas and I was at home in my kitchen. The fire was nearly burned out and I quickly placed more wood in the range and got it going again. On the table was my old toy car from so long ago. I had, had a wonderful day and remember every detail of that far off Christmas day as if it were only yesterday.

Wandering Fairy.

Long, Long before our time there lived in Fairyland a Fairy that could not stay in any one place more than three days. After three days she just had to get going along on her way. Nothing it seemed could stop her. This Fairy had seen many places in this world of ours and would see many more before she settled down to a more normal life.

Her wandering started after she collided with an Old Witch that was riding her broomstick over Fairyland. The Fairy whose name was Runefee was so busy watching the other fairies that were playing that she did not see the Old Witch approaching her on her broomstick. There was a nasty thump and both Fairy Runefee and the Witch landed abruptly on the forest floor. The Old Witch was so angry that she told the poor Fairy Runefee that she would wander this earth for five long years. There was no pity in her voice she would wander for the full five years.

Poor Runefee went to see the Fairy Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana tried hard to break the witches spell but it was a very strong spell and all Queen Feeana could do was to allow Runefee to stop for three days and then move on. It was a terrible punishment for a young Fairy that had only been playing like all young children do. The years slowly passed and Runefee grew into a very pretty fairy. Her knowledge of the world was greater than any one else in Fairyland.

The five years gradually came to an end and Runefee met the Old Witch a second time. This time it was the Old Witch that had fallen off her broomstick as she was ill and could not get back to her home deep in the woods. Runefee immediately knew who the Old Witch was but she had only one thought in her mind and that was to help this poor old woman. Using her magic wand Runefee brought the Witch to her cave deep in the woods and nursed her back to health.

While she was nursing the Old Witch a Fairy Prince passed the cave and saw Runefee and how pretty she was. The Prince asked Runefee to marry him and after the Old Witch was better; the two of them went back to the Fairy Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana had been keeping an eye on Runefee for the last five years and was so pleased that although the Old Witch had passed such a terrible punishment. Runefee was still the helpful Fairy that she had always been.

The Fairy Prince had been sent by the Fairy Queen Feeana to the cave it was the Queens way of rewarding Runefee for being the sweet good-natured girl that she was. After the Marriage Runefee was taken into the wise old Fairy group after all no one had the knowledge of the world that Fairy Runefee had.

Washing.

Today I will strip the bed and wash the sheets and pillowcases. The weather is warm with a slight wind so it should be a good day to dry the washing. I put the bed clothes in the machine added the soap powder and switched the washing machine on. I had set the machine to wash at ninety degrees. I like nice clean sheets and pillowcases and the smell of the washing when I take it off of the line is wonderful. There is a freshness about it that only the sunshine and the wind can give the washing.

I hung the washing on the line and went off into town to do some shopping. I took my dog Wag with me he loves a walk into town. I do not hurry my dog, as he smells something new at every tree and corner, for him it is like a human reading a newspaper. We are well known in the local town and Wag is often offered a drink of water or he gets some titbits from the shop owner. All in all, another quiet days shopping and then a walk back home. The wind was blowing a slight breeze and I thought that my washing should soon be dry.

I gave Wag his food and then I prepared myself a light snack. After my food I went into the garden to see whether the washing was dry. Imagine my surprise, when I found the line was empty not a sheet or pillowcase to be seen. My first thought was to phone the Police Station to report the theft of my washing. Then I thought what if the Fairies or Leprechauns had something to do with my missing bed clothes.

I decided to wait a day and see whether my washing would reappear as it disappeared. Two days later I received a parcel with the postal delivery. In the parcel to my surprise was my washing freshly ironed and folded. This was getting to be a real mystery. Who would take my washing and send it to me by post freshly ironed? There was no note in the parcel, no means of identifying who had sent it to me. I decided to let the matter rest. I had my washing and someone had taken the trouble to iron it for me I thought that I should be grateful.

The following week I washed my bed linen again and hung it out on the line. The same thing happened my laundry just vanished and the Postman delivered a parcel on the second day. This was indeed a mystery, on the following week I hung my washing on the line, bed sheets and pillowcases and I watched from my garden shed to see who was busy taking my washing. I saw absolutely nothing; no one came near the washing line. The washing vanished while I was watching.

I decided it was someone using magic; washing does not vanish from a washing line some one must be behind this strange occurrence. Wandering through the woods I happened to meet Her Royal Highness, Queen Feeana. I told her majesty of my washing problem. Her Majesty smiled and said " I have been taking your washing I have used a very special magic on it. This magic takes a whole day to soak into your bed linen." "That is why I had to send it back to you through the postal delivery."

"Have you noticed when going to bed that you now sleep better and that you enter a wonderful dream world." I said, "Yes Your Majesty it is much better now I sleep deeply and do have wonderful dreams." "I thank you very much for showing such kindness to me."

Her Majesty then smiled at me and told me that this was just a small way of saying thank you for all of the help that I have given to the Fairy world. The mystery is solved and I sleep wonderfully with dreams that I have never before experienced. I am so pleased that I made friends with the Fairies so long, long ago.

Water Fun.

A stretch of water as far as the eye could see with the sun glinting on the tops of the little waves caused by the slight breeze that came from the east. Riding on the water some twenty feet from the shore was a small raft made from a couple of oil drums and some planks of wood. On this raft a couple of Fairies had made themselves comfortable, enjoying the slight rocking movement the raft made as it floated on the water. They were enjoying one of the first real sunny days of the year and both were very happy.

Suddenly a shock as something heavy hit the bottom of the raft, if it had not been for their wings the Fairies would have fallen. Not a big fish they thought, not this close in to the shore would attack the raft it must be something else. Flying a little way above the raft they saw what looked like a man swimming under water but the man did not come up for air as he should have done, no human can stay under water for any length of time. Then the mystery was solved a man in a diving suit with a pressed air bottle strapped to his back from which came a tube with a mouthpiece through which he could breath appeared. The Fairies had never seen such an apparatus before and thought of a Sorcerer or Wizard. It was neither, just a Leprechaun playing a silly prank on the Fairies.

The Fairies as soon as the Leprechaun took his mask off laughed out loud. It was I think the relief that it was just a Leprechaun and not some weird Sorcerer or Wizard. It could never have been a Witch every one knows that Witches avoid water at all times and would never go swimming or even paddling in the sea at some beach or other.

The Fairies then waved their wands and all sorts of Fairy cakes and elderberry wine appeared and they with the Leprechaun had a real good time. It was during this small feast that a Mermaid appeared, she had seen the Leprechaun in his diving suit and at first she too thought it was some evil creature out to wreak havoc on whoever should cross his path. The fairies waved their magic wands yet once again and the Mermaid was fed on the delicious Fairy cakes. Mermaids do not drink wine in any form so that meant more for the Leprechaun who was rather merry by the time he had finished his meal.

This Leprechaun was a boaster and started under the influence of the wine to tell some tall tales about how good he was with all tools. In fact there was no tool that he could not use. The fairies listened to his boasting for a while then winking and eye to the Mermaid one of the Fairies said I do not think that you could use a needle like the Mermaid who makes all of Neptune’s clothes. Oh yes I can boasted the Leprechaun, I am an expert with a needle and thread. The Fairies asked the Mermaid to bring them some seaweed. Off swam the Mermaid and a little later she came back with her arms full of seaweed.

Now then Leprechaun let us see you make a Garment for King Neptune. The Mermaid will also make one and the better of the two garments will be given to His Majesty. The maker of the worst garment will make each of us a pair of shoes. The elderberry wine had now gone totally to the Leprechauns head. He with the Mermaid started sewing a garment. The Mermaid who was used to sewing the seaweed made an excellent garment for King Neptune. The Leprechaun sadly could hardly thread the needle and his effort at sewing the seaweed was terrible, His garment fell to pieces as soon as the Fairies touched it. The Mermaids garment was stitched so well that it would certainly make a nice present for King Neptune.

The Leprechaun on the next day made for the Fairies a new pair of shoes each and this time the sewing was perfect. He had learnt his lesson one cannot sew when one is tipsy from Elderberry wine. He too learnt that when tipsy one should not open one’s mouth too wide. Needless to say the Fairies are delighted with their new shoes. The Mermaid swam off with the garment she had made to King Neptune. His royal Majesty was also very pleased and gave the Mermaid some beautiful pearls, which she wears to this very day.

Weeping Willow.

The Weeping Willow tree stood as it had always stood. The branches hung below the crown as if the tree really was weeping. I had often seen the tree as I walked over the Dartford Heath and apart from admiring it had not really taken any notice, it was just another tree, or so I thought. The Fairies took me to the tree and told me to place my arms around it until my fingers were touching each other. Next I was to place my head to the bark of the tree and with my ear listen to what it had to say. The Fairies have often enough played tricks on me and I was in doubt as to whether I should do as they said.

I decided it could do me no harm to humour the Fairies and I did as they had told me. To my great surprise after a few minutes I heard the tree sighing. Was it really sighing or was the wind playing one of its tricks on me? Then the tree started speaking to me. In the long, long past I was a very happy tree. People came and sat beneath my shadowy branches to get out of the hot rays of the sun. Many children have played beneath my branches. Even the travelling people like the Leprechauns and the Gypsies have spent time under the protection of my branches and leaves. Until one day a terrible thunderstorm broke loose and the rain poured down. It rained so much and for so long that my once straight branches and proud leaves started to droop like you see me today.

Now no one comes to sit under my shade and get out of the sun. What is worse the people changed my name from the Willow to the Weeping Willow. The thunderstorm brought with it strokes of lightning and one of them struck into the very top of my once proud crown. It was a terrible time for me and in my despair I started to weep. I cried like a small child when someone takes a favourite plaything from it. I could not stop crying and was a very unhappy tree. My only companions at this time were the Fairies. Fairies came and sat or played beneath my drooping branches and leaves. Sometimes a deer would hide under my branches which as you know reach nearly to the floor.

Now I do not weep any more but I just cannot get my branches to grow strait out like some other trees that is why I am so sad. I turned my head away from the tree and took my arms from its trunk. The Fairies wanted to know what the tree had said to me. It was too sad for me to tell the Fairies and I said that I had heard nothing. The Fairies asked me if I had made a wish. If the tree speaks to you, you are granted a wish. I admitted that I had made no wish and I was told to hug the tree again and make my wish. I did so and wished that the tree regained its former shape the one it had before the thunderstorm had been.

There was a bang and the tree shuddered and all of its branches turned straight, nothing drooped any more. It looked terrible then I heard it crying again this time right out loud. The noise it made was heartbreaking and I wished that I had not made the wish that I had. All the creatures of the woods and all of the Fairies heard this terrible sobbing and even Her Majesty Queen Feeana heard it for she came and turned the tree back to the shape it was before I made my wish. The tree is quiet now and it grants no more wishes. Her Majesty smiled at me and said, "It is not always good to give a wish away like you did. The tree has been enjoying its new shape for generations and you turning it back into its former shape gave it such a shock." I thanked her Majesty and went on home to write this story for you while it was still fresh in my mind.

Welsh Fairies.

The hours passed so slowly that I thought at first my watch was going wrong. I knew though that it was not my watch as I had it cleaned only the week previously, The train was supposed to be an express taking me from Paddington in London to South Wales on the west side of Great Britain. I had heard that a group of young girls had seen some Fairies. I read this in the Daily Mirror and wanted to see for myself if there were Fairies or had the Girls been tricked in some way or another.

I eventually arrived at Cardiff where I took a bus up to the Rhondda Valley, which lies in the county of Glamorgan. We travelled by coach to Tonyrefail the place where the Fairies had supposedly been seen. I stopped at a Public House that did bed and breakfast and spent the rest of the day trying to find out where the Girls lived. Most of the people that I spoke to could speak English the others spoke Welsh that I did not understand. Most people laughed when I spoke about the Fairies and I felt somewhat embarrassed for asking my questions. Had my journey been for nothing?

I spoke to the headmaster of one of the local schools he did not deny the Fairy story but he obviously was not going to give me any information as to the whereabouts of the Girls. Rather frustrated I went back to the Public House and went into the bar for a pint of beer. Standing at the bar was a very small man that was drinking one beer after another. I offered to buy him another drink that he readily accepted and spoke to him about Fairies. He told me that there were Fairies all over Wales that very few people had seen them. He was so enthusiastic that at first I thought that it was the alcohol that was speaking. Then he offered to take me to a place where Fairies had definitely been seen. I arranged to meet him the following day.

On the following morning I put on a pair of my country brogue shoes, as I had no idea where this man would take me. He met me outside of the Public House and off we went. He told me that we were going to the Craig on top of which was supposed to be the Fairies playground. After about a half hours climb we arrived on top of the Craig that was really a plateau. A few cows were grazing and the man left me saying, "The pub is open I am off to have a pint." With that he turned around and went back the way we had come. I strolled along the plateau looking for mushroom rings and anything that might lead to the whereabouts of the Fairies.

After an hour or so I thought to myself what a waste of time, all there is on the Craig is gorse bushes, many of them. I was going to turn around and go back to the Public House when I suddenly saw a ring of mushrooms. I sat quietly and waited, one must have patience to be able to see Fairies. Then I saw a flicker of movement. I thought at first that my eyes had been playing tricks on me, but no there was a beautiful Fairy girl. I smiled and waved my hand to her, she waved back and the ice was broken. She called to the other Fairies and there appeared a dozen or more of the little folk all singing and dancing.

I stayed with the Fairies for a couple of hours and said, "I must go now," "Shall I see you all tomorrow?" "Yes," came back a number of sweet voices and I retraced my steps until I arrived back at the Public House that is situated at the top end of the square in Tonyrefail. I had a meal and went into the bar for a pint of beer. Standing at the bar was the little man he gave me a knowing wink and quietly said," You have seen them then," I smiled back and said, "Yes we had a good time, the Fairies sang so beautifully and I will meet them again tomorrow if all goes well." The little man asked me, "If he could accompany me again on the morrow," "Yes", I said, "But knowing fairies the way I do they might not come."

We met again the following day and set of to the plateau at the top of the Craig. I soon found the ring of mushrooms but they were not so fresh as they were on the yesterday. We sat down on the grass and waited for the Fairies. The little man pulled a flute out of his pocket and started playing a tune that was so delicate that I thought at first my ears were playing tricks on me. Soon the Fairies appeared and surprising to me they all greeted the little man and then started dancing to the sweet melodies that came from the flute. After a couple of hours the Fairies said, "Goodbye." and the little man and myself went back to the Public House to have a meal. It was my invitation to him as I had many questions to put to him.

After we had eaten our meal we ordered a pint each and the little man started telling me his story. He was in fact a Leprechaun that had been sent to Tonyrefail to make sure that no Fairy secrets had been told to the Girls. He himself lived in a house in a small town named Gilfach Gogh, which was a couple of miles away from Tonyrefail. He worked as shoemaker and had a small but flourishing business. For the next couple of months he would come to Tonyrefail in case anyone else was interested in Fairies. He told me that as soon as he met me he knew that I was a very good friend to the Fairies or he would never have taken me up on the plateau to meet them.

The next day I caught a bus that left Tonyrefail to go to Cardiff where I would catch my train going back to London. As we drove away from the square in Tonyrefail the little man was standing on the pavement and waved me on my way. It was, all in all, a pleasant stay in the Welsh valleys and I probably will go back there again one day in the future.

White Powder.

Wednesday is the day where I clean the house thoroughly. Every room is hoovered and dusted. All plants are carefully inspected to see whether they are all right. Some I have to dust other need to be thinned out depending on the amount of fresh growth. Wednesday is also the day where I have just a small cold lunch, which is quickly prepared and just as quickly eaten. Wednesday evenings, I relax with the newspaper. My last job on Wednesdays is to turn out the lights and get into my bed. I sleep quite well and on Thursdays I go into town to do my weekend shopping.

In town I often meet people that I know and we usually exchange a few words as I walk from shop to shop. It was just another day, like most of the days in my life. Nothing unusual took place and I finished my shopping and made my way home. Wag, my dog enjoys shopping and is very obedient when we go into town, it is for him a day of excitement. He sniffs at every corner and is friendly toward other dogs. He also knows every tree and sometimes he does his business at one or the other.

Returning home with my two bags of shopping I took out my keys and opened the front door. Wag pushed past me and was growling, a sure sign that something or other was not in order. As I reached the Kitchen with my two bags of shopping I saw a Leprechaun standing on the Kitchen table. Wag was still growling and stopped when I said that it was all right for the man to be there. The Leprechaun was my old friend Shamus who happened to be in this part of the world and had decided to call in on me.

I helped him down from the table, looking at Wag he said "You are one fine animal when you do not know who is a friend of your owner." I smiled and said, welcome Shamus what brings you here in this part of the world is there a shortage of gold in Ireland?" Shamus looked at me with his very knowing eyes and said, "Today is not going to be like all other days, you will towards the evening get a visitor," "I have come to warn you and to be here when he comes." "You will not see me as I shall make myself invisible to him." "In fact he is coming toward your front door I shall for a while be a part of your furniture."

True enough there was a knocking on my front door, I went to open it and saw a complete stranger. He was well dressed and carried a brief case with him. "I am Mr. John Smith from the local council," he told me. "We at the council are concerned at the number of stray dogs roaming the street. I see by the licence that you own a dog may I see him?" I asked the man in to my kitchen and Wag’s hair at the back of his neck stood up. This was a sure sign that he did not trust this Mr. John Smith. I then noticed that I had another picture hanging on my Kitchen wall. It was of course My Leprechaun friend Shamus.

Going to my cupboard where I keep such things as electric bills and other papers I got from a pile of documents Wag’s dog licence. I showed it to Mr: John Smith. He looked at it and took from his brief case an official looking document and showed it to me. The document stated that one Mr. John Smith was hereby permitted to take Wag to the local pound. I then told Mr. John Smith that neither he nor anyone else would touch my dog and to take him to the pound was out of the question.

I am afraid that I very unfriendly showed Mr. John Smith to the front door and told him to get on the other side of it or I would let Wag show him out. Wag was now barking his disapproval. Closing the front door I went back into the kitchen and made a pot of hot sweet tea. I always make a pot of tea when I have been upset it calms me down and helps me to think clearly. Laying the table I placed just one cup and saucer on the table. Suddenly from the extra picture on the wall came Shamus’s voice. "I too would like a cup of tea if you do not mind." I quickly placed another cup and saucer onto the table and got some ginger biscuits and placed a plateful on to the table. Leprechauns and Fairies love ginger biscuits and I always get some whenever I am in town.

"Did you see the inside of his briefcase?" said Shamus. "No I did not get a chance." I replied. "In the case he had a magic wand and a small bag of magic dust." Said Shamus. "I was sent here to be a witness of what went on in your kitchen today." "Her Majesty sent me a message telling me to be here before the so-called Mr. John Smith arrived he is a very powerful Wizard. It was not your dog Wag that he wanted but the small ivory box that you have in your front room." "A Witchdoctor that has discovered the secret of invisibility made this box in Africa." " Inside of the box is some white powder when this is mixed with the ground corn flower petals and some dried frogs spawn it will give the power to become invisible for two whole days."

"He will be back tonight and try to steal the ivory box." "Wag and I will see that the box is not stolen just leave it up to us. You go to bed as usual." I did as my friend Shamus asked me to do and he with Wag made themselves comfortable on the kitchen floor. Shamus dozed off with his head lying on Wags flank I went up to my bed and I must admit I dropped off to sleep like I always did.

In the middle of the night I heard Wag. First it was just a growling then a series of short sharp barks. Going down stairs I saw Mr. John Smith with Wag hanging on to the seat of his trousers. Shamus had tied his hands together and was looking in his brief case. In the brief case was a small piece of parchment with my name and address on it. A magic wand and a small bag of magic dust, taking the dust from Shamus I waved my magic wand over it and then threw all of it over the Wizard who calls himself Mr. John Smith.

The Wizard started to shrink, he became smaller and smaller until he was smaller than an ant. I opened the back door and with a broom swept my kitchen clean of dust. I threw it out on to my garden now Mr. John Smith may see all of my flowers and even play with Wag if he wants to but the little Ivory box he will not get his hands on. The white powder in the box I gave to the wise old Fairies they would I am sure find a good use for it.

Wine Tasting Ceremony.

I have been invited to a wine tasting ceremony. The ceremony will take place on the twenty-first of this month when there will be a full moon. All will be there with their home made wines. The wise old fairies make the best wines and what with Parsnip and elderberry wine I am sure that there will be a few bottles of exquisite champagne. The ceremony takes place every ten years and is something that one has to see to believe all that goes on at such a wine tasting.

I also take a few bottles of my homemade wine also lots of ginger biscuits. The Fairies love ginger biscuits and it is surprising how many such a small person can eat. I am wondering what the Pixies will get up to this year, as they are always good for a prank or two. Many Leprechauns also come to the wine tasting and many I am afraid drink too much. Her Majesty always brings many bottles of parsnip wine and parsnip wine is my favourite among the many wines that will be on show for tasting.

The twenty-first came around and I wrapped up my bottles in newspapers and then laid them on to straw that I had placed in my old wheelbarrow. As soon as the sun goes down I will push my wheelbarrow to the open clearing where all such wine tasting ceremonies take place. I was not the first to be there, all of the Fairies and Leprechauns were present; Just the Pixies were nowhere to be seen.

The moon shone bright and what with the fireflies there was plenty of light in the clearing. A long wooden table was placed in the middle of the clearing and soon was covered with bottles of all shapes, colours and sizes. Then Her Majesty appeared in her usual way a bright blue flash, a small whiff of smoke and she stood in the clearing wearing a most beautiful dress of what looked like pure silk. On the dress was embroidered some lovely small flowers. The Queen looked a real treat.

Her Majesty then declared the wine tasting ceremony as open and small hands pulled corks from bottles and soon the wine was being tasted. The wines from the wise old fairies took first prize as they usually do. My wine was declared to be of vintage quality and I received from Her Majesty a royal blue ribbon on which was the words excellent quality. After the wine tasting a small orchestra of Leprechauns tuned up their instruments and dancing got under way. Still no sign of the Pixies, I wondered whether they had forgotten about the ceremony.

Above the music from the Leprechauns we heard a low rumbling. It was the Pixies coming late as usual. They were pulling an old two-wheeled cart on which were bottles and bottles of homemade wine. The Pixies were having a real good time and when they were in the clearing they banged down bottle after bottle on the table. The dancing went on and then it happened the wine that the Pixies had brought with them was too young. Wine has to ferment before one can bottle it. This the Pixies had failed to do, and the bottles on the table started to explode. One cork after another went sailing into the air with a loud bang. Wine gushed out of the bottles and soon the table and the floor under the table was wet with wine.

The Pixies were very unhappy; some cried out in anger others shouted out that someone had bewitched their wine. It was quite a shambles; at each plop of the corks exploding, the Orchestra of Leprechauns stood up and gave a loud fanfare on their instruments. This made the Pixies even unhappier and some even began to cry. Her Majesty had been watching all that happened and with a smile on her face she waved her magic wand and the bottles of exploded wine turned back into ordinary bottles of wine and it was as if nothing had happened. This made the Pixies happier and when the wine that they had brought with them was tasted at the end. Her Majesty gave them a blue ribbon with the word Quality Wine written on it. I was watching Her Majesty and could see that the exploding corks had filled her with amusement and she was having difficulty to keep a straight face.

At the break of dawn the clearing was back to normal and most of the guests were in agreement that the Pixies had made their evening for them. It is not often that something like this had happened at the wine tasting ceremonies of previous years. What I should tell you is that wine in Fairyland has no alcohol in it and is drunk by one and all to quench a thirst. I went back to my home with my wheelbarrow full of wine that I had been given and my cellar is stocked with some excellent fairy wine.

Winged Messengers.

Little white clouds hurrying across the deep blue sky busy as if on some very important business. I was sitting in my Garden daydreaming, something I often do when there is no weeding to be done. I had everything in my garden, as I wanted it to be. Many of my neighbours looked enviously at my well planned laid out beds. Lettuce in the first bed spring onions, cucumbers right on down to my proud tomato plants each with cluster of freshly ripening fruit to delight the eye of the beholder. Each evening I water my plants and let the water drain into the ground especially now at summertime.

I had my wheelbarrow half in the shade. Two comfortable cushions were lying in the barrow, which I use as a resting place. I nap in my barrow for two hours every day between one and three, it has over the years become a habit. It was on such a day that I had this very vivid dream. I remembered every part of the dream when I later woke up.

I was sitting on one of the little white clouds looking down as the earth went by underneath me. Flying in the same direction, as myself was a white Pigeon it had a small tube tied to one of its legs and was obviously taking a message to someone. I decided to follow it and steered my little white cloud after the bird. It knew where it was going and was flying on a direct route.

After a few hours the bird began its descent I followed sitting on my little white cloud. The Pigeon took no notice of me whatsoever. Disappearing under a tree I lost sight of it for a moment. Then I saw it entering a dovecote. I landed and watched my small cloud as it rose higher and higher in the sky until it rejoined the other clouds.

I watched the dovecote and soon a man in a long black robe came out of a small house and took the Pigeon from its perch. He quickly took the message from the small container and after reading it he screwed it up and threw it away. I waited until the man went back into his house and picked up the piece of paper that he had thrown away. I read the words written on the paper and a cold shiver ran down my back. The man was a Wizard who wanted to take over both the human world and Fairyland.

The words were from a Witch who was helping him to put his evil plan into action. She wrote that she had captured three Fairies and the time was ripe for the taking over of Fairyland. She had discovered the secret of how to make a Magic Wand by taking the three Wands from the Fairies. With the aid of a Bogey that lived with her to do the household tasks, she had taken the Wands apart and found with the help of the Bogey the old language words that must be said to make a Magic Wand.

The Witch now had a Wand as powerful as the Fairy Queen. She had put the three Wands from the Fairies together and uttering the magic words of the old language had made a Magic Wand. This I thought to myself must be reported to the Fairy Queen straight away.

How was I to get a message to Her Majesty so quickly? I then had an idea I took one of the Pigeons from the dovecote and quickly writing a message, I placed it in the container on the Pigeons leg. All I now had to do was get the bird to understand what I wanted of it. Pigeons usually go back home when let free. I used the mental picture language that the Queen and the Fairies sometimes used and suggested that the Pigeon took the message directly to Her Majesty. Satisfied that the bird had understood me I set it free and watched it fly back towards Fairyland.

I hid myself and patiently waited. It seemed a very long time that I had to wait but Her Majesty suddenly stood in front of me. We greeted each other and I told her Majesty all that I had seen and showed her the message that the Pigeon had brought from the old Witch to the Wizard.

Taking me by the hand Her Majesty waved her Wand and we were both back in Fairyland. A meeting was called of all the Wise Fairies. Plans were made and then discarded other plans took their place. I sat and listened then I had an idea. "Your Majesty when a Magic Wand gets wet it is useless until it becomes dry again. Perhaps we can get the clouds to bunch together and let it rain on the Witch." "The Wizard without the help of the Witch can do nothing on his own."

This was about the best plan that had been put forward so far and the Wise Fairies and Her Majesty agreed to put my plan into effect. Her Majesty waved her Wand and we were at the Witches house. The clouds had been gathering above the house since we arrived and all it needed was to get the Witch to come out into the open. I put my plan into effect. I went to the Dovecote and took out a Pigeon.

I then called the house, "Hey there, there is a Pigeon with a message on its leg is it yours?" The Witch came running towards me I took a couple of steps back; she followed thinking that I had a Pigeon with a message. Her Majesty then waved her Wand and the heavens opened and in a couple of seconds the Witch was completely soaked. Pulling her Magic Wand the Witch muttered a few words but the Magic Wand did nothing it was too wet. The Queen was in a sheltered position and waved her Wand again. The Witch turned into a Pigeon and is to my knowledge still in the dovecote where she kept her Pigeons.

The Wizard that wanted to rule over the whole world without the help of the evil Witch was soon forgotten.

Winter.

The winter months were on us and it was a cold miserable time. There were no Fairies in the woods. No Fairy rings, mushrooms, or toadstools the trees were bare of their leaves and nowhere were there blackberries. Butterflies there are no butterflies in winter why even the flowers are either dry flowers left over from winter or perhaps a few weeds. The fresh young grass is now hay just enough to tempt the animals to eat until spring came around once more.

Where are the Fairies I hear you asking they do not suffer from the cold or from the heat, so where are they all. One may still see a Leprechaun wandering along the road looking for work but all the little folk are under the Himalayan Mountains in their winter quarters. Once I went to see the winter quarters of the Fairies it is a huge cave or rather series of caves underneath the Himalayas between Tibet and India . Here it is warm and the Fairies have made the caves their homes for thousands of years. All the butterflies in North America and Europe go with the fairies to the caves where it is not only warm but trees and flowers grow here in plenty.

In the woods after a snowfall, one can see the tracks of the wild animals in the snow. Each animal has its own set of tracks and the knowing person may easily follow them through the woods. I was following a set of deer tracks through the wood I was curious as to where she would or did make her bed for the night. I came across a place where the dry fern and grass had been trodden into a rough mould this is where the deer sleeps.

For the knowing person the floor of the woods is like reading in a book one may find the answers too many questions about the animals and birds that live here. It was on one such cold day that I found a silver wristband it was just big enough for a Fairies wrist. There was an engraving etched deep into the metal of the armband. I recognized the engraving it was two words of the old Fairy Language. I took it back to my home and with some juice from lemon I cleaned the wristband with a matchstick dipped into the lemon juice I cleaned the writing on the wristband.

Perhaps you can imagine my surprise when quicker than a flash of lightening I came to the Winter Quarters. I had unknowingly tracing the old words invoked the spell for transporting people to the Fairies. The Fairy Queen Feeana herself greeted me and made me welcome. The wristband I gave to her for safekeeping and spent a long time greeting all my old friends and watching the millions of coloured butterflies that were all over the caves.

I t was very tempting when Her Majesty gave me an invitation to stay here with the Fairies until the spring came around again. I had so much to do at home and although I was very much in temptation, I wound up by asking Her Majesty to send me home. By the time I got home, I found that the month of March was on my calendar I did not realize that I had been away for so long. The first flowers are now showing in my garden and I was very happy that meant that the Fairies would soon be back in the woods that I know as Fairyland.

One day as the sun was shining; I heard the familiar sounds of Fairy music coming from the woods. Going into the woods, a young fairy gave me a big smile and showing me her arm, I saw the wristband she had lost it some years previously. Smiling back at her, I found myself asking her why she had not made use of her magic wand to get the lost wristband back. Shyly she smiled and told me that she had lost her wand as well and then she had forgotten the wristband.

I am so pleased that the Fairies are back again, in the woods it is lonely without them coming into my home and my listening to all of their stories. Now I am happy to say that my friends are all her with all of their adventures until the next winter comes along and they all go back into their winter Quarters taking all the butterflies with them.

Winter Nuts.

It has been a long week with plenty of work around the house. I have missed my daily walks in the woods. Today, Sunday, I am determined to take a long walk through the woods to see how nature is doing. The autumn is drawing nigh and the nuts must be about ready for collecting and taking home for the long winter months to come. Not only do I like to eat nuts myself I also place nuts out on ledges for the birds to eat in the winter months. I also get from my butchers the kidney fat and hang that on the bushes and trees for the birds.

I quickly filled my rucksack with walnuts and turned on the path to go home when I heard sounds as if a group or more, were trying to play an unknown instrument. Going towards the sounds of music (If one could call it that) I came across thirty or more Fairies who each had a strange instrument in the hand, it looked like a Pan flute. None of the Fairies could play it and the noise they made was terrible. Then I saw the Leprechaun Shamus it was he that had made the Pan flutes and it seemed as if he had found an old piece of parchment with a drawing of the flute.

I asked him to make me such a flute and he with his very agile fingers soon had an instrument for me ready to play. Taking the flute in my hands I tried to blow but all I got was a terrible sound. Shamus called to me to try sucking the air instead of blowing it. This I tried and then all of the Fairies went very quiet. I was without knowing it playing a very old Fairy melody on my Pan flute. I must have been playing for five minutes when Her Majesty Queen Feeana came by to see who was playing one of the old instruments That had long since been forgotten by the Fairies.

Seeing me with the Pan flute in my hand and standing by me Shamus who nearly had another of the flutes ready, Her Majesty waited until Shamus was finished and asked him for the flute. Together Her Majesty and I played a strange melody that is still ringing in my ears. Then Her Majesty spoke and this is what she said, "These old flutes went out of fashion when the violin came into the Fairies hands for the first time." "Nobody went to the trouble to make any more of the once so popular instruments and they slowly went from the Fairies memories."

Her Majesty then asked Shamus where he had come across the idea to make such instruments. Shamus showed her his piece of parchment with the drawings of the old instruments. On seeing the Parchment Her Majesty went quite white in her face. "Where did you get the parchment from she asked." Shamus reached into his rucksack and quickly found what was left of a very old book. The drawings I took from this book, Your Majesty came Shamus’s reply.

Her Majesty took the book and quickly read a few words then she asked Shamus if he had been able to read the book. "No Your Majesty you know that I cannot read. If it had not been for the drawings in the book I would not have bought it at the Human’s jumble sale." "May I have the book to keep?" asked Her Majesty. "Yes Indeed Your Majesty you know that all I posses is yours for the asking." Said Shamus rather shyly I thought. Soon the Fairies had found out that the flutes would only give a tone when one sucked not when one blew. Soon a most lovely melody filled the forest air. It was as if a hundred winds were blowing in tune to a softly beating drum that I soon realized was the beating of my heart.

Taking me to one side Her Majesty told me that this book that Shamus had bought from a jumble sale was one of the very first books on magic ever printed it was thousands of years old and anyone who could read it would be a master of all things magical. I then asked Her Majesty why of all people, I could play such an instrument and get such a delightful melody from it." "You have been granted many powers by myself and even from the wise old Fairies many of whom respect you very much for your knowledge and way of treating nature." " This is why you have the power to look in the magic mirror and to use magic dust and then the magic wand was specially made for you." "All of this knowledge has been given to you for your help given to the Fairies all of these years."

With this knowledge I went on my way back home where I cleaned the walnuts and prepared my rucksack for the next day. On the next day I would go into the woods to collect the wild Hazel nuts that I like so much. You too are invited to come with me if you have the time. There are nuts for all both the humans and the wild animals. Who knows we may even hear the delightful old melodies that the Fairies play on the Pan flutes.

Wintertime.

Winter is here again and I am all on my own. No Fairies are to be seen in the woods, no fairy rings not even a mushroom. Snow is on the ground and it is still snowing. I wish the spring were here I miss my Fairy folk very much. I have taken to writing about my adventures with the little folk and this is the story for today. My dog Wag was not at the foot of my bed this morning when I woke up from a very deep sleep. I thought at first that he had gone down stairs and was waiting for me to get up and give him his dog biscuits, which he likes so much.

Going downstairs I called for Wag to show himself but there was no Wag to be seen. I was now worried, wondering what had happened to him. I looked all over the house even going down into the cellar and up into the attic but still no Wag. I was now getting a little panicky. What on earth has happened to him? All the doors and windows were still shut fast except my bedroom window, I leave that open all night. Could Wag have jumped out of my bedroom window into the snow? No I thought the bedroom window is much too high off the ground.

I dressed my self warmly against the cold and went out into the garden, I walked all around the house but Wag had left no footprints in the snow. Going back into my house I made myself some breakfast and just in case Wag appeared, while I was out. I left him a bowl of water and a plateful of dog biscuits. Then I went into town to make enquiries at the Police Station. The Police had no news of Wag and I got the impression that the Policeman was not very interested.

Going back home it was snowing quite heavy now. I arrived at my garden gate and half expected Wag to show himself; or at least bark a welcome. Nothing like that, Wag was definitely missing and I was alone in my big old house. I spent one whole day trying to puzzle out what could have happened to my dog. Then it suddenly struck me; my house and myself are protected against magic but not my dog Wag, Could some evil Wizard be behind his disappearance? I decided that the next day I would get up early and go to the caves under the Himalayan Mountains where the Fairies stay over the long winter months.

I went to bed early and had some difficulty in dropping off to sleep; I am definitely missing my dog Wag. Early on the next morning I got up had a shower and a shave made myself a quick breakfast and washed the cup and saucer with my plate and then I spoke the magic words that immediately transferred me to the caves. On my arrival I felt the warmth and saw the neat rows of Fairy Houses. The butterflies that go with the Fairies over the winter month were flying around from flower to flower sipping of the nectar that each flower holds.

My arrival caused some consternation among the Fairies, as they knew that I only came if there was an emergency, or I was in some kind of trouble. I was offered Fairy cakes from many willing hands and not to offend any one, I ate a few. Then I saw Her Majesty taking her morning walk. "Hello," she said. "You have come to visit us that is a nice gesture on your part." I explained why I had come and after telling Her Majesty about my missing dog Wag and how that he had disappeared from my house sometime in the middle of the night.

" You know yourself Your Majesty that I and my house are protected from all kinds of magic but we forgot to include animals. Her Majesty asked me back to her home and after a five minutes walk we arrived at her front garden. It was most beautiful with all kinds of exotic flowers blooming in the warm atmosphere. "Your Garden Your Majesty is wonderful many of the flowers I have not seen before." "Yes said Her Majesty, Queen Feeana most of them are from the tropical rain forests and are sent to me every year by the Fairies that live in those parts of the world."

Inviting me in to her neat little house Her Majesty took from a drawer the famous Magic Mirror. Speaking in the old language she showed me a picture that was in the mirror. " There is Wag," said Her Majesty. "He is looking very upset." then a man walked into the picture. Wag showed his teeth and was growling at the stranger. "If he gets too close Wag will bite him." I said. Her Majesty took the mirror from my hand and said, "It is time that I interrupted that nasty Wizards little game.

The cord that was holding Wag suddenly disappeared and Wag was free. He charged the man who turned to run. Wag bit into the backside of the man who let out a howl. With Wag hanging on to the man he ran outside of his house and took a big stick. With the stick he tried to get Wag off the seat of his trousers but being Wag was behind him he could not reach him. Then Her Majesty said one word, out and Wag obeyed at once. Her Majesty then took out her magic wand and said, "Let the Wizard become a cat."

Wag on seeing the cat made a mad rush at it but the cat was too quick and vanished into the nearby woods. Another wave of her magic wand and wag was with us in the caves. On seeing me he wagged his tail and gave one short sharp bark. On seeing Her Majesty he wagged his tail again. From her dress Her Majesty took a collar band and told me to put this around Wags neck. "The band is magic," said the Queen, "it will protect him in future in case some other person gets the idea of taking him away from your house."

All the Fairies came and wanted to stroke Wag, who took it all in good part especially when the Fairies gave him some Fairy cakes to eat. Her Majesty smiled and said," That is enough excitement for today and Wag and myself found ourselves back home in my Kitchen. Although Wag had eaten quite a few of the Fairy cakes it did not stop him from eating his dog biscuits and drinking water from his bowl.

Wintertime.

It is much too warm for the time of the year. The whole of January we have had no snow, the only ones that were happy with this situation were the shepherds. Many lambs were born it was so to say, a good lambing year. Some of the shrubs and bushes were showing their new buds, many hibernating animals woke from their winter sleep because of the warmth. and then the weather broke it snowed and snowed as if it would never stop and the cold came with the snow. Villages and small towns were completely snowed in it was a January that would live long in the minds of the local peoples as, the snow and ice year.

I had nothing to do, the garden was frozen and it was a matter of waiting for the spring before I could dig the garden and get on with the planting and sowing. I spent most of the winter redecorating the inside of the house. Fresh coats of paint on the windows and doors, with new wallpaper in every room I had been going to do this work for a long time, but had kept putting it off now at last it was done. The stairway was the most difficult but I mastered that. Now the inside of my house is clean and tidy.

My coal cellar is full and I had got in plenty of wood so the cold did not really bother me. I rarely get visitors in the long winter months. The Postman calls with the occasional letter. The milkman delivers a pint of milk every day, two pints on Saturday. The baker delivers fresh rolls every weekday with a small loaf on Saturdays. I have no relations apart from some distant cousins but for some reason they do not come near me. In fact some of them say I am weird others that I am eccentric.

This does not bother me I like being alone and in the summer when the fairies come back to fairyland, I will have all the company that I want. My house is open to all of the small people and I am myself busy and occupied with trying to keep up with their pranks and jokes. I would not have it any other way.

The cold weather went on right through to March; in April, the showers seemed to bring the weather back to normal. At last, I could get into my garden and get things ready for planting. I have a big garden at the back where I grow my salads and vegetables, tomatoes and cucumbers with one plot just for herbs, which I mainly use for cooking. Some herbs are for medicinal purposes and I must admit some are there just because I like to look at them.

In May, I had planted and sown most of the plants and seeds when an interruption occurred a Leprechaun greeted me. This is strange I thought, the little people are not due until the end of May he is early. The Leprechaun had a message for me from Her Majesty, Queen Feeana. Giving me a sealed envelope, he bid me a good day and went on his way.

Opening the envelope, I read the following words. "Dartford Heath is under constant surveillance by a trio of sorcerers who are determined to get rid of the fairy folk. We are going to the south of France for a holiday instead. Would you like to come and be with us?" I wrote on the back of the letter that I would stay on Dartford Heath and see what mischief the three sorcerers are up to. Then I took an ember from the fire and set alight the letter watching carefully that it burnt fully. I took to wandering the heath keeping my eyes open for any strange goings on. All I saw was a motor caravan with three normal looking men apparently on holiday.

Three men, three sorcerers I thought to myself, the three I will watch and see what tricks they get up to on the Heath. Two weeks went by and nothing out of the ordinary happened. On the third week, a terrible thunderstorm broke loose. A thunderstorm at this time of the year was not normal. Putting on my raincoat and Wellington boots I ventured out into the storm. It was then that I saw the three; they were pointing their Magic wands at the sky and screaming something that I did not understand. Then they took canisters with petrol, poured it over bushes, and set them alight. It looked as if the thunderstorm was responsible for the fires.

The Heath was burning brightly. What to do I was a long way from a telephone so I could not inform the fire brigade. A flash of bright light and her Majesty Queen Feeana stood beside me. A wave of her wand and from the storm clouds water flooded down putting out the fires. The heath is saved, there are not many trees left now on Dartford Heath with another wave of her wand Queen Feeana turned the three sorcerers into oak trees. The motor caravan the Queen turned into a bus shelter many people in Dartford wondered where the new bus shelter came from. As for the oak trees, they are so old that no one thought about where they came from it seemed as if they had been there forever.

The fairies came back to the heath and spent the rest of the summer here on Dartford Heath as they had done for thousands of years. No one ever came looking for the sorcerers so they were obviously not missed by any one. Things are back to normal, the fairies come and go in my old house, and I often get an invite to fairy dances and take part in most of their activities.

Wise Leprechaun.

The old house is silent just a groan from some old wooden stair or a cupboard that has seen better days. In the distance the slight drip, drip, of water from a tap that has long needed a new washer to seal it again. One day I will get around to doing the little jobs that I forget once I am awake. I turn over and try yet again for the sleep that comes not to my ever-open eyes. I get up go down to the kitchen and make myself a cup of Melissa hoping that it would make my aching eyes close. I awoke early the next morning saying to myself I will repair the tap immediately after breakfast.

Going down stairs to my kitchen I nearly fell over a small bundle that was sleeping on the wooden floor of the hallway. I opened the shutters letting in some light it was then that I saw the bundle again. It was a Leprechaun. I asked it how it had gotten into the house all the doors were locked and bolted. The windows were all as secure as I could make them. The downstairs windows all had a heavy metal bars on them. I was afraid of burglars and had got a firm to put all the bolts, locks and bars on the windows and doors.

How had the Leprechaun gotten into the house? He smiled a large smile at me and said. "Feeana was so free, I needed a safe place to hide for a few days. Her Majesty cast a spell and whoops here I was in your hallway." I had gotten over my surprise and remembered my duties as host. "Are you hungry." I asked. Yes he was hungry and I cooked the pair of us a hearty breakfast. After he had eaten he told me his story and his need to hide for a while.

While he was working as a shoemaker in Sidcup a small town just outside London he was visited by a man that said he had some shoes to be repaired. The Leprechaun was immediately suspicious of the man. No one goes into a shoe repair shop and says they have some shoes for repair. One brings the shoes to the shop and asks as a rule how much is the repair going to cost.

The Leprechaun told his assistant that he was going out for a while and that he should look after the shop. He took off his leather apron and placing his knife back into its place on the bench. He followed the man as he left the shop. The man walked to the bus stop and waited for the bus that went to Old Bexley a small village not far from Sidcup. The bus came along and the man took a seat and sitting behind him a few seats away was the Leprechaun. The man got off the bus at Sidcup railway station and went into a large house.

The Leprechaun followed him and looked to see if he could see a nameplate on the gate but there was nothing to be seen. A passer by said," He won’t buy anything he is renowned for his miserly ways. He wont even give to charity." "I do not want to sell him anything said the Leprechaun I was just wondering what his name was as I think he went to school with me." "His name!" said the man is Marlichek, he is a foreigner I should not think that he went to school with you." Making a note of the name the Leprechaun went back with the next bus to his shop.

Going to the telephone book he looked at all the names beginning with M. He found all sorts of names but none with the name Marlichek. That evening he went into Sidcup Park and waited on one of the benches until the Fairies appeared. He told them of the meeting in his shop and gave the Fairies the name of Marlichek asking them to ask the Fairy Queen Feeana if there was anything about the man that he should know.

The next day as he was working on a pair of shoes that he was repairing the name ‘Marlichek’ appeared. On the leather under the name was a message. ‘Danger the man is a Sorcerer.’ The Leprechaun finished off repairing the shoes and went out for a while. In reality he went to the house by the Railway Station. Here he spoke to some birds that were nesting in a bush in the garden and asked them to report anything out of the ordinary. The birds agreed and the Leprechaun was given a daily report of all that happened at the Sorcerers.

On the third day the bird told him that there was a white horse with wings being held captive in a shed in the back garden. The Leprechaun immediately thought of Pegasus and late that night he went to the shed and opened the double doors. "Pegasus the Leprechaun softly called is that you?" "Yes," came the reply. " Can you undo the leather reams that are on all of my four feet?" The Leprechaun took out his knife and cut off the four leather collars that were fixed to iron chains holding the winged horse in unwanted captivity. The Leprechaun led Pegasus out of the shed and sitting on Pegasus’s back the pair of them took off for Fairyland.

Here they made a report to the Fairy Queen who took out her Magic Mirror, "Marlichek." she said, "He is up to his old tricks again. It is about time that I put a stop to his evil ways." The Leprechaun asked Pegasus why he had been captured and locked in the shed like he was. Pegasus told the Leprechaun about a plan the Sorcerer had. The plan was to sell the Flying Horse to a Zoo or to some Scientists that wanted to find out how the Flying Horses wings could carry such weight. The Flying Horse was quite heavy.

In the shed of the house in Sidcup near the Railway Station there is another horse not white but black. This was the Queen Feeana’s way of punishing the Sorcerer for his misdeeds. The last the Leprechaun heard of him he was pulling a cart filled with sacks of coal. It was hard work but it served him right for all of his wicked misdeeds.

The Leprechaun is still repairing shoes in the small town of Sidcup and his ears are always open to tales of strangers that have settled in the town. He checks on every strange person that comes to Sidcup to stay. Who knows it might just be a Wizard, a Witch or even another Sorcerer.

Witches Fate.

I spent the whole of yesterday in the London Zoo. I really do not know why I went there as I am strictly against wild animals being caged. I think that all creatures on this earth were born to be free. The cages even in the best Zoo’s or Animal parks can never be the same as when an animal runs wild in the freedom of nature. If I had my way all of the animals would be taken back to their countries of origin and set free. I would give them time to acclimatize in large runs and then when they were ready set them all free. No I am not a political green voter just an ordinary man that hates to see anything caged in.

While I was in the Zoo I saw many of the Little Folk they were flying in and out of the various cages talking to the animals. Some they were calming down others they were trying to give courage to, recognising me they gave me a smile. All Fairy Folk are against Zoo’s and Animal Parks sometimes called Safari Parks. You might ask why do the Fairies not free the animals and send them back to their places of origin. The answer is simple the Fairies do not under any circumstance interfere with the human race and all that it does.

At one of the cages I saw an elderly woman she was dressed all in black with even a black pointed hat on her head. Written on a notice board was some information for the visitors as to the origins of the animals and their natural living areas. Before each cage or enclosure was a notice asking People not to feed the animals and birds. This elderly woman was doing just that. From a black bag she drew handfuls of seeds and corn and was throwing it into the cage. I sauntered over to the cage and saw that it was the home of about twenty crows. These crows the woman was feeding and did not seem to mind who saw her doing so.

I noticed that there were no Fairies in the cage which was really a large space covered in with netting. Standing to one side there was this young boy he too was watching the elderly woman. I looked closer at the boy and saw that it was really a Leprechaun that was obviously there to help the Fairies and the animals and birds. He kept a sharp watch on the old woman who was just a little too suspicious. I myself wondered what she was up to feeding the birds although the notices asked people not to was in my eyes not to wrong after all she might just be a person with a kind heart.

I went to the next cage and gave the elderly woman and the Leprechaun no more thought. Here it was monkeys kept in a large cage. They had ropes and tree branches with even a tree in the cage so that they had freedom of movement also I saw a couple of old car tyres that were hanging on ropes these they used for swings, I was getting depressed especially when I saw a mother monkey sitting on the ground with a young baby in her arm she looked so bored that I could have cried. My heart went out to her She was not alone long a couple of Fairies had flown into the cage and were speaking to her. I went on to the next cage where a couple of giraffes were pulling some leaves from a high tree, these leaves they slowly chewed.

Suddenly I heard a commotion coming from the cage where the crows were kept. I hurried along to the cage. People were running about and shouting was heard, most unusual for London Zoo. Then I saw the cage was empty there was not a crow to be seen. There was no hole in the fencing or the netting at the top of the cage. The birds were gone, how is a mystery that will keep the newspapers in Great Britain speculating for a long time. The elderly woman dressed all in black was gone so was the Leprechaun.

I then spoke to one of the Fairies and asked her what was behind the mysterious loss of the crows. The old Witch that the Leprechaun was watching had cast a spell right in the middle of London Zoo in broad daylight and the crows had disappeared with the Witch, for that is what the elderly woman was, and the leprechaun had disappeared with them. I asked myself what would a Witch want with crows there are so many flying free why take those in captivity she was up to no good.

I went on the next day to where I know the Fairies play and patiently waited until they showed. After greetings had been exchanged I asked them if they had any information on the Witch, the crows and the Leprechaun. It seems that the Witch wanted only well fed crows that were fairly tame and the crows in London Zoo suited her purposes. They she wanted to teach to do various things some she wanted to teach how to steal a bird can fly into any open window and take anything that glittered. Some she wanted to just fly around her cottage to warn her when the Fairies or strangers were around.

The next day the crows were all back in the London Zoo all safely in the crows area. The Leprechaun had followed the Witch to her cottage and during the night when the Witch was asleep he had cast some special powder that the Fairy Queen Feeana had given him for this purpose over the crows and all were back in the Zoo. The Leprechaun for his help was given The Royal Order for Merit. A most highly held honour in the whole of Fairyland. The old Witch now has lumbago in her back and cannot use her broomstick anymore. This means that all of the animals in the Zoo’s and Animal Parks are safe from any interference from the world of Witches and fairies.

Witches Revenge.

The smell was terrible. A disgusting smell that irritated the nose and yes made my mind go as soggy as bread soaked in water. I could not accept that this smell was normal; it was a vile penetrating smell that robbed one of one’s senses. It seemed to be filling the whole of the valley. I immediately thought that someone or something is up to no good. The smell was coming from the northeast I knew who was responsible it was the Witch that had tried to magic the crows away from the London Zoo. I thought that she had possibly found a cure for her Lumbago.

I went to the woods and warned the Fairies to be on their guard and to warn the rest of Fairyland while I went back to keep my eye on the Witch. I placed myself close to her cottage and took my binoculars from their case and concentrated on the Witches home. To be more correct I was looking through her window with my infrared binoculars or as one would say modern spyglasses I saw the Witch threw some more leaves and dried roots and even a dried Lizard into the cauldron she had boiling away, on a tripod fixed over a brightly burning fire. The smell got more intense; I was pleased that I had warned the Little Folks in Fairyland, who knows what mischief this evil old woman, was brewing up for the Little Folks.

Soon I was joined by a Leprechaun he had two small pieces of soft wood in his nose and gave me two of the same and told me to push it up my nose it would stop us from breathing in the stinking smell from the old Witch’s Cauldron, which was now pouring out vile vapours from her open door and window. It was getting very thick like a sea mist coming in over the coast in late autumn. The smell was unbelievable and I was Pleased that the Leprechaun had brought me the filters for my nose.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies, joined us she came quietly without any fuss. The Leprechaun gave Her Majesty two of the filters for her nose. The Queen Feeana was disgusted with the smell from the cottage she had such a delicate sense of smell that she could smell the evil brew even through the filters. All we could do was wait and see what the smell was going to do was it just the smell or had the evil Witch concocted a new illness that would harm all the Fairies and Little folk. Would it affect the wild animals many of whom we had seen running away from this smell. A horde of rabbits had disappeared into their burrows and I could imagine them digging even deeper to get away from this terrible old woman’s evil smelling brew.

While we were waiting to see what would happen next, a Robin flew and landed on the Fairy Queens shoulder. " Your Majesty some of the small Fairies are very ill this smell is making them sick" "The wise old Fairies are looking after the infants but none of the herbs seem to be working." "The wise ones are mixing different lotions and potions but they are very worried and concerned about the smaller Fairies." The Queen I could see was now very angry and wondered what she would do to punish the old Witch. I did not have to wait long. The Queen Feeana raised her wand and spoke in the old language.

I expected the old Witches cottage would fall down, or that the Queen would turn her into a toad or something like that. Suddenly from out of the window came a small cloud of white smoke the black stinking smell was suddenly gone. Queen Feeana told me to watch the white cloud. I saw that all the black evil smelling smoke was being absorbed by the small white cloud. The Queen looked satisfied and said," She made the smoke with the horrid smell that was making my infant Fairies ill now she will wander with that cloud till the end of time and she will smell her own misdeeds till then. The white cloud now was very grey and the black smoke with the smell was gone. If ever you see a large grey cloud in the sky you will know that the Witch is serving her punishment and will do so for a long, long time.

Witches Rings

It was a wet morning in July, I been into town to do some shopping. My wife had given me a list of the things that she wanted and I trotted into town to get the butter and eggs, some cheese and a few tomatoes. When I had finished my shopping I went into a small coffee shop to have a cup of coffee and a bread and butter roll. I usually have a small cake to go with my coffee but today I did not feel in the mood for sweet gooey cakes. I paid my bill and walked out onto the High Street it had stopped raining and I slowly walked back to my home.

On my way home I passed an Elderly Woman who too was carrying a rather heavy looking shopping bag. I asked her if I could carry her shopping bag for her, as she was looking somewhat tired. "Thank you," she said. I took her heavy bag and walked with her back to her home. On arriving she thanked me again and again and asked me if she could give me a little something for my kindness. I of course refused it was a pleasure to be able to help someone older than myself especially a Lady.

She smiled and took from her finger a dull looking metal ring it had a peculiar pattern of some metal that looked like brass. It was indeed a dull metal ring that was worn thin through continual wear. "You must accept this little ring it will bring you much luck." On a whim I decided to take it, as I did not want to upset the Lady. I took her shopping bag to her front door and waited until she had opened it, I then placed the bag with her shopping in the hallway and saying goodbye I turned and walked toward her garden gate. " It will bring you luck," she called after me. I smiled and waved my free hand and carried on home to my Wife with the groceries.

I showed my wife the ring and she agreed that it was all right to accept it, as it was not of great value. It had obviously given the Woman pleasure to give it to me. I wore it and thought no more about the ring until I saw Her Majesty Queen Feeana a week later. I went into the woods looking for blackberries as my Wife wanted to make some jam. I had filled my basket with some of the most delicious blackberries that I had ever tasted when Her Majesty appeared in her usual manner. A flash of light a whiff of smoke and she stood there looking as Royal as she always does. We talked for a little while and Her Majesty saw the ring on my finger.

"I see that you have a new ring," she said. I smiled and showed her the ring after taking it from my finger. "I will tell you the story of this ring." Said Her Majesty. " Many years ago there was a powerful old witch that tried to take over the whole of Fairyland." " She failed of course but as a punishment she was given ten rings each ring had a magic symbol written into it." " If you look closely you will see the symbol."

Her Majesty then continued to tell me the whole story. The Witch’s punishment was that she would for a thousand years be banned from the world of the living humans. Every hundred years she would be allowed back. If a human helped her without her asking and she managed to give a human one of the rings. After the thousand years were over she would be allowed back into the human society.

I was the last human to help the witch and I had accepted the ring the punishment was now over. The Queen Feeana told me to look at the ring again. I did so and the ring had now changed it was of solid gold and the symbol was of pure platinum. The Little Folk helped each Human that received one of these rings in many ways. It was part of the punishment that the new owner of the ring be helped. Many people call it luck. The Witch now lives in a house not far from the woods and is now a kind considerate person that helps everyone that she knows is in need.

Wizard Baker.

It was a good party. All of Fairyland was present. The Fairies and the Leprechauns. The Pixies and the Elves, It started at eight o’clock in the evening and went on till the early hours of the morning. Elderberry wine and sweet small honey cakes were for all of the little folk in plenty on long tables. One just helped oneself to whatever one fancied. There was a small but fine orchestra playing sweet Fairy melodies The musicians were Elves dressed in deep purple suits, all were wearing a headdress consisting of a wide floppy cap in which coloured feathers were stuck. The orchestra looked very smart indeed. Dancing on the forest floor were couples, the dresses of the maids were very colourful and the boys wore mostly forest green. The orchestra played the last waltz of the night and the couples slowly disappeared in all directions.

What the little folk did not know there was a hidden spectator watching all that had gone on at the dance. This spectator was a very powerful Wizard he was dressed all in black and had a cloak that made him invisible to all of the little folk. His reason for being at the dance was to find out how to make the sweet fairy cakes. He was very disappointed as the fairy cakes just appeared out of nowhere. As soon as one plate was empty it was magically filled again and again. In a terrible rage he left the forest and went back to his large cave hidden deep in the mountainside.

The Wizard slept for a little while then started to bake what he thought were fairy cakes. He used plenty of honey and flour, butter and nuts and other tasty things. These he mixed together in a large cauldron and filling some baking tins with the mixture he placed them in a hot oven. The first cakes that he baked were burnt he had used too big a fire for the oven it was too hot. The second batch looked like the fairy cakes but as he tasted one of them he spat it out it was much too sweet. He mixed and baked all of the day but it was to no avail the cakes were not fairy cakes even if they looked like fairy cakes.

The Wizard was an evil man and soon had a plan to get his fairy cakes. He went into the forest every night under the cover of his invisible cloak. He watched the Fairies closely for hours on end. He watched them painting the flowers and the leaves and all of the butterflies but he never once saw a Fairy making cakes. He decided to change his plan and went into the forest by day still under his cloak of invisibility. It was the same as at night except the Fairies played most of the day and soon their laughing and singing made him wish he was back home in his cave.

The Wizard then had another plan he would kidnap one of the Fairies and make her tell him how to make the cakes. Soon he was back in the forest and sure enough the evil man kidnapped a Fairy. Taking her back to his cave he put chains around her legs and told her to make him some fairy cakes. The Fairy thought that the Wizard must be a little crazy everyone knew how to make fairy cakes. She asked him for some flour and some honey, some nuts and some water and some butter. Then she told him that he would have to pick the petals off some special flowers and bring them to her. She needed the flower petals to give the cakes their special taste.

Going off into the forest the Wizard collected the petals from the flowers that the Fairy told him she wanted for the cakes. Back in the cave the Fairy took from under her dress her magic wand and cut the chains in half. She soon flew back to her fairy playmates and told them of her ordeal and what the Wizard wanted. When she came to the flower petals the Fairies all laughed out loud. There were no flower petals in fairy cakes they were made by magic and the taste one could not describe just perhaps that they tasted sweet.

Back home in his cave the Wizard saw that the Fairy had got rid of her chains and left the cave. He was not particularly worried as he now had the petals for the flowers that the Fairy had told him about. He was busy mixing another mixture for his cakes when an earthquake started to shake the cave and all of his pot and pans his cauldron and all that was in the cave flew around as if they were alive. The Fairies who had secretly come to the cave were in fact controlling them. Satisfied that nothing was in its right place and that the Wizard had been taught a lesson the Fairies flew back to their games in the forest. The wizard moved to another part of the country and is still trying to make fairy cakes. He cannot make fairy cakes but he became a wonderful baker and soon his cakes were the talk of the town. His secret was not just that practice makes a master but he added flower petals to his cakes and that was the secret of his success.

Wizardry.

The Northern Wizards were once again attacking the Wizards of the South. This stupid quarrel had been going on for years, with neither side willing to say they were in the wrong. The quarrelling started over a young lad that worked for the most powerful Wizard in the north. He stole one of his master’s most valued secrets and ran away to the south to try to sell the secret. A Wizard in the south took the secret and threw the young lad into a dungeon for stealing. The secret was how to turn iron into gold. The Wizard in the south used the secret to amass a large hoard of gold. Then he offered to sell the secret back to the Wizard in the north. It was a cheeky and dangerous thing to do, as the Northern Wizard was really very powerful.

Every so often the Southern Wizard would taunt the Northern Wizard by offering to sell him the secret or by boasting that he knew so much magic that the Northern Wizard would never get his secret back. This had been happening for a large number of years and the Northern Wizard decided to use his magic to upset and perhaps destroy the Southern Wizard. Taking a parchment roll from a wooden shelf he opened the roll and studied it for a while. Then he started getting ingredients and placed them in a large iron cauldron. He lit a fire under the cauldron and with some water that he poured over the ingredients there was soon an evil looking brew bubbling away in the cauldron.

The Wizard let the brew simmer away for an hour or more then taking a small spoon he dropped a small portion of the brew onto the floor. It was only a small drop but the effects were terrible the whole of the cave was filled with fog in a matter of seconds. The fog was so wet that it soon dropped of the walls and the ceilings and a large puddle formed in the middle of the floor. Satisfied with his work the Northern Wizard took his cauldron to the Southern most point of his territory and poured its contents on the ground. A thick fog spread quickly and rolled south with the wind covering the whole of the south with fog that soon turned to water drops making everything wet.

The cauldron was never empty as soon as the brew was on the ground it filled again. This was indeed powerful magic. The Southern Wizards were soon in a terrible plight. Water everywhere and no sign of it stopping. The Northern Wizard sent a messenger telling the Southern Wizards if they sent back the stolen secret he would stop the water masses. The people living in the south soon had enough of the Southern Wizards and no one would sell the Wizards any bread or meat. The Southern Wizard that had the stolen secret released the young lad from the dungeon and sent him back to his master with the same.

As soon as the Northern Wizard had his secret he stopped the water with some dark green looking powder and things gradually went back to normal. In the south there were no Wizards allowed for a very long time, as the people could not forget what had happened when the land was under water. The crops were ruined and the cattle sheep and horses had to live on what was growing on the bushes it was indeed a terrible time for the south. They had one consolation though when they drove the greedy Wizard away from his home he was only allowed to take a change of clothes with him. The gold that he had stored was distributed to all of the people. The Northern people helped the Southern people with hay and food until things were back to normal.

This story I found among a pile of old papers that I was going to give for salvaging. Something made me look at the papers and I found the story of the Wizard’s Quarrels and I thought that it was worth writing about.

Wizard’s Revenge.

The horse came to a stop. It was so tired that it could go no further on its back a pretty maiden. The maids face was grubby and one could see that she had been crying. They had come far the maid and the horse but now the horse had no more strength to take the maid further. It seemed that in a far distant land there lived a powerful wizard. This wizard fell in love with the maid. The maid however loved a young man of the village and did not want to marry the wizard.

The wizard was so angry at not getting his own way with the maid that he cast a spell on the two lovers. The man would become a horse and he would carry the maid on his back for the rest of their lives. The maid was to be the man’s burden they would neither of them be happy. This was a terrible thing for the wizard to do. He had no pity and the pair, the horse and the maid had been wandering now for over a year.

A woodcutter came by and helped the maid helped her and the horse to a nearby stream where he gently washed the maids face and gave the horse to drink. The woodcutter then took the pair back to his small cottage where he made some warming soup, which he gave to the maid. The horse he gave some bread and some salt.

The horse and the maid stayed at the cottage for a while but they were not really happy and one day the maid told the woodcutter the tragic story. The woodcutter told them that perhaps he could help them. He had friends amongst the fairies and they would surely help them. They spoke about the wizard and his mean ways with the peoples of that far away land. The wizard should be stripped of all his magical knowledge.

The very next day the maid, the horse and the woodcutter went deep into the forest. The fairies upon seeing the woodcutter laughed out loud he was their friend. The woodcutter greeted the Fairies and told them the story of the maid and the horse. One of the fairies flew off to the Fairy Queen Feeana and told her all about this sad pair and what the wicked wizard had done to them. The Queen herself came into the forest and with a wave of her magic wand the horse turned back into a handsome young man. The maid thanked the Fairy Queen who smiled and said they could stay here in Fairyland as long as they wanted.

The Fairy Queen waved her magic wand again and suddenly a small heavily laded donkey appeared. This is your punishment you will be a donkey for the rest of your life and you will always have a heavy burden to carry. Your magical powers are no longer present. The donkey gave a loud hee-haw and wandered off into the forest and was never seen again. The maid married the man and they still live in Fairyland to this very day. Both are very happy and are very friendly to the woodcutter and of course the Fairies.

Wolf’s Howl.

In certain countries one can hear the howl of the Wolves as they sing to the light of the moon. This was not always so, once the Wolves were silent creatures that ran in packs hunting for food. Wolves are lean hungry creatures with good appetites. In the beginning the Wolves were led by a large Wolf that was very strong and very intelligent. This Wolf knew where the best food places were. It organised the hunts so that the Wolves never went hungry.

As the years went by the Wolf leader got older and was not able to take part in the hunts any more. He just sat and waited for his share of whatever the other Wolves caught. Then one day the old Wolf just died. He was never seen again and although the Wolves looked high and low they just could not find the old leader.

Bad times set in for the Wolf pack there was no leader, no hunter and what food they did manage to hunt was not enough to feed the hungry creatures. Soon the Queen of all the Fairies heard of the plight of the Wolves. All Fairies are kind at heart and the Queen soon found a way to help them. Each Wolf was given the means to howl. When a Wolf came across something to hunt it was to give off a loud howl. This not only warned the other Wolves that the hunt was on but it also warned the other animals that were Wolves were hunting.

Soon the Wolves were fat and killed so many animals that the Fairy Queen had to step in to help the other animals that were being killed by the Wolves. The Queen thought to stop the Howling that called the Wolves together for the hunt. Then her Majesty had a better idea. The Wolves would in future only howl when the Moon was full. This way the Wolves could not hunt and kill so many animals. When the moon was full the grey shapes of the Wolves could easily be seen and the howling warned all animals that the wolves were about. This helped all the animals that lived in the old days.

Wolves are still to be found in Europe and Russia and the United States of America and Canada. There are many stories told of the Wolf. How vicious he is most of these tales are not true. When one has the opportunity to visit a pack of Wolves one will see how devoted the Mother Wolf is to its young and the Father is also very gentle with the wolf cubs.

Woodchopper’s luck.

Long, long ago a woodchopper whose work was to chop down trees and peel the bark off of them ready to sell to the carpenter that made furniture. He made a discovery that was one day to bring him immense luck and wealth. The bark that he left on the forest floor stopped weeds and grass from growing. This at first did not seem worthwhile to worry his head about and he forgot what he had seen. Later he remembered this and was able to help the Fairies.

Some years on a witch was so jealous of the Fairies because they could perform magic; that she thought of ways and means to upset the Fairies and their good way of life. Many a terrible plan she thought out and then discarded because her powers of magic were not strong enough to carry out her evilness. As she was going through the woods collecting herbs and grasses to make her medicines she had an Idea. Going quickly back to her cottage on the edge of the woods she placed a large cauldron on the fire and began placing herbs and grasses and the bark of some trees into it. She stirred and stirred the mixture all of the time muttering some chants that only she knew of.

After a couple of hours the evil smelling mixture was finished and letting it cool down the witch poured it carefully into some old green glass bottles. When she was finished she walked back into the woods where she knew the fairies lived and pored the mixture drop by drop on all of the plants and grasses that she saw. For a while nothing seemed to be happening. Then all that she dropped the mixture on started to grow. It just grew and grew. The mushrooms were the size of a large cow and the grass was a tall as a small tree. The bushes were like trees and there was no way to go through the woods. The Fairies of course could fly and it at first did no bother them, but for the wild life it was a disaster the animals could not get through grass and bush work.

An Owl that had seen what the old witch was up to reported what he had seen to the Fairy Queen Feeana. Feeana tried all kinds of magic to put things back to what they were before the witch had spread her mixture. It was all to no avail. The Fairies were asked to tell everyone about this terrible happening. One day a Fairy came to where the woodchopper lived and told him about the terrible things going on in the woods.

The woodchopper suddenly remembered the bark of the trees and what he had seen so long ago. He asked the Fairy to take him to the Fairy Queen. The Fairy transported him with a wave of her wand and they were both in the Queen Feeana’s beautiful old house. The woodchopper told the Queen his tale of the bark of the trees that he had chopped down and what happened to the grasses and weeds when the bark fell on to them.

The Queen then gave orders that every second tree should be stripped of its bark and the bark was to be cut up small and strewn everywhere where the old witch had spread her mixture. This soon got rid of the grass and the weeds and all of the bushes that had grown out of all proportion. The fairy Queen was told of the success of the woodchoppers plan. The woodchopper was given a house and much fairy gold and the Queen told him that he could always rely on the Fairies if he needed help.

This story is I know a true one nowadays one can buy chopped bark for the garden to stop the weeds and grass growing in a flowerbed. We can thank that first woodchopper of long ago for this information.

Work Shy.

Spring is here again and it is time to dig the garden over yet once again. I had just started digging when my dog Wag barked. Someone is at the front door I thought. Placing my fork into the ground I went around the house to see who was at the front door, To my surprise a young man asked me if I had any odd jobs that needed doing. Ah! I thought you are just the visitor that I want. "Can you dig a garden?" I asked. Yes I am an expert digger of gardens and would be only too happy to dig your garden for you.

"Come in," I said. "Are these your working clothes or would you like to change into some other clothes. "These clothes are fine for working in," replied the man and we went around the house into the back garden. I showed him the fork and where I had started digging. "I will pay you five pounds Stirling for digging the garden," I told him," "That will be fine with me," he said. I left him with the fork and went into the back kitchen to make a pot of tea for us both.

I happened to look out of the back window and got the surprise of my life. The fork dug the garden over but the man was sitting in my old wheelbarrow. He had his eyes closed and I decided to go and see what magic he was using to get the fork to dig on its own. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep from his lips came this little verse. (The Garden is very big, so dig, dig, and dig.) I quietly went back into the house and made the pot of tea. Instead of taking a cup out to him which was my first thought I poured myself a cup and watched from my window. The fork dug and dug, the man still lay in the wheelbarrow and I could see his lips moving. The Garden is very big, so dig, dig, and dig.

This carried on until midday and the garden was dug completely I asked him in and gave him not the Five pound note Stirling but a piece of Magic Gold. I did not trust the man and was taking a few precautions of my own. The Magic Gold unless I stopped it would automatically come back to my purse. I had made another cup of tea and he drank two cups, with a sandwich made of bread, butter and corned beef.

After his meal I saw him off the premises and as he left he said, "I will be coming this way soon if you have any work I will be pleased to do it for you." Calling out my thanks I went into the back garden to see how well the fork had dug my garden. All I saw was the first three forks that I myself had dug the rest of the garden was the same as it was before the man started with his fork. I smiled and went back into the house and there was the Magic gold back in my purse.

The following day I went into the woods and the first person I saw was Her Majesty Queen Feeana. I told her my tale of the man that was supposedly digging my garden. Her Majesty smiled and said, "That sounds like Morgenwen has tricked you," He goes around the country telling people he will dig their gardens but he uses magic that he learned from an old Wizard, that he once looked after, before the Wizard threw him out for being work shy." I then told Her Majesty about the gold I had given him and of it returning to my purse.

Some weeks later another man rang my doorbell. He too asked me for work he was a shoemaker he said and would repair all of my shoes that needed repairing. I put together some of my shoes that needed repairing and the man started to repair one of my boots. I watched him through a mirror and then I saw his tools, hammer, needle and thread and some leather were all working away without him doing anything but sit in my chair and sing this little ditty. (Shoes to mend shoes to mend. But not a muscle will I bend.) I got some of my Magic gold ready and when the time came for him to finish. I paid him but this time I did not give him to eat and drink.

As soon as he had left the house I watched my Purse and as sure as I am sitting here writing, the gold coins came back to me. It was then that I went to my pile of shoes that he had supposedly mended and saw that all were the same as when I had given them to him. I was now, I must admit a little angry. Twice the man had accepted payment without doing the work. Taking out my magic mirror I looked and saw him at the garden of another person.

As he started his little rhyme, (The Garden is very big, so dig, dig, and dig.) I waved my magic wand and the fork flew into his hands and he was forced to make every movement that the fork made. This time he did dig the garden and I must say between the pair of them man and fork they made a good job of it. This fork of his still has my magic on it and every time he goes to dig a garden he must use the fork.

If Morgenwen comes to your house to dig your garden or repair your shoes do not let him use his own tools. Sit with him and he must work, as the magic is not possible if a strange person is about and he has to work and is not really work shy.

Write A Tale.

Nothing, but nothing is coming into my head. How shall I write a Fairy-tale when my head is empty? It is not like me, I have a new tale every day or so but now I am completely empty. I look at my computer and my keyboard hoping that something will come into my head. There are so many people in Fairyland. Fairies, Trolls, Pixies, Elves and of course my friends the Leprechauns. Suddenly I am leaving my computer. The old, old, experience of being moved from one place to another by means of strong magic is upon me.

This travelling by magic is not unpleasant just a little strange until one gets used to it. The journey came to an end and I was inside of Her Majesties cottage. On the table were about ten manuscripts, sitting in her armchair Her Majesty Queen Feeana greeted me and told me to help myself to one or all of the manuscripts. Her Majesty then told me that she had sensed that I was having problems with my stories and that she was willing to help me with the tales on the table.

Your Majesty, "I cannot take a story or stories from you and write them as my own work that would not be at all right. It would be cheating." Her Majesty smiled and said, "Well done, you have once again proved that you are worthy of the trust that I place in you." Her Majesty then told me that I was trying too hard and should wait until a story came to me, not to write every day. Sooner or later all stories must come to an end when one just concentrates on the one thing. "Go back home and write what you have just lived through that will give you a story." "Or at least the beginnings of a story." She said.

I have written down all as Her Majesty told me to but I still have no story. I am beginning to think that Her Royal Highness is right perhaps I should not try so hard and just let the stories come to me. It was then that Shamus my Leprechaun friend jumped out of my computer screen. I remember thinking it is a good job that I have a large desk for my computer or he might have hurt himself. " Good Morning to you Bern how are you on such a fine morning?"

"Shamus how did you come through the computer?" I asked. "Oh! That is easy I just melt in with the electricity and I can travel all over the world. "But how do you know how to get to me," I asked. "That is very easy," said Shamus. "I just tap into your IP number and whoops I am here". "You must show me how to do it Shamus, it might come in handy one day, one never knows." You must ask Her Majesty for her permission to travel this way. I do not think that she will give it to you, you could easily become lost on the internet," said Shamus and as he was loathe to talk about the subject I made him a cup of tea and gave him some ginger biscuits.

"What brings you to my home Shamus? You are indeed very welcome as always but I am curious". I have come to tell you about something that happened back in Ireland some hundreds of years ago. I was a young man in those far off days and was very greedy for Gold. Gold as you know does not lie in the streets. One must dig it out of the ground or wash it from some river both are very hard work and one does not always get much gold for one’s troubles.

Shamus told me that he was walking along the country lanes of Old Ireland when he met a smart young man from Dublin. The man from Dublin saw the pot that Shamus was carrying and thought that it contained Leprechauns gold. " I would like to buy that pot from you," said the man from Dublin. Shamus told the man that there was nothing in the pot. It was empty- The Dublin man knew that all Leprechauns carried pots of gold with them. Why his very own Grandmother had told him about the Leprechauns and their gold.

Shamus told the man that he could have his pot if he was to give shamus twenty Irish pound notes. It was a lot of money, one hundred years ago. The man from Dublin agreed and gave Shamus twenty Irish pound notes for his pot. As soon as the man from Dublin held the pot in his hand Shamus just vanished. The man from Dublin looked a long time in the pot but did not find any gold. Shamus went to the local bank and placed the money into a savings account and is today a very rich man.

The man from Dublin went back home a little sadder but also a lot wiser. Whenever he sees a Leprechaun he always crosses to the other side of the road and steers clear of the little folk.

A Day Out.

I have promised the little people a day at the seaside. I have rented a bus and we will go to the beach at Dymchurch. The sands at Dymchurch are of fine yellow grains and are good to walk in when one's feet are aching. The beaches are like most English beaches there are wooden breakers placed along the beach to stop the sea causing too much erosion of the land. When we arrived, the tide was out and we had the sands all to ourselves.

Soon all the Fairies, Elves, Pixies were playing happily on the sands. Just one of the Fairies, Noonfee did not seem to be having any fun at all. Noonfee was all on her own with a small stick she was making marks in the fresh sand. Going over to her, I watched for a while and saw that Noonfee had drawn a picture of the beach. It was down to the last detail correct.

I spoke to her, "Noonfee you are all on your own, do you not want to play with the other Fairies?" "No, I am happy drawing my pictures let the others play and I can draw them in my pictures." Noonfee then gave a soft sigh. "Isn't it a pity that the tide will come in and wash all of my pictures away," She looked so sad as she spoke the words that my heart went out to her. "Can you? I asked keep these pictures in your head until we go home? "Yes that is quite easy for me to do I remember every detail for days after.

The rest of the day, I spent watching over the little people, making sure that each had a nice day at the sea. I went at least a dozen times for ice-cream for them all and the ice-cream man gave me some very enquiring looks he of course could not see the Fairies and the other little folk all he saw was me buying ice cream. At five o'clock, I called all of the little folk together and we made our way to the bus. We passed the ice-cream man and all with much fun and noise boarded the bus. I got into the drivers seat and soon we were on the way home.

The following day I went into town and bought canvas and paints, brushes and a palette and took them back to Fairyland. Giving them to Noonfee I asked her to paint me a picture of the beach as she remembered it from the previous day. Soon Noonfee had four pictures ready for me to see. The paintings were beautiful and the detail was wonderful why I could recognise each Fairy. I took the paintings home with me and when the paint was dry, I showed them to the man that runs the art gallery.

The man from the gallery was delighted with the pictures and wanted me to sign them. He offered me quite a sum of money for the pictures. I knew that Noonfee had no use for money and I could always afford to buy the paints and canvasses for her. In the end, I agree that the art gallery showed the pictures they were unsigned and could not be sold. The pictures caused quite a commotion. Many people stopped to see them and many offered to buy them. After three months, I took the pictures back home with me and told Noonfee how much excitement they had caused and how many people wanted to buy them. Noonfee smiled and then shyly said the paintings were done by magic I cannot paint. I stood for a moment looking at Noonfee I could not believe my ears I thought that she had painted the pictures herself. Now she told me that the pictures were done by magic.

I was very disappointed and went back home. In my front room I had the four pictures hanging on the wall and they had been hanging in the art gallery. Now on my wall were four blank canvasses. Not a Fairy was to be seen, the sea had gone and there were no Fairies or little people eating ice cream. Then to my surprise, the paint brushes and all of the tubes of paint with the rest of the canvasses appeared on my front room table.

I now have a new hobby. Yes I paint pictures I tried to return the painting things to the shop but the man in the shop said it was all too long ago and he could not give me back my money. Now in the art gallery there are some of my pictures all are signed and I guaranty that they will not just disappear leaving a blank canvass. You have my word on this. Noonfee has not painted another picture with magic and now paints the flowers and other things that Fairies paint.

A Day with the Frogs.

Once a year it might be more often. Fairies have a day where they sit and think about everything that has gone wrong in their lives. Fairies make mistakes and mainly the results are beautiful to the eye. When painting flowers and one of them is not paying attention to what he or she is doing the colours sometimes run. This effect is beautiful to the eye of the beholder but all Fairies know that each flower has certain colours that are essential to that particular flower. Daisies for example are white petal flowers with a heart of yellow. It would be very unusual for our eyes if daisies suddenly became red and blue in colour. It is these mistakes that the Fairies sit and think about.

During one of these think days the Fairy Queen Feeana, herself came to see whether the Fairies were thinking about their mistakes. This was not the case; the Fairies were playing games and having great fun. Her Majesty could not believe that the Fairies could behave in this way after all the instructions were very clear. Each Fairy had to sit and think about past mistakes made so that such mistakes shall not be made in the future. Her Majesty was most annoyed, took out her Magic Wand, and cast a spell over the Fairies. Each Fairy turned into a frog. All of the Fairies now found themselves sitting on a toadstool in a large round circle. All the Fairies could do was to croak and complain about the Queens treatment.

Twenty-four hours the Fairies were sitting in the circle croaking and complaining but it was Her Majesty's way of keeping discipline when working with flowers one must have discipline to work properly. I myself found the Fairies or should I say frogs sitting on their toadstools it was the noise they made that showed me the way to them. I saw at once that some very powerful magic had been at work. No frog would sit in a circle on toadstools. These Frogs could only have been Fairies. Fairies under a spell but Fairies all of the same, I sat myself down on an old tree stump and decided to watch and see what would happen and to make sure that no harm would come to them. The day passed and the stars lit up the night sky and I still sat on my log. Nothing happened and I got up to move my stiff legs and shake my tired aching arms. My tummy rumbled, as I had not thought to bring any food or drink with me into the woods.

I looked at my watch and saw that it was eleven o'clock the following day; I must have dozed off into a light sleep. Then it happened a bright blue flash and a small puff of smoke and Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared. I watched as she waved her wand and the frogs turned back into Fairies. Her Majesty asked whether they had learned their lesson or not, and back came a chorus of yes it was then that Her Majesty saw me sitting on my tree stump. I told her of my being attracted by the noise the Fairies made as Frogs and had to come and see what was happening in this part of Fairyland. Her Majesty told me that instead of using the free day to think about their mistakes the Fairies had been playing and making a noise that even Her Majesty had heard although she lived about a mile away. It was her punishment for the noisy Fairies. Her Majesty apologised for my having been disturbed by the Frogs. I then told Her Majesty that the Fairies or frogs had made noise for about an hour then they had settled down and all was quiet only a faint croak came from a Frog, Fairy occasionally.

Her Majesty then saw that I was not my usual self and waved her Magic wand in my direction. I felt great. My tummy was now full and I had been refreshed as if I had taken a bath, even the stubble of my day old beard was gone. My clothes were freshly washed and ironed and I was on top of the world. Her Majesty smiled at my looking so well and said, "that is my was of saying thank you, you looked after my Fairies all day and night and did not once think about yourself". "Now my fairy children will have this experience once a year it is a good way for them to learn self-discipline." Therefore, if you go into the woods and see Frogs sitting on toadstools do not disturb them know that it is the fairies, learning one of the greatest lessons of this life. Self discipline.

A Days Work.

Walking through Fairyland I could see all of the fairies working away at colouring the flowers and plants that Mother Nature so abundantly supplies. Just one fairy sat doing nothing. The toadstool that she was sitting on was a bright red with yellow spots. I asked her why she was not helping the other fairies with their painting. "Yesterday I did at least two days work and today I am resting." I am very surprised that a fairy would give me such an answer, normally I would be told of some strange thing that had happened to the fairy. "Does Her Majesty know that you are resting today?" I asked. "Oh no, I do not always tell Her Majesty when I take a day off from work, she would not be at all happy with me sitting here taking things easy." I walked away thinking that it was just a little something that would soon pass away.

A week later as I was walking through Fairyland I saw the same fairy sitting again on a toadstool. "You worked so hard yesterday that you are taking today off." I said. This time she asked me not to tell Her Majesty that she was not busy like all of the other fairies. I could see that something was wrong, "What is the matter with you," I gently asked. "I am so bored with painting the flowers and things," she said and I could see the tears coming slowly from her eyes. "Please do not cry, little one." I said as softly as I could. I will see how I can help you. "I do not like to see any of you fairies unhappy." I walked on leaving her sitting on her toadstool. A little later I saw a robin and asked it to take a message for me to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana appeared in the usual blue light and I told her that one of her fairies was very unhappy. Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and in it she saw the little fairy that was still sitting on her toadstool with the tears coming from her eyes.

I told Her Majesty that the little one was unhappy because she was bored painting the flowers and shrubs. The next day I was in the woods and saw all of the fairies sitting together. They were waiting for something to happen. Her Majesty appeared and the fairies all stood up to greet her. Her Majesty spoke to the fairies. "Today," she said. "No one is to paint flowers I want all of you to do or make something that you really would like to do." Her Majesty then disappeared as she had come and I watched the fairies for a while and saw that while some were busy painting the flowers a few others were doing other things. One was writing in a book. Another was busy combing the other fairies hair. Yet another was writing what looked like chemical formulas on some paper. The little one that was crying the previous day was busy sewing flowers and little pictures on some cloth. All were so busy that they had forgotten the time. Her Majesty it seems had been watching over the fairies and now came back to the opening where the fairies were sitting each doing that what she or he wanted.

Her Majesty looked at each fairies work, her praise was gratefully accepted by the fairies. When she came to the little fairy that had started all of this, Her Majesty was amazed at how perfect the stitches were in the little one's pictures. Queen Feeana made her decision, all of the fairies that had wanted to do something else than paint the flowers were sent to the wise old fairies. The wise old fairies had been told by Her Majesty that the fairies were to be given anything that they wanted to do each his or her work. The little fairy that was so good at sewing asked for coloured silks and a large tapestry that she sewed for over a hundred years. The tapestry shows the fairies homes and Fairyland the colours are wonderful. The tapestry is now in the Fairy University and one day it will be on show for all to see. Yes even the humans will get to see the most wonderful tapestry that the world has ever seen. The little fairy is now one of the wise old fairies and it is her job to go to the fairy schools and find out what each fairy likes doing the best. Now only few of the fairies paint flowers the rest all work at whatever they can do well and there is no more fibbing in fairyland with a fairy saying it had worked twice as hard on the yesterday that is why it was today resting. This is another true story and all children should do that what they can do the best. "Do you not agree?"

A Fleeting Shadow.

Do you have problems with your computer? When I start my computer all is well until I use the Windows Word Program. A fleeting shadow crosses my screen and it is nearly impossible to write. My fingers seem to work of their own accord. I hit two keys instead of one sometimes three. Sentences get jumbled; I have to correct stupid mistakes such as miss-spelt words. Sometimes I type a letter and it does not appear on the screen, how am I to write fairy tales with all of this happening to me. Now the fleeting shadow has got into my email and when I write in answer to an email that I have received, the spelling mistakes and the repeated letters sometimes drive me into despair. I have had the computer mechanic here to look into the computer and apart from a little dust all is well. The chip or CPU is working well. There are no problems with the memory banks; my keyboard is new so there should be no problems from this side. I do not drink alcohol while I am working on the computer and I have asked a friend to come and see me, his name is Shamus, you might remember Shamus from some of my other little tales. Shamus can get right into the computer and use it to travel by the electric current from one computer to another. He can also do the same with television sets. Shamus I know will get into my computer and see what it all means. The fleeting shadow I am sure will go away when Shamus gets on to him.

Shamus arrived this evening and I am very pleased to see him. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked me. I was expecting Shamus and had made a strong cup of sweet tea and gave him a plate filled with his favourite biscuits, Ginger Snaps. " Drink your tea and eat your biscuits and I will tell you what is wrong while you eat and drink," I said. Shamus ate the biscuits and drunk his tea and I explained the strange goings on with my computer and the fleeting shadow that went across my screen. I also told him about my writing problems and about the email mistakes and the writing errors when I tried to write my fairy-tales. Shamus had now finished his tea and the biscuits and asked me switch on my computer and the screen. Just to make sure I also switched on the printer.

Shamus took his shillelagh that is a form of cudgel used for defending oneself and just vanished into the screen. Then I saw the fleeting shadow it hushed along the screen with to my surprise, Shamus chasing it. I watched for a while and then left Shamus to the computer, the screen, and the printer, while I went upstairs to my bed. I knew that Shamus did not need my help; he was quite capable with his shillelagh to deal with the fleeting shadow. The following morning I awoke in my big double bed and looked lazily at the alarm clock, I had another minute for it to off with its mechanical noisy tinny ringing. Stretching my hand I hit the little knob on top of the alarm clock and got up. Washing, shaving and dressing took me a little longer this morning, I do not know why but I had something on my mind and did not know what it was. Going downstairs I went into my computer room and wondered for a minute why I had left the computer and the screen switched on. Then I noticed that the printer was also switched on. I remembered Shamus and it all came back to me. Shamus is still in the computer and had knowing Shamus many difficulties to face. I quickly brewed up a pot of tea, made a full English breakfast of sausages and eggs, bacon, fried bread, and wondered whether Shamus could smell the cooked breakfast while he was in the computer. Then it happened Shamus swinging his shillelagh stepped out of the screen and said he will bother you no more. My shillelagh and I gave him the fright of his life and the last I saw of him he was running quickly down the electricity wires into the main grid. Where he is now I do not know but he will bother you no more. Shamus and I sat down to a hearty breakfast and enjoyed our sweet tea. After eating our breakfast I told shamus that I would like to send off a few emails to see whether it really had been the fleeting shadow or was it my typing that was to blame. What do you know I still make the same mistakes, the hitting of two or sometimes three keys are due to my shaky old hands, it is a mixture of old age and Parkinson's disease, that make the mistakes, the fleeting shadow had nothing whatever to do with my problems. I am glad that the shadow has gone it was a very ghostly thing to have wandering over my computer screen. Bern, your storyteller.

A Garden Problem.

Another day to get through, I have no idea of what I am going to do today. Turning in my bed I snuggle deeper into my pillow and wait for the alarm clock to ring. I could get up but somehow it seems so good to just lay and wait for the noise of the clock. I must have dropped off to sleep again for the ringing of the clock startled me out of one of those dreams that one remembers so fondly. A dream that is pleasant and giving one a feeling of wanting the dream to go on and on. I reluctantly get out of my bed and make my way to the bathroom. Performing my daily wash routine I go down to the kitchen and make myself breakfast. What shall I do today I ask myself again. Finishing my breakfast I go to the front door and look for post. There are no letters. The daily newspaper has been delivered and I spend some time reading through what is going on in this world.

While I was reading my newspaper I became aware that I was not alone a group of fairies had come in to the room by magic. They made no noise and were I think waiting for me to finish reading my newspaper. Folding my newspaper in its creases I laid it down on the table and turned to the waiting fairies. They all started to speak at once, I did not understand and called out, "please, one at a time, I cannot understand what you are saying, if you all speak at once". Somewhat abashed the fairies stopped speaking and one of the older fairies told me that the fairies have planted a garden exactly the same as my back garden. Nothing seems to grow in their garden while in my garden all is coming on well. I will soon be able to cook fresh vegetables and eat fresh salads. I told the fairies that I would come and look at their garden to see what was wrong.

With a flock of fairies flying around my head I walked into the woods that are really Fairyland and we soon came to an exact replica of my own back garden. The beds had been laid out, plants and seeds sown but the growth was sadly lacking just a few green leaves here and there. I asked the fairies who had dug their garden? The answer did not surprise me they told me that they had asked the Leprechauns to dig the garden for them. The garden shed and my old wheelbarrow they had used magic to build them. I asked them whether they had used any manure while digging the garden; yes they had used the dry rotting leaves from the forest floor.

Have you shown this garden to anyone else, the wise old fairies for example? Have you shown it to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies? No they had not shown any one the garden they were too sad that nothing would grow. I looked carefully at the garden and could see no reason why nothing would grow. Then it struck me and I started to smile then burst out into a good hearty laugh. The fairies looked at me now a little afraid that they had done something terribly wrong. I smiled once again and then told them that they had put the garden in the wrong place. It was too dark in the woods all plants need light and the light comes from the sun. The leaves of the trees were blocking the light from the plants. All plants need light to grow. Looking very abashed the fairies hung their heads and were ashamed that they had forgotten one of Mother Natures laws. For anything to grow it must have light and light comes from the sun. Some of the younger fairies started to cry and I felt sorry for them all and proposed that we build anew garden where it was light and no trees could shut out the sunlight. Soon we had our new garden it was exactly the same as my back garden and in a few weeks there were plants and vegetables growing with lots of flowers. Indeed it looked just like my own back garden and we all went away happy. The fairies now know that all plants need light, just digging and planting does not work.

A Goose.

On my walks through the woods I keep my eyes open for the wild life that abounds in this part of the world. On this particular day I had been watching a goose swimming in the river. Something was wrong with the goose I noticed that it could not fly. The goose raised itself from the water and like geese do, it tried to run on the water at the same time opening its wings and desperately trying to take off. This happened time and time again. I wondered whether I should try and catch the goose and take it to a vet, a doctor that looks after animals and birds. I decided to give the bird another day or two before I did anything about catching it.

The following day I was on my way to the river when I saw four young fairy boys. The boys each had a long white feather and I decided to see what they were going to do with the feathers. As you know all fairies have wings and can fly. The boys did not need to make wings, suddenly the boys disappeared, and I walked on to the river. The goose was still swimming in the river and occasionally bent its long neck under the water coming up with its mouth full of waterweeds. I knew that she was getting enough to eat but again she attempted to fly with no success. I saw the fairy boys again they had each a piece of bread and going to the rivers edge, they called the goose. Now I was watching closely, as the goose came to the riverbank to eat the pieces of bread. The fairy boys waved their magic wands at the goose and she pulled out one of her long flying feathers and handed it to the boys. The boys ran off again with another white flying feather from the goose.

This time I did not bother to follow the boys I sent a robin with a message to Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the Fairies. A few minutes later Her Majesty came to me in her usual magic way. A flash of blue light and a wisp of smoke, smiling she asked me why I had called her. I told Her Majesty about the fairy boys and the feathers they were getting from the goose. Taking the magic mirror from her pocket Her Majesty looked in the mirror for a few minutes and then gave the mirror to me. First I saw a picture of one of the fairy boys picking up what looked like a piece of an old comic. There were a few pictures to be seen of Icarus the man from ancient Greece who built himself some wings of feathers and wax to escape with his father Daedalus from a prison called the labyrinth. (Look the story up in Google or ask your teacher) Icarus built the wings and with his father on his back flew off from the prison. Icarus became so excited that with his being able to fly that he flew too close to the sun and the wax in his wings melted and he with his father fell into the sea. The fairy boys wanted to make wings like Icarus they were not going to use wax, but had asked the spiders in the woods to give them some of the sticky substance that the spiders use when making their cobwebs. The spiders gave the boys enough of the sticky stuff to make the wings. When the sticky stuff or glue hardened it became solid and very light. Just right for building the wings. It was easy to get feathers from the goose for a piece of bread the goose willingly gave one of her feathers. Now of course the goose cannot fly and will have to wait until her wing feathers grow again. Her Majesty is very angry. Telling the fairy boys that they would not be able to fly for three months, Her Majesty waved her Magic wand and the goose appeared in front of Her Majesty. "Why are you such a silly creature?" " You can find enough to eat without giving your feathers to some fairy boys. There is enough for you to eat all around you; you only have to look, you as a goose will never have to go hungry. You need your wings for flying, What if a fox had come along? You would not have been able to fly away." Waving her wand once again Her Majesty told the goose to open its wings. The wings were now full with new feathers waddling off to the water the goose for the first time ran on the water opening her wings she took off and flew away. I saw her again the following year she had a gander with her and seven young geese were following them. As for the fairy boys they have other things to do now and do not pick up comics that have been left in the woods. The three months of no flying had been a very strict punishment indeed for fairies fly everywhere they can, it is easier than using their legs and feet.

A Pig Tale.

Many years ago in Fairyland a wild pig with its young was passing through. One of the small pigs ran off looking for adventure. The mother pig with the rest of the piglets wandered on her way with the piglets running after her. That is the last that was seen or heard of the mother pig and her piglets. The little pig that had run off from its mother walked around in large circles getting nowhere. The pig was very hungry it was hours since it had drunk any milk from its mother. Now the little pig was frightened as he realised that he was all alone in the woods. He squealed and grunted his fear and hunger. It was then that a small group of fairies found him. The fairies were delighted to have a little pig all to themselves. The fairies fed it on fairy cakes and water that they collected from the stream that runs through fairyland.

All went well with the pig and he grew into a fine young boar. (Male Pig), Time went by and the pig felt quite well in fairyland. It got to know all of the places where the best mushrooms grew and it eats of the many berries in the woods. One day a young Leprechaun saw the pig wandering around fairyland. This he thought was fine, a pig that he could sell and get some gold for his collection. All Leprechauns collect gold it is for the times when they no longer can work. Taking a piece of cord from his rucksack he placed it around the neck of the pig and wandered off to where the humans live. Coming to a farm he offered the pig to a farmer for two pieces of gold. The farmer was delighted to get such a bargain as this young pig and after paying the Leprechaun he placed the pig in a sty with some other pigs.

The young pig was now very unhappy it had run the woods with all its freedom now he was reliant on the farmer to feed him. He too had to push and fight for a place by the trough where twice a day the farmer placed the pig food. The young pig now grew fat the food was plentiful and it had a good appetite, Back in the woods the fairies were unhappy that their pig was gone. All had taken pleasure in feeding it and riding on its back. The fairies spent much time looking for the pig but as time went by and the pig was no more to be seen, they, like all fairies interested themselves in other things. On the farm the pig was now very heavy and had no trouble to get to the food trough and eat his fill the other pigs were afraid of it and left it well alone.

One day the pig rubbed against the pig sty door and through its large weight the door burst open and the pig ran off back to its beloved woods. He had never forgotten the freedom of his young life. What's more all of the other pigs now that the sty door was open, too ran off. They did not wander far and the farmer was easily able to capture them all and return them to the stall. The large fat pig that was the farmer's pride had gone for good the farmer never saw it again. Many a tale did the farmer tell among his friends of how the largest pig that he had ever possessed had run away. He told all that would listen that an evil witch had spirited his pig away. Soon no one listened to him, only his wife knew of the farmer's anger at loosing so large a pig. It would have given much bacon and he would easily have sold it for much more than the two pieces of gold that he had paid for it.

The fairies were surprised to see such a fat pig in Fairyland now, they did not feed it as they were afraid that if it ate any more it would explode. The pig now that the fairies did not feed it had to look harder for all of the good things to eat. He found plenty of foods in the summer but in the winter things were very hard indeed and he wished that he were back on the farm. One day one of the fairies told the Fairy Queen of the pig that now roamed Fairyland. Her Majesty looked in her magic mirror and saw the huge fat pig it was enormous. Waving her wand Her Majesty turned the pig back into the size it was when it had run off from its mother. The fairies now had another little pig that they could play with and ride on its back. Around its neck Her Majesty placed a gold circle that kept it from wandering off and no one not even the Leprechauns would interfere with Her Majesties golden charm around its neck. The pig wandered around fairyland for over two hundred years. When it finally died the fairies gave it a wonderful burial ceremony. No one knows where it is buried, if anyone finds the remains of the pig they will find the wonderful gold charm that's around its neck.

A Shop.

Once or twice a week I go into town to get my shopping, I do not need much, it is mainly for the fresh milk that I use for my endless cups of hot sweet tea that keep me going through the long days. Nothing unusual in that you might think, everyone has to go shopping and buying milk is something that most people do. It is not the shopping that I want to tell you about but the shop in the high street. The shop is a second hand shop but to be kind I will call it an antique shop. All kinds of articles are for sale in its windows, this too is nothing to get excited about there are many such shops all around Great Britain, what makes this shop so special?

Every time I walk past the shop or stop to look at the articles for sale a feeling of deep sadness comes over me and I feel as if I should do something about it. One day the owner of the shop had changed the layout of the goods for sale. Stopping to look at the new arrangement I noticed that at the back of the window an old red dragon about fifty inches high was for sale. The feeling of sadness came over me again this time much stronger, then I distinctly heard a voice crying for help. I looked hard at all that was in the shop window. Just old clothes and a few cups and saucers. A tea pot a collection of various knick knacks and the dragon.

I decided to go into the shop and see whether the call for help really came from the dragon. As I entered the shop a man with a face that I did not trust asked me how he could be of service. I asked to look at the dragon. Reaching behind the curtain he handed me the dragon. The dragon is warm in my hands and I asked what it would cost. "Thirty pounds." "Thirty," I said in a very hard voice, "The dragon is badly worn the paint is coming off it and the brass is beginning to show through the red paint. Twenty pounds is my offer, take it or leave it." I turned to leave the shop. "Twenty pounds and it is yours," the man said. He wrapped the dragon in an old newspaper and put it in a plastic carrier sack. I wished him a good day and left the shop.

Getting the rest of my shopping I walked home and placed the plastic sack on the kitchen table. I next put away my shopping and turned my attention to the dragon. Ripping off the old newspaper I found the dragon to be warm to the touch and decided to wash the dirt from its surface so that I might better see the details of its making. The warm water much to my surprise washed off the red paint and the dragon was perfect with its scaly skin and its long pointed tail its wings. Drying the dragon with a towel I placed it on the mantelpiece and made myself a cup of sweet tea. As I slowly sipped my tea I glanced at the dragon. A tear was slowly running down its cheek. Yes! The dragon is crying for some reason or other I was not surprised. I remembered the feeling of sadness every time I passed the shop where I bought the dragon. Then the call for help, I should have known. Putting on my coat and outdoor boots I carefully took the dragon into Fairyland. To my surprise I was met by Her Majesty Queen Feeana, she had been waiting for me. We exchanged greetings and I showed Her Majesty the dragon. "Oh! The poor thing," said Her Majesty. "He has been through a very rough time." Waving her magic wand the dragon grew and grew before my eyes. He was huge and Her Majesty told me that he was the last of his kind on earth.

The Welsh Peoples under Morgan, a famous Welsh warrior asked Merlin to place the dragon under a spell so that it might always remain in South Wales. Merlin owed Morgan a favour and turned the dragon into a brass statue. The keeper of the dragon did not like the colour of the dragon and painted it red. The dragon had been in an old country house for some hundreds of years before the house had to be sold and the dragon had been taken and bought by a shopkeeper in England. The dragon is now with its own kind on a planet way out in space. One day perhaps we will meet this other race and then we will have much explaining to do as to why we killed so many dragons.

Active Messenger.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana has a messenger that travels all around the world with important messages. There is not a country that he has not visited. Travelling at very high speeds by magic means, he often arrives at his destination as he leaves the Queen with his message. Only the person that is to receive the message ever sees him. No one knows what he looks like, as he travels in disguises so well thought out that he is to every one he visits different. To one he is a bird, to another a donkey, and yet to another a Leprechaun. The Messenger as he is officially known has fallen ill and there is no one to take his place. No one wanted the job as it was considered rather tiring to travel always by magic and to be another being. A Royal notice was proclaimed saying that a new messenger would be handsomely paid for what after all is very light work. No one offered to accept the job and then it was that I received a Royal Visit.

I was weeding in my back garden when a bright blue flash of light and a whiff of smoke distracted my attention. Her Majesty stood before me she was indeed very beautiful with a silk dress covered in embroidered flowers, such tiny stitches and each flower looking as if it had been freshly plucked from a magical garden. "Mr.Shaw," I heard her Majesty say. "Will you be my Messenger until my own messenger recovers from his mysterious illness?" I could not turn down such a request from so lovely a person that I agreed. "You will have at your disposal all of the magic you may need and the ability to change into whatever being you wish." I smiled and Her Majesty pointed her magic wand at me, the blue sparks that surrounded me completely and I felt the change in my body.

I could change myself into any being that I wanted to, I could also read and write the Fairy Language. As for travelling just a thought and I was on my way. If I thought about Africa in a split second I would be in Africa or China or anywhere in the world. I had for the first time in my long life the means to be anywhere at anytime in the world. This is indeed a very high honour for a man like me. I wished myself indoors where I washed and shaved and had a meal. As I finished the washing up whoosh a small packet appeared in my hands. Written in the old language the name of a fairy that I had once met while I was in America. I changed myself into a cowboy wearing a Stetson hat and cowboy boots and wished myself in America. The light giddy sensation that such travelling brings with it I soon shook off and landed in a small place in Wyoming where the fairy was waiting for me. I greeted and handed her the small parcel. She disappeared and in a few moments she was back with another small packet that she gave me. Then whoosh and I was back in fairyland handing the packet to Her Majesty. This went on for ten days then I received no more packets or letters and thought that I was now free to go about my own business.

I still had the powers given to me by Her Majesty and I could change into anything I wanted to be. I had to go to a shop in London and while I was talking to the man behind the counter a packet appeared in my hand and looking at it I saw very urgent. The poor man must have thought that he was having hallucinations one minute we had been talking and the next I was gone. This visit was to Mother Nature. Mother Nature welcomed me as a long lost friend and I was seated at a table drinking one of her own home made drinks. It was wonderful as I drunk a new strength went right through my body. Then Mother Nature wrote a few words on a piece of paper and placed it in my hand. "Off you go." She said, "You are one of the most important messengers in the world." A second later I was back in the company of Her Majesty the Queen. "My messenger is now fully recovered and wants to be my messenger again." "Do you mind?" "No Your Majesty it was very interesting and I met some very nice people but I do have my garden and my roses to attend to." A scattering of blue sparks from Her Majesty's magic wand and I was once again plain Mr. Shaw. I offered to be a messenger any time that Her Majesties messenger was off sick or wanted to have a holiday. Her Majesty smiled and thanked me for my offer. "So do not be surprised if when I am talking to you I vanish in a trail of blue sparks. I have offered you know and I could never refuse a wish from Her Majesty.

Alone.

It has been a long lonely week. No one has been to see me it is as if the Fairies have forgotten me. I decided to go for a walk in the woods to see if anyone that I know is about. I walked slowly to the woods but could see no one it is all very mysterious. Fairies usually come to greet me when I go in the woods but I was alone. I looked for Fairy rings not a toadstool was to be seen not a sign that Fairies had gathered here to dance and sing. I wondered what had happened to make them leave this their most treasured part of Dartford Heath. It was a complete mystery. No Fairies, no Elves, no Pixies not even a wandering Leprechaun to greet me as I strolled through the woods. I decided to go back home and wait to see whether a message would come.

Three days later a robin flew in through my open window in its beak it held a small piece of parchment. I took the parchment and gave the robin some bead crumbs that I had dipped in the bacon fat from my breakfast. The bird ate the crumbs and flew off. I read the message. (Your house is being watched by a strange man, please be careful) This message was from Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. I was now very curious and at the same time relieved the Fairies were well and that is all that matters. I got up in the middle of the night and went to a place on the Heath where I had a good view of all that approached my house. Sure enough at seven o'clock a man dressed in black clothing carrying some high-powered binoculars took up a position where he could overlook my house.

I left my hiding place and walked quietly to where the man was standing half hidden behind a tree. I spoke to him saying that it is a good time to spot the warblers that abound on Dartford Heath. I wanted him to think that I was a bird watcher and that he was too was just watching birds, As he heard my voice he became very nervous, Taking my camera from my pocket I photographed the man and after another pleasantry or two I left him and made my way back to my house approaching it from the back. I now had a photograph of the man and could make a few enquiries in town. I showed the photo in the shops where I do my shopping but no one knew the man he was a complete stranger in the town. Once again, I called in a friendly robin and asked him to show the photo to Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

Her Majesty appeared in my sitting room in her usual way a small puff of smoke and a light blue flash. In her hand, Her Majesty held the photo that I had sent with the robin. " You were right in sending this photo to me, the man is a well known Sorcerer and is up to no good," she said. " He has tried to harm the Fairies before a long time ago and is going to use you to get at us in some way or another," I will be ready for him," I told Her Majesty. "I have brought with me a small bag of peas they are so hard that even soaking them in water will not soften them." "I want you to try to get him to eat one or more of the peas." As soon as he swallows one of the peas it will swell in his belly and he will be unable to do any of his magic here in Fairyland.

The next day putting the peas in my pocket, I strolled into the woods with my binoculars and looked for the Sorcerer. I soon found him he was watching my house. My cheery Good Morning made him jump. "I see that you are still watching the birds." I said. "Yes he replied I am still watching." "I use a little trick myself I throw some peas on the ground the birds always fall for this trick and I can watch them at my ease." I said Saying this I took the bag of dried peas from my pocket and threw a few onto the ground. "Would you like some?" I innocently asked. "Yes please." Came the answer. I gave him a handful of peas and watched as he scattered some on the ground. I put one of the peas in my mouth and pretended to eat it. The Sorcerer absentmindedly put a pea in his mouth and swallowed it. His belly grew and grew. I felt sorry for him but I trusted Her Majesty who at that moment appeared on the scene." "You are up to your old tricks again Mordekew" she said. Trying to harm the Fairies by using a human," This must end at once. The pea will only go back to its normal size when you have helped a fairy that needs help." "Until then you will wander the world as you are with your belly aching and bloated out of all size." It was then that I had this idea." "Your Majesty the Sorcerer was so interested in my house, would it not be a good idea for him to paint it from top to bottom?" " So be it," said Her Majesty.

I took the Sorcerer Mordekew home, got out my longest ladder, and placed it up to the roof. "Climb the ladder and paint," I said. I watched him with his bloated belly climbing the ladder and left him to it. I made myself some lunch and offered the Sorcerer some of it but he just groaned. It took him three whole weeks to repaint my house. Doors, windows and it looked very smart when he had finished. As he painted the last piece of the front door his belly started to get smaller and smaller until he was of a normal size. I gave him some fresh clothes his own were in a terrible state with paint all over them. Then I insisted that he ate a meal before he went on his way. What I did not know was that Her Majesty had taken all his magical powers away and he was n longer a Sorcerer. As soon as he left my house, the Fairies came back and visited me as they had done in the past. I never saw the Sorcerer again and he has not been heard of since.

Angry Bull's Inn.

One step after another, my feet aching from stepping into and out of the thick mud, I had not realised that the way over the moor would be like this. I had been warned that the path was not easy but no one had prepared me for this torturous walk. If my boots had not been tightly tied with leather laces, I would surely have lost my boots to the mud. The temptation to walk barefooted with the boots tied around my neck, I resisted. There could have been sharp stones hidden in the muddy underfoot. The time seemed to go very slowly it was as if for every step forward, I take two back, that is the impression I am under.

Is it my imagination the path is not so muddy and it is getting easier to walk. I realised that I was now on an incline that was taking me to a slightly raised mound. At the top of the mound I had a good view over the countryside. The way in front of me is easier I see that the path that I had been following was now raised and there was no more mud, to tramp through. I drank some cold tea from my thermos flask and carried on walking. I can hear you saying, "What is he walking over the moors for when it is so muddy underfoot?" I can give you no real answer I had this urge to go off on my own and I am miles from home and it is now six, o'clock in the evening it gets dark at this time of the year at seven. I had no idea where I was going to spend the night.

The darkness had now set in and I thought to myself that I would have to spend a night out in the fresh air. It was getting quite cold and the first star of the evening was proudly shining in the night sky. It was then I saw the light, faintly at first with the glow now a little brighter. Then I saw the public house, a lighted sign showing a bull being baited by dogs. The public house was called the Angry Bull's Inn. Pushing the door open I entered a room with a very low ceiling, a fire burned brightly in an open fireplace and a bar ran one length of the wall. A barrel of beer was mounted on a trestle and the Publican was drawing a pint of beer from the barrel. The beer he placed in front of me, I was the only customer and the man wanted to speak. I thought perhaps that he did not see many people so far out in the country.

I slowly drank my beer and asked the innkeeper whether he had a room for me for the night, there were no rooms at the inn but the man told me I was welcome to sleep before the fire on a camp bed that he kept for such occasions. For my evening meal the innkeeper offered me some bread and cheese and another pint of beer, I do not drink as a rule but being so tired and the thought of sleeping by the fire even if only on a camp bed was comforting. At half past eight the innkeeper said that he was going to bed no one else would come that night. He gave me the camp bed with a pillow and a blanket and wished me goodnight. I was now on my own in the public house and decided to go to bed. Turning out the light I lay on the bed and dropped off into a fitful sleep by the light of the flickering fire.

I awoke to the sounds of voices, for one moment I did not know where I was then I saw them, there were three Trolls they were happily drinking beer from the innkeepers barrel. This was too good to be true and I slowly placed my hand in my rucksack and took out my camera. I shot off three or four pictures of the Trolls who were now blinded by the bright light from the flash of my camera. I use a digital camera, which shows one the photo's, as one takes them. The Trolls were very nervous they often came to have a drink of the innkeeper's beer; I had rudely interrupted there little drinking spree.

One of them shouted at me to stop flashing the lights at them. Another offered me a pint of the beer the other threatened me with some nasty threats, I laughed at them and now they were all angry. I could not help myself I made up this little rhyme on the spur of the moment "Three Trolls stealing beer. Now this is very queer. Will they get a thick head? Or throw me out of my bed. I could not help myself three Trolls having the nerve to threaten me a friend of Her Majesty Queen Feeana. I always carry some magic powder with me when I go on my travels. I took a handful of magic powder and threw it over the three Trolls. They were now caught in a magic spell and could not move. I went to each of them and took some money from their pockets. This money I placed in the Innkeepers till. The three Trolls I sent back home to Scandinavia. And went back to sleep.

In the morning the innkeeper who gave me a cup of hot coffee awakened me. I told him about the Trolls and the beer they had drunk I then showed him the photos that I had taken. He was very surprised, even more so when I told him to look in his till. There were six pieces of gold two from each Troll. The innkeeper was delighted and told me that he would now change the name of his public house to the Three Trolls. One of my photo's he used to have the new inn sign painted. Now in the country somewhere in Great Britain is a public house called the Three Trolls? If you ask the Landlord he will surely show you the photos that I took of the Three Trolls drinking his beer.

Armchair.

One Saturday morning I went for a trip to Woolwich. I occasionally look in second hand shops to see if there is the odd bargain to be had. Walking along looking in the shop windows, I saw this old armchair. The armchair looked very comfortable and I thought that it would go nicely with the other furniture in my living room. Going into the shop I sat in the chair and dropped off into a light sleep. The shopkeeper awoke me and I asked him what the chair would cost. After a little bargaining I bought the chair for ten English pounds. I paid another ten shillings for the man to deliver the chair. I went home happy that I had got the chair so cheap.

On the following Monday afternoon the chair was delivered. It now stands in my living room and it is the most comfortable chair that I have ever owned. One day a few months later I had a visitor from the local council. The man told me that the council wanted to re-tar the road and If I had any objections. This was so unusual that I invited the man in to my living room and gave him the armchair to sit in. It was then that I realised what a treasure the chair was. Hardly had the man sat in the chair when he started telling me the story of his life. Unknown to me the chair was a so-called truth chair. Whoever sat in it was compelled to tell the truth.

The man was not from the council he was a wizard that wanted to get the truth from me about fairies and all that goes on in fairyland. The man had read my stories on the Internet and thought that I was an easy target to get information from. I waited until the man had finished telling me his story and looked at the clock it was twelve minutes past midnight. I pulled him from out of the chair and told him that I now knew all about the councils wanting to repair the road. I made us a cup of Horlicks and invited him to stay the night in my spare room.

In the morning I made us breakfast and then sent him on his way. From me he had received no information and I think he wondered what he had been doing for so long in my armchair. The armchair was to prove to be a real blessing; whenever someone sat in the chair I would hear all of his or her life's history. It has saved me from all sorts of tricksters that occasionally knock on the door wanting to sell things or get me involved in some trick game that was mostly illegal. My chair also helped me when someone was in trouble I would know all about the troubles and help in a most discreet way.

One day Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies came to see me and before I could warn her she sat on the armchair. She too told me about her life but I am pleased to say she spoke in the old language so I did not understand what she was saying. I awoke Her Majesty with a cup of hot Horlicks and told her all about my chair. Her Majesty was quite surprised that it had not warned her when she first sat in the chair. Her Majesty then told me that usually a truth chair would warn her as she went to sit down but mine did not. We were both very curious as to why it did not warn Her Majesty.

Her Majesty used her Magic Mirror to see what kind of history it had and the reason why it had not warned her that it was a truth chair. Looking in the mirror I first saw that an oak tree had been chopped down to make the wood for the chair. Then a cow had been killed for its leather. Then strangely enough four Leprechauns went to work on the chair. They were skilful indeed and soon a chair took shape. They did not stuff the chair with straw or any other material. Each Leprechaun went off on his own and came back a week later with a bundle under their arms. Each had collected a large quantity of truth herbs. When the herbs were placed together like in the stuffing of a chair they gave off a certain gas that went into the nose of the person sitting on the chair. This caused them to tell the truth.

The reason the Leprechauns had made the chair was the fact that they were tired of being cheated out of their wages or of being taken advantage of when helping people who claimed they were poor and in reality had large sums of money well hidden. This had happened so often that the chair was their answer to stop people taking advantage of them. Once in the chair one told the truth from birth on nothing was left out.

A magic spell had been placed on the chair its rightful owner would just have a refreshing sleep when sitting in the chair. Strangers are compelled to tell the truth. Then Her Majesty Queen Feeana told me of three other chairs that were known as truth chairs. It seems that after the first chair was so successful the four Leprechauns decided to build a chair for each of them. The chairs are ever so old but the wood and the leather and the herbs were treated by magic spells so that they would last practically forever.

If you ever sit in one of theses chairs do not try to tell a lie as it would send a sharp pain to your head and after a few of these pains you will like every person that has ever sat on such a chair tell the truth all about yourself. Remember I have warned you with my little story. It does not pay to tell lies.

Artist Paul.

Paul is what one would call a travelling Artist. That is he goes from town to town and land-to-land painting exquisite pictures on buildings. While wandering through Europe Paul came to the city of Graz situated in the southern part of Austria. Here Paul was asked to paint a picture on the walls of a coffee conditorei . Paul painted his pictures and went on his way. Some seven years later Paul was asked if he would paint a wall that had been built to help stop the noise of the traffic that went past the conditerei. This time it was different Paul was free to paint a picture to his own liking. Paul first painted background paint on to the wall. His first idea was to paint the ugly concrete from which the wall was made into a stone wall, painting stones like one sees in a real stone built wall. He started to paint and his stones were very real looking. Paul painted away and soon the first portion of the wall was finished.

The next day Paul looked at his finished part of the wall painting and decided that a stonewall was nice to look at but flowers were much more delighting to the eye. Paul painted the first flowers of the spring, snowdrops in bunches between the new growing grass that was taking on its fresh green colour. The snowdrops looked very real and were very pleasing to the eye. Then he painted crocuses and daffodils, daisies and primroses then tulips and hyacinths. Each flower looked more real and the ugly concrete wall slowly disappeared and flowers that were so real to look at that even the bees and the butterflies and other flying insects stopped to collect the pollen that they expected to find. Then Paul painted a rose bush, the roses were of different colours ranging from a delicate pink through to dark red with here and there a yellow rose peeping shyly through the leaves that were so real to look at. Soon the wall was the talk of the City and people came from near and far to see the most beautiful flowers that Paul magically made with his paints and brushes. Soon the flowers changed Paul painted autumn flowers with asters and other flowers. Paul finished his painting by painting a snowman that looked as if it had just been built by the few children that he added to finish the picture off.

The bees and other insects told the fairies about the strange flowers that had no pollen. The fairies flew to the delicatessen to see for themselves these strange flowers that gave the bees and other flying insects no pollen. I too was invited to see the strange flowers that looked so real but gave off no scent. Everyone knows that most flowers have a delicate perfume all of their own. The thorns on the rose bush looked so real but no one could be hurt if he or she touched them. The fairies asked me if I would like the flowers to be real whenever I went to the delicatessen. I thought to myself what a wonderful idea, I could have sweet smelling flowers all of the year round. The fairies warned me that I would be the only one that could smell the flowers and that I would look silly if I smelled the flowers whenever some one was looking.

Many people came to the conditerei for coffee and cakes also for the ice cream that was made and sold on the premises. I myself have visited the conditerei for a great number of years and the difference now is that I can see and smell the whole years flowers whenever I want it is wonderful. Paul comes back every now and then to look at the flowers and retouch any that might have faded in the sunshine. Paul always carries his paints and brushes wherever he goes. Paul has now gone back home to the United States of America, I often wonder if he realises how many people he has made happy by painting his lovely flowers on the concrete wall. Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the Fairies has told the fairy population that they were not to copy Paul's paintings by painting flowers on the walls of the houses of the humans. Paul still does not know how involved the fairies are by allowing certain people to smell the flowers whenever they go to the delicatessen. I am sure though that Paul would be delighted to know that his flowers give off lovely scents for some chosen people to smell. If you are lucky perhaps one day Paul will come your way perhaps to your town and paint another wall or building that will give you too much pleasure.

Baby Rabbits.

On one of my walks through the woods or should I say Fairyland, I saw something that was rather strange. The fairies have with the help of magic made two-dozen wheelbarrows that all look the same as my old wheelbarrow in my garden. The wheelbarrows are exactly the same with the two comfortable cushions that I use sometimes, to have a rest in between weeding or digging my garden. The fairies have each a small baby bunny rabbit in the wheelbarrows and are running around having great fun. I hear their cries of delight as the wheelbarrows sometimes hit each other causing a crash and a pile up of baby bunnies and cushions with wheelbarrows on the ground looking rather the worse for wear.

I called to the fairies, told them to stop their game, as baby bunny rabbits are not toys, and could be hurt badly in such a game as the fairies were playing. Reluctantly the fairies took the small bunnies and placed them on the ground. No sooner were the babies on the ground the mothers came hopping and complained to me about the fairies treatment of the babies.

We have so much to teach our children they bitterly complained to me. As you know there is the wicked fox that is always looking for something to eat, then the birds such as the owls or the buzzards even the eagle attacks the rabbits and we have to teach our children to be on the look out for such creatures. Also we have to show them which grass is good to eat what leaves they can safely eat, and many other things that baby rabbits have to know to live safely in this world.

The fairies have been taking our baby bunnies for the last two weeks and playing these silly games with them. We are fed up with the fairies that should know better and we wanted to ask the Fairy Queen to stop them but Her Majesty is away on important business and we have not been able to get in touch with her.

I agreed with the mother rabbits and decided that the fairies should be made to make amends for their silly behaviour. I called the fairies to a meeting and told them what I thought about fairies that used baby animals as playthings. I would not report it to Her Majesty Queen Feeana but each of the fairies would take a baby bunny under their care and help the mother rabbits to look after them for a fortnight. The mother rabbits thought that it was a good idea as the fairies had been taught so many things in the fairy school. For the next two weeks the fairies looked after the mother rabbits with their babies.

The fairies were always the first to notice danger whether it was from the skies or from the ground and always warned the mother rabbits with their babies when danger was around. The fairies also knew where the best grasses grew and where the delicious berries were to be had and the young baby rabbits were fed so well in the next two weeks that they all grew up to be strong little rabbits. The fairies were rather sad when the two weeks were over and they said goodbye to the mother rabbits and to the little baby rabbits. The fairies never used baby animals again for their playthings. Now all is well in fairyland and I go walking every day, enjoying all the things I see in the woods especially the newborn animals.

Blackberries.

Sun is shining down and a warm wind is blowing through the woods at Dartford Heath. Walking through the woods, as I do nearly every day I appreciated such warm weather. The blackberries are ripening, every day they grow bigger and from red to black the ripening stage will be in a few days. I collect the blackberries to make jam for the winter months also for the tasty pies and tarts that I enjoy so much. I was not surprised when I saw a couple of boys picking the fruit although the berries are not quite ripe. I smiled outright when one of the lads offered to sell me a jar of half ripe blackberries. Later I saw the two boys leaving the woods I think that they had eaten too many blackberries that were half ripe and wondered whether they would suffer with a tummy ache.

A few days later I walking through the woods I saw an elderly woman picking the now ripe berries. She had obviously been picking the berries for a couple of hours as she had two baskets full of the ripe fruit. Something about the woman seemed out of place and I decided to keep an eye on her. Then I saw the spiders, she had a dozen or more spiders on silken leashes. These spiders were picking the blackberries for her. Spiders sometimes spin their webs among the blackberry bushes but I have never seen a spider that picked blackberries. Keeping my distance from the woman I watched her for the rest of the day. It is now fairly dark in the woods and the woman had five baskets full of berries. Then taking from one of her large deep pockets some yellow powder she threw the powder over the spiders they immediately turned into fairies. The fairies looked as if they were trying to puzzle out what has been happening to them. I called to the fairies; the woman was now out of site. "What have you been doing all day," "We have been playing all day long we have no work to do at the moment and the wise old fairies told us to go off to play." I then asked them if they had seen an elderly woman while they were playing. "Oh yes we saw her she was picking blackberries," came the answer from the fairies. "Are you working on the morrow," I then asked. "No tomorrow we may play again," came the answer. I wished them a good night and went off back to my home.

The following day I was up very early and went into the woods, I know where the fairies love to play the most and it was there that I waited. Soon the excited cries of the fairies reached my ears and I kept a good look out while hiding up in a convenient tree. The elderly woman came along in one hand she held the baskets. When she saw the fairies she crept from bush to bush and from tree to tree until she was in throwing reach of the fairies. From one of her pockets she took some brown powder. This was my chance before she could throw the powder over the fairies; I up in the tree threw my own magic powder on to the woman. The woman dropped her baskets and shrank slowly until she turned into a large black crow. I told the fairies what had happened to them on the yesterday and they were very surprised that the woman could have thrown magic dust over them and turned them into spiders that picked all of the woman's blackberries for her. The fairies played most of the rest of the day and I watched over them making sure that nothing could happen to them.

I reported the incident to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, telling her of the elderly woman and the steps I had taken to protect the fairies. Her Majesty thanked me and I made my way home. On my arrival in my Kitchen were five baskets of blackberries waiting for me. I spent the rest of the evening and the following day making jam and baking some blackberry tarts. I took a basket of the tarts with me to Fairyland for the fairies who were delighted at my little treat for them.

Blackberry Jam.

Under my feet the grass felt damp. A covering of dew lay over the floor of the forest. I was out early, as I wanted to get the best of the blackberries before anyone else had the same idea. I go into the forest every year to pick blackberries to take home for jam making. I like jam with my morning toast and here in the woods I knew where the ripest and biggest berries were to be found. I carried an old-fashioned wicker basket on my arm and slowly wandered from blackberry bush to blackberry bush.

The berries were really big and ripe and I soon filled my basket with the luscious fruit. On my way home I took a different route and came to a part of the woods that I had not been to before. Here a slight mist was rising from the floor of the woods and it gave the trees an eerie look, it was as if the trees were rising from out of the mists and were not anchored by their roots, as I knew they were. The mists were I must admit a little uncanny and I thought to myself I would be pleased when I came to a part of the woods that I know.

It was then that I saw the deer not an ordinary brown deer this one was perfectly white. Ah! I thought to myself this must be one of the albino deer that one sometimes hears about. Walking quietly so as not to disturb the deer I saw that she was not alone. Sitting on the ground opposite her was a small man dressed in green. A Leprechaun was sewing what looked like a leather covering. I was now very curious and walked quite openly up to where the pair were. On seeing me the deer gave a start and I thought that she would run off but the Leprechaun said something to the deer and it relaxed and looked at me rather curiously as I approached. The Leprechaun spoke. " Hello you must be Bern the friend of Shamus, my brother Shamus." I said that I was indeed a friend of Shamus and asked him what he was doing.

" I am making a skin for this unfortunate deer. The leather I am using is magic leather from Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies." "This deer has been hunted so many times that I felt that something had to be done to protect her from the eyes of the Huntsmen. And with this magic leather she will look like any other deer."

I watched the friend of Shamus placing one neat stitch after the other in the magic leather. Soon he was finished and placed the leather around the white deer. Being magical the leather pulled itself tight around the head body and legs of the deer. Now she really did look like a normal deer that one sees in the woods every day.

The friend of Shamus gave the deer a pat on its shoulders and the deer bowed its head and ran off into the woods. All I could see as she ran off was the white of her tail that had not been coloured and if one looks carefully one can still see the white of her tail showing where the brown leather did not quite cover her.

I was asked to tell the children this story by Her Majesty to explain why the deer have tails of white. The tale is also for the huntsmen, please do not try to capture an albino deer and put it in a zoo. It too loves the freedom of the woods and fields so let it live in peace the deer and all of the other wild animals.

Bogies.

The smell was getting more and more intense. Apart from the bad smell, ones nose was irritated and started to run as if one had a bad cold. I Looked everywhere in the house but neither upstairs nor downstairs was any thing to be found that might be the cause of the smell. What is more it seemed to be getting worse by the hour. I have opened all of the doors and windows but the smell persists. I went for a long walk to clear my head. The clean fresh air was wonderful and cleared my nose. Here outdoors the air was fresh with the smells of flowers.

This I thought to myself is silly there must be something causing my house to smell so badly. I slowly made my way home and as I entered the back door there was no smell at all to be smelt just the ordinary smell of polish and soaps that I use to clean the house. This is indeed a mystery. I went once again all over the house looking and smelling for something bad. There was nothing behind the cupboards, nothing under the stairs, in fact nothing out of the ordinary in the whole house.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and I went back to my normal routine. I made my dinner looking carefully in the larder and the refrigerator to see if something or another had gone bad. There was nothing in the house to cause a bad smell. I even went to my toilets and made sure they were extra clean by disinfecting them. I usually disinfect the toilets twice a week but could find nothing out of the ordinary.

The day went round as it always does, I made and eat my tea and for supper I had a cup of cocoa and after washing the dishes I went up to my bed. The next morning I awoke to an even worse smell. I got out of my bed and threw the windows open wide. All of the upstairs windows and doors I opened, then I went down stairs and opened all the downstairs windows and doors. I then pulled on my jacket and went down into town to have some breakfast at a small cafe. I could not stay and eat in the smell in my own house.

I went back home after eating a meal in another restaurant, I was not very hungry but it was now midday and I had to eat something. When I arrived back home, all was well there was nothing to be smelt except for the polish and soaps and disinfectant that I use. I decided to go to Her Majesty Queen Feeana and get her advice. My house as I have told you in one of my previous stories is protected by magic against attack from Wizards and Witches. It was time I thought to see what Her Majesty could do in the way of help; I could not get up everyday and have to escape the smells not in my own house.

Going into the woods I asked an Owl to take a message to Her Majesty for me. He was to say it was urgent. I did not want to wake up to another smelly house it was terrible. Her Majesty came in her usual way, a blue flash, a puff of smoke and she stood before me in all of her loveliness. " You are terribly worried about something," were her first words. I told Her Majesty about the terrible smells coming from my house in the morning when I awoke from my sleep.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana looked in her famous magic mirror but there was nothing to be seen. No Witches, No Wizards, no one. "This is strange," said Her Majesty. There is only one thing to do and that is for me to stay the night at your house and see for myself what is the cause of the smells. Taking my hand we both landed in my back kitchen. Her Majesty smelled and sniffed the air but there was nothing but the ordinary smells of a house that is lived in.

I made tea and a small meal and we went into the parlour to eat. After all I could not expect Her Majesty to eat in my kitchen, clean as it always is. After our meal I washed the dishes and put them away and Her Majesty and I made ourselves comfortable in the parlour. It was exactly four o'clock when I smelt the first smells coming. Her Majesty was wide-awake and had too noticed the smells and that something was not in order.

Taking out her Magic Wand Her Majesty spoke a few words in the Fairy language and then they appeared. About a hundred small beings that her Majesty said were Bogies appeared they were in every room and each had a small pot that was steaming over and from the pots came the smells. Another wave of the wand and all of the bogies stood still. The pots they were carrying stopped steaming and the smells quickly vanished. One of the Bogies Her Majesty released from his spell and he quickly told us this story.

An Author that too wrote about Fairies was jealous of my abilities to write down that which I saw and lived through. He had for years kept Bogies more or less as slaves and he made them do all kinds of things against anyone that he did not like. Her Majesty then freed all of the Bogies and told them to go and find themselves a new home. Nothing would happen to them. Soon all of the Bogies had disappeared and the Author that is jealous of my Fairy stories now has writers block and cannot write a thing and will not be able to until a whole year has gone past.

My house is now once again liveable and what is more I have Bogie protection. One of the Bogies has come to live in my house and appears and disappears whenever he feels like it. What is more the Bogie likes cleaning and now my house is extra clean and tidy. No bad smells for over a year now so all is well in the house of Shaw.

Bored Fairies.

All is not well in Fairyland most of the Fairies are making mischief. Quite a few are neglecting their work of painting the flowers, bushes and shrubs. It is very serious and I sent a message with a friendly Robin to tell her Majesty Queen Feeana of my worries that all is not as it should be. One of the Fairies is going around painting the ripe blackberries green again, now we all know that this is against Mother Nature and it would be a hard time for the birds and animals that relied on the fruits to live, just imagine it no nice ripe blackberries in the summer and autumn when going through the woods, why even the wild strawberries have been turned green again by another Fairy.

I myself tried talking to the Fairies I thought if I could find out what is bothering them it would help to put things right again. All I got for my pains are, "We are bored there is nothing for us to do but work." "All day long painting the grass the fruits and all of the other things that grow we want to play not work." Now this I thought is serious Fairies who do not want to work just play. It is against all that the little people were taught at the Fairy school, All fairies have to attend school to learn how to paint and tend the fruits and flowers on this earth. No they do not have paints and paintbrushes they use the magic wands that every Fairy is taught to make at school.

I did not have to wait long before the familiar bright blue flash and the slight puff of smoke and her Majesty was sitting on the fallen tree trunk that served me as a seat whenever I went into the woods to watch and talk to the Fairies. I explained to her Majesty what I had seen and how the Fairies were bored with just working. They wanted to play as well as work. Her Majesty said." But all the fairies may play in fact it is part of fairy law that fairies may play after they have helped Mother Nature." Her Majesty called the Fairies together and as soon as they were all seated in a ring. The ring was of toadstools. Her Majesty asked them why they were so bored all Fairies like to help Mother Nature and it was a privilege to paint flowers and things with their magic wands.

The Fairies all spoke together and even I could not understand what they were saying. Her Majesty called one of the older fairies to speak for all of them. The Fairy started off with that there was not much for them to do after they had finished their work it was just that they had nothing to do to keep them occupied. Her Majesty said "What about the dances that I arrange are they not enough?" "What else can I do to keep you all happy that you go about your work properly?" "I leaned over to her Majesty and whispered why not hold an eating party?" It will keep them occupied and there will be peace and contentment for a while." We can also send them off in parties to the seaside that will give them plenty of things to do. As far as I can tell they are just bored doing the same thing every day after all they are so young.

Her Majesty then said, "My children go back to your work and this evening I will arrange visits for you all to go to the seaside or to Fairies in other parts of Fairyland."

Tonight we will hold a potato chip eating contest, whoever eats the most chips will be rewarded with two pieces of Magic Gold. Listening to this offer from her Majesty Queen Feeana was a Leprechaun. "Does this apply to all the little folk your Majesty or is it just for the Fairies." He asked. "It is for all the little folk said her Majesty but Bern here will be watching you all and he will be the judge." That is how I came to be the Judge of the chip-eating contest. Now all was as it used to be in Fairyland, the fairies went back to work the wild strawberries and the ripe blackberries were quickly made normal again and the Fairies could only speak about the coming chip feast.

If your Fish and Chip shop is not open tonight you know that the Fairies and the little folk are having a chip-eating contest. I with Her Majesty arranged by magic that a fish and chip shop would be brought into the woods and the owner would think that he was at home. All he had to do was fry the chips no Fairy would ever eat a fish that once swam free in a river or in the deep blue sea. The evening arrived and I opened the contest. The chips were carefully weighed so that each contestant had the same amount of weight on his or her plate and off it all started. The fish and Chip man worked hard to make all of the chips that were eaten and all had a good time. I had provided sweet cold tea to wash the chips down.

On one of the toadstools was the Leprechaun who had asked her Majesty if all could come to the contest. He was eating one plate of chips after the other now I thought he will surely win the two pieces of magic gold. The fairies had to mark a piece of bark with their wands when they had eaten a plate of chips. All was going well when I distinctly heard a pig grunt. I looked carefully around and found that tethered behind the Leprechaun was a big fat pig. He was giving the pig his portions of chips. I stopped the contest and disqualified the leprechaun. A sweet little Fairy named Donnafee won the prize. She had managed to eat four plates of chips and deserved the two pieces of magic gold. I told the little folk that there were still plenty of chips for them to eat but no one was interested. All congratulated Donnafee on her win and for a long time there was peace again in Fairyland. We now have regular eating contests and I Bern am always the judge.

Boredom.

A dull dreary day with a mist coming in from the sea I did not know what do to do with myself. I had finished reading my Library books and the newspaper, I had read earlier in the day. I turned on the radio and listened half-heartedly for a while but there was nothing to catch and hold my attention. My living room is like thousands of living rooms. With two armchairs and a settee with a table and four chairs. In one corner there was my old fashioned television. On the shelf above the settee was my radio. I must admit I was bored with the world and with myself.

I thought for a while that I could go for a walk but with the mist I knew that it would creep in under my overcoat and I would be most uncomfortable. At the local cinema a film about Cowboys and Indians was being shown. I had not seen a film for some time, as I do not like being in a cinema with its small seats that cramped my legs. I decided to stay at home. I thought to tidy up the cupboards upstairs in the bedrooms I had been going to do it for a long time but had never got around to it.

On my way upstairs I nearly fell over an old toy. Now who had left this toy on the stairs I have no children and myself I have not played with toys since I was twelve. This was quite a mystery as far as I knew I had, had no children to stay for some years. Picking up the toy I saw that it was a fire engine. I did not recognise it as a toy from my childhood so how did it get on my stairs. Taking the toy with me I went into the main bedroom and putting the toy on the bedside table I opened the first cupboard. Here were stored all the bedclothes that a household might need from Pillowcases to freshly ironed sheets. I could not do anything with this cupboard it was very tidy so I sat on the bed and looked at the fire engine.

The fire engine was bright red in colour and had a ladder and some small pieces of string that were supposed to be hosepipes fixed to it. As far as I knew I had never seen this toy before so how did it come to be on my stairs? My last visitor was an elderly Aunt of mine, my Father's Sister. Did she leave this here for me to find and play with? My Aunt is a little lost and perhaps she thought that I was still the young boy that she had sometimes given toys to play with.

It was then that I heard some small feet running in my loft. It is really an attic and I was now curious as to who was running up there. I quietly went up the stairs to the attic and opened the door. Inside on the wall was an electric light switch and I quickly turned on the lights. I saw a small boy like creature and gently asked him his name. "Shamus the second came his reply. Did I disturb you with my playing?" "No Shamus the second you did not disturb me but who are you and what are you doing in my attic?"

"I am the son of Shamus your old friend the Leprechaun and he hid me here and told me to be very quiet." "Have you seen my fire engine I seem to have lost it? I had it last night when I went downstairs for a drink of water and now I cannot find it." I told Shamus the second that his fire engine was safe in my bedroom. "What did Shamus bring you here for and why did he not tell me?" Shamus the second told me this story. Shamus his father my very old friend was in danger his son Shamus the second was in even greater danger.

Shamus had made some pots and pans for a Wizard and the Wizard refused to pay the agreed price for the pans. Shamus used some magic and all the pots and pans now leaked and were no good to the Wizard. The Wizard swore that he would get his own back on Shamus and all that were connected with Shamus. Being afraid for his young son Shamus placed him here in my attic with the words that he was to be very quiet.

Shamus was not afraid for himself he knew enough magic to be able to stop a Wizard but with his son with him he felt that the boy was in more danger than himself. He knew I would not mind and had placed him quietly at night. Shamus knew that my house was guarded by magic and that no Wizard would be able to harm the boy while he was staying with me.

I took Shamus the second by his hand and took him down to the kitchen where I cooked him a large plate of sweet porridge oats. After he had eaten I gave him his fire engine and he spent a couple of hours at play. Then Shamus appeared in my kitchen he was slightly dishevelled but in very good spirits. It happened he told me that the Wizard tried to sneak up behind him but Shamus's Shillelagh had attacked and given the Wizard some very heavy blows so that in the end the Wizard ran off. "He will attack me or mine no more he now has great respect from my Shillelagh, Thank you kindly for looking after my boy. You were the only person I could think of where the boy would be safe.

We all sat down to a good cooked dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Shamus the second ate just as much as his father who kept looking proudly at his son. After dinner goodbyes were said and they both vanished. Shamus the second left his fire engine in my dining room he wanted me to have it to remember him by. There was no danger of my forgetting Shamus or his son.

Cap for Monafee.

Monafee was one of the very few fairies that had not learnt while she was at Fairy School. It was not her fault she just could not pay attention for more than a few seconds and so let things pass her by. Monafee could not use a magic wand or even do a simple magic spell, colouring flowers was beyond her means in fact she could do none of the things that all the other fairies could do.

All the fairies loved Monafee she was very sweet and gentle by nature. Sometimes when the fairies were playing hide and seek she would sit with her back to a tree and close her eyes thinking that if she could not see the other fairies then they could not see her. Most of the fairies played this little game with Monafee when she sat under a tree with her eyes closed they pretended not to see her and let her win many of the games of hide and seek.

Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies knew of the problems of Monafee and of one or two other fairies and decided to help. Calling the wise old fairies to her, she said that she wanted something simple that would enable Monafee to become invisible. This would be added protection in a world that was not too fairy friendly. Many were the ideas put forward but most were too complicated. I was asked if I had any ideas on what to do.

My first thought was for something very simple and a picture of a boy's cap came into my head. You know a cap with a peak that one could easily place on one's head. I suggested a cap and the idea was accepted with joy by the wise old fairies. My next move was to go into town and buy a cap suitable for a boy. I bought two such caps in the smallest of sizes. The wise old fairies studied the caps and actually took one of them to pieces.

Then off the wise old fairies went to look for herbs and spells that would make one disappear. It took six months for them to find the right herbs and things. I was then shown a most strange looking object that did not look like a cap. Sewn into it were a few feathers. Some dried grasses and some leaves. There was a peak to the cap of sorts but it was certainly not like the two caps that I had bought and shown to them.

I tuned the cap around in my hands and looked for any weakness that might be present. I could see nothing wrong with the cap and tried it by putting it on my head. Looking down at myself I could see nothing I had completely disappeared. The cap was a huge success and was given to Monafee. If she was in danger she was to put the cap on and walk or fly away from the danger. This pleased Monafee she could now really play hide and seek with the other fairies. She nearly always won from this time on.

One day the fairies were playing one of their usual games of hide and seek when Monafee lost the cap from her head. In her excitement she tried to run and got her foot caught in a tree root. As she fell to the ground the cap fell from her head and she became visible for all to see. The other fairies soon picked up Monafee from the ground but her cap of invisibility could not be found.

All of the fairies searched the woods but it was all to no avail the cap was lost seemingly forever. I hurried home and looked into my magic mirror and saw the cap. It had fallen from Monafee's head and landed in a rabbit warren.

One day a rabbit came across the cap and pushed it out from the hole and left it on the forest floor. I went myself looking for the cap and found it as I had seen it in my magic mirror. I took the cap home with me and sewed a couple of ribbons to it so that Monafee could tie it on her head when playing in this was she would not loose it so easily.

The ribbons I sewed onto the cap were one in blue and the other in red they were the only ribbons I had at home. I placed the cap with the ribbons on my head and became invisible. The two ribbons remained red and blue for all to see. This would have meant that anyone looking for Monafee would only have to look for the two ribbons. I then took the cap back to the wise old fairies and they took it with them and in a couple of days time I was able to give it back to Monafee who now tied the cap on her head like one does a bonnet.

The wise old fairies have made a number of such caps for fairies like Monafee over the years and with the ribbons no one else has lost a cap. All Fairies love to play hide and seek and it is good to see that even the fairies that were not so clever at school can play with their friends and not sit to one side and watch the other fairies playing.

Car Sale.

My neighbour from down the street has advertised that on Saturday he will run a sale from the boot of his car. Anyone Interested should be at his house in the afternoon. The sale will be from two until four. I was Interested because my neighbour had travelled nearly all over the world and I was hoping to find something out of the ordinary.

Just after two o'clock, I made my way to his drive and there was his car filled with all kinds of things. A few other people that I knew were there and I greeted them all. Many were there it seemed to have a gossip hardly anyone looked at the stuff in the boot of his car or on the table that he had arranged just in front of the car. I looked at old lampshades and a few pots and pans. Then there were one or two pieces of electrical equipment, a few pictures and right at the back of the table; I saw a small glass or plastic snow shaker. You know one of those things that when one shakes them snowflakes twirl in the glass making it look like a snowstorm. For some reason I was attracted to this bauble and taking it in my hand for a better look I noticed at once although the day was warm this snow shaker was ice cold to the touch.

I asked my neighbour what he wanted for this trinket and a few shillings changed hands. Putting the snow shaker in my pocket, I looked at some of the other things that were for sale but this time there was nothing from abroad, nothing exotic so I walked back to my home. In my kitchen I took out the snow shaker and looked at it very thoroughly I saw that on a small piece of stone a Fairy figurine was standing. I shook the shaker a little and watching all of the time, I actually saw the figurine shiver as the snow fell all around her.

I carefully placed the snow shaker on my mantelpiece it is a warm spot in the house. I sent some mental pictures to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies and asked her to come and see me as soon as possible. I had just finished drinking my evening cup of cocoa when Her Majesty arrived in her usual blue flash and puff of smoke. We exchanged greetings and I showed Her Majesty the snow shaker and of my suspicion that a Fairy had been imprisoned in the glass. We both sent mental pictures to the figurine and it shivered again. This time both Her Royal Majesty and I had seen the poor Fairy shivering. It must have been very cold in the snow shaker.

The question was how should we set her free the glass shaker was a good hundred years old and the fact that it always felt cold to the touch told us that some heavy magic was in play. I suggested to Her Majesty that we all go the caves where all Fairies and butterflies spend the long winter months. There we would find the right conditions for treating her for shock. To open the bauble was no problem but the fairy had been in this liquid for so long we did not know what would happen when we freed her from the liquid. I did not think that it was ordinary water for ordinary water will get warm when placed in the sun or on a warm place this snow shaker was always cold. No child had ever wanted to play with it after experiencing the cold that went out from it.

I took the bauble carefully in my hand and Her Majesty said the words in the old language that spirited us to the huge caves under the Himalayan Mountains. Her Majesty then went to the library to see if there was anything written about this problem. I sent mental pictures to the imprisoned Fairy saying that things would soon be better and she would be free from her icy prison. Her Majesty came back with a smile on her face. "This has been done before it is the work of Magoricus the evil Wizard that I turned into stone some time back.

Taking her magic wand Her Majesty spoke some words into the snow shaker and the shaker broke completely in two halves. The liquid Her Majesty had at the same time turned into ice. Then with another wave of he wand the ice melted and a dainty little fairy stood there. Only a few seconds then the Fairy grew and I now saw how beautiful she was. Magoricus had placed her in the snow shaker because she would not marry him. Part of his evil was that every time a human shook the shaker she would feel the intense cold. The Fairy had just enough power left to make the shaker very cold when anyone touched it in this way people had placed it on their shelves but no one had really played with it as it was too cold to the touch.

Her Majesty told the Fairy that some of her old friends would soon be with her and she was to spend the next few months recovering from her experiences in the snow shaker. I myself with Her Majesty went back home. I was surprised to see that I had been away for one whole week. I had much work to do in my garden, the house needed dusting, and cleaning so I was occupied for quite a while, that is why I have only just written this story

Chinese Dragon.

Once upon a time, in far away China there lived a mighty Dragon. This was the biggest Dragon that the world had ever seen. The peoples of China respected this Dragon and made it their national symbol. The Emperor of China had all of his letters and every piece of paper that left one of his ministries to be embossed with a picture of the Dragon. The Dragon became well known all over China and later the entire known world in that far off age.

The Emperor next had an idea that all papers and letters that held the stamp of the Dragon should be taxed. It was a new way of getting money into his treasury. He gave orders that even the poor people must pay the tax. This was too much, the poor people had enough work on their hands to pay the ordinary taxes and now this new tax, it was definitely too much. The Emperor then had messages sent to all of the Chinese towns villages and cities. It was either pay the tax or prison.

Things got so bad that the peoples of China decided to overthrow the Emperor. But how were they to get rid of him? He had a huge well-paid army. The army was on his side. High in the mountains south of Beijing a young peasant boy that looked after his father sheep met up with the huge Dragon. The boy had often had adventures with tigers where he defended his father's sheep so he had no fear of a Dragon. The two both Dragon and farmer's boy got on really well together and became very good friends.

One day when the boy was out looking after his father's sheep, a terrible thing happened, the boy's father was arrested and thrown into the local prison. This was very hard on the family. The farmer's wife had four children and it was difficult to clothe and feed them all. Now her husband had been thrown into the local jail, because he could not pay the taxes on the Dragon's picture that was on every document that the family owned.

One-day the farmer's boy, being peeved about his father being in prison told the Dragon that he the Dragon was to blame for all of the misery in China. The Dragon wanted to know how he was to blame he was not the Emperor. He had never passed a law or a tax in the whole of his long life so why blame him? It was the greedy Emperor who was to blame and the people should rise against the emperor and take over the land for themselves, then they would only have to pay taxes for such things as roads or water works, sewage and all of the things that keep the towns and cities connected with one another.

The boy and the Dragon remained friends and slowly the boy grew into a man. He was a big man that commanded respect, how many men could say that they had fought with tigers and won the fight. The boy was a good organiser and soon his father and all of the others that could not pay taxes were let out of prison and all formed together to go to Beijing to get rid of the Emperor. All had had enough of this greedy man. The boy now a man told his friend the Dragon that he was going away to fight the Emperor. The Dragon decided to go with the new army to see what man had placed his picture on all official documents.

The new army got bigger and bigger, they saw that a real live Dragon was helping the poor people and all decided to go and fight against the laws that were crippling the land. Nothing could go wrong with a Dragon as helper. The Emperor heard the news that a huge army was on the way to get rid of him because of his harsh way of ruling. He became for the first time in his life afraid.

His fear and bad conscience led him to disguise himself and leave the palace by a secret door known only to him self. By the time the peoples led by the boy and the Dragon got to the palace the soldiers had all left their posts and the boy and the Dragon took over the palace and formed a new government. The new government was made up of so many rich people and so many poor people their numbers were even. The Dragon was the new leader of the parliament and a new way of life was born for all of the Chinese peoples. The Dragon is still honoured in China and this Dragon lived for a long time and all was well in that huge land.

The boy went back home his job in the city was over and he went back to tending his father's sheep. Things got better and better in the whole of China and soon his mother and father were well off, not rich, but well off.

Christmas Time.

The night is dark. Time is a lurking slow enemy that hangs and hangs. I am listening to the slow tick of the clock waiting for the first signs of dawn. I am smoking one cigarette after the other my mouth is dry and I feel the signs of a coming headache. Why did I offer to wait for the arrival of the Queen's messenger? He could come any time from now until late the next day. I am sitting staring at the ceiling waiting for any signs of arrival. My nerves are not of the best and this waiting is draining my energy faster than I can replace it with endless cups of coffee.

I find myself dozing into a half sleep, shaking my head to clear away the sleep that persists in coming. Going to the bathroom I held my head under the cold water tap and felt a sigh relief as the coldness of the water shocked my addled brain into some semblance where I could think clearly again. Her Majesty Queen Feeana was in the Fairies winter quarters beneath the Himalayas. I began wondering for the umpteenth time what on earth was so important that she needed my presence. No enemies could possibly invade the Fairies winter quarters it is too well protected not only by magical means also by a few human things such as cameras that I myself had installed.

The rays of a winter morning's sun awoke me I had dropped off into a sleep. The first thing was to have a shower to get my brain thinking again. After the shower I made myself some breakfast and looked for the morning's post. The postman had delivered the advertising material, which I throw away each morning and a couple of letters that I quickly read. They were not very important and I put them on one side to answer later on. After I did the washing up of the breakfast dishes there was a loud knocking on my front door. I remember thinking at last the messenger has arrived. Going to the front door I opened it and saw a smartly dressed Leprechaun. "Greetings messenger," I said, "Come in and I will make fresh coffee or tea whatever you prefer." In the kitchen he opened his leather bag and took out an envelope that I recognised as being from Her Majesty.

I made some fresh tea and with some rolls and butter with honey the Leprechaun sat down to eat. I slowly opened the envelope and much to my surprise it was an invitation to the Fairies winter quarters. I was not to bring any luggage as all had been prepared for my arrival. Finishing his breakfast the Leprechaun told me that we had exactly one full hour for me to close house and make any arrangement that were necessary. I turned off the water supply and switched off the electricity at the mains then I phoned the post office and made arrangements that all of my post would be kept back until I let them know that I had returned home.

I did not pack anything to take with me, as I knew that all would be waiting for me on my arrival. Then it happened the Leprechaun just vanished and I was swept away to find myself in the Fairies winter quarters. Her Majesty and many of the fairies were awaiting our arrival. The Leprechaun bowed to her Majesty Queen Feeana and wandered off to his own little house. Her Majesty greeted me and welcomed me to this part of Fairyland. With a wave of her wand and a smile on her face I saw my house appear out of the air. My house with garden she had transmitted from England to under the Himalayan Mountains. Another wave of her wand and my house was decorated from top to bottom with Christmas lights. In my garden was a large Christmas tree also decorated with coloured lights. "We want you to have a merry Christmas here with us in Fairyland this year," said Her Majesty. "If there is anything you want just say what it is out loud and it shall appear". "On Christmas day there will be a ball with all the fairies taking part in our equivalent to Christmas.

My house was stocked with food and drink of all kinds. Some of which I had never seen before. My cellar is full of bottle of wine mainly parsnip and elderberry with some bottles of very old French wine. All of my washing things such as toothbrush, flannel, and soap had been replaced with fairy articles and I spent a long time washing and dressing this morning. While I was busy getting breakfast everything disappeared all the fairy goodies were gone. All of the decorations and the Christmas tree had vanished and I quickly looked out of the window all of the house decorations had gone and I realised I was back home in England once more. I wondered what I had done to be removed from Fairyland. I had done nothing to upset or hurt the Fairies.

Going out into the garden I saw curled up under a tree a large black cat. Such a cat could only belong to a Witch. Had the Fairies unknowingly taken a Witch with them when they transferred my house and garden to Fairyland? It looked that way. I searched for the Witch she must still be on my property somewhere. Then I found her like the cat she too was curled up under a tree. I spotted her because of the black clothing that she wore it stood out in the snow that had settled in the garden during my short stay in Fairyland. Taking some of my magic powder from my pocket I cautiously approached the Witch and threw the magic dust over her. Screaming with rage she cursed me but the curses were weak and did no harm.

At this moment Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies appeared and apologised to me for the sudden eruption out of Fairyland. I smiled and said," Your Majesty no one could know that a Witch and her cat could come on to my property unseen. They must have hidden themselves before my house and garden was transferred to Fairyland." Her Majesty said, the magic devices saw the intruders at once that were protecting Fairyland but no one in Fairyland wanted a panic and Her Majesty just sent my house and Garden back to England without alarming the Fairies.

My pocket with the magic dust was filled again and Her Majesty turned the Witch into a dozen butterflies. The large black cat sensing that something was wrong just ran off. My house was transferred again to fairyland but now there were even more butterflies to brighten up this wonderful series of caves under the Himalayan Mountains. I had the most wonderful Christmas and the Fairies enjoyed themselves. As a treat for me a Fairy choir sang all of the old Christmas carols. During my stay I was taught one or two words of the old language and shown how to perform a few magic spells. I wish you all could have been with me I know that you would have enjoyed the little people.

Christmas Tree.

Two more weeks and it will be the twenty-fifth of December another Christmas day in my long life. Like most people I decided to get a Christmas tree to decorate. This year things will be different though. I am going to buy a tree that is still growing not one that has been cut down. Going along to my garden suppliers I spoke to the owner and asked him if he had such a tree. "Come with me Mr.Shaw I will show you the small plantation where I grow my Christmas trees." I walked with him to the back of the large premises and then saw the Christmas trees. Row after row of small to medium size Christmas trees were growing in a large area of cleared land. "These are the trees ready for sale, those with a red label are already sold you may choose any of the others." I walked along the rows of trees until I came to one that was just the right size not to small and not too big. "This is the tree that I would like to buy," I said. The owner quickly wrote my name and address on a red label and tied it to the tree. "When do you want us to deliver the tree?" he then asked. "Would tomorrow be alright?" I heard myself saying. "Tomorrow will be fine came the answer. We went back into the gardening centre and I paid for my new Christmas tree.

The following day just after ten in the morning; the gardening centre van stopped in front of my house. Two men carried the tree into my winter garden and after I gave them a small monetary tip both said "Good Morning and a very Happy Christmas to you." I now had my Christmas tree in a large wooden tub and after Christmas was over I would plant it in my back garden and watch it grow. Going into town I went to the green grocer's and bought all kinds of different nuts. Walnuts, Brazil nuts, and many others the names of which I have forgotten, my next stop was at the butchers, from the butcher I wanted some fat. At the newsagents I bought myself some balls of string then I went back home.

My next move was to decorate my Christmas tree. None of your glass baubles or tinsel for my new tree this tree would be just for the birds that frequent my garden summer and winter. Taking a large needle I threaded string through the nuts that I had previously taken out of their shells and hung them on the tree. Nuts and strips of fat soon covered the tree and I sat back in my chair and admired my work. The birds are going to love this Christmas they will have a real treat at my Christmas tree.

In the back garden I had dug out a hole big enough to take the roots of the tree. In the hole I had placed four large shovels full of rotting compost and the compost I covered with a layer of fresh earth. The hole I had covered with a couple of planks of wood and a small tarpaulin I did not want any frost to get into the hole.

My winter garden is a large glass room and a fairly warm place to sit in. The many plants and flowers delight my eyes whenever I have time to sit in my easy chair and watch them. I sat for quite while looking at the new Christmas tree. Suddenly the top of the tree looked as if someone had placed a blue light on it. The bluish light soon had bathed the whole tree in its eerie glow; I sat watching the tree and the blue glow for a very long time. The tree was still glowing when I went into the kitchen to make my evening meal. Before I went to bed I looked in at the Christmas tree, yet once again the blue light was still there. Christmas day came and I carefully took my tree into the back garden. It was one big struggle to get the tree to where I had dug and prepared my hole. I manage to get the tree in the ground and covered the roots with fresh earth. The eerie glow was still all around the tree a pale blue light. Walking back a few steps I watched as one sparrow flew to the tree and started pecking the fat that I had hung on the tree. Soon many other birds came to the tree and the many hungry birds ate the nuts and the fat. The blue colour stayed with the tree until the spring came in. One morning as I went into the garden to do some work I saw that the Christmas tree was now a lush green and it is still growing.

Where the blue light came from and why it stayed with the tree until the spring I do not know but I like to think that the blue light was a sign for the hungry birds to come and eat their fill. What do you think?

Clocks.

All of the clocks in my house have stopped ticking. Not one of them shows the correct time. They did not stop at the same time but all of them stopped within one hour of midnight. My wristwatch and my pocket watch also stopped within the hour of midnight. I am not a superstitious person but this was indeed very strange. I live alone and I close all of the shutters on the windows also I slide in the heavy bolts on the back and front doors before I go to bed. No one could have got into the house through the doors and windows and this stopping of my clocks and watches could not have been done by magic means as my house is under the magical protection of Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. I have no guests staying with me and the thought that someone might have broken in was annoying but as the doors and windows show no signs of breaking and entering by a third person or should I say house breaker or burglar, it was one of those mysteries that happen from time to time. I turned on my radio and waited for the time signal at the nine o'clock news. I set first my wristwatch then went around the house and started all the clocks and watches off again.

I spent the rest of the day doing a few odd jobs in the garden. I cleaned out one of the cupboards; I had been meaning to do so for some time now but had not gotten around to it. The day passed by normally and I went up to bed at half past nine in the evening. I dropped off to sleep with the noise of thunder in the distance. I awoke at half past eleven and found myself down in the kitchen stopping the kitchen clock on the wall. How I had managed to get up and go downstairs without being awake I do not know. I then looked at the other clocks and watches in the house. I had stopped most of these that is all but my wristwatch, which was on my bedside table. Making myself a cup of Ovalmaltine I thought long and hard, I had a problem or rather two problems why do I walk in my sleep? There have been no incidents of sleep walking in my family, and what have I got against time and clocks and watches, in general? I decided to go the very next day to see my Doctor, I would be glad to have his advice and perhaps he can recommend some tablets to stop my night wanderings.

My Doctor gave me a thorough medical check over and told me that I was very healthy for a man of my age. There was nothing to worry about as long as I was careful not to have any objects in the way that might make me fall when sleep walking. Feeling a little better I made my way home suddenly there was a strange sensation in my head. Some one or some thing, was trying to get into my brain. I was now fully awake and looked around me it was then that I saw a tall woman she was staring at me, it was she that was trying to enter my brain. Now my guard was up and I blocked all attempts from her side to get at me through my brain. The woman then vanished she was no more there where I had seen her. What did she want with me? Was she the one that was causing my sleepwalking and my stopping of all clocks and watches in my house?

Now fully on guard I walked quickly back to the house and sent a mental picture to Shamus my Leprechaun friend. As I entered my house Shamus was there sitting on the kitchen table, legs crossed as was his habit. "What can I do to help you my friend?" he asked. I told Shamus of my sleepwalking and of my stopping all of the clocks and watches in my house. Shamus told me to go to bed as usual and he would be on guard to see that no harm came to me. I sleep walked again during the night but Shamus steered me away from the clocks and watches. In the morning after breakfast we went out I walked quite openly and Shamus followed me like a shadow. I had given Shamus some of my magic dust with the instruction to throw it over the woman if she started one of her mental attacks. I did not see Shamus but felt the presence of the woman in black. She started her attack silently suggesting that I now not only stopped all clocks and watches in my house but also that I leave all of the windows unbarred and the front and back door wide open. I heard a cry and saw the woman disappearing in the distance. Shamus had thrown a handful of magic dust over her. We met up and I told Shamus of the woman's attack and that I leave the doors and windows open. We came to the conclusion that she wanted to steal something that was in my house, but what? Then it dawned upon me the only thing for her to steal that would bring in an income, was the ebony stick, that when cleaned would leave a small bar of gold in return. This was on the sideboard in my front room everything else in the house was not worth much and it would not have paid for the woman to break in. That she went to so much trouble by openly attacking me showed that she was fairly desperate. I have not seen or heard of the women since and Shamus spent a couple of days with me to make sure that she did not come back. This is another true story about my friend Shamus the Leprechaun.

Country Rubbish.

Walking through the woods on Dartford Heath on my way to Fairyland I came across an old motor van. Some one had tried to hide it with branches pulled from the young trees. The trees were looking sorry for themselves and I became very angry. Why did the young trees have to suffer? Some vandal wanted to get rid of an old van that was very rusty as I saw when I pulled the branches away from it?

The number plates had been taken off of the vehicle and some person had dumped the van here instead of taking it to a brokers yard. The van could have been used for salvage not to disturb the beauty of the woods. What made matters worse the culprit had let the old motor oil run onto the floor of the woods. Nothing would grow here for a very long time. On inspection I saw that the battery had been taken out of the van. Probably this was to sell, as lead that is used in batteries is very expensive.

I marked the spot and went on to see the Fairy Queen, Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. I did not have to wait long as Her Majesty was expecting my visit. We spoke about the old van that was in the woods of Fairyland and how to punish the person that had dumped it there. I asked Her Majesty to wait until it was dark and then to magic the van to the Police Station where we would leave it for the Police to find.

In the morning of the next day I walked along the road to the Police Station. The Police were checking the van over. They took fingerprints from the steering wheel and the hand brake also the gear lever. Another Policeman looked and found the vehicle number that is printed on the chassis and also a number is to be found on the motor block. On seeing this I went back home and on the following days I read the newspapers to see whether the owner of the van had been found.

The following Saturday there was a small article saying that a man had been arrested for dumping a vehicle outside of the Police Station. A month later there was to be a court case. I decided that I would attend the hearing and see what kind of sentence the man would get from the local Magistrate.

The day of the hearing arrived and I was one of the first to go into the building as it was opened. Other people joined me and soon there were a small number of people attending. The Police led in a man that was well dressed. Then the Magistrate and the clerk of the court appeared and the case was opened.

The first question to the arrested man was, do you own the vehicle? He said yes it was one of his vehicles that he had sent to be scrapped at the local breakers yard. He had no idea of how it came to be parked outside the Police Station. The case dragged on and in the end the Magistrate fined the man one hundred pounds and threatened that if such a case was to come before the courts again it would not be a fine but a term of imprisonment. I left the courtroom and went to the woods to tell Her Majesty of the man's punishment. We agreed that in future the Fairies would take over the punishment of any person or persons dumping rubbish on the Dartford Heath.

I went then with Her Majesty to the woods where the man had let the oil on to the ground. With her magic wand Her Majesty removed all traces of the oil and then with another wave of her wand the young trees were given back all of the branches that the man had used to hide the van. Now in this part of the Heath all is as it should be and no one uses it as a rubbish dump any more.

Later I heard that the man had gone broke it seemed that he had no luck with his business. As I say it does not pay to meddle with the Fairies and Fairyland. I should think that he still wonders how the old van came to be outside the Police Station.

Cuckoo.

It was the thirty first of June, Monday eleven fifteen in the morning, a fine sunny day that I heard the cry of the Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Putting my hand in my pocket I turned over my small change. Many years ago an elderly lady had told me that when one first hears the cry of the Cuckoo one must turn over one's money. In this way one's purse would never become empty. This old saying has stuck in my head and for years I always turn over my small change when I first hear the cry of the Cuckoo. My friend Shamus the Leprechaun asked me why I turned over my small change. I told him the story that the elderly woman had told me all of those years ago. Shamus broke out into peels of hearty laughter. "Perhaps I should do the same with all of my gold," he laughingly said. "My what a rich man I would be today if it were true." "Shamus, my purse has never been empty since I listened to the woman, perhaps it is true after all." Shamus smiled a knowing smile and told me of the man that had heard of the Leprechauns saving their gold in iron pots or cauldrons. "All Leprechauns have a bank that they deposit their money in. How would the gold increase if it were left in an iron pot? No we all deposit our money in banks and wait for the interest on the money to increase that is how we get rich." "But turn your money over if that is what you believe in. We Leprechauns know that when the Cuckoo calls she has probably laid an egg in a strange bird's nest. The call is really her way of shouting her triumph that she has once again got the better of another bird."

We both heard the call of the Cuckoo again. "Something is strange," said Shamus. "The Cuckoo always flies away from the nest that she has just laid an egg in." We both walked to where the noise of the cuckoo's call is coming from and to our surprise sitting on a branch is a parrot the bright green of her feathers gave her away she is sitting next to a nest and is eating an egg. Shamus climbed on to a branch and called down to me," she is eating the Cuckoo's egg the other eggs in the nest the parrot did not touch. On a whim I called the parrot, "Polly come here I softly called and to my surprise She flew on to my shoulder. Shamus climbed down from the tree and we both smiled. The Cuckoo had laid an egg in a strange nest and Polly that is what I call her had taken a fancy to the egg and eaten it. I must admit that I was a little embarrassed at Polly's calls of Cuckoo, Cuckoo as we made our way back to my home.

Polly now has a large room in my conservatory all to herself. Food and fresh water is given to her every day and I am in touch with a Pet Shop to buy a companion for my Polly. I think that I will call her companion when it arrives Cuckoo. After all if we had not heard Polly's cries of cuckoo we would never have found her. I have stopped turning my small change over in my pocket since I have Polly and Shamus has returned to his home in Ireland. He still places his gold in a bank and is I believe a very rich man if not in money then surely in experience.

My new Parrot has arrived and comes to me when I call Cuckoo and Polly is not the least bit jealous and shares all of her food and water with her new mate cuckoo.

Curiosity Shop.

The village of Green Street Green came into view the roads here were wet so they must have caught the shower as I did under my tree. Passing the Baker's shop and the Dairy I saw the curiosity shop. The shop was open and I walked into the somewhat dark interior. As I pushed open the shop door a small bell jangled in the back of the house. By opening the door I had made contact between two electric wires this had caused the bell to ring. "Good morning," I called and heard a voice saying, "I will be with you in a moment have a look around." I had been in this shop a number of times and always managed to find something out of the ordinary.

The shop was filled old pictures, some hung on the wall many were stacked in a long shelf. Old brass horse medallions were also hanging on the wall along with small pieces of china and cups and saucers. Old milk jugs and all the bric a brac that one finds in these old shops, under a long glass topped counter were medals some from the First World War. Next to the medals, there were a few pocket watches and an old compass. The compass interested me the most it was of peculiar design and the needle that points to North was standing still on South. The owner who I had seen many times came from the back and asked me whether I had found anything. I pointed to one of the pocket watches and asked to see it closer. The watch after I had wound it with a small watch key that the man produced started ticking away. I said that I would buy the watch if it was not too expensive and the compass. "The compass does not work you know" he had a pleasant voice and I answered that I would take it apart and clean it. Perhaps I will be lucky I heard myself say.

With the pocket watch and winding key and the compass, I left the shop and made my way back home. The roads were now dry and I arrived home in a couple of hours. Making myself something to eat I sat at my kitchen table and looked at the watch and the compass. Opening the back of the watch I found that it was quite old and had a chain driven drive something one rarely sees today. I decided that I would clean the watch (A hobby of mine) and re-oil it. Then I carefully opened the compass and found a small piece of paper with some writing on it was blocking the mechanism that kept the magnet needle moving. Taking the paper out of the compass, I saw that the compass needle was now pointing north. The compass was I am happy to say now working properly.

I carefully opened the piece of paper and saw written in a strange hand the words (Follow the Needle it will show you the way.). I looked at the compass more carefully especially the needle. The needle slowly started to spin then slowed down it was now pointing to the west. I took out one of my maps of England and placed the compass onto it. The needle still pointed west and I moved the compass slowly across the map. The needle of the compass stopped and pointed once again to the north. Taking the map and my new compass I put on my hiking gear and locking the doors of my house I walked off. Every couple of miles I checked the compass with the map. I eventually arrived at Cardiff in South Wales and the needle spun around and then stopped. I had followed the needle of the compass now what? I then saw the advert on a building Fairies for sale magic potions for all occasions. I went into the building and saw much to my surprise four Fairies that were trapped in a large cage. Taking my magic wand from my pocket I freed the Fairies and then I saw the compasses that were for sale. It was in such a compass that one of the Fairies had jammed the paper to stop the needle from moving. The compass was considered to be useless and was thrown away. A man found the compass and sold it to the second hand shop. I had unknowingly been the means to free the Fairies. My curiosity as to why the compass did not work freed the four Fairies from the magic shop in Cardiff. I then caught a train back to London and back home to my house on Dartford Heath. Her Majesty the Fairy Queen who thanked me for rescuing the Fairies awaited me. The compass is still in my desk along with the pocket watch both work quite well. The compass is for sale if anyone would like to buy it, the pocket watch I will keep.

Daily Walks.

Day after day I walk through the woods. I must keep walking. The Doctors say it helps to keep the stiffness away from my joints. I love my daily walks where I feel at one with nature. There is so much to be seen from the early spring flowers through to the mushrooms and berries. The different nuts that one finds in the autumn all of these things plus the wild animals that cross my path are some of the rewards from my daily walks. I do not think that there is one animal living in the United Kingdom that I have not seen at one time or another. The grey squirrel the red squirrel the foxes with their young cubs playing in the sunlight, weasels, stoats, hares, deer with their young, rabbits, I see all of these plus the many birds that abound in the County of Kent. Then another thing are the colours ranging from the dull tones of winter leaves right through to the light greens of spring on to the heavier greens of summer and the lush colours of autumn with its gold and browns.

It was on such a walk that I met the man with the red hair. His hair was a deep natural red not auburn but red, His face was covered in freckles and a smile played around the corners of his mouth. I have never seen this man before; he was a complete stranger to me. We exchanged greetings and as he seemed to want to talk. I asked him whether he lived near the woods or was he just passing through. " Oh I am in the woods every day," he said. I told him I was surprised that I had never seen him before today as I myself went into the woods every day whether the sun shone or it rained all of the day. "Yes," he said. "I know that you are always here in the woods and that you know where the best fruits and nuts are to be found. I am perhaps a stranger to you, as you know me only in my natural body."

The air quivered and suddenly the man turned into a large red fox. He was no longer a stranger but one of the wild animals that I see nearly every day. This fox had a family of three cubs and his wife the vixen I knew very well. A few years ago things had not been so good in the woods and I took into the woods seeds and nuts for the birds and tins of dog meat for the family fox and other animals that are meat eaters. I was very careful not to leave any tins or paper or plastic sacks around. I am one of those people that love to see the countryside in its natural beauty not cluttered up with old cars, radios, televisions and old pieces of furniture lying around. Most of this man made rubbish is dangerous for the wild animals.

The fox is speaking again, "we know that you are a friend of the little peoples and that you help the fairies and the animals and birds." The birds and wild animals petitioned Her Royal Majesty for one of us to be able to speak to you and thank you for all of your help." "I was chosen as all know that I go even to the houses of the humans to find food for my family." I must admit that I was more than surprised to be speaking with a fox. The air took on a bluish light and Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana appeared. With her came the birds and all of the animals of the woods. I was surrounded by birds who came and whispered thank you then the wild animals came many of them had their young with them, Each thanked me for being so quiet and considerate as I walked through their homelands. It seemed to take a long time until all had thanked me then Her Majesty waved her magic wand and there was fresh grass for the deer. Berries and nuts for the birds even some tins of dog meat that I opened for the family fox and the other meat eaters.

Her Majesty then waved her magic wand once again and right in the middle of the clearing there were tables full of food and drinks many plates of fairy cakes. To my great pleasure an orchestra appeared and I knew that there would be a fairy dance most of the animals looked for a comfortable spot to sit or lay in all wanted to be in on this evening of dancing and feasting in my honour. The music played some wonderful fairy music and the dancing got under way, I had another surprise a lovely red haired beauty came and asked me for a dance, It was the vixen she was determined not to be out done by her husband. And we had a dance or two but most of the time the two of them danced together. They were very handsome to watch two red heads whispering in each other's ears it was a wonderful evening.

I have written this little episode as soon as I came home I did not want to forget any little detail. I wish you were there, the dancing was wonderful and the fairy food is out of this world, not to mention Queen Feeana's Royal Elderberry wine.

Danger! Magic Wands.

Dangerous Whistle.

To tell this story properly I must first say that I wear hearing aids. Without the hearing aids I am practically deaf. Having said this, I was walking across the Dartford Heath when I first heard this high pitched whistling tone. I would not normally have taken any notice but the whistling noise was giving me a headache. Something was not in order with my little part of the world. It was then I saw the Fairies; they were all lying down as if asleep. I tried to wake them as they were in this condition very much exposed to all kinds of danger. Try, as much as I would I could not wake them. I carefully placed them all in a ring so that each one was touching the other then I muttered the two magic words that transported us all to the Fairies winter quarters under the Himalayan Mountains here I knew they would be safe.

Saying the magic word that took me back to Dartford Heath I then looked to see if there were any more sleeping Fairies. To my surprise I found a Leprechaun that too was lying down fast asleep. I tried to wake him, bit it was no good, he just slept a very deep sleep. I could still hear the whistling and I myself was beginning to feel very tired. I quickly took my hearing aids from out of my ears and the whistling noise stopped. I then took the Leprechaun back with me to my old house and made him comfortable on my sofa.

Queen Feeana had at one time given me a verse in the old Fairy language. If I needed her help I was to recite this verse and she would come to me as quickly as possible. I recited my verse and sat down quietly in my armchair to await Her Majesty. It did not take long and the blue light and small puff of smoke and Her Majesty was with me in my lounge. Her Majesty greeted me and saw the Leprechaun. I told her my story of finding the Fairies all fast asleep in the woods and how I had transported them to the Winter Quarters under the Himalayan Mountains. Suddenly Her Majesty closed her eyes and I thought at first that she too had been caught by the high-pitched whistling. Quickly taking some cotton wool from my first aid box I made a pair of earplugs and inserted them into her ears. This did the trick, Her Majesty could no longer hear the whistling and woke up.

What was to be done and what is more where was this high-pitched whistling coming from. I showed Her Majesty my hearing aids and asked her to speak to me in picture form. It was now that the Leprechaun awoke and blurted out this story. I read in one of the human's newspapers that there was a whistle to be had for training dogs. I bought myself such a whistle and then I started experimenting around with its mouthpiece. As you both know I am a travelling Tinker that goes around mending pots and pans and kettles anything with a hole that needs to be mended. I have always had trouble with dogs they just bark at me and indeed from some of them I have had to run away, that is why I wanted such a whistle. I thought that if I could just use the whistle to put the dogs asleep for an hour, then I could go about my trade in peace. Sorry to say I lost the whistle just as I had got it right to put dogs to sleep.

Some children must have found the whistle and tried to get it to make a tone but the whistle is set too high to give a tone that humans can hear. Here Her Majesty took out from her pocket the magic mirror and looked carefully into it. Yes it has been passed around to many children and all have tried to get it to give a tone from it. That is what the Fairies heard and fell asleep but now the whistle is in the hands of a young boy whose Father owns a radio transmitter and with the help of the transmitter he is using the whistle to try to get it to play over the radio. I could take it away from him but that is not my way. "Your Majesty I heard myself say I will go to the local schools and offer a present to the boy or girl that brings the whistle back to me."

The very next morning I went to see the Headmaster of the local school and in front of the whole school I made this offer. I will give the girl or boy that brings me back my whistle a new book of his or her choice and what is more I would pay for Ice-cream for his or her class. This was an offer that the children could not resist and soon one boy spoke out saying, "Johnny Smith has got the whistle I gave it to him as it did not work." Then a bright looking boy stood up and asked me if he could really choose his own book in exchange for the whistle. I said, "Yes of course you may, a promise is a promise and I never break promises. Taking the whistle from his pocket he gave it to me and I asked the headmaster whether we could go to the local bookshop to get whatever book the boy desired. I was not surprised as the boy went straight to the books on radios and got himself a book on radios for beginners. I saw him back to the school and hurried off home with the whistle in my pocket.

Her Majesty and the Leprechaun were still waiting for me and the Leprechaun took a silver chain from his pocket and fixed it to the whistle. "I will not loose this again." He said. Her Majesty smiled and thanked me for my help and if you see a dog in a yard fast asleep, you can bet that the Leprechaun is busy somewhere repairing pots and pans. As for me I wear my hearing aids again and all is as it should be in the house of Shaw.

Dargonwen

Far away in the country called the badlands where nothing could grow because it was too hot and dry. There lived a man that was known to be the world's greatest wizard. This wizard was so powerful he could turn dust into the most amazing foods and drinks. He was a very rich man for he just held out his hand and money appeared in plenty.

As they approached the Badlands Queen Feeana sent out a secret signal that could only be heard by Fairies and sure enough the three captive Fairies answered the call.

All the Fairies in fairyland were given a magic bead that they wore next to their bodies. If any Fairy in future was to disappear he or she could be found with the help of this magic bead.

Dargonwen is still living in the badlands and he is still alone with just an old vulture and an Irish wolfs hound.

Dark Cloud.

The sun is shining and deep in the woods the little folk are happily playing. There is much laughing and singing the Leprechauns are teasing the Fairies and the Trolls are teasing the Pixies who give as good as they get. In fact it was one of those midsummer's days that all enjoyed. The berries on the brambles were in various stages of ripening and some of the little folk are busy collecting and also eating the dark black fruit. Suddenly there appeared in the sky a large black cloud. It stayed in the one spot and the small folk became very anxious. A cloud like this had never before been seen.

Dartford Heath.

Another week has gone by and I am still sitting here in my kitchen waiting for something to happen. I go to bed; I get up, wash, shave and think about what is the best thing to do. I am waiting for something to happen. I do not know what it is or when it will happen. I just know that I am to play a part in what seems to have far reaching consequences. It is like sitting in a cinema watching what is going on, on the screen but not being able stop or even influence the passing scenes. My life is like that at the moment and has been for the last two weeks.

As you all know my life is very complicated because of my activities with the fairies. I sometimes use magic taught to me by the Fairy Queen. Feeana. I write about the fairies so that others especially children may enjoy the experiences that we have together. I use a special magic mirror and have a most powerful magic wand, apart from that I have a pocket filled with magic dust, it never gets empty no matter how much dust I use. I keep asking myself just what is it that I am waiting for? Will it be an episode with the fairies? Or is it just my imagination that has got the better of me?

The arrival of a robin as I was having my breakfast was actually a relief it now meant that something was about to happen. The robin delivered a small piece of parchment into my waiting hand and I read the message very carefully. It was a call for help from the Fairy Queen Feeana. It seems that the local council is with the ministry of transport going to build a road straight across the Dartford Heath. This will split fairyland into two parts. I just could not allow this to happen and with some friends I went to the Local Council to make a protest.

Getting the help of the local newspapers I started off a campaign to stop the road or at least have it built somewhere else. I enjoyed all the arguments with the council and when people got too upset I quickly sprinkled magic dust to calm them down. The local council with the Mayor of the town we soon persuaded that it would not be a good thing to have another road running across the Heath. On this we were soon in agreement what to do with the Government department responsible for building roads.

I had no real say when it came to the Government department. I knew no one and had to ask Her Majesty to help with the non-building of the road. Her Majesty had a plan that she told me. I was to get the Mayor and the local council to invite the members of the government department to come down to Dartford Heath to see for themselves what a road would do to the local landscape. Before the government department arrived her Majesty had transformed the Dartford Heath into a most beautiful garden arrangement.

The gorse bushes were in full flower with the yellow blossoms showing out proudly against the greens and browns of the few trees that were still left. The bramble bushes were full of luscious ripe blackberries. Wild flowers of all shapes and sizes were to be seen. The Heath had never looked so lovely as this before. This was the picture that Her Majesty presented to the government department on the day they came to the Heath to see for themselves what a road across the Heath would mean.

The people from the government department were so impressed at the natural beauty of the Heath that they decided that it would indeed be an eyesore for such a road to be built in such a wonderful piece of land as the Dartford Heath. I am happy to say there is and will not be a road going directly across Fairyland. The local people with the help of the fairies have put a stop to such a stupid thing as a road. Roads surround the Heath. Too many roads if you ask me, now the fairies can enjoy the Heath, which is their home until another comes along and wants a road built.

I now take part on the local council not because I want anything to do with politics. I leave that to other people but to make sure that while I live no one will get any ideas of building on the Heath. I do not have to use my magic dust too often but I always have it ready. One never knows what is going to happen at a council meeting, I can only say I am prepared.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana invited all of Fairyland to a feast and a dance to celebrate the stopping of building a new road, it would have split Fairyland in two and that was not good for the fairies, after all, who wants to have lorries and cars speeding past and spoiling the peace? The smells of petrol, diesel and exhaust gasses would have ruined Fairyland. All had a wonderful evening and most danced well into the night it is not often that one can win against a government department.

Deja Vu.

Have you ever had that feeling that you are being watched? The hairs on the back of my neck were actually bristling, I felt most uncomfortable indeed. Standing up I turned round and pretended to stretch. In this way I had a good view of those behind me and on my left and right hand side. I could see no one, but the feeling persisted. It was then that I saw the new video camera's that had been installed. I was for some reason under surveillance. I decided to take no notice and read my newspaper from cover to cover.

This all took place a month ago at the railway station in London. Kings Cross, I was waiting to take the train to Leeds in middle England. In Leeds I had heard of a family that were selling Fairy things, I must admit I was curious to see what was being offered as Fairy goods. I had read about the offer on the Internet and was really taking a chance going all of the way to Leeds on what after all might be a wild goose chase.

The train left the station on time and I settled back in my seat and closed my eyes trying to sleep through what otherwise promised to be a boring journey. Do not get me wrong I have done the journey so many times that the passing scenery I had seen on many other occasions did not interest me.

The compartment door opened and in slipped a man that took a seat near the window. I pretended to be asleep and made no move to make conversation. The feeling of being stared at came back much stronger now and I opened my eyes a little to peer at the man that had entered the compartment. I did not know him but something about him warned me to be on my guard.

Later the conductor came along and asked for our tickets. I took mine from my cap where I had put it for safekeeping and the other man in the compartment also gave his ticket to be punched and the conductor moved on to the next compartment. The magic journey took only a few seconds but I was not prepared for it and it took me by surprise. I was not in the train any more but walking along a road in Leeds. Passing a shop I had an even bigger surprise. I happened to glance in the shop window. I was now Shamus my Leprechaun friend.

I was even dressed as Shamus with an Irish oak shillelagh in my hand. A shillelagh is an Irish cudgel used both as a walking stick and as a weapon of defence. Over my shoulder I had a rucksack. I wondered why Her Majesty had turned me into Shamus. I was soon to find out, I came to the house where Fairy objects were to be had and went to the front door and knocked.

A woman opened the door and I explained to her that I was interested in Fairy objects. The woman asked me in to the house led me through a long dark corridor until we reached a room that was full of so called fairy objects, Most of the things that she had for sale she had obviously made herself and had nothing whatsoever to do with Fairies.

I looked around the room and saw in a corner a small dolls house. Looking at the doll's house very carefully I saw that the front of the house could be opened. This I did and saw that in each of the rooms was a fairy, Each Fairy looked so real that I knew I would buy the dolls house. The woman drove a hard bargain but I bought the house for three pieces of gold that I found in Shamus's pocket. I paid the woman and put the dolls house in Shamus's rucksack. I turned to walk out of the room back down the long dark corridor when Shamus's shillelagh sprang out of my hand and went over my head and I heard the blow as the shillelagh caught the woman's hand in which she held a nasty looking knife.

The knife fell to the floor and I kicked it away into a corner of the corridor. I walked quickly to the door and saw the man that had shared the compartment with me coming down the street. I watched him as he opened the front door. He took no notice of me and I carried on, on my way to Leeds railway station. I looked back and the couple were following me. Then another change and I was now a young man that did not look like shamus a bit.

The couple walked past me and I carried on to the station. The train to London was waiting at the platform and I entered and sat myself down. The man and woman were now in the train going from compartment to compartment obviously looking for Shamus. I last saw them as the train slowly left the station on its way to London. It happened once again I was now changed back into my own body and felt a sigh of relief. Then opposite me in the compartment was Shamus who told me this story.

Shamus had in his sleep a dream which showed that I was in danger. The man in London that had been watching me through the video camera's was going to stop me from going to Leeds. He did not want me to buy the dolls house and set the fairies free. Neither the man or the woman could possibly know that shamus had, had this dream and reported it to the Fairy Queen, Feeana. The Fairy Queen was with me right through the journey. As she thought it necessary she had changed me first into Shamus then into a strange young man to fool the man and woman and keep me safe. It was her Majesty that had caused the shillelagh to spring over my head and save me from the knife attack by the woman.

I was pleased that Shamus had the dream he had saved me from a nasty situation through his deja Vue of the attack on my person. At Home in my own house Shamus, Her Majesty and I opened the front of the dolls house and with a wave of her wand Her Majesty freed all of the Fairies that were in the dolls house

Destiny.

The way was long, I should have gone by train to my destination but I was asked to do the journey on foot. I am too heavy as it is and decided that the walking would help to get rid of a few spare kilograms. I was walking across the Salisbury Plains and had just passed Stonehenge when I got caught in one of those sudden rain showers. I quickly took out my plastic cape and threw it over my shoulders when I saw a very strange sight.

A procession of Druids and young girls came slowly towards me. I stopped. I did not want to miss any of what promised to be a thrilling encounter. As they got nearer I saw the Fairies for the first time. They looked as if they were escorting this strange procession. The Fairies flew very low over the Druids and the Maidens some of them were playing a delicate music on their flutes.

I decided to follow them to see where they were going. They went straight to Stonehenge. All the stones were complete and formed a circle, not like today, where some stones are missing. The procession passed into the circle of stones, the maidens sat one under each stone archway with the Druids in the middle. The flutes stopped playing and one of the Druids took out from his gown a roll of parchment from which he began to read in a singsong kind of voice.

The Fairies were now flying around the chief Druid and seemed to be listening to his words that he read from the parchment. Then each Fairy took a maiden by the hand and led her around a large stone that was in the middle of the circle. The Druid raised a small stick that looked very much like a Fairy wand and pointed it at each maiden in turn. A shower of brightly coloured sparks came from the wand and each of the maidens smiled as if they were seeing something special.

The Maidens now sat in a small circle with a fairy sitting on each Maids shoulders. The Fairies were now chanting while the Druids went back to where they had come from. I was still watching and saw that the Maidens were shrinking. Soon they were as small as the Fairies. Then the flutes started playing some more of the sweet music and as I watched each of the now small maidens had grown a pair of wings. Then all flew off together out of my sight and I continued on my journey with the rain now stopped.

I arrived at my destination after having spent the night in my small one-man tent. The town of Bridley was my destination and I was pleased to have arrived safely. I was soon sitting in front of a large fire that was burning in the old fashioned fireplace with a large cup of herbal tea clutched in my hands. My host was a friend from long standing and soon I was telling him my experience on the Salisbury Plains. He himself has had many experiences of weird and wonderful things on this Earth of ours that he believed what I told him without a query.

The next day I started my journey back home and decided that I would walk back as it would do me good. Going over the Salisbury Plain I realised that something was different on my journey to Bridley there was no noise of traffic. As I approached Stonehenge I saw from a distance that some of the huge stones were missing also on my way out to Bridley there were no fences now I had to walk quite a way to get round the fencing that was covering the area of Stonehenge. This time it did not rain and I saw no procession of Druids and Maidens no Fairies it was just myself walking. I now began to wonder whether what I had seen had been a hallucination. Was I beginning to see things that were not there? Was I under the influence of the Fairies? A lot of questions that I had to think about, on my long walk home to Dartford Heath which I arrived at just before midnight I had been on the way for four and a half days of quick walking.

The next day I went into the woods and saw Her Majesty Queen Feeana coming towards me. "Good Morning Your Highness," I said and after Her Majesties greetings to me, I told her of my experiences on the Salisbury Plains. "I watched over you myself," said Her Majesty. " I wanted for you to see where we used to get the young Fairies from when we were at peace with the human race. The Druids and the Fairies were once strongly bound by magic ties. Then gold turned men's thoughts of how to get this metal that we Fairies only occasionally use."

Since them man has gone his own way and even the Druids who were once very learned men have nearly disappeared. To find young Maidens now for them to become fairies is impossible. It is sad but very true.

Discipline.

Long ago in Fairyland there was a fairy that would not behave her self. Whatever she was asked to do, she refused and went off to play or what is worse to do some damage. The wise old fairies had warned her many times but she ignored all of their warnings and misbehaved and was in fact a general nuisance. This would not have been so bad but she talked other fairies into doing what ever she did wrong. The Fairy Queen of that time decided to talk to the fairy to see whether she could get her to change her ways. Even the Queen could not make her see the senselessness of her doings. The fairy whose name is never spoken in Fairyland told Her Majesty that she would do exactly as she pleased it was none of Her Majesties business. No one had ever spoken to the Queen in this way before and Her Majesty decided to teach the fairy a lesson. Pointing her magic wand at the fairy she spoke in the old language and the fairies wings melted away. Then the fairy grew to be the size of a human being. "You will never be allowed to enjoy all the rights and privileges of the fairies anymore. Go out into the world of the humans you are no longer welcome in Fairyland." The change in the fairy was so great that she could hardly walk, her first steps as a human made her look ridiculous. Without her wings she had no sense of balance and not one of the fairies offered to help her. Off she went never to be seen again.

Some thirty years later a woman appeared in Fairyland, she was harmless and collected herbs and berries, nuts and mushrooms. The fairies on seeing the woman felt sorry for her and often showed the woman where the best berries and nuts and herbs were to be found. They even showed her where to dig for the roots that she needed to make her lotions and potions. One day one of the fairies became very ill. The fairy had a very high temperature and the wise old fairies came and gave her different herbal mixtures but the fever just would not go away. Each night the fairies took it in turn to watch by her bed, one day after another went by and the fairy became worse and lost weight. The wise old fairies did not know what to try next and one of the younger fairies made the suggestion that the woman that collected herbs and other growing things in the woods should be asked whether she could help.

The fairies looked for the woman then they found her sitting under an old oak tree. Telling the woman about the very ill fairy she asked if she could see her and perhaps be of help in making the fairy well again. The fairies took the woman in their midst and off they went to the fairy hospital where the fairy lay very ill in bed. The woman examined the fairy looking very carefully at her tongue and in her mouth. Taking a glass bottle from her bag she poured a few drops of the liquid onto the fairies tongue. "Now we can only wait," she said. Slowly the fairy that was so ill opened her eyes and asked where she was. The woman gave her some more drops in her mouth and told the wise old fairies to feed her with plenty of honey. The women went away and the fairies told Her Majesty the Queen about the woman's help. The fairy is now up and going about her little duties in the woods. Her Majesty said that she would like to see the woman that had been so kind as to help a fairy. Out swarmed all of the fairies looking for the woman. They finally found her sitting again under the old oak tree, which seemed to be one of her favourite places. Taking the woman by the hand the fairies took her to see Her Majesty the Queen.

Her Majesty on seeing the woman smiled and said these words. "I see that you have learned very much since I turned you into a human, now you have helped a fairy without any wanting of reward." " I will turn you back into the fairy that you once were, the only difference will be that you will keep your knowledge and your wanting to help." With a wave of her wand and a few words in the old fairy language and the woman turned into a fairy again. Her wings grew and with a thank you to Her Majesty she flew high up into the air and landed gracefully on her feet. She with her vast amount of healing knowledge is now one of the wise old fairies. All is well in Fairyland as I write this little story.

Distant Cousin.

There was a light on in my Cousin's house and I was thankful when he answered my knock on the door and let me in out of the weather. My Cousin gave me a towel to wipe my head and my hands and soon I was sipping a strong hot cup of tea well sugared. My Cousin waited until I had finished my tea and then told me this strange story. He was being followed wherever he went. There was no one to be seen and he at first thought that he was imagining things. Then an attempt to burgle his house took place. Someone had tried to break in through the back door but fortunately he had some strong bolts on both front and back door that he pushed into position before going to bed.

I had with me a small piece of the magic mirror that her majesty Queen Feeana had given me. Looking into the mirror I saw that my Cousin's house contained a book that was badly wanted by a practising Wizard. This book held knowledge of herbs that could be used to make things disappear. My Cousin had found the book at one of the old bookshops that he haunted he was an avid reader and could always be found in or near such bookshops.

Doom Dream.

It is Sunday morning, I love Sundays it means that I can have a long lay in. My bed is extra warm and I snuggle back between the sheets. I had on the previous night set the (tea's maid,) tea-making machine, to make a cup of tea at ten o'clock. Normally as I might have told you all I get up each day at seven o'clock. I usually wash and shave and get ready for the day. Sundays I just want to lie in my warm snug bed and doze. I have some very good dreams while I lay in the extra three hours. This dream though I cannot be sure that I dreamt it or did I actually live through it. I will let you all decide.

I am in the middle of Fairyland there is a warm breeze blowing and most of the animals were laying in the shade. It is a very hot day and I can feel the pearls of sweat that run down my brow. From a distance I could hear the beat of drums, Boom! Boom! Boom! The noise came nearer and I began to wonder who or what on earth is making such a noise. Then into my view came three Leprechauns it was they that were banging on the drum that each one carried.

As they saw me they stopped their banging and came nearer. The first spoke in a loud clear voice, "We are here to warn the Peoples of Fairyland that the Wizard Magoricum is going to invade Fairyland with a plague that is so terrible that it will wipe out all life. There will be no trees, no bushes, no flowers, no animals or other living creatures. Fairyland will not exist any more. In its place there will be one big desert.

This was terrible news and I immediately set off to Her Majesty's cottage that was hidden deep in the woods. Her Majesty was not surprised to see me she smiled and made me welcome with a glass of her most excellent parsnip wine. I told Her Majesty my bad news and she told me that she already had heard the news one of the robins had brought her the message just before I had arrived. On the table in front of her, Her Royal Majesty had placed the Magic mirror. She asked me to look into the mirror.

In the mirror I saw Magoricum a powerful Wizard sitting in a large cave, In the middle of the cave he had a tripod on which was hanging a large pot under the pot burnt a fire. In the pot he threw from time to time strange packets that held powder in various colours. In another corner I saw three mice each had a drum strapped to its belly and Boom! Boom! Boom! Just like the three Leprechauns. I did not hear them speaking just the booming of the drums.

I looked at the three Leprechauns again and saw that they were fading and then coming back into view. The Wizard Magoricum did not have complete control of the mice and that is why the Leprechauns kept fading. The noise from the drums though was very real and hurt the ears. Taking some cotton wool from my pocket I opened the packet and gave some to Her Majesty I also placed two plugs of cotton wool in my own ears. Turning back to the Wizard Magoricum I saw him drop some liquid into the Saucepan and then it happened a large explosion shook the cave and the Wizard and Mice disappeared.

" Did you do something Your Majesty?" I asked, "No came the answer whatever he dropped into the saucepan caused the explosion." We continued looking into the mirror but Magoricum was nowhere to be seen. The three Leprechauns had also vanished and taking the cotton wool from our ears. There was a silence that nearly hurt after the booming of the drums.

Taking me by the Hand her Majesty waved her magic wand and we were in the Wizard Magoricum's cave. We both looked carefully into every part of the cave but there were no Mice. No Wizard, all was peaceful. Then I saw an old book of magic that was lying under the table it had probably fallen there after the explosion. Her Majesty read the page and written on to it were directions for making a wasted desert. " He made a mistake," said her Majesty. "He should not have dropped the liquid into the saucepan until it had cooled down." "This book is too dangerous to be left lying around I will destroy it." Waving her Magic wand once again the book slowly burnt to ash.

My (Tea's maid) awoke me at ten o'clock. I poured myself a cup of tea and sugared it with two spoons full of sugar and pouring a little milk into the cup I drank my tea and thought about what I had dreamt or did I dream the little story that I have just written for you all to read.

Dragon Eggs.

Dragonfly.

It is not often that one sees the wise old fairies sitting in a fairy ring.

Last Wednesday as I was taking my daily walk with my dog Wag, I saw this

unusual sight. The wise old fairies were sitting and seemed to be waiting

for something or some one. I decided to watch knowing that the wise old

fairies would not be sitting in this ring just to pass the time of day. As I

watched; suddenly as if from nowhere appeared a Dragonfly, I have never seen

such a big and most beautiful Dragonfly. The wings one could see through

and the long body was of a most wonderful colour. Wag cocked up his ears and

let out a short sharp bark as if he was greeting some one. Wag's bark did

not appear to upset the wise old fairies or the Dragonfly. The Dragonfly was

motionless apart from its wings it too seemed to be waiting for something to

happen.

A movement in the bushes caught my attention, I saw a man with a butterfly

net and wondered what he was doing in the woods that are part of Fairyland.

Walking towards him with Wag at my heels I greeted the man and asked him why

he needed a butterfly net in the woods, most butterflies were in the open

looking for flowers to eat the nectar. The man said, "No I am an

entomologist, I look for insects and other creatures that capture my

attention, I draw pictures and write notes in my notebook and then when I

have time I write another book." "I can't stop now as I am following one of

the biggest and prettiest Dragonflies that I have ever seen."

The man took a few steps toward the fairy ring; he could see the Dragonfly

but not the wise old fairies. On seeing the man the wise old fairies took

out their magic wands and pointed them at the man. The man who called

himself an entomologist had only eyes for the pretty Dragonfly and did not

know that he was in danger. Suddenly the Dragonfly disappeared and I saw it

behind the man. The wise old fairies lowered and put away their wands. The

man that studied insects looked very disappointed and walked on with a nod

to me, I returned his nod and the dragonfly flew towards me suddenly there

was blue flash and a whiff of smoke and Her Majesty was before me floating

in the air.

Smiling at me she said that she was in no danger and the wise old fairies

were waiting for a message that Her Majesty then proceeded to tell the wise

old fairies. Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies proceeded

to tell the waiting wise old fairies about the state of things in Fairyland.

Her Majesty in the shape of a Dragonfly had been flying all over Fairyland

listening to the little peoples. Her Majesty heard about many things that

were not right in her Fairyland. The Leprechauns complained of the lack of

flowers and the many colours that used to be. Others of the little people

such as the Trolls and the Pixies also thought that the fairies were not

doing their work properly as they should have done. The main complaint was

the lack of flowers that grew in the spring right through to the autumn.

Her Majesty sounded sad as she told the wise old fairies about how the

fairies were neglecting their work and of flowers that were shoddily

produced. The lack of berries and nuts and all of the other things that once

grew so well in the past years, why even the leaves on the trees were not

always green and healthy. The wise old fairies on hearing this bad news

asked Her Majesty what would be the best thing to do to get things back into

order. Her Majesty thought for a few minutes then came this answer from her

lips. "The fairies have lost the pride that they once had when they had

worked well and produced so many wild flowers of so many different colours."

"We must teach them all once again how good it is to produce all of the

things that go into making nature what it is." "All fairies must go back to

school again no matter how old or how young they are and all will be taught

once again to work well, and most important that they take pride once more

in what they do to help Mother Nature.

The following year Nature outdid itself. The spring flowers were so abundant

and so lovely to look at that many people wondered what had brought about

such a wonderful change. There were many guesses, quite a few experts said

that it was all due to the weather or the fairly warm winter, not many gave

a thought to the fairies and all of the hard work and love that they had put

into their work. The fairies now walk around with smiling faces and all are

proud of the work they have done. I have not seen the Dragonfly again, it is

not often that Her Majesty changes into an insect to find out what is

happening in Fairyland and I was thrilled that I had seen the biggest and

prettiest Dragonfly in the world.

Dragon's Tail.

Once upon a time, long, long, ago there lived a Dragon. The Dragon was young and rather silly. I have a tail but of what use is a tail to me? With my wings I can fly. With my legs I can run and walk. But a tail is so obviously useless. Why do I have this long thing dragging behind me? It slows me down and is more weight to carry when I fly.

One day a powerful Wizard came by and heard the Dragon lamenting over his tail. Listening to his moaning for a few minutes the Wizard made the Dragon this proposal. "If you give me your old scaly skin that I need for my magic spells I will cut off your tail and you will not have to carry it wherever you go." The Dragon thought for a few minutes and agreed. Shedding his old skin with its many scales he gave it to the Wizard.

The Wizard kept his part of the bargain and cut off the Dragon's tail. There was no blood the tail had been cut off with one wave of the Wizards magic wand. It was a strange feeling for the Dragon not to have a tail. First when he tried to fly he could not steer, his tail was the steering part of his body. When he walked or ran his tailless body fell from side to side. All in all he was in a very sorry state. He could not fly properly or even walk or run. What should he do? He could not grow a new tail and there was no one to help him.

The Dragon now lamented even more loudly complaining that he had no tail. A Fairy heard his loud cries and went to the Fairy Queen Feeana and told her about the poor Dragon that was so unhappy about not having a tail. Her Majesty looked in her magic mirror and saw all that had happened, the dragons lament about his tail, of the Wizard that wanted the scaly skin of the Dragon. The Queen thought about it for a while and then decided that the Dragon had been so silly to have his tail cut off by the Wizard that he should remain like it for a whole month. It might teach him a lesson.

Her Majesty kept an eye on the Dragon and after one whole month she went to see him. "I will give you a new tail if you can convince me that you need one." said her Majesty. "Your Majesty I cannot walk or run like I used to be able to do, I cannot fly and I am having difficulty reaching for food in the branches of the high trees. I was so silly in getting the Wizard to cut off my tail and I would give anything to have my tail again."

Her Majesty thought for a moment or two and said," you shall have a new tail, on one condition. When I have given you your tail I will send you to another planet where all creatures that have been badly treated on this earth now live. There you will live in peace with many more of your kind and you will in future never again complain about your tail." The Dragon on hearing Her Majesty's words was very happy and promised that he would never more complain about his body."

Her Majesty took out her magic wand and waved it. The Dragon was covered for a few seconds in a bright blue light. When the light was gone there stood the dragon with his new tail. He was delighted and thanked Her Majesty then with a leap he flew high into the air. Landing in a graceful dive he thanked Her Majesty again. Now he felt like a real Dragon again and was very happy.

True to her word, Her Majesty then sent the Dragon to another planet where it lived a long, long life and never once did it complain about its tail. In the country where it now lives there are no such things as Wizards that want the magic scales of the dragon's scaly skin. So no other Dragons lament over a tail that is very necessary for Dragons.

Dragon's Tears.

As I am writing this short story the first snow of winter is falling. The ground is covered in white and I am looking at the falling snowflakes from the comfort of my old arm-chair before a fire of logs that give off a crackling sound as they slowly burn to a bright red ash. Occasionally I place another log onto the fire and look out of my window pleased that I do not have to go out into the snow. The flakes are now more intense and the snow has covered the garden all in white even the bushes have a white overcoat. The most important thing is the silence; it is as if all sounds that one normally hears are gone. I remember wondering what happened to the roar of traffic that one hears from the not too distant motorway.

The last thing I remember is the crackle of a burning log. Dropping off into a doze I found myself in a far distant land. Here there was no snow just thick lush grass waiting to be cut for the winters hay. Peeping through the grass were numerous flowers. I remember thinking that they would make a good bouquet for my dining table. Trees filled with ripening fruits were all around the hay field these seemed to be basking in the afternoon sun. I heard the voices coming as if from far away. At first I did not think that they were voices but part of the afternoon sounds that one hears in the countryside.

The sounds continued. It was the Fairies and a Dragon. The Fairies were carefully collecting the teardrops that were running down the Dragons face. Dragon's tears are very important for the casting of certain spells. To get the tears the Fairies have to tell the Dragon some very sad stories. Sometimes even these sad stories do not always work. It is very difficult to get Dragons tears and the Fairies use a trick they get the Dragon to peel onions, many onions this always works and the Fairies too, cry for there is nothing like peeling onions to make the eye's water.

One small bucket after another was slowly filled with Dragon's tears and these the Fairies poured into special bottle as each bottle was filled it was sent by means of the Fairies magic wands to the place where the wise old Fairies looked after all of the herbs and magic things that were stored there ready for use when needed. As the Dragon saw me it cried even more. This delighted the Fairies that were collecting the teardrops and they asked me to tell the Dragon a sad story. I agreed and told the Dragon this, my following little story.

A long, long time ago when there were many Dragons in this world, a young Knight in shining armour killed a Dragon. No not a full-grown Dragon just a young baby, one might say. The Parents of this baby Dragon swore revenge on this young Knight that had killed their only child. They followed the Knight, day after day, always one day behind him. The knight became very famous as a slayer of Dragons. As I told the Dragon my story the tears rolled down from his eyes onto its cheeks and then into the Fairies buckets.

The name of the young Knight was Mortimore. Mortimore the Brave he was called by all of the people he killed one Dragon nearly every day. My Dragon cried and cried. The Fairies then told me that they had enough Dragons tear drops for the wise old Fairies and that I could now end my story. I told the Dragon that at last the parents of the baby Dragon caught up with Mortimore the Knight and attacked him from both front and back. Mortimore had no chance and the two angry Dragons killed him and left him there for all to see. The once proud Mortimore that had killed hundreds of Dragons was now dead killed by the parents of the baby Dragon that he had first killed.

On hearing this, my Dragon stopped crying and started to boast about how good Dragons were and how bad the knights were. I then told the Dragon that I had made the story up for him so that the Fairies could get more of his teardrops, which were more famous than the Dragons that had killed Mortimore. With the teardrops one could make medicines or make magic spells that were very useful for all on this earth whether they be animal or human or Fairies. It was better to shed a few tears to do some good than to kill someone for revenge no matter what they have done on this earth.

The Fairies sent the Dragon to China where it still lives in a very remote valley to this very day. It does not cry any more but sometimes sighs as he remembers how he gave the Fairies his tears for medicine and magic. This always cheers him up and he walks the valley with his head held up on high.

I woke about five o'clock in time to place more logs on to the fire then to boil the kettle for my evening tea. I happened to look into the mirror and what do you know my eyes were very red rimmed as if I had been crying. I put it down to the logs that I had been burning perhaps they gave off some smoke that got into my eyes or indeed was I perhaps that Dragon that had given off so many tears for the Fairies. I do not know dreams are funny things to try and take apart.

Dragon's Tooth.

The ingredients for this cure were fairly simple and could be found in most woods or in the countryside. Just one thing was not available and that was the powder from a young Dragon's tooth. There were no Dragon's teeth to be found anywhere in the world. Even in ancient China where Dragons unto this very day are honoured, there were no teeth to be found.

A very big Grizzly Bear was found and asked if he would pull the tooth from the Dragon's jaw. The fairies promised him plenty of honey if he would come with them. Finally the Grizzly Bear agreed and the fairies spirited him back to our part of Fairyland. The tooth was soon pulled by the bear and was carefully taken by the wise old fairies to grind down in powder so that a cure could be made for the animals and birds.

Dragon Wash.

It is time to wash the Dragon its scales are getting rusty and it has at least two years to go before it peels off the old skin and a new one appears. This is just the job that the Fairies love to do. They have great fun and the Dragon always feels fresher after a scrub by the Fairies. For two whole weeks the Fairies have been preparing an ointment that slides under the dragons scales. Everyone knows that Dragon have scales that keep them fairly safe from attack from above it is their tummies that are most liable to be hurt that is why it is so important for its scales to be clean.

The ointment that the Fairies use is made of daisy petals. These petals the Fairies have been collecting for weeks and the wise old Fairies have been busy mixing the petals with oils and other herbs. The ointment is boiled for hours on end to make the skin or scales of the Dragon slippery. First the Dragon is scrubbed with soap and water. The Fairies each have a long scrubbing brush on the end of a pole, buckets of warm water are thrown over the Dragon and then the soap is applied. The soap has brimstone in it to help get the deep dirt from out of the Dragons scales. Once the Dragon has been thoroughly washed with brimstone soap it has buckets of warm water thrown over it to wash off the soap.

The Fairies wear protective clothing, which sometimes hampers them in their work of washing the Dragon but all have great fun and I spent one whole day watching them clean the Dragon. When the dragon was clean enough out came the large pots of daisy petal ointment. The fairies threw the ointment onto the Dragons back and with cloths made from spiders webs they rubbed the ointment deep into the scales making sure that ointment got under each scale to help keep it supple. The Dragon now enjoyed the ointment treatment and kept blowing off sparks from its nose to show how much he appreciated the Fairies taking care of him.

When all was finished the Fairies called the Fairy Queen Feeana to inspect their work. The Queen was delighted at how smart the Dragon now looked and called out that in the evening a dance was to take place and of course all of the Fairies were invited and yes the Dragon too was invited as a guest of honour. The Fairies put away all of their brushes and pots and all the ointment that was left was taken to the wise old Fairies store place for future use. The buckets and scrubbers were put back in a secret cave that only the Fairies knew about and then all went home to get ready for the evenings dance. I too have been invited and hurried home to have a shower and a shave before putting on my olive green suit that I wanted to wear at the dance.

At a quarter to ten in the evening I made my way into the woods. All of the little folk were there. Pixies, Imps, Trolls, Leprechauns and a few more all were dressed in their best clothes and it promised to be another wonderful evening full of dancing and singing. The orchestra were sitting on a large raised wooden platform and were tuning their instruments. The Dragon escorted by some Fairies looked resplendent in his now shining scaly body. Then in her usual fashion Queen Feeana arrived in a puff of smoke and a bright blue flash. The leader of the orchestra bowed to Her Majesty and the musicians all stood to welcome the Queen of all the fairies.

Her Majesty gave a signal and the orchestra played a waltz soon most of the little people were dancing. Some of the Fairies were offering the sweet little cakes that are so famous. Soon I too was eating and drinking of the Parsnip wine. The orchestra then played a polka. Things had got off to a fine start and all of the little people were dancing or eating and all were drinking and having a very good time. Then it happened a cloud blew across the sky and the moonlight was hidden from the dancers and the orchestra.

From the cloud came a black powder that settled on the Dragon, it looked terrible, worse than when the Fairies first started to scrub him. Her Majesty quickly drew her magic wand from her dress and pointed it at the cloud a flash of light and the cloud parted and the moonlight streamed down on the dance floor. Looking up I saw a magician it was he that had poured the black powder over the poor Dragon. Her Majesty waved her wand once more and the magician turned into a shooting star and went sailing across the night sky. In the distance we heard a thump as if something heavy had hit the ground. "That is the last we will ever see or hear of him." Said Her Majesty.

Her Majesty turned to the Dragon and was going to wave her magic wand once again." Your Majesty." I heard myself say, " I and the Fairies will clean him up on the morning." Her Majesty smiled and said, "So be it." Yes the next morning I and most of the little folk was there in the woods to clean our Dragon. Even the Leprechauns helped and we all had a great lot of fun. It is a pity that you do not live near me, I am sure the Fairies would love to welcome you to play with them.

Dream Stones.

Just off Chapel Market there is a small second hand shop that sells nearly everything that one could wish for. It was here that I saw the stones for the first time. Five flat stones off white in colour thrown into the shop's window as if in afterthought. I was I must admit very curious as to what the five white stones were supposed to represent. I thought at first a kind of talisman or even for the old children's game of 'five stones.' I went into the shop and asked the man behind the counter what the stones were for. Oh! You mean the dream stones. I was very much surprised at this answer and looking questioningly at the man I waited for some more explanation.

Those five stones have been in my shop window since before the war. I was a small boy when the man an African came into my Dad's shop and offered to sell him the stones. He told my Dad that the stones would bring sleep to a troubled mind if placed under the pillow before one went to sleep. My Dad has heard so many stories from people bringing in things to sell that he gave the man what in those days was a lot of money two pence for the stones. My Mum gave him a telling off fancy giving two whole pence for five stones that one could pick up on any beach by the sea-side.

I asked if I could buy the stones as they were by now fascinating me and I wanted to see whether there was any truth in calling them 'Dream Stones.' The man sold me the five stones for exactly two pence the same money that his Father had paid for them. I thanked him and left the shop and wandered off into Chapel Market road where I caught a taxi to Charring Cross station and took the train to my home town of Dartford .

I arranged the stones in a glass jar next to my small collection of sea-shells they looked quite pretty standing next to the shells. Then I must admit I forgot them altogether for a long time. I had a friendly Leprechaun staying with me for a while and it was he that drew my attention to the stones. I told him my story of how I bought them in a second hand shop in the Chapel Market in North London . I also told him the story of them being 'Dream Stones,' as it was told to me by the shop owner.

The Leprechaun who was an expert on stones carefully looked them over and told me that these stones had originally come from Africa where they were very much treasured. Many people believed in them being 'Dream Stones.' Many African houses had stones similar to these in their bedrooms. Other people had bored holes in the stones and wore them around their necks as bringers of luck.

Duck?

It was on a Saturday I had finished weeding my back garden and had made myself comfortable in my old wheelbarrow. I have a couple of old cushions in the wheelbarrow and it is very comfortable. I must have dozed off, for suddenly I heard a faint plop. Opening my eyes I saw that a wild duck had landed on one of my flowerbeds. It looked helpless as it struggled to get free of the flowers. I felt sorry for the poor thing and got up out of my wheelbarrow and freed the Duck from the tall flowers.

The duck gave off a couple of quacks as if it was greeting me. Going into my kitchen I got a few scraps of bread and placed them in front of the Duck on the ground. It quacked once again and started to eat the bread. After it had fed I placed a bowl with some fresh water for it to drink. I left the Duck in my back garden thinking that it would fly away whenever it was ready.

Imagine my surprise when I looked in the back garden and saw the Duck it had stayed over night in my garden. I got a few more scraps and gave it to the Duck. It not only ate the scraps but had also eaten some of my lettuce. I did not mind as I always grow more lettuce that I need. I sat once again on my wheelbarrow and the Duck kept its eyes on me. Then I had an idea. I got an old tin bath that I use to bath my Dog Wag in. Filling the bath with water I once again sat on my wheelbarrow and watched.

The duck waddled over to the bath then with a slight spring it was floating in the water and looked very happy. I went indoors and telephoned a friend of mine and asked him what ducks need to eat. They will eat all kinds of insects and slugs and even snails came back the answer. I was then a little more at ease a few bread scraps and the insects in the garden would keep it from going hungry.

Every time the Duck saw me it quacked as if greeting me. I soon got used to the idea of a duck in my back garden and the days went slowly by. I occasionally changed the water in the old tin bath and Wag my old dog, I started to bath in my bathroom, that way the duck was not disturbed. Things went on like this for over a month and the duck had definitely settled in, in my garden.

I noticed that whenever it rained the duck would make for shelter in my old garden hut. It somehow did not like the rain. I was wondering if the duck was in any way ill as a wild duck does not usually stop over in a back garden, I have seen them in parks and on rivers, The duck did not lay any eggs and seemed quite happy with the arrangements that I had made for it.

After a couple of months had gone by I got a shock, for as I was sitting in my wheelbarrow the duck hopped out of the old tin bath shook itself then it preened its feathers and came waddling over to where I was sitting. It quacked three times and then to my surprise it turned into Her Majesty The Fairy Queen Feeana. "I have tested you Mr. Shaw, I just wanted to be sure that you are kind to all animals not just to your dog wag. You have passed my test with flying colours."

Pointing her magic wand into a corner of my garden she spoke some words in the old language and a large pond appeared. In the pond were a dozen or more ducks swimming. "I know by reading your thoughts that you have always wanted a pond in your garden and if you look closely you will see that there are fish swimming around." Her Majesty had really fulfilled my wish but that was not all I suddenly held in my hands an invitation to the Annual Fairy Ball.

I looked forward to the Fairy Ball as the music is wonderful and is just right for dancing. The Fairies all come dressed in their best clothes and the orchestra have some very queer looking instruments, Some of them blow others have a stick with string and scrape it up and down on wires. The music is just wonderful. I too enjoy the Fairy cakes, which are made with plenty of honey.

During the Ball I danced a couple of dances with Her Majesty then just before daylight the orchestra stopped playing on a signal fro The Queen and I was presented with a pair of porcelain ducks, One Drake that is the male duck which is coloured and the other a female like the duck in my back garden. The female Duck is light brown in colour and they make a nice ornament on my sideboard. The dancing finished at the break of day and we all went home. The Fairies all went to Fairyland and I to my four-poster bed. I slept well and had a wonderful dream about ducks in my garden.

Dust For Gold.

The creaking of the rocking chair as it swung to and fro made delightful background music. In the chair sat a white haired elderly woman. The room was dirty and needed a fresh coat of paint. Dust is everywhere; on the table and chairs even the floor is covered in dust. One could see the marks that the woman made as she went around the room. Imprints of her feet were everywhere to be found and the room had definitely not seen a duster or broom for a very long time. Light came in from the low window that showed signs of neglect and needed cleaning badly.

In the hearth burnt a small fire. By the side of the fire cut logs ready for burning. All in all, the room was, apart from the neglect comfortable enough. A wooden Welsh dresser stood against one wall and was filled with china plates and cups and saucers. In one corner was the woman's bed; untidy it had not been made up ready for the night. The woman is humming some old song that she had been taught as a young girl. Standing in the other corner was a very old spinning wheel. The spinning wheel is well looked after and the wooden frame is highly polished. This spinning wheel is used every day.

The women stood up and stretched and her bent back straightened and her face became young. Golden strands of long lovely hair replaced her grey hair. The change was something that I have never seen before. This woman had a secret and I am determined to find out what the secret is. If you look for me in the room you will only see the items that I have mentioned and a large copper bowl. I am the copper bowl. I was sent here to this cottage to find out what went on by day the women sat and rocked in her chair she was old and untidy.

As soon as it becomes dark there is a change; the woman turns into a young lovely girl. Going to the spinning wheel she turned the wheel and started spinning dust. Yes dust. I myself could hardly believe it but as she sat and spun the dust turned into a golden thread that she caught on the spindle. The woman was spinning gold from dust. As the night wore on she had a huge pile of spun gold thread. I heard the noise of a horse outside of the cottage. A man entered and without a word he gathered up the gold and left as silently as he had come.

As soon as the man had left the girl washed herself in the copper bowl and left the cottage. I changed myself back into a shadow and followed her. She went to the nearby woods. Here she changed yet again from the lovely young woman to a beautiful Fairy complete with wings that could have been made from the gold thread spun from dust. The Fairy played with the other Fairies until dawn then she changed back into a young woman and went back to her cottage here she changed again back to the elderly woman. Sitting in the rocking chair and humming the age old tune that she had learned as a girl.

I now knew what went on inside of the house but I had yet to find the reason for her Changes and for the gold that she spun. I decided that on this night when the man came to collect the gold thread I would follow him perhaps then I could find out the secrets of the house and the two people involved I stayed the whole day as a copper bowl and waited for the man to appear. All happened as it had done the day before. The old woman rocked in her chair and then as it got dark she changed into a young girl and started spinning dust into gold.

I heard the horse gallop up to the house and the man picked up the spun gold. I slipped out of the house and as the man came out with the spun gold I followed him. Luckily for me the man's horse trotted slowly enough for me to follow. Through the woods to a house that had seen better days here he dismounted from his horse who trotted off to a shack which was its housing. I followed the man into the house I wore my invisible cloak and he placed the spun gold into a small furnace and melted the gold into a bar. The bar of gold he placed in a box under his bed.

Taking some hair from a comb that was laying on a table I left the house and went to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. I explained my story to her and gave her the hair from the comb. Her Majesty placed the hair on to her magic mirror and we saw the following pictures. The man had caught a Fairy and because she would not tell him any of the Fairy secrets he cast a spell. The Fairy would by day become an old woman sitting in a rocking chair by night if she spun enough gold she could go back into the woods and be with the other Fairies.

The gold she must spin from dust. The Fairy of course had to use magic to get the dust to become gold thread and it was this gold that the greedy man was storing in a box under his bed. Both Her Majesty and I said that this must stop at once and the man who was a Wizard should lose all of the gold and become a poor man without his knowledge of working spells. In this way all Fairies in future would be safe and the man being poor would have to work hard for his living. Her Majesty waved her wand and the Fairy appeared before us. She thanked Her Majesty for setting her free and me for my help.

The wizard was now a very poor man and he had to chop down trees and cut it into firewood to make a living. He was a very lucky man Her Majesty could have turned him into a stone block. The cottage with the spinning wheel burnt down. A spark that flew from the fire touched the logs of wood to the side of the fire. The cottage burned down with all of its contents. The fire destroyed the spinning wheel and no more gold could be spun from dust.

Earrings.

All fairies possess jewellery, some of which is very valuable. Fairies very seldom wear their jewellery, as the danger of loosing it is very great, apart from that when the fairies are working it usually gets in the way. Imagine my surprise when one day, as I was walking through fairyland every fairy that I met was wearing a set of new earrings. Not the expensive earrings that I have sometimes seen them wear, these were a very cheap set that looked as if someone had used some coloured small balls to make the rings. Sticking out of the coloured balls were a couple of pieces of small wire. The fairies were obviously delighted with their new earrings that I forgot to ask them where they came from.

All went well for about a week; soon all of the fairies were wearing the new earrings it was then that I began to notice small changes in Fairyland. Instead of blackberries on the bramble bushes there were hazel nuts, on some of the bushes there were berries that never grew on bushes. Soon the whole of fairyland had new fruits growing on old shrubs and flowers appeared on trees that had never in the history of man grown flowers. Everything was in turmoil; I contacted Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies and told her about all the strange things that were happening in Fairyland.

Her Majesty looked for herself at all of the strange things. Her Majesty was amazed that so many things could go wrong at the same time. Her Majesty called together all of the Fairies both boys and girls. It was then that I noticed that both the girls and the boy fairies were wearing the cheap earrings. Her Majesty also noticed the earrings and asked the fairies where they had gotten them from. The fairies answered in chorus, from the old lady that came into Fairyland two weeks ago. "What did you have to give or do to get the earrings", Asked her Majesty. The answer was, "nothing the lady in black gave them to us for nothing, and all we had to do was to promise to wear them for one whole month."

Her Majesty took from her pocket a large magic mirror; on the mirror she placed the earrings that she had been given by one of the fairies. The earrings fell to pieces and I could see that the earrings were in reality small electric microphones. The woman dressed in black that had given the fairies the earrings was in reality an old witch. The witch wanted to confuse the whole of fairyland by causing the fairies to do their work in such a way that berries and nuts and other things grew where no one would expect them to grow. Her Majesty called out in a loud voice so that all of the fairies could hear her, everyone take off the earrings at once. Now she continued place the earrings on the ground and stamp on them until they are broken and can be of no more use. The fairies did as they were told and soon there were no more earrings to be seen.

Her Majesty took from her breast pocket her magic wand and waving her wand she spun around in a circle. From the wand came a series of blue sparks and everywhere in Fairyland all the strange fruits and other things that had gone wrong were put back in order. Her Majesty turned next to the waiting fairies. "I have told you all before not to take presents from strangers, Have you all forgotten what happens when you take things into your own hands, everywhere in Fairyland there is chaos. Think about the wild animals and the birds and insects that are in our care. You all have a responsibility to look after these creatures. Without your work there would be no fruits and no nuts. All would go hungry. In future no one is to take a present from a stranger without first asking one of the wise old fairies if it is safe to do so.

Her Majesty took her wand once more in her hand and another shower of sparks appeared from the tip of the wand. In the middle of all the fairies there appeared the old witch. Take one good look at this woman before I turn her into a useful creature that will be able to help all. A wave of the wand and the old witch turned into a donkey and gave a series of loud brays from her now donkey's mouth. The fairies were all looking uncomfortable at the old witch now being a donkey. Her Majesty told them all that the donkey needed no sympathy and that the punishment was just. If the donkey wanted to stay in fairyland it may but on hearing these words the donkey ran off in to the woods and was never seen again. Remember what the Queen told the Fairies, applies to you too. Do not take presents from strangers. Do not go off with strangers always ask your parents if you may do so. All the fairies in Fairyland obey these simple rules and everyone is happy.

Empty Box.

An empty box was delivered to my front door the other day. I signed for the box and after taking it indoors I opened the brown paper that it was wrapped in and saw this large box. The box is stained deep brown and is polished and not unpleasant to look at. The top of the box is inlaid with some wooden shapes that form a very intricate pattern. Inside the box a deep green colour is to be seen. The brown paper had no address on it apart from my address. I did not think this odd because I sometimes get the odd present from my friend Shamus who knows that I love anything that is unusual. I placed the box in the living room it fitted in one corner and looked as if it had stood there for a very long time. I did not give the box another glance and went about my household duties of cleaning and polishing. I love a nice clean house and am proud that my windows and house are always looking clean.

The box stayed in the corner for about six months and I had some wooden statues that I wanted to store away. To tell the truth the statues are not very nice to look at and I carefully placed them in the wooden box. I gave the statues and the box no more attention and must say I was rather surprised when my old friend Shamus came on one of his flying visits. Over a cup of sweet hot tea and a plateful of ginger biscuits he told me all of his news. Many things had happened to him since he last visited me and I listened to all he had to say. After tea we went into the living room and made ourselves comfortable over a bottle of red wine. Shamus's eyes caught sight of the box and he asked me what I thought of it. I said that I did not really know I had opened the parcel and looked in the box there was no note with it and I had guessed that it had came from Shamus.

The box said shamus is really a wonderful present to give to anyone that is why I sent it to you; I know that you like mysteries. Have you put anything in the box he asked me with a twinkle in his eye? I opened the box to show him the wooden statues that I had placed in the box so long ago. I could not believe my eyes the wooden statues were now solid gold statues and must be worth a fortune. Smiling all over his face Shamus told me that he had done some work for a wizard who was having trouble keeping the mice from out of his corn bins. Shamus had lined all of the corn bins with metal and the mice could not get into them now. The wizard asked me how much he owed me and I said nothing. I enjoyed the work and am happy to have solved your little problem for you. Then the wizard gave me the wooden box saying this will either give you a headache or it will bring you many surprises. As I listened to the wizard a picture of you came into my mind and I sent the box off to you. I know you like surprises.

We examined the now golden statues and could find no fault with them. The original statues I had brought many years ago in a second hand shop in London, England. They were of no monetary value and I now do not know why I bought them all that time ago. The statues I placed on the mantelpiece half expecting them to turn back into wood again. No the statues on the following days were still made of solid gold. As I was making our evening meal I saw that we were running very low on butter. I asked Shamus if the box would make more butter for our breakfast in the morning or would it turn my butter to a clump of gold. Shamus smiled and said, "Try it." So I placed the rest of the butter in the wooden box. I felt a little silly on doing so but shrugged my shoulders and we sat down to our evening meal.

The following morning as I was making our breakfast I thought about the butter and went to the box. The butter was still as I had left it when I placed it in the box the evening before. Shamus looked at me and smiled "I said that it might give you a headache," he said. I spread the butter on the toast and as I did so the butter did not get any less it was still the amount that I had put in the box the evening before. I spread a few more slices of toast but the butter remained the same. The box is still with me but I am very careful not to put anything in the box. I do not need gold and if I want butter why the shops are only a few hundred feet away. Shamus did not want the box either so when I am under the earth and my earthly goods are given away I feel I must warn you do not use the box it may turn objects into gold but it will give you headaches especially if it is used for greed or other foul purposes.

Enclosed.

For the last two days I have not been able to get out of my front garden on to the road. It is the same with my back garden I cannot get into the woods or Fairyland. People such as the Postman can enter my grounds and my house; it is myself that am the prisoner. I have had to telephone the local store to send me a long list of foodstuffs. The butcher will send his delivery boy if the order is large enough. The newspaper is delivered daily. Some one, or some thing does not want me to leave my house. In my house I am perfectly safe for the house and gardens are under the protection of Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies, I cannot get a message to Her Majesty. I have tried to get the birds to deliver the messages but as soon as they try to leave the garden it is as if a barrier stops them. I am not really worried as I know the moment that a fairy tries to enter my garden or house and hits the barrier, word will quickly spread around and I will be able to receive Her Majesties help.

One whole week went by and still no word from Her Majesty. I now thought to myself it is time that I tried to help myself. I sprinkled myself with some of my magic dust. Nothing happened. I waved my magic wand. Nothing it seems as if this time I am really on my own. Then I had what I thought was a brilliant idea. I said the two magic words that have always taken me to the fairy hideaway in the winter months. I have told you about the series of huge caves under the Himalayan Mountains in some of my previous little stories. Then the familiar pull as the magic swept me to the underground caves. The caves are still the same as they always are. The only difference, Her Majesty stood waiting for me to appear. Greeting each other Her Majesty told me that all of the wise fairies with the help of all the fairies from all over the world had tried to break the spell that was surrounding my house. The only possibility to help me was for me to come to the caves, Her Majesty had been waiting for over a week for me to come.

This attack for attack it was is to make me permanently forget fairies and Fairyland I should tell no more stories. Mordecai the famous wizard had broken the spell that Her Majesty had placed him under and now was the leader of all the wizards and witches in the whole world. They are determined to stop me from writing any more fairy tales. At various times my computer has been attacked by hackers who have tried to get my computer to break down and loose all of the stories that I have over the years written. I have protected myself against Hackers, from viruses, and from worms, Trojan horses, and all of the other attacks and my computer is still in good working order. When I wrote with pen and ink on normal paper, hobgoblins would cause the pen to scribble over the paper, others would pull the paper away as I tried to write it was all very depressing and rather annoying. Sometimes I would be allowed to write a whole story then just on the last few words ink would flow from my pen blotting out all that I had written. I took to using an old typewriter but the goblins got at my cat and as I tried to write my cat walked along the typewriter making such a mess that one in no way could call it a story.

For years now I have written all my stories with a computer. What is more I have made a few back up copies and my stories are all on the Internet for all children to read and I hope enjoy. Why the wizards and witches are so against my writing fairy tales I do not know. I am beginning to wonder whether all of the other writers of fairy tales have had the same trouble with wizards and witches or is it just me. Suddenly the air in the caves turned into a light blue and a familiar face appeared and then the whole body, it is my friend Shamus the Leprechaun.

Shamus told Her Majesty and I, this story. In Ireland where Shamus lives and sometimes works he had heard of the strange goings on in Fairyland where it seems my house is out of bounds for all fairy and little people. Here a wizard one named Mordecai had with the help of all the wizards and witches in the world had cast a spell to stop me from seeing the little people. No one was to talk to me, no one was to tell me any stories, or something terrible would happen to them. This was to my friend Shamus a direct invitation to come to my aid. On arriving at my house he found that he could not get into the gardens. Shamus is not the man to sit back and let things happen he started shouting many rude things at who ever was stopping me from seeing the fairies. Then Mordecai himself appeared and pointed his magic wand at Shamus. This he should never have done for Shamus had a cudgel, (In Ireland it is called a shillelagh) Shamus's shillelagh is magic and defends Shamus against all forms of attack. Mordecai tried to run off as the shillelagh hit him hard around the shoulders. He was hit so many times that Shamus told his cudgel to stop hitting the wizard. Shamus told Mordecai to lift the ban on my house and gardens so that all would go back to normal again. Mordecai refused and with a sign of his hand the shillelagh started to hit Mordecai again and again. This time Mordecai agreed to lift the ban on my house and gardens. Smiling at me Shamus told me that I could go back home whenever I wanted. All wizards and witches had disappeared back to where they come from and my home is free again. Thanking Her Majesty, I took Shamus by the hand and we both disappeared in a whiff of smoke and a bright blue light and we were at home in my back kitchen. I soon had some tea made and with a couple of packets of ginger biscuits and hot sweet tea we made ourselves comfortable. Shamus stayed the night and left me the flowing morning with the words "See you soon." He left in his magic way, taking his shillelagh with him.

Excitement.

Excitement is very much present in Fairyland. There have never been so many of the little folk gathered together at any one time before. Rumours have it that there is to be a competition to see who was the best needle worker in the whole of Fairyland. The wise old fairies were not to take part as many of them had such great knowledge of stitching and sewing that it would not be fair on all of the other contestants.

My friend Shamus has arrived and is staying at my house, I know that Shamus is a very good man with a needle and thread. He has often worked as a fisherman on the Irish boats that go to sea fishing. He always repaired or even made sails for the boats. Some of the fairies that I know are also excellent sewers when it comes to repairing plant leaves that have been damaged in high winds or storms. It will be very interesting to see who was the best at needlework in Fairyland.

The following Thursday has been set for the day to see who would win the sewing competition. On the great day there were so many wanting to take part that Her Majesty Queen Feeana arranged for seven prizes for the best seven sewers, I was asked to be one of the Judges. I explained to Her Majesty that as I knew most of the contestants, someone else should be a judge instead of me. Her Majesty would not hear of it and so I am one of the judges. Thursday came and all of the contestants were assembled. Shamus was there with his rucksack. The little folk gathered around Her Majesty who explained the simple rules. All forms of sewing were allowed from tapestry making to embroidery. Each contest was given coloured threads of cotton and silks and a large piece of linen.

I walked around watching the various groups busily sewing away. All went well until I came to Sunnyfee, Sunnyfee was sitting there with the tears rolling down her cheeks. I asked her why she was crying the embroidery that she was doing looked very nice to me. Flowers large and small she had sewn into her cloth it looked lovely. "I have broken my needle she wept. Shamus who was sitting near heard the fairies complaint and getting up and going over to her, he took from his rucksack a small piece of material into which various needles had been placed, long, short some in gold others in the finest of steel. "Here you are Sunnyfee, take one of my needles; choose which one you would like to use." Sunnyfee took a small golden needle and Shamus with a large smile on his face went back to his own sewing. I went to Shamus and asked him why he was smiling? Shamus told me this little story.

Years ago he too had taken part in one of the Fairylands sewing competitions. He was a good sewer and worked hard on his piece of cloth then the same thing happened to him, His needle broke and he just sat there. One of the wise old Fairies saw him sitting with his unfinished work and gave him a small golden needle. Shamus had won the competition in those far off days the wise old fairy had given him a magic needle. The needle stitched away all on its own and Shamus just sat there amazed. It was this very needle that Sunnyfee had taken. Then of course both Shamus and I knew who win the competition in embroidery. I tried very hard not to look at Sunnyfee's little fingers moving at an amazing speed over her cloth. One flower arrangement after the other came from her magic needle.

The time was up and all had to hand in their work with their names to the wise old Fairies. What was I to do? I knew that Sunnyfee had been using a magic needle but as she did not know it was magic. I decided I would do nothing about it. Then one of the wise old Fairies came to me and told me that she had seen Shamus giving the needle to Sunnyfee. I told her that Shamus had not given her the needle but had let her choose which needle she would like to use. It was purely by chance that she had picked the magic needle. The wise old Fairy then smiled at me and told me that she was the one all of those years ago that had given Shamus the magic needle. Shamus too did not know that the needle was magic so when he was chosen as the winner of the competition al of those long years ago she too had said nothing.

Sunnyfee's piece of embroidery was so fine, so lovely with all of its flowers that no one complained when she won the contest. Later Sunnyfee came to me and told me that Shamus did not want his needle back and would I like it as it was made of gold. I took the needle, as I did not want anyone else to use magic at such a competition. Later I told Her Majesty about the needle. "We all knew that Shamus used the needle all those years ago but he had never used it since in one of the competitions." Her Majesty also knew that Sunnyfee had used the needle but as she did not know it was magic it was decided that I should keep the needle. It is now in my sewing chest and there it will stay as long as I live.

Fairy Bubbles.

Last week I was taking my usual walk across Dartford Heath when a loudly protesting crow made a noise. It's cries made me look up into the sky. I could not believe my eyes one Fairy after another floated slowly across the sky in a soap bubble each rising higher and higher until the slowly drifted out of my sight. I know that Fairies love to play but to ride high in the sky in soap bubble balloons was dangerous even for Fairies that can fly. I quickly walked along the path in the direction where the bubbles were coming from. The path led me into the woods and then I saw him, a man dressed in ordinary clothes was blowing the bubbles and the Fairies stepped into the bubbles, which flew straight into the sky.

I ran into the clearing and told the rest of the Fairies to go on home and report what was happening to Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana. The Fairies did as I told them and soon there was just the man and I in the clearing. "Where have you sent the Fairies?" I asked. "To a safe place came the reply with a sneering grin on the face of the speaker." "It was time for the Fairies to suffer for all the trouble they have caused to the Witches and the Wizards of this world," "The soap bubbles are not just ordinary soap bubbles," "They are magic and will carry the Fairies way out into space perhaps even to the moon."

This was serious I had counted at least thirty of the soap bubbles floating into the sky how many had he sent that I did not know about. The man spoke again, "What does it concern you what I do to the Fairies?" I did not reply but thrusting my hand into my pocket I pulled out a hand full magic dust and threw it over the man and his bubble-making pipe. The man made no movements it was as if he was frozen. I took his pipe and started blowing a soap bubble. I blew a very large bubble and pulled it over the man. Wizard or not he was not going to get away with sending my friends the Fairies out into space.

I sat watching the Wizard when suddenly a blue flash a puff of smoke and Her Majesty Queen Feeana sat down beside me. I explained all that I had seen and what I had done to stop the Wizard from his evil plan. Her Majesty with a wave of her magic wand brought the Fairies slowly back to the clearing as each landed in his or her soap bubble the bubble popped and the Fairy walked across the clearing and sat down in a circle. When all of the Fairies had landed back on earth the Queen asked me what we should do with this wicked man. I thought for a few minutes then suggested to Her Majesty, that the Wizard should be punished with his own trick. Turn him into small bars of soap so that the children of this earth when blowing bubbles could send him flying into nowhere.

Her Majesty smiled and said that is a very way to punish him so be it. With another wave of her wand the large bubble burst and the Wizard turned into hundreds of small bars of soap. Now when children blow bubbles no one can be sure if the bubble that he or she is blowing is from the wicked Wizard soap or not so the next time that you blow bubbles just ask yourself if the wicked Wizard is part of your soap bubble.

Her Majesty then turned to the Fairies and spoke to the ever so gently but the message she spoke warned them all not to play with strangers no matter what tricks they play or what ever they do. If our friend Bern had not been out for his walk and the crow had not made a noise no one would have seen you and perhaps we would still be looking for you all. The youngest of the Fairies then spoke out. "Your Majesty the Wizard promised us a wonderful trip to another part of Fairyland if we told him one of the old words that we use from the old language" She then shyly said none of gave him a word we just made up a word to please him we did not think of any harm. We have learned our lesson and in future we will not show ourselves to strangers. And that is why it is so difficult for grown ups to see the Fairies.

Fairy Cake Contest.

Excitement is running high here in Fairyland. We are to have a cake baking contest and the winner or winners will travel to a country of their choice for a holiday. All are invited, the Fairies, The Pixies, the Trolls and in fact all the little people even the Leprechauns. Everyone was looking for his or her favourite flower petals and of course honey. I myself decided to make my favourite ginger cakes.

Each had their own favourite recipe and from all over Fairyland one could smell the cakes baking. This contest would be a great success I am sure of this. My own cakes were ready and I had placed them in an airtight tin. I had three tries at making the cakes the first two were not to my liking the third time they were just perfect.

Saturday came at last and it is a wonderful evening with a clear sky. Tables had been arranged and cakes of all sizes were slowly filling the tables each with the name of the maker. All went well and at nine o'clock exactly the wise old Fairies called the contest as being open. The judges were the wise old Fairies. Her Majesty was away it is told on very important business.

Suddenly at the end of the tables there was a noisy debate going on. An elderly woman had arrived and wanted to show her cakes for the contest. The Trolls I think were behind the whole thing soon joined by the Pixies, of course anything for a laugh seems to be their motto. It took the authority of the wise old Fairies to settle things and I was asked what I thought about the matter. The contest is for everybody was my reply and I think that the elderly lady should show her cakes to be judged the same as everybody else.

The judging took place the judges were looking for the lightest cake it should be sweet but not too sweet. Most of the Trolls cakes were judged to be too hard. The cakes of the Pixies were much too sweet. The best cakes were from the Fairies and my ginger cakes took second place. The winner was to my surprise the elderly lady; her cakes were just too delicious. I tasted one of them and was of the same opinion as the judges these cakes were the best I had eaten for a long time.

The Trolls and the Pixies wandered away and did not stop to see the wise old Fairies giving away the first prize. The elderly lady stepped up to the table where the prizes were and one of the wise old Fairies took an envelope and handed it to the elderly lady. As the elderly lady took the prize there was a bright blue flash and Her Majesty stood there. Her Majesty had disguised herself to take part in the contest.

Her Majesty wanted to give me the prize as my cakes were considered the second best. I thanked her and asked the wise old fairies to give the prize to the baker of the cakes that were in their opinion the prettiest. The prize was then given to Sennafee one of the younger Fairies she had taken much trouble to decorate her cakes and the tops of her cakes were covered in small flowers delicately made and looking wonderfully like the fresh forest flowers that at this time of the year were in abundance.

Two other Fairies were given a prize for making some new style of cakes and the three Fairies decided to go to New Zealand for a holiday. A wave of Her Majesties magic wand and another puff of smoke and a bright blue flash and the Fairies were gone. The rest of the night was spent in dancing and exchanging recipes. No one had any secrets any more in fact all of the Fairy cakes were made the same way with the petals of flowers mixed with honey and some with blackberry juice others with elderberry flowers not real secrets all of the Fairies knew about the flowers it was just the choice of flower petals that made it exciting. I am looking forward to another baking contest sometime next year.

Fairy Dance.

It happened right in the middle of a fairy dance. The heavens became over clouded and the moonlight was no longer available to lighten the festivities. Suddenly it poured down with rain, large drops coming in from the west. The fairies took cover under the trees and the poor musicians hampered by their music instruments got wet. This was no normal storm; magic had been used to create these large drops of rain. Who would dare to interrupt a fairy dance? It must be someone very powerful to openly interfere in a fairy dance.

The raindrops turned to snow flakes big snowflakes. Then Her Majesty, Queen Feeana appeared and with one wave of her magic wand, the snowflakes turned into rose petals. The evening was saved and the fairies carried on with their dancing. In Fairyland, the smell of rose petals was so lovely that the fairies asked her Majesty if it would be possible to have rose petals all summer. Her Majesty agreed and now all summer long there are sweet smells of roses all over Fairyland.

The dance ended without any more upsets and the fairies all went off to their respective homes. I myself wandered around looking for evidence that a sorcerer or Wizard had been present to cause the rain and snow. I found nothing and then went on home to my bed. During the night, I had a dream. A Wizard was in fairyland disguised as a tree. In the morning, I took with me a very sharp axe into the woods and went direct to where the dance had been held.

On arrival at the dance floor, I looked carefully at the trees. One of them just had to be a Wizard and I was determined to find out which tree it was. After a while, I noticed that on one tree the leaves did not move with the slight breeze that blew through fairyland. This is the tree I thought to myself. Going to the tree, I raised my axe, and with a slicing motion, I hit the tree trunk at its base with the blade of my sharp axe.

The tree changed into a man and he screamed loudly that I had broken his leg with the blow from my axe.

I bound the man's leg with a bandage and a wooden splint and decided to call Her Majesty Queen Feeana. A bright flash and a small puff of smoke and her Majesty stood with us in the clearing. I explained what I had done and Her Majesty asked the Wizard why he had spoiled the dance on the previous evening. The Wizard stammered a few words but I think that his leg hurt him so much that he could not really speak. I asked her Majesty to heal his leg after all; I was responsible for hurting him in this way.

Her Majesty took out her magic wand and spoke in the old language and the man's leg healed completely. Then he told us this story, He was going through the world looking for knowledge and he had met up with Magoricus a most powerful sorcerer. We had often had trouble with Magoricus and Her Majesty had put him in his place many a time. Magoricus had used this Wizard to try to upset the fairies. It was his idea that the Wizard turn himself into a tree and use magic to make it storm and then snow, anything to upset the fairy dancing. In return, he had promised the Wizard a piece of magic gold which one needed to produce real magic. The promise of magic gold had tempted the Wizard and he had agreed to spoil the fairy dancing.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana then took a piece of magic gold from her pocket and giving it to the man she asked him to promise never again to interfere with the fairy world. If he broke this promise the magic gold would turn bad and he would live in a nightmare all of his life. The man promised and left us in the clearing. We never saw him again and the next fairy dances went well without any interruptions.

Fairy Help.

Sitting in my back garden or should I say half reclining in my old wheelbarrow in the back garden. I was watching the wisps of cloud that tumbled across the skies so high up in the air. I did not hear the fairy until she was quite close to me. "Mr. Shaw, please come as quickly as you can there are some strange men acting very mysteriously in Fairyland." I slowly got up from my very comfortable wheelbarrow and followed the fairy into the woods on Dartford Heath. I saw a small group of men who were measuring the trees. Two men were placing a tape measure around the trunks of each tree that another man sprayed a spot of red paint on. Yet another man wrote the measurements down into a black book. I noticed another man that appeared to be in charge. This man looked first at the height of the tree and then how large the trunk of the tree was. Going up to the men, I asked the one that seemed to be in charge what they were doing, "We are measuring the trees that are to be chopped down, the council has sold the trees to a timber firm." "Have you permission to chop down any tree in this wood?" I next asked. "Oh yes, the trees have to be thinned out every hundred years or so because of the high winds during the storms. None of the men saw the fairies that were flying around them they only had eyes for the trees. When are the trees to be chopped down was my next question. "Next Monday" The answer was not very satisfying, for me it did not give me any time to make a protest to the local council.

I asked the fairies to keep an eye on the men and to let me know when they were finished with their measuring. Walking quickly back to my house I phoned the Council Offices at Dartford to find out whether the chopping down of trees were permissible. I was asked to wait for a few minutes then a voice saying that I was speaking to the Mayor of Dartford asked me what my business was. Quickly explaining about the trees and that all of the trees on Dartford Heath were perfectly healthy and there was no need to chop them down at all. "Too late, on Monday the timber merchants are sending in the experts to cut down all of the trees marked with a red spot. Thanking the man I then went to my lawyer and asked him to try to delay the chopping down of trees on Dartford Heath. There must be a law somewhere saying that the Heath was common land and belonged to the folk of Dartford.

Going back to the woods I saw that all the fairies including Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies with the wise old fairies were patiently waiting my return they badly needed my help. Explaining what I had done I told the fairies my plan that they should put into action at once. All the trees on Dartford Heath were to be painted with red paint exactly like the ones painted by the men. I had hardly spoken the words when each fairy pulled out their magic wands and in the twinkling of an eye all of the trees on the Heath now had a red spot. "We can only wait until Monday now," I said to Her Majesty. On Monday my lawyer came early to my house with some very official looking documents. His words to me were, "No tree is to be chopped down as all trees on Dartford Heath belonged to the Peoples of Dartford and not even the Council could chop them down without the consent of all the Peoples of the town of Dartford. Hurrying to the woods or Fairyland to tell the fairies the good news I saw that the men that were to chop down the trees were very confused as all of the trees had the red markings. They decided to wait until the man in charge came on the scene, he had been held up by traffic jams on the Motorway. Soon all of the men wandered off and when the man in charge came, he saw that not one tree had been chopped down. I was waiting for him with my documents from my lawyer. Reading the documents he shook his head and walked back to where he had parked his car. Greeting the fairies I went back home to my wheelbarrow where I made myself comfortable and dropped off into a very good sleep. I was officially invited by the Fairy Queen herself to a ball to celebrate and to thank me for my help in saving the trees. We had a most wonderful evening, dancing and singing with fairy cakes and elderberry wine. No one may chop down trees on common ground without the consent of all the local peoples.

Fairy In Danger.

Walking through the woods collecting the ripe lush blackberries, I was addressed by a Fairy. "Hello Bern," she said. I looked and saw just in front of me a Fairy who seemed to be growing out of the ground. Where her legs should have been was a thick stalk like one sees on many plants in the woods. I was very troubled to see her growing from the ground. "What is the matter my child have you been bewitched by a Wizard or an old Witch?" I asked, "No." came the reply, " I did this myself." "One of our teachers in the fairy school said we should always try to put ourselves in the life of the plants that we collect for herbs."

" I am sure that your teacher did not mean that you should actually become a plant, wait a second and I will see whether I can free you or not." Taking out of my pocket my Magic Wand I pointed it at the Fairy and said one of the magic words that Her Majesty Queen Feeana had taught me. To my surprise and dismay nothing happened. I tried again, no results the fairy was still growing from the earth. "I need help," I said to the Fairy and this time I looked about me and saw an Owl. "Take a message to Her Majesty for me, I called to the Owl. "She shall come at once this is urgent."

A bright blue flash and a whiff of smoke and Her Majesty stood in front of me. "What is the matter," she asked straight away. I moved to one side and it was then that Her Majesty saw the Fairy growing from the ground. I explained that my attempts to release her from the ground had failed. Her Majesty took out her own Magic Wand and spoke in the old language but nothing happened. Her Majesty then asked the Fairy if she could free herself. "Yes Your Majesty came the reply." "Then do so at once do you not know what danger you are in rooted here like a plant? If anyone else had come by you could have been made prisoner and then what would have happened to you."

I had never seen Her Majesty, so concerned and yes rather angry. I explained what the Fairy had said to me about her teacher saying that the fairies should put themselves in the place of the plants they collected. The Fairy then spoke or rather frightened stuttered. "My magic does not work." "Your Majesty if you stay by the fairy in case some animal or bad human should pass by, I will go to my garden and get a spade and dig her out." "We can then place her in a pot in your house and see what the wise old Fairies can come up with in the way of a cure." Her Majesty agreed and I ran back home as fast as my legs would carry me in about a quarter of an hour I was back and very carefully dug out the Fairy by the roots.

Her Majesty then transferred the three of us to her house where I got the largest pot I could find and replanted the Fairy in the pot. I then placed the pot on the windowsill of the front room. I watered the Fairy well into the pot and said, "It is now up to you and wise old Fairies. I will at home read all of my books and see if one of them shows a similar case." It was agreed and Her Majesty waved her Wand and I was at home in my kitchen with a full basket of blackberries.

The wise old Fairies tried all kinds of remedies to free the plant Fairy. Nothing was able to break the spell that the Fairy had placed upon herself. I read all kinds of books about plants and agriculture but I too could find nothing. I asked all of my friends especially the Leprechauns many of which I am in contact through the Internet, I exchange emails with so many people but it seemed that no one could help. The professors at the Fairy University had no ideas and it was by pure chance that I remembered Mother Nature. If anyone could help it would be her.

I told Queen Feeana of my idea and Her Majesty got in touch with Mother Nature. The remedy was very simple. Mother Nature told us to take the Fairy completely out of the flowerpot and to wash all of the earth from her roots. Then the Fairy was to eat four times a day a fig. Her Majesty immediately came to me with the remedy and I went to her house and took the Fairy out of her pot with all her roots free of dirt, which I washed, from her with a garden hose. Then four times a day she ate one fig. At the end of a week all of the roots had disappeared and the Fairies legs started to grow again.

This story as I tell it was also told to the Fairy children all over the world. Now no Fairy tries to put herself in the place of a plant. All the excitement has died down now and yes my blackberries made some lovely Jam. A couple of jars of which I gave to Her Majesty after all she gave me a whole basket full of the sweet fruit.

Fairy Settlement.

The way is hard and my feet are sore from the stony path. For the twentieth time I asked myself what am I trying to prove? This is not necessary I told myself once more. Probably another wild goose chase as the saying goes. I am now very high up in the Austrian mountains my fore head is covered with a damp perspiration. The snow will soon be under my feet as I climb higher and higher. I read in an ancient book that on top of this particular mountain there was a very old Fairy settlement that has been long since abandoned. As the weather changed the Fairies moved away into the more fertile valleys.

Slowly I climbed on until I reached an area that was covered in deep snow. One step after the other I made my way slowly across the snow. Then it happened. I felt myself falling through the snow I had broken through the covering of snow and I fell or better still I slid down a chute similar to what one finds at a fun fair. At the bottom I landed in a deep pile of snow that had previously fallen into this hole. I had on my back a large rucksack filled with things that I thought I might need. Among them a large torch that gave off a powerful light.

I soon found the torch and switched on the light. I had a few reserve batteries with me so I knew that I would be able to see myself around in this what seemed to be a very large cave. The walls of the cave were covered with pictures of animals and men hunting them. Wandering around the cave I could see that at one time it had been lived in but there was nothing to suggest that Fairies had lived here. I had covered most of the cave when I saw a small opening. Shining my torch into the opening I saw another cave this was even bigger than the first.

I took off my rucksack and pushing it in front of me I went through the opening. This cave was different there were ruins of small houses all over the floor of the cave. These were no human dwellings much too small. I had found one of the old Fairy caves where they stayed in the long winter months. In the middle of the cave was a deep well and I dropped a small stone into it and after a few moments I heard a loud splash as the stone hit the water in the well.

With my rucksack on my back I inspected the cave, at the far end there was another opening. Crawling through this opening I saw that here someone had been digging into the walls of the cave. Shining my torch around the walls of the cave I noticed the yellow grains of gold that were embedded in the rocky walls. I had it seems found one of the old Fairy gold mines. Picking up a large stone I struck the wall and knocked off a piece of the rock. The grains of gold could be clearly seen and it was a mine very rich in gold.

After hitting and knocking the piece of stone from the wall of the cave there was a bright blue flash and a small puff of smoke. Her Majesty Queen Feeana was with me in the mine. Her Majesty did not seem to be surprised at seeing me she smiled and said, "You have found one of our best kept secrets. This is where we get our magic gold from." "No one has been here for years." I told Her Majesty that I was not interested in the gold I came to look for the old Fairy caves that I had read about in the old book. It was pure chance that I had come across the opening that led into the mine.

Pointing her magic wand at one of the walls Her Majesty spoke in the old language and in front of my feet was a piece of gold. "Put that in your rucksack," she told me and then with another wave of her wand we were both back in Fairyland on Dartford Heath. The piece of gold I use as a paperweight and it is on my table for all to see. No one would recognise it as gold because I have painted it black and it now looks like a piece of coal.

One day I might give it to Shamus my Leprechaun friend and see what delicate instrument he would make of it. Shamus is a very skilled worker in metal and I am sure that he would put the gold to good use after all it is magic gold it would be silly to melt it down and give it to a goldsmith. I often wonder whether the hotel missed me as I did not go back there another mystery of which there are so many in the mountain regions.

Fitting Punishment.

The day is sunny and warm with a light breeze blowing from the west. In the woods were an elderly woman, a man and myself. The elderly woman and the man were not together and it seemed that the elderly woman was avoiding the man. I watched as the man crept near to the woman and then heard him shouting some very rude things to the elderly woman. The last I heard him say was that she; the woman was stealing the food that nature provides for all the creatures of the woods.

The woman protested that she only collected a few blackberries and wild strawberries and later on, some nuts and that she meant no harm. I wanted to say something in defence of the elderly woman but she needed no protection from me. Suddenly she picked up a twig that was lying on the ground and pointing it at the man she said, "Three months long will you observe all that goes on in these woods, I hope that you learn a lesson from this my punishment." The man changed so quickly from a man into a small tree that if I had not have seen it myself I would not have believed it.

The elderly woman went on with plucking the wild strawberries and without looking at the tree she moved on out of my sight. I often saw the tree during the summer months and asked myself if what I saw was true. Like all summers we had rainy days and days of bright sunshine, I often saw the elderly woman going about her business. The blackberries ripened and she came to pick these she knew all about the different mushrooms and took many a basket home with her. On the rare occasions that we met, we exchanged greetings but nothing of the new tree in the woods.

The tree witnessed a fairy ball and from the way its branches and leaves shook it was excited. As a man, he had never seen anything like the dancing and singing. The fairy cakes that seemed to be coming from out of the air looked very inviting but as a tree he had no way of joining in the feast. The orchestra of Leprechauns playing music such as he had never heard before delighted his very being. Wild night animals came to see the Fairies having a good time this too was a surprise for the man now a tree. He began to regret his bad behaviour toward the elderly woman and to himself he made a vow that in future he would alter his ways.

Then it happened I was in the woods once more, this time I was collecting a few chestnuts. I saw the woman go to the tree and once more she picked up a twig from the floor and pointing it at the tree, she said something and the tree changed back into a man again. I was close enough to hear what she said to the man. "Have you learned your lesson? The fruits and nuts and other things to eat are for all the creatures of the wilds. Even we humans have the right to harvest what nature provides for us. I only take enough to make a meal or medicines for my own use. The animals also only take what they need to survive through the long winters.

The man mumbled that he was sorry and had learned much about the woods and its creatures. He even ended by thanking the woman for turning him into a tree he now knew more about the woods and animals than he would have learned in a lifetime. Now I often see them in the woods but they are respectful of each other and there is no disharmony anymore. The Fairies often came to the tree to play it was part of Fairyland this neither the man nor the elderly woman knew to them it was just part of the woods.

Five Geese?

I looked at my watch it was now five to ten in the morning. I have been working in the back garden since six o'clock in the morning. Time for morning coffee and I went indoors to put the kettle on to boil water for the old fashioned coffee peculator that I prefer to the modern new fangled coffee machines. I heard the knock on my front door and went to see who was calling on me. I was not expecting anyone. It was the local parcel delivery service with a parcel for me. I must admit I was a little surprised I had ordered nothing from any shop or company. On the wrapping paper there were three notes saying, "Fragile handle with care.!" I thanked the parcel man and went back into my kitchen to open the parcel. My kettle started to boil at this moment and I left the parcel on the table to make my coffee.

I quickly finished making my coffee and sitting on one of the table chairs I carefully opened the parcel. There were two layers of wrapping paper and then a cardboard box. An unusually strong cardboard box with a lid that fitted tightly, opening the lid I saw that whatever was in the parcel had been wrapped in foam plastic and then in cotton wool. My curiosity was now fully awake and I took out the top plastic layer then carefully removed the cotton wool. Nestling in the wool was a figurine of a Fairy complete with the most delicate wings. I looked at it for at least five minutes then carefully placing it on a shelf I noticed the letter that was underneath the cotton wool.

Opening the envelope, which was addressed to, Bern, friend of the Fairies somewhere in Dartford Heath. Now I was really puzzled who knew me well enough to send me such a beautiful present. I slowly read the letter and saw that this figurine was just one of five. The sender wanted from me five pieces of Magic Gold for the other four figurines. I was to go to a small village just outside Leeds in middle England and get the other four figurines in exchange for five pieces of Magic Gold. The figurines were in reality five Fairies that had been bewitched by a Sorcerer. This Sorcerer wanted five pieces of Magic Gold for the Fairies. I decided to go and see Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana. Placing the figurine back in its cotton wool I made my way into the woods. Donnafee a Fairy that I knew well agreed to go and ask Her Majesty for five minutes of her time.

The all too familiar flash of light and the puff of smoke and Her Majesty stood before me. I quickly explained about my receiving the parcel and the strange letter that had come with it. I then carefully took out the figurine and showed it to Her Majesty. It was then that Donnafee called out. "It is Moonafee she disappeared two years ago with some other Fairies, we spent weeks looking for them." Her Majesty said. "I recall the incident it was when my Magic Mirror was out of order and I could find no trace of the missing Fairies." Her Majesty re-read the letter and then smiling she gave me six pieces of Magic Gold. I looked at Her Majesty and she smiled even more." He asked for five pieces I will give him six. That should stop his greed for Magic Gold. I took the gold and went back home not before seeing that Her Majesty waved her magic wand and the figurine turned back into a real live Fairy and went off with Donnafee.

The next morning I caught the early train from Dartford and went to Charring Cross Station from Charring Cross I took a taxi to Kings Cross Railway Station and caught the train to Leeds. A taxi driver drove me to the village where the parcel had been sent from and I soon found the house with woman that had sent me the figurine. I introduced myself to the woman and wondered what she could have to do with a Sorcerer. It was then that I heard the cackle of geese coming from the back garden of the house. "My poor children." She said. She invited me into the house and over a cup of sweet tea she told me this story.

Her Husband died and left her with five children two boys and three girls. The woman was poor and to make a living she went into the woods and collected all kinds of herbs and berries and the barks of trees she sold these to a man that answered her advert in the Newspaper. At first the man paid handsomely for the herbs and barks of trees then one day he came to her with the five Fairy figurines and asked her to sell them to the Fairy Queen Feeana for five pieces of Magic Gold. He himself could not approach the Fairy queen as he was well known to be a very wicked Sorcerer and her Majesty would not have given him anything, certainly not Magic Gold. The poor woman refused when she heard that the Figurines were real Fairies captured by the Sorcerer. To make the woman obey him he waved a magic wand and her five children turned into geese. It was then that the woman agreed to get in touch with me.

I gave the woman the six pieces of Magic Gold and told her to give the sorcerer all of the gold. He only wanted five pieces but her Majesty said he should have six pieces. While I was there in the woman's back kitchen I heard her phone a number telling the sorcerer that she had the Magic Gold for him but she would only give it to him when her children were turned back from geese into children again. I hid myself under the stairs that went up to the bedrooms and soon the Sorcerer arrived and turned the geese back into children again. I heard the poor woman's happy cries as she saw her children. The Sorcerer was delighted at getting six pieces of gold instead of five and he went off on his way. I caught the next train to London with the four other figurines and arrived back at my home in Dartford Heath late at night.

The next morning I went quickly into the wood with my figurines and Donnafee with Moonafee were waiting with Her Majesty Queen Feeana. A wave of Her Majesties wand and the four figurines were changed back into live Fairies and went off with Donnafee into the woods. Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and we both looked into it. I saw the sorcerer throw the six pieces of Magic Gold into the black cauldron that was resting on a tripod over a large fire. "Look carefully." Said Her Majesty and then it happened the gold on hitting the heat from the cauldron turned into iron. The iron bubbled quickly out of the cauldron and soon the cave where the fire and cauldron were was filled to the ceiling with iron. The sorcerer would definitely not turn any more Fairies into figurines. Her Majesty then thanked me again for my help and gave me a Fairy figurine that had been made by one of the wise old Fairies. "This is to remind you of the day you helped when we were in need." I thanked Her Majesty and went back home to work in my garden.

Five Happy Bumblebees.

Last summer I was taking my usual walk through Fairyland. All is as it should be. The sun is shining, flowers are plentiful and the green leaves on the bushes and shrubs give off an inviting shade. The trees too are not miserly with their branches, hiding the floor of the woods from the hot rays of sunshine that appeared through the few gaps in the ceiling of foliage. I remember thinking to myself what a wonderful day to be out in the fresh air enjoying all of what Nature had to give. Then a little further on I came across a bunch of fairies that appeared to be very excited about something or other. I slowly walked in their direction and to my surprise, the fairies had talked five bumblebees into pulling a small cart each that the fairies had made, across the clearing in the woods.

The bumblebees were trying very hard to pull the carts but as they were on the ground they could not use their wings and this made things very difficult. I caught the attention of one of the fairies and asked what was going on. The fairies had promised the bumblebees a large sack of pollen each if they could pull the carts. The fairies were making very much noise and I wondered what Her Majesty would say to such goings on. As the thought went through my mind Her Majesty appeared in the clearing.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies, was not amused at the antics of the fairies. Looking directly at me, Her Majesty asked me why I had allowed the fairies to play such a silly and useless game. I stuttered that I myself had only just come on to the scene and was just as dumbfounded at the fairies silliness, as was Her Majesty. The Queen started speaking. I had not heard her voice so angry and upset, as it was this very minute. "You are thirty fairies who should be busy doing the things that you were taught." "Now I find you getting some poor bumblebees to pull those little carts full of earth." "I am very angry and this is my punishment for you all." "You all will fly to the north until you find the large area that mankind has built to show off the flowers that they grow." You will all collect as much pollen as you can carry and this pollen will be given to the five bumblebees that you have harnessed to those ridiculous carts." " Cut the bumblebees free and off you go, do not dare to come back until you have collected all of the pollen and one last thing there is no magic to be used.

The fairies cut the bumblebees loose and then flew off in a northerly direction. Her Majesty then told me that the humans had organised a huge flower show and the fairies would have to work very hard to collect enough pollen to give to the five bumblebees. The fairies flew and flew mile after mile but could see no flowers under them. One said, "Surely Her Majesty had made a mistake in the direction." There are no flowers to be seen. Another replied "Her Majesty never makes mistakes we will just have to continue flying until we find the flowers. Then in the future the fairies saw the large patches of colour underneath them slowly they descended until they could mingle with the flowers and not be seen by the humans. Many of the human folk were at this wonderful flower show.

The fairies met in the middle of a patch of large sunflowers. "What shall we put the pollen in one fairy cried." "We did not bring anything with us and we cannot use magic." One of the fairies that was a little smarter than the others said. "I saw some peas growing in one of the patches we can use the pea-pods to collect and carry back the pollen to the bumblebees." The fairies still hiding from the humans flew to the garden bed where the peas were growing. Many of the pea pods were ripe and taking one pod between two fairies the fairies started to carefully collect the pollen. It took them all afternoon to fill and then sew the peapods together so that none of the precious pollen could be spilled. The fairies when they were finished flew off from the garden show. Just one little boy saw them and excitedly said to his father. "Daddy there are the fairies they are carrying some peas away with them." The father said. "Nonsense There are no such thing as fairies and if there were, they would not take peas from a garden show."

The fairies arrived back home tired but each pair was still carrying a sewn together pea pod full of pollen. Her Majesty waited patiently until they had all flown in to the clearing. Fifteen pairs of fairies each with a pod full of pollen, that means to each bumblebee there are three pairs of fairies with a pod of pollen. You will fly in pairs of three with your pods to the home of the bumblebees and wait until the bumblebees have worked the pollen into honeycombs and honey then you may return each to his home.

The bumblebees had never had it so good and made the most of the pods full of pollen soon there were many small bumblebees flying through fairyland helping to pollinate the flowers. As for the fairies they do not bother any of the insect world they have all learned a lesson from this little story.

Five Silly Leprechauns.

The other morning I went for my usual walk in the woods or should I say Fairyland. The sun is shining there is not a cloud in the sky. I saw the usual wild life that roams the woods looking for something to eat. I walk very quietly when I am in the woods and see many of the shy wild animals. Walking along a little trod path I heard what I thought was the tinkling of coins being thrown into a pot. The noise got slowly louder and as I stepped past a large oak tree I saw five Leprechauns sitting in a circle. Each had an iron pot in front of him and one after the other they took a gold coin from a leather bag that hung around their necks. As they tossed the gold coins into their pots they counted out loud.

Each had thirty coins in the pots, upon seeing me they called out that this was a private counting session and I should clear off or they would attack me with their shillelaghs. I laughed out loud at their threats and continued my walk toward the circle. Thirty-one, thirty-two, they carried on throwing the gold coins into the pots. I could not help but ask them why they were throwing the coins into the pots. The answer came that the Leprechaun with the most coins should give the others each a coin because he was the winner.

Shaking my head at such behaviour I carried on walking, when from out of the blue sky a flash of lightning struck right in the middle of the iron pots. The Leprechauns jumped away in fear but it was too late the lightning had melted the pots with the gold coins into one mass of metal. What are we to do asked one of the leprechauns, I have lost all of the gold coins that I have over the years collected for my old age, it is now just molten metal and is worthless to me. The other Leprechauns spoke in the same way it was for them a hard blow. I walked back towards them and asked why they had played such a stupid game with their gold coins? "To pass the time came a sheepish answer from one of them". I thought for a few minutes then I told them that if they were lucky perhaps the Fairy Queen, Queen Feeana could help them. Telling them to sit quietly and think about what had just happened I walked away.

Her Majesty appeared before me in her usual flash of light and small whiff of smoke. "You have been thinking of me," she said. I told Her Majesty about the Leprechauns and their counting of the gold coins. Her Majesty smiled and said, "I think it is time that the Leprechauns were taught a lesson". Going towards the spot where I had left the lamenting Leprechauns, they were still sitting moaning about the loss of their riches. Her Majesty looked at the Leprechauns and asked them why they played such silly games here in Fairyland. In Fairyland gold was practically worthless and had little or no meaning for the fairies. Looking even more sheepish at Her Majesty one of them plucked up the courage to ask Her Majesty whether she could help them. Her Majesty smiled and said, " I will help you but it will cost you the five cooking pots and from each one of you I will take one gold coin". They all spoke at once saying that it was not fair to take the cooking pots, Her Majesty could have five gold coins from each one of them. Her Majesty Queen Feeana turned her back on the Leprechauns and started to walk away. "You can have the gold coin from each one of us." they hurriedly called. Turning again Her Majesty asked them if they were sure that she could have the piece of gold from each one of them. "Yes Your Majesty you may have the gold but why do you want the cooking pots"? "That is my secret smiled her Majesty once again. Taking her magic wand from the sleeve of her dress she waved it at the molten metal and sure enough the gold coins reappeared from the molten metal. The iron from the pots was still one molten mess of metal. "Take your gold coins and leave Fairyland," said Her Majesty. The leprechauns counted out the exact coins that were now in a small pile on the ground. Each left a gold coin on the ground and then they hurried away from Fairyland. "Your Majesty," I said why the iron pots you could have had more gold"? Still smiling Her Majesty said the gold was of no use to the peoples of Fairyland it was only the humans and the Leprechauns that needed the metal. The molten iron Her Majesty now waved her magic wand a second time. Five iron pots appeared and these were placed at the edges to fairyland to warn silly Leprechauns that gold was not wanted in Fairyland and that they should if they wanted to count their gold go somewhere else. The gold coins from the Leprechauns Her Majesty gave to me and asked me to give them to any one that was in need. This I have done, now no Leprechaun goes to Fairland to count gold coins, This little story went all over Fairyland and now I have put it so the whole world will know about it.

Flooding River.

Rain, nothing but rain, all week it had been raining on and off but today it seemed as if the heavens were going to spill all of its water. Reports of flooding in many parts of the country were continually being sent over the radio. The television showed scenes of some of the worst flooding that the country has ever seen. The weather meteorologists have been forecasting that such weather is quite normal and occurs every twenty years or so. I had, had the roof repaired some three weeks ago so I was not worried about anything coming in from the top of the house. It was the river that went past my ground it was terribly swollen and looked as if it would overflow its banks at any moment. This is causing me some anxious moments if it swapped over it would surely flood my cellar.

I had taken precautions against the flooding and placed sacks of sand at all of the doorways. Other sacks I had filled and placed in a position that I could quickly use to bar the water from entering the house. The cellar windows I had covered with sacks of sand, all I could do now was wait. Placing a kettle of water on the gas stove I patiently waited for it to boil so that I could make a pot of tea. I kept looking out of the window at the river. I had never seen it so full of rushing water. Occasionally a log of wood floated by. The kettle boiled and I made a pot of tea. Pouring myself a cup I sat at the table looking out at the river. Then I heard a voice saying that I need have no fear the water in the river is not going to overflow its banks.

I live alone and on hearing this voice I thought that I was going out of my mind. Then I heard the voice again. Then I saw this little man sitting on the edge of the stove. "Who are you and what do you want I quietly asked." "I am a Leprechaun and have been sent to you by Her Majesty Queen Feeana, she wants you to know that your house is in no danger whatsoever and that it will soon stop raining." I was a little surprised but not alarmed at the little man being in my kitchen. Her Majesty often sent me messengers.

I offered the Leprechaun a cup of tea and some of my sweet ginger biscuits that I keep for such visitors. I have never known a Fairy or Leprechaun refuse a ginger biscuit. I think it is the taste that they like so much. Drinking his tea in small sips and daintily eating one ginger biscuit after the other the Leprechaun then told me this tale it certainly accounts for the bad weather that we have been having all week

A most powerful sorcerer had learned some of the words in the old language that is only spoken by the Fairies when they make magic. With this knowledge he had cast a spell over Mother Nature. He now controls the weather. This is terrible I thought to myself. How will the Fairy Queen deal with this terrible crime? The Leprechaun told me that Her Majesty had worked out a plan and with my help it would soon be carried out. Mother Nature is usually to be found in Iceland. Iceland has six months of winter and six months of summer. When Mother Nature is at home one sees the Northern Lights. Learned people call them the Aurora Borealis. These lights can be seen in many places in the northern hemisphere.

The Leprechaun told me to be ready and wait for Her Majesty's magic. This meant that I would be spirited away by her Majesty's magic powers. He finished sipping his tea and I must say he ate my last ginger biscuit and then disappeared as quickly as he had come. I poured myself another cup of tea and waited for Her Majesty to appear. I did not have long to wait, I had just finished washing the cups and saucers and replacing them in the old fashioned Dutch dresser when I felt the pull of the Magic coming from Her Majesty's wand. I was whisked away to Iceland where we landed in a small bay along the seashore. "Hallo," said her Majesty. "Sorry to pull you away at such short notice but it is very urgent that we stop this sorcerer." I asked Her Majesty if the Sorcerer had any weak points to his nature. "He loves music." Her Majesty said. We then walked up the slope away from the seashore and then I saw a large cave.

"That is where he lives and from there he is controlling the weather." Whispered Her Majesty. We need a fairy orchestra I said out loud. Then in the twinkling of an eye there appeared a fairy orchestra in the snow outside of the cave. The orchestra started playing a soft monotonous music. It got louder and then faded away only to continue the music was like I had once heard at a Psychiatrist's waiting room it soothed and people fell into a deep trance. This music was much more soothing and I stuffed some wadding into my ears to stop me falling into a trance.

We then went to the cave. There was the sorcerer sitting listening to the music he was completely carried away by the soft melodious tones. Her Majesty waved her wand and I threw a handful of magic dust over him. That was his end he melted away into a small flurry of snow. In one corner of the huge cave I saw Mother Nature. She could not speak and was suffering under some powerful magic influence. Her Majesty Queen Feeana waved her magic wand again and Mother Nature was free again.

Thanking us for our help Mother Nature stopped all rain north of the equator and smiling said to me you have nothing to worry about now your little river will by the time you get back home be a little stream and the sandbags you may safely remove, there will be no flooding. Once again I felt the magic pull and landed in my back kitchen, sitting in my armchair as if nothing had happened. The kettle is boiling and I will make myself another cup of tea.

Flower Ceremony.

Peals of thunder, with lightning flashes filling the night sky, rain streaming down my windowpanes. I could hear the groaning of the wind as if in protest at such weather. I remained in my snug warm bed wondering if the end of the world was at hand. Like in every thunderstorm I had switched off the electricity supply at the mains. On the roof is a contraption that should run all lightening strokes down a series of wires into the ground. My house according to the experts is safe from lightning. I have also some heavy insurance on the house, a relic of the old days before I had the house made lightning proof.

The storm as it had started gave off one last groan of thunder and the rain stopped. I could not sleep and went downstairs to the electric mains and threw the switch. Lights came on automatically and I made my way to the kitchen to make myself a cup of hot sweet tea. Placing two tea bags in the teapot I poured boiling water into the teapot and placing the lid on the same I waited a few minutes for the tea to draw. Soon I was drinking my hot sweet tea.

"Have you got a cup for me?" The voice startled me. Here in the middle of the night was a Leprechaun with a very big umbrella standing in my kitchen. The water ran off the umbrella onto my kitchen floor causing a large puddle of water to appear. "Place your umbrella in the kitchen sink," I managed to get out of my mouth at the same time I reached for a cup and saucer and the Leprechaun soon was drinking his hot sweet tea,

"What brings you to my house at this hour of the morning?" I said in a steady voice. " "Ah! I am on an errand for Her Majesty Queen Feeana, You are invited to attend the ceremony of the flowers." Having said this he picked up his umbrella from the kitchen sink thanked me for the tea and disappeared as he had come. I was rather surprised that Her Majesty had chosen the middle of the night for him to deliver his message. Going back upstairs to my bed I slept though until seven o'clock and woke up with the knowledge that I had been invited to a Flower Ceremony.

Going into the woods I saw that the Fairies were extra busy. Most of them had some seeds and were placing one seed after the other into the newly dug ground. Each seed had been treated to a small spell of magic from the Fairies wands. The Fairies were sewing seeds all of the week and the big day was to be on the in a fortnights time. One of the Fairies had dug a small plot and then collected many worms, which she gently placed on her small plot of ground where she had sewn her flower seeds. I watched her closely after this I was curious as to what flowers she had sewn.

In a weeks time all over Fairyland there were plants growing and it promised to be a most beautiful show of flowers. The Fairy, which had collected the worms for her little plot of ground, came every day to water the plants. The plants were now quite large. I must admit I was very curious as to what kind of flowers she was growing. Then pods appeared at the end of the plants. The pods burst open and one butterfly after the other flew away from her pods. I had never before seen anything like this and was not surprised when she won the first prize for her magic flowers which in reality were butterflies.

Most of the other seeds that had been planted grew into some of the most beautiful coloured flowers that I have ever seen. Her Majesty Queen Feeana congratulated all of the Fairies and Her Majesty declared that such a flower contest would be held every two years in the future.

Some of the flowers were so good that it was decided to let them grow wild in the woods for everyone to enjoy. Just the butterfly flowers were taken way and placed in the university's garden. Once a year they produce the same pods that when they ripen open and butterflies of all colours fly all around the world. If I had not seen these flowers with my own eyes I would not have believed it possible for butterflies to fly out of pods growing on large thick stems.

Flower Surprises.

The sun shines down brightly; it is hard to believe that only a few minutes before the rain had washed away the ford that connected the two parts of the town. The ford was repaired twice a year by the local council just a bed of fresh small stones so that the traffic could pass over it safely. For the pedestrians there was an old bridge that had at sometime in the past been built so that no one had wet feet after crossing the ford.

It was here at the ford that I met for the first time a man that was selling all kinds of things for the house and garden. A fork for digging had caught my eye and I bargained with the man and eventually got the fork for a few shillings. Going home I tried out the fork by digging a row in my garden. The fork was easy in my hand and I quickly dug what was to be the start of a new bed for some flowers. Most of my garden consists of vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and cabbage. I like to grow my own vegetables and it is certainly cheaper than buying them at the Green Grocers or at the stalls in the local market.

Flowers were for me something new and I was looking forward to seeing some many coloured flowers in my garden. The next day I went into the town and there was the man again selling this time seeds and potted plants, shrubs and a few bushes. I stopped once again and got into conversation with the man. "How is the fork that I sold you?" He asked. "Very good." was my reply, "It is just the right tool for digging the garden." "I thought that you might like it, you look the kind of man that appreciates a good tool." This time I bought some seeds and some potted plants and went back to my home.

I finished digging the plot for the flowers and after digging a few holes I planted the potted plants, as they would be the first to show their flowers. Then I made a few rows for the seeds and planted them in the garden. I remembered the man's words as he sold me the seeds. "You will be very surprised at the results of the seeds when they flower." I hardly gave much thought to his words as I paid for my flowers and seeds.

I watered my garden and waited patiently for the seeds to grow the potted plants soon had flowers but it was the seeds that really interested me after all the man had said, "That I would be surprised." A week passed by and sure enough the seeds were beginning to show little green leaves, another fortnight and there would be flowers I remember thinking to myself.

Every day I watered the flowers and potted plants. All were growing nicely. The flowers on the plants in the pots were most unusual, large round red flowers the likes of which I had not seen before. These flowers were always turning their heads as if listening to the breezes that gently blew around midday. It was strange to see them all turning their heads as if listening to some secret that only the wind knew.

The seed flowers were also very strange all different colours. Each had the shape of a face with eyes, nose. A mouth and two of the petals looked suspiciously like a pair of ears. I spent hours watching the flowers. I was now convinced that they all had something to tell me, but what? Then on the seventh day of the week the first flower opened its mouth and told me this. "You will live a long life." On the second day the next flower spoke to me. "You will marry and get to know all about the Fairy World." The third flower told me that Leprechauns would visit me. The other flowers all had something to tell me and up to now it has all come true.

At the end of the week all of the flowers from the seeds died away just the flowers from the potted plants were still with me. I tended them with great care, as I wanted to have these potted plants for many years. I liked the look of them and had made plans in my mind that I would dig them out in the autumn and place them in my conservatory for the winter months.

The day came for me to dig out the potted plants and I had got some new pots for them and a few bags of earth from the local garden shop. As I started to dig the first flower spoke and said, "You will live for a long time. Now you may dig me out." Each flower gave me a personal message as I went to dig it out. The potted plants are now in my conservatory and I get great pleasure out of tending them.

Going to do my weekly shopping I saw the man again that had sold me the fork and the seeds. He smilingly asked me whether the flowers had surprised me. I said, "Yes they certainly did and did he have any more surprises for me. My last surprise for you he said in a serious manner is that you will now have many adventures with Fairies and you will write down all of your adventures for the children to read.

I have never seen the man since and I have had many a thrilling adventure with the Fairies. Most of my little stories I have written down for the children of this world. I hope to have many more such adventures and will also write them down for you to read or for your parents to read them to you. Another true story from the pen of bern.

Flowing fingers.

Something strange is going on. I have this urge to write although there is no story in my head. For the last week or two nothing seems to be as it normally is, No fairy tales in my head and no wanting to sit at the computer to write. Now my fingers are moving over the keys of the keyboard as if some one or some-thing has taken over my body. I feel this strange wanting to let my fingers do exactly as they want; there is no controlling my hands. I have tried stopping writing and gone to make a cup of tea to settle me down, it is of no use I am compelled to go once again to my computer and let my fingers have their own way. I suppose that I should apologise in advance for what I am writing and let you the reader be the judge of this story, it is not a story coming from my head. I am compelled to sit here and write.

No one has visited me for the last four weeks, no fairies, no leprechauns, or any of the other little peoples that live in Fairyland. I have missed them all and have taken to going into my back garden to weed and look after the vegetables that are growing so well. My dog wag accompanies me to visits to the garden and usually sits and waits for me to finish then we go for a walk into Fairyland. Wag loves these walks of ours, there is not a bush or tree that he has not sniffed at. This day is no exception all the bushes and trees have had their usual sniff and I wondered what Wag would do next. In the distance a small deer raised its head sniffing at the scent that came wafting on the breeze. Wag too cocked his ears and I expected him to pull on the lead. I always keep wag on a lead as like most dogs he still has his hunting instincts and I would hate for him to chase an animal. Wag did not move and it was then that I saw the strangest of sights. A man dressed in an ever-changing suit of colours. Every step that he made, his clothes changed colour. This is most unusual and I decided to walk and meet him on his path. Wag sniffed again. The hair on the back of his neck slowly settled down Wag has accepted the man. "Good Morning to you", I called. "Good morning?" his answer is really a question. "Tell me", I asked "What brings you to this part of the woods?" "Woods", he miserably called back. "Is this not Fairyland?" I did not answer his question, instead I asked him to tell me about himself, and why on each step his clothes changed colour? This is his story. " I come from far away where I once worked for a mighty Wizard." "This Wizard was a very mean man and I had to eat what scraps of food he left over from his meals. I was so hungry that I ate his stock of mushrooms that he was going to cook for his dinner." "He became so angry that he placed a spell on me." His spell was that for each step that I take I would change colour." "Beating me with a thick stick he chased me out of his house." "His parting words were." "Wander until you come to Fairyland. Only in Fairyland will you find some one to take away the spell that I have placed upon you." I have been wandering the world since then and I have still not found Fairyland, although many have directed me I cannot find a fairy that will help me.

"Does it have to be a fairy that will break the spell?" I asked. I was really feeling sorry for the man, all of the while we were talking he changed colours. Taking from my pocket a handful of magic dust I sprinkled the man from the top of his head down to his feet with magic dust. The man stopped changing colours and now was an ordinary young boy. Thanking me for helping him he told me to hurry home and write this story for you all to read. Somehow I think the young man had some magic powers and it was he himself that caused my fingers to write this story for you all. Is it true you might ask well there is only my word for it that the story is true? You could ask my dog Wag but Wag only barks and unless you understand the language that the animals speak he cannot help you.

Flute Player.

The strange sounds of a flute came drifting to my ears. No expert was playing the flute. It sounded as if the player was having difficulty with his or her breathing. The notes were hacked but underneath were definitely an undefined melody to be heard. I decided to follow the noise of the flute to see who was trying so hard with so little success. I followed the path that led deeper into the woods and after a while I came across the flute player. A small donkey held with its front legs a flute and it was trying hard to coax a melody out of it.

I watched for a while and then took pity on the poor animal it was having very little success. I made myself heard above his so-called music and going closer to him I took out my flute and showed him how to play the melody properly. The donkey watched me very closely and then put the flute to its lips once again. This time it controlled its breath and although his hooves did not help much it managed to play the melody.

It tried over and over again, each time the melody was getting clearer. Then it blew the flute so well that the melody came out clear to my ears. I clapped my hands in delight it was indeed for a donkey a triumph to play such music. Then the donkey slowly changed into a young man and just to show his delight that he was no more a donkey he played one tune after the other.

I sat and listened he was really an expert flute player. Taking the flute from his lips he told me this story. He was a musician and often played at weddings and other events to delight the people and to earn a living. One day he was called to the home of a magician and told to play some music that the magician had written down. The flute player put his flute to his lips and started to play this weird music for the magician. Try, as much as he could he could not master the tunes that he was expected to play.

After and hour of his trying the magician placed a spell on him. He would become a donkey and until he as a donkey could play the flute he would stay as a donkey. It was my showing him how to play that he was able to play the flute again and turn back into a young musician. I asked him if he remembered what the magician had wanted him to play. "Yes," he said "I remember the music well it is something that I never will forget."

Placing the flute to his lips he played a melancholy piece of music and then followed some of the weirdest music that I had ever heard. The more he played the louder his music became until even the heavens were turning from grey into a deep black and the rain poured down. "Stop the music." I said. "The magician was up to no good getting you to play such ugly music even the heavens do not want to hear it." The flute player stopped his playing and I sent a robin to Her Majesty Queen Feeana to come and hear this tale of the flute player turned donkey because he did not or could not play the Magicians music.

Her Majesty came and listened to the flute player playing now quite softly the most ugly music that Her Majesty had ever heard. Taking from her dress her magic mirror she looked long and deep into it. Then waving her wand Her Majesty turned the magician into a donkey and showed the flute player and myself how he now wanders the woods with a flute in his hands trying hard to get some music from the flute.

Her Majesty then said that he would wander the woods for five hundred years as a punishment for trying to get a musician to play such music that caused storms and heavy rainfall. It will take him five hundred years to learn to play the flute so that a melody will come from it. Until then he will have to work like a donkey and earn the right to become human again.

Gas Bubbles.

Everywhere where there are Fairies, strange things are happening it is as if they are under attack from some person or other. As soon as the Fairies play one of the many games they play, a huge bubble comes from the ground and as it bursts strange smells are in the air. Strange smells is perhaps a little understated it absolutely stinks. The Fairies do not know what is happening it is the same all over the country, north, south, east and west. The wise old fairies do not know what the reason is for these strange bubbles and their horrible stink. Even Her Majesty Queen Feeana is at a loss to say why these bubbles burst and give off theses horrid smells.

I myself had no explanations as to where these bubbles came from or why they stank so terribly putting the Fairies off their play. Her Majesty called a meeting of all the wise old Fairies. I too was invited to see whether I could be of help or not. The meeting took place on Friday the fifteenth of may it was a sunny day and as soon as Her Majesty opened the meeting the bubbles came one after the other and burst, the smell was horrible. I spoke quietly to her Majesty and told her about Gas masks that the humans used in world war two. Her Majesty waved her magic wand and each of the wise old fairies had now a gas mask. The meeting now took place and each Fairy that spoke had to speak clearly as it was difficult to understand under the gas masks.

All of the wise old Fairies had their say and nothing of any use came up at the meeting and Her Majesty closed the meeting thanking them all for their coming. Her Majesty pointed her magic wand at me and I once more felt the familiar feeling of rushing through a quiet space of time. I landed next to her Majesty in her most beautiful garden. We were still both of us wearing our masks. I did not see any of the bubbles and took my mask off. Her Majesty did the same and we sat under one of the old apple trees and discussed what was causing the bubbles to appear all over Fairyland. I suggested to her Majesty that all of the Fairies should be sent to the winter quarters under the Himalayan Mountains for safety there were so many safety precautions there that it would be impossible for them to come to any harm.

Her Majesty waved her magic wand once more and I knew that all of the Fairies were now safe in their winter retreat. Her Majesty used her magic mirror to see whether a Sorcerer or Witch was behind the attacks. The mirror remained dull no picture appeared so it was not any magic that Her Majesty Queen Feeana knew of. Her Majesty then asked Mother Nature if she had any explanation as to where the bubbles with their stinking mixture was coming from. Mother Nature also had no idea they are not natural she told the Queen. We then parted her Majesty sent me back home so that I could go to the big museums in London to see whether such bubbles had appeared before. Her Majesty went to the Fairy Library to look up in the old parchments to see if there was any trace of such bubbles before in Fairyland.

I looked up all the reference books in the British Library and also in the science museum but I could only find articles written about marsh gas appearing in this way. While I was in London I went to a street in Soho to a shop that sold all kinds of things magical. The shopkeeper then told me about a new most powerful Wizard who had settled in London. This Wizard had come from abroad and asked the shopkeeper where he could buy sheet lead. It seemed that he wanted to build himself a shelter and lead would keep all penetrating rays from his person. There are not many places now in London where sheet lead was sold and I soon found the factory where he had bought his lead. I hurried back to Dartford and went into the woods along the Dartford Heath. There were no bubbles to be seen, as all the Fairies were safe in their winter retreat under the Himalayan Mountains. A friendly Robin took a message for me to Her Majesty and once more I was transported to Her Majesties garden.

I told Her Majesty of the new Wizard and of his buying lead that did not allow the magic rays to pass through his walls. This is why Her Majesty had not discovered him with her magic mirror. Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and waved her wand over it. Looking again in the mirror Her Majesty now saw the Wizard her magic penetrated through the walls of lead and she saw a tall man with a long pointed black hat on his head. He was dressed in a long black robe that had a new moon and many gold stars on it. He was looking through a very old book. In one corner of the room was a cage and in the cage was a fairy. The Wizard had somehow managed to catch a fairy and held her prisoner in his house. The Fairy Looked very miserable and I could see why. In a large crystal ball she saw one of the wise old Fairies wearing her gas mask. She was looking for herbs and took no notice of the large bubbles that burst near her.

The Queen Feeana then took me to her cellar I had never been in this room before here she took from a wall cupboard a large black book similar to the one the Wizard was using. Turning the pages she stopped and a smile appeared on her face. "This is just the thing I want." she said. Speaking in the old language she cast a spell. I myself was looking in the magic mirror and saw first the Fairy disappear and then the Wizard turned into a large bubble. This bubble Her Majesty took with magic and cast it out into the North Sea. If you are any where on the coast and a horrible smell comes onto the land you will know that it is the Wizard. At the same time the Fairy that had been imprisoned in the Wizards house, appeared in front of Her Majesty Queen Feeana. She curtsied first to the Queen and then to me. Speaking in the old tongue she explained to Her Majesty that the Wizard had caught her in one such bubble and that she fell asleep when she awoke she was in a cage in the Wizards home. Her Majesty thanked me for my help and after the familiar way of Fairy travel I found myself back in my home where I made myself a large cup of sweet hot tea and thought about all I had seen and done on that day of the bubbles.

There are no more bubbles now and the Fairies are back doing what they like to do most, painting flowers and dancing and singing. This is a true story that I have with Her Majesties Permission written down for you all to read.

Ghostly Cinema.

The lights dimmed, an air of expectancy filled the cinema. I sat further back in my comfortable seat and saw the first rays coming from the projector that I knew was somewhere high up at the back wall. Soft music haunted the cinema, and a picture filled the screen. I have not been to a cinema for a very long time and was looking forward to seeing a space film. I just love the photographic tricks that are used in space films. The impression that one is hurtling through space, the meteorites and other dangerous things that are flying around in space all added to my enjoyment of a good fantasy film. To my surprise the first scenes showed a park with hundreds of different flowers. The music had changed into a slow melodious background lullaby. This I thought to myself is no science fiction film. Looking slowly around me I saw that all of the other people had their eyes closed. There was no rustling of sweet wrappers being opened, no one was eating popcorn or drinking lemonade. All faces were turned to the screen, all eyes but mine were closed.

Each flower that was shown filled the cinema with its scent, birds flew to and from a small lake taking a drink before going back to their nests where young birds were calling for their mothers. Now I saw the wild animals, a pair of foxes with young, weasels running across well-kept lawns, chasing each other. A proud pheasant strutting in front of a pair of female birds all fitted well into the picture, it was I myself that was very uneasy I had come to the cinema and paid for a seat to watch a science fiction film, I am being shown what would in other circumstances be a very good nature film. Moving uneasily in my comfortable seat I wondered whether I should go to the ticket office and ask for my money back after all I had not paid to see a nature film. I could go into a park or into the woods at any time and see all of these things without paying a fee for admittance.

I rose from my seat determined to find out why I was being shown a nature film and not the science fiction film that I had paid for. I rose to my feet and drew the light from the film projector to myself. Suddenly I was drawn into the park and saw all of the flowers and smelled the smells of the bushes and trees, it was all so natural. I belong here I told myself. The birds were the first to notice me. Flying to me they perched on my arms that I held out for them some found a resting place on my head. I am being greeted with all the sweet sounds that only birds can make. I could not hear any music now apart from that of the birds. Adding to the musical sounds of the birds voices, came the lament of the fresh breezes that were to be heard as they made their unknown way across this most beautiful of parks. The pheasants came and greeted me asking me where I had been for so long. I could not remember ever having been on conversational terms with pheasants but it did not seem to matter, I was it seems on speaking terms with all of the inhabitants of this wonderful park that I have been drawn into.

I could see no house or human dwelling in this park and wondered where I was going to sleep. What was I going to eat? I could look for the nests of the bees or wasps and take their honey but that would not be enough to feed me. Wandering around the park I met and spoke to animals, birds and beasts it was as if I could speak with all of the creatures whether they are birds or wild animals.

Then I heard the noise of engines roaring the space ship is attacking other space ships. Commands are being shouted all is in one glorious cacophony of sounds. No park, no birds, no breezes lamenting as they blew softly through the woods and grasses of the park. The lights of the cinema nearly blinded me and I saw people of all ages and sizes making their way out into the foyer of the cinema. The floor of the cinema is in a terrible state with popcorn boxes and coke bottles laying everywhere. The papers that had formed the wrapping of the seats were everywhere. I closed my eyes for a moment trying to recall the order and beauty of the park that I had so rudely been pulled out of and did not regret my not seeing a science fiction film.

Gold Belt.

A long, long time ago there was a small Fairy girl that continually puts on fat. No matter what she eats it just turns to fat. Needless to say the small Fairy girl was very unhappy. It is not nice to be called little Jumbo by all of your mates. She was so unhappy that she went off into the woods and hid in a cave. In the cave she made a bed of ferns and only went out to drink water from the local stream. It was soon noticed by the other Fairies that she was not there any longer and they reported it to the wise old Fairies. The wise old Fairies spent much time looking for the fat little Fairy but she had found a very good hiding place no one knew of the cave. The wise old Fairies reported to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, that the child was missing.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana looked into her magic mirror and soon found the cave where the fat little Fairy was hiding. Waving her wand Her Majesty landed in the cave with a blue flash and a puff of smoke. Smiling the Queen asked the little fat Fairy why she had run off to hide like she did. The fat little Fairy cried and the tears ran down her cheeks. "Your Majesty I am so fat and all of the Fairy Children call me Jumbo." " I ran away to see if by just drinking water I would loose weight." Her Majesty then told the fat little fairy to stay where she was and not to worry as she the Queen had an idea to solve the problem of the Fairy being too fat.

In Fairyland there were two goldsmiths, both were Leprechauns and famous for making all kinds of things with gold. Leaving the Fat little Fairy in the cave Her Majesty left the way she had come. Calling the two goldsmiths to her house Her Majesty told them what she wanted them to make for her. Giving the two Leprechauns some magic gold Her Majesty told them she wanted them to make a belt to go around the waist of a small fat Fairy. The two Leprechaun Goldsmiths were delighted at getting and order like this and they spent much time planning how the belt should look. One said being it is for Her Majesty let us place some diamonds where the belt closes that will give it a wonderful look and we will become even more famous.

The two Goldsmiths took one whole week to make the belt and by placing diamonds where the buckle should be it made the belt much more pretty, in the end they engraved some pictures of birds flying and the belt was just as perfect as a belt could be. Going to Her Majesty they presented to the Queen the golden belt studded with diamonds. The belt strangely enough was very light there was hardly any weight at all for a belt made of gold. Her Majesty was delighted with the work of the two Goldsmiths and rewarded them well with Fairy Gold. The two Leprechauns said their farewells to Her Majesty and went back to making wedding rings. Inside each ring they make a mark by hammering a number. If your Mother or Father wear wedding rings ask them to show you the inside of the ring perhaps it is one made by the two Leprechaun Goldsmiths.

Her Majesty took the golden belt and flew to the cave. Calling the fat little Fairy she gave her the belt telling her to put it on. The fat little Fairy took the belt from Her Majesty and placed it around her waist. It fitted perfectly and the fat little Fairy was now like all the other little Fairies. Thanking Her Majesty she ran to the stream and looked into the water that acted as a mirror. She was delighted she was now the same as all of the other Fairies. Her dress and shoes shrank to fit her new size and she ran quickly back to Her Majesty and thanked her once again for making her like all of the other Fairies. Her Majesty smiled and told her to go back to play with the other little Fairies. Now no one called her Jumbo any more she was just Annadew which was her real name.

The belt still exists and is kept by Her Majesty just in case some other small Fairy is too fat. The belt became as famous as the two Leprechauns that made it all those long years ago. They never made another belt as Magic gold can only be given by Her Majesty the Fairy Queen. Today there are many children that could use such a belt but alas it is only for the Fairies, no human could wear it. It is still as magic as it was when the Leprechauns made it.

Armchair.

Golden Bubble.

On one of my long walks somewhere in Great Britain, I will not tell you where. I had the following adventure. With my rucksack on my back and a walking stick in my hand, I was walking along thinking what a grand day it is. The next thing that I knew I was falling through what seemed to be a hole in the middle of a moor. Landing on my two feet I felt my legs to see whether I had perhaps broken a bone. Luckily I was all right. I had landed against a wall of what looked like a large cave. In the middle of the cave a fire was burning on a large flat stone. Over the fire a cauldron is hanging on a tripod. A woman whose face is covered in warts and long black single hairs is busy throwing herbs into the cauldron. A shelf with a large number of stone jars is against the what; I will call the back wall, which is the wall facing me. From these jars the woman took sometimes a handful sometimes just a pinch and threw it into the cauldron a she did so she called out, "appear golden bubble," I watched the woman for quite some time she had not noticed me standing against the wall. A large black cat came over to where I was standing and rubbed itself against the legs of my trousers.

I watched the woman for what seemed like hours, there was something about her that made me keep very quiet and watch all that she did. From the ceiling hung many different bundles of herbs occasionally she took from the bundles an herb and threw it into the cauldron. Every now again she put a piece of firewood on the fire. I was surprised that she had not noticed me, for each piece of wood that she threw onto the fire, caused a bright shower of sparks that lit up the cave quite well. Soon I noticed that the brew in the cauldron had begun to bubble, the woman began to croon to herself. "Appear, my golden bubble, appear," this singsong crooning, hurt my ears and I switched off my hearing aids. I could still see the woman's lips moving and now she took from a box a powder. One handful of this brown powder she threw into the caldron and shouted out, "Appear my golden bubble," I heard this and watched the cauldron. A large brown bubble something like a soap bubble that one sees when children blow into their bubble pipes slowly rose out of the cauldron.

Then I noticed that all of the herbs and the stone jars were slowly disappearing into the bubble. The women it seemed wanted also to go into the large brown bubble but she remained as if fixed to the floor. Making a big effort she threw herself at the bubble, which threw her back, and then I saw the bubble turning into a bright golden colour the bubble got bigger and bigger and then I felt the pull I too was moving toward the cauldron and the bright golden bubble. Whoosh I vanished into the bubble. I had expected the bubble to be hot, after all the fire had been burning for quite some time. No! I went through the bubble quickly and found myself in a large cave, around me were the herbs and the stone jars, not a jar was broken. Then I recognised the cave it was one of the caves where the little people go in the long winter months. The woman's cat appeared next and came to me. I think she was frightened and wanted some company. I stroked the cat and at the same time I put out a mental call to her Majesty Queen Feeana. A bright blue flash and her Majesty appeared, she was as lovely to look at as she always was.

Smiling Her Majesty asked me why I had called her. I told Her Majesty about the experience of my falling into the cave and the woman with her cauldron. Taking a small bunch of the herbs Her Majesty placed them on her magic mirror. She saw the pictures of the woman who is now standing in an empty cave. Even the fire on the large flat stone and the cauldron had appeared. Her Majesty was very much concerned that a woman by using magic could send objects through the air to land at the most secret of caves under the Himalayan Mountains. This had never happened before the caves were a secret known only to the little people and to those that read my little stories. A wave of her magic wand and the woman appeared beside the cauldron the fire of which was still burning. " You want to come to the caves to live," asked Her Majesty. "Yes came the reply I want to get away from the cold hard world where no one wants an old woman that makes medicines." "Your wish shall be granted on one condition." Said Her Majesty. "You will stay in these caves until you find a cure for the common cold that is a plague to the human race." "Are you agreeable?" "Yes," said the old woman and she is till in the caves and the only visitors that she gets is when some of the wise old fairies visit her with any newfound herbs. She is to my knowledge still in the caves.

Green Bottle.

Once or twice a year I go to the Petticoat Lane to look for bric-a-brac any thing that takes my fancy and does not cost too much. I had over the years found many curiosities to place upon my shelves. Going slowly past one of the many stalls I noticed a green bottle it was very old. I picked the bottle up and gave it a quick look over. This would look nice upon my dining room shelf I thought to myself. The bottle held in my hand sent a warm feeling of delight right through my arms into my chest. I looked at the bottle more closely and then I saw the Fairy Coat of arms that had been pressed into the sealing wax many years ago. The owner of the stall had, had the bottle for a very long time and was pleased when I offered him one shilling for the bottle. I would have bargained with him but he seemed pleased to get rid of the old green bottle.

I soon left the Petticoat Lane Market and made my way home to Dartford Heath where I owned a large house. I had tried holding the bottle up to the light to see if there was anything in the bottle but no to all appearances it was empty. At home in my Kitchen I lit a candle and slowly melted the wax seal with the Fairy coat of arms. The bottle was not empty inside was a piece of paper with words written in the old Fairy Language. I took the paper and went to the woods where I asked a robin to take a message for me to Queen Feeana. Her Majesty appeared in her usual way and I greeted her and explained about the paper message that I had found in the green bottle.

Her Majesty read the message and looked very grave. I asked what the message had said and her Majesty told me the story behind the writing on the paper from the green bottle. Many years ago a Wizard had seen a fairy and wanted her for his wife. The fairy refused for when a fairy marries a human she looses her wings and cannot any longer fly. The Wizard in his rage at the fairy not wanting to marry him turned the Fairy into a fire iron or better still into a poker that was in a set of fire irons at the House of Lord Shrewsdale somewhere in Lincolnshire. Lord Shrewsdale had servants to do all of the work and the Fairy had tried to communicate with every person that had held the poker in their hands.

One day new housemaid who was considered rather simple came to the house to work. She was told to light a fire in the lounge and for the first time the Fairy who had now been imprisoned in the poker for many long years was able to send pictures in the poor girls head. The pictures showed her to get a piece of writing paper and a pen and the Fairy using the girls arm and finger wrote the message in the old language and placed it in the green bottle. Then with the fairies help it was sealed and the girl was told to give it to the next person she met on the street on her free day from work. That is how the paper with its message got into the bottle. The Queen and I discussed for a long time how to get the Fairy from out of her prison in the poker. It was then I had an idea. Why not place me in the house as butler. I would then have the opportunity to take the poker with the Fairy enclosed in it and replace it with another that looked just the same.

And so it came about that Her Majesty waved her Magic Wand at me and I landed on my feet in the wine cellar of Lord Shrewsdale. I pretended not to notice the cook and the pantry maid and one or two other servants that were present and made my way into the lounge. Quickly I exchanged Pokers. I had brought an exact copy of the poker with me from Her Majesty. Slipping the poker up my sleeve I went back to the wine cellar and the familiar flash and I was back in the woods with Her Majesty. The Wizard had used some very powerful magic to enslave the Fairy in the poker and Her Majesty called all of the wise old Fairies together and holding the poker in the air with Magic the Queen and the wise old fairies started to chant in the old language. All were in a circle, which I noticed had been strengthened with a ring of mushrooms. All were pointing their Magic Wands at the poker, which all of a sudden burst into flame and out of the middle of which stepped a Lovely Fairy.

The Fairies name was Marfee and she told us her story. The Wizard had tricked her into going with him to Lord Shrewsdale's as he told her that Lady Shrewsdale was very ill and he wanted the Fairies help. No sooner were they in the house when the Wizard threw some very powerful magic dust over the Fairy Marfee. He told her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. She refused and was placed with Magic into the first thing that caught the Wizards eye and that was the poker. For years she had tried to make contact with the different people that had taken the poker in their hands but until the young housemaid came to work in the house she had, had no luck. Then the years of waiting to see whether anyone would open the bottle. The Fairy Marfee was given the title of Wise Old Fairy and now helps in any way she can all of the Fairies in Fairyland.

Heat Wave.

It is terribly hot in fairyland. The sun is heating down and the stream that is usually a slow running stream is now a series of puddles. The fish are or would be dying off if it were not for the fairies carrying buckets of water and fish from one puddle to another. Most of the water in the larger fish puddle was from dewdrops collected early each morning and poured into the larger puddle. To stop the water from evaporating the fairies had place leafy branches over the large puddle. The Queen Fairy Feeana sent a petition to Mother Nature asking her to send a rain shower over Fairyland to save the fish. The first storm cloud appeared on the horizon and quickly came nearer and nearer. The rain came down in large drops soon the ground was covered in water and the stream filled again with the life saving water. The Leprechauns were asked to build a dam across the stream so that enough water could collect to keep the fish alive. The Leprechauns place large stones that they carefully interleaved with one another until a wall of stone about five feet high was built across the dam. To stop the water getting through the gaps in the stones inside of the wall the Leprechauns placed grass turfs, which they cut, out of the streams banks. Soon the dam had enough water that it let the overflow run over the top of the dam. The fish were saved and a letter of thanks was soon on its way to Mother Nature.

Later Mother Nature sent clouds and rain to fairyland and the fairies were unhappy it was no fun trying to dry wet wings especially wings so fine as the fairies. The wet weather after the heat that Fairyland had been getting soon mushrooms and other fungi were showing their heads. One of these fungi was known to give people funny turns in their heads if they ate of it. One man that often came to Fairyland looking for different birds. (A bird watcher.) Saw the fungi and decided to eat a small piece of it. The fungi tasted like nothing he had ever eaten before and he ate another mouthful. Soon his head was producing pictures of things that were not there. He saw a spider crossing one of the lines to another bush and in his head it was a man riding a bicycle balancing on a tight rope. He saw birds that were as big as aeroplanes and as he lifted his binoculars or spyglasses. The aeroplanes were as small as gnats. His mind played many tricks on him. He should not have eaten the fungi and he walked through Fairyland as if his legs were of rubber. Swaying here and there he managed to walk quite a way when a large oak tree looked inviting to have a rest under. The man sat under the oak tree and the fungi ran riot in his head. He saw most of the little people who came to see who it was that was so silly to eat of the dangerous fungi. He thought he was seeing things and dismissed the little people. He should not have done that for a little later a group of Pixies came by to see the human that was so silly. The pixies soon got the spiders to spin some ropes for them and they tied the silly man with knots known only to the Pixies. Taking the man with them they made their way to the old wishing well. Here they left the man who was still seeing things and would continue to do so for quite a few hours.

A few hours went by and the man came around to find himself tied with ropes that he had never before seen and the knots in the ropes were so complicated that only a Pixie or a magician could untie them. What has been happening to me? He lamented, he now had a headache and his mouth was parched and dry. His arms and legs were hurting him. Try as hard as he could he could not untie those ropes and he no strength to break the ropes. Looking around him he saw that he was resting against a small stonewall it was the wall of the wishing well. The man did not know this, if he had he need only to say set me free out loud and he would have been as free as the birds that he so often looked at.

One small fairy named Ledafee had not seen the silly human that had eaten of the fungi that turned ones mind into a mess. Being curious she went off into the woods looking for him. One of the pixies saw Ledafee and told her to look by the wishing well. Ledafee flew off to the wishing well and saw what the pixies had done to the poor man. Instead of helping him as all other peoples of the woods would have done. They had tied him up and left him against the wishing well of which the man had no idea. Ledafee untied the man with a magic spell and got water from the well and gave the man to drink. She only let him drink small sips, as a full belly on top of the fungi would have made him very ill indeed. Ledafee stayed with the man all of that night keeping him from harm and on the next day she led him to a large bramble bush where the luscious ripe blackberries were very tempting and waited until the silly man had eaten his fill. She led the man out of the woods and all he can remember is that a beautiful young maiden gave him to drink and led him to the most luscious blackberries that he had ever eaten. He did not remember any of the little peoples that had come to stare at the silly human that had eaten of the mad fungi.

Hidden Danger.

All around me I feel a strange sense that I am in danger in one-way or another. I cannot place this danger perhaps it is only my nerves playing tricks on me. Strange tingles run up and down my spine, I am short of breath for a few minutes, and it is as if I have run a mile although sometimes I have not moved from the spot. I never know when this feeling of fear will come over me, sometimes when I am in the middle of a crowd of people. At other times when I am alone in my own bedroom, I ask my self all sorts of weird questions such as, Is the roof going to fall in on me? Or when walking is that car going to hit me, will I die? As most of you know I have been seeing and writing about fairies and witches, wizards and magicians. Have any of these people put me under a curse? Am I writing too many stories about the wizards, witches and magicians? Is this their way of making me suffer because I have told so many stories about the goings on and wicked doings of most of these would be makers of magic?

I decided to go away in disguise to a place abroad somewhere where no one knows me. I ordered a ticket to France and late at night I called a taxi and asked the driver to wait for me at the bottom of the street. I did not want any one to see me go. Quickly packing a small suitcase with my toilet articles and fresh underwear. I went out of my back door without turning on any lights made my way to my front gate. Spent a few minutes making sure that the road was clear and quietly walked down the road to where the taxi was waiting. Getting in to the car I told the driver to take me to the airport at Heathrow. As I went through the gates of the airport I saw in a mirror that I had forgotten to shave, I really felt scruffy. Then I thought a beard just the right thing to disguise me. I made up my mind that I would not shave until I came back to my house again.

The flight to Paris was normal I felt no impeding sense of danger and relaxed. I took a train from Paris to a village high up in the mountains of Southern France. I had to change from the train to a local bus and arrived at six in the evening in a small hotel. The hotel is comfortable and clean. Here in this alpine village I have no feelings of fear all is well and I am enjoying my stay. I do not shave but leave my face unshaven soon I had a good strong beard. My knowledge of French is quite good and I enjoyed my friendly conversations with the local people. I had written in the hotel register that my occupation is novelist. This gives me the chance to talk about local beliefs and I soon have enough details for a short story about the local fairies.

Here the fairies are called Fay or Fayette, Fayette are the small fairies and I was told of the Fayette that was always running off to follow the local French children. The name of this Fayette is Maguy and Maguy followed the children everywhere. Only when she met Janette did she settle down, Janette was a small girl who always told anyone that would listen that she had a Fayette for a friend. People smiled and agreed with her after all she was still a small girl and would soon have to go to school. Then she would forget about her friend Fayette or so the village people thought. Fayette sat in school beside Janette and both Janette and Maguy were good scholars and learned their lessons well. Janette was very good at drawing; some of the pictures she drew are still hanging on the wall of her village school to this very day. Everyone said that Janette would grow up to be an artist and would become famous like so many French Painters. Maguy and Janette were always together even when Janette went to Sunday School Maguy went with her. All thought that Janette could sing as well for when Janette sang she only moved her lips it was Maguy that sang the songs and hymns.

One day Maguy noticed me looking at her. Flying over to where I sat she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Can you see me?" I said that I have seen her ever since I came to the village. She asked me my name and when I told her she smiled and said, "The Writer of Fairy Tales." Then she told me that she was in Paris when I went there with the English Fairies. We had quite a conversation and she asked me why I was growing a beard. I told her of the strange feelings of danger that I had been experiencing and she smiled and took from her pocket a chain with a pendant on it. The pendant was in the form of a tear drop this she placed around my neck saying "This is my guardian pendant it has protected me all of my life, I want you to have it and it will protect you now," "You will feel no more danger that is threatening you this pendant will turn from pale pink to a deep red if you are in any serious danger." You may go back home now and enjoy your garden. The English Fairies and the leprechauns have been looking after your gardens in your absence.

I said my goodbyes to the local people of the village and soon a car was taking me to the local station to catch a train to Paris. Another taxi took me to the airport and I flew back to Heathrow where we landed safely-Maguy had told me that she would get Janette to write to me and I have been writing to her for a long time now. Janette is not a singer but a well known French artist, her paintings are mainly about fairies and She still send me news and greetings from Maguy the now Fay she is no longer a Fayette but one of the wise old fairies. Maguy is not old the title is given to any fairy that has studied at the fairy University. Maguy now teaches the small Fay how to sing she has a wonderful voice and sings still just for the pleasure of singing.

On my arrival at my home the gardens both front and back were looking very well the leprechauns and the fairies had really looked after my gardens and what is more I have no feelings of fear anymore perhaps the pendant from Maguy has taken those nasty feelings away from me.

Hidden Fairy Cove.

Walking along the cliff tops somewhere in England I heard the soft voices of a choir singing what sounded like a popular tune from the radio. I got down on my hands and knees and looked over the edge of the cliff. My surprise was great for in a small cove that is hidden from the land, were a bunch of Fairies together with a group of Mermaids. Swimming in the cove were ten dolphins playing a game that for my old eyes had no real sense. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and I concentrated on the Fairies and the mermaids.

The Mermaids were listening to the Fairies singing, occasionally a small burst of applause from the Mermaids. No they did not clap their hands like we humans do but hit the water with their tails. Between songs the Fairies gave the Mermaids small fairy cakes, which I know are just delicious. I watched the Mermaids and the Fairies for quite some time and listening to the singing I forgot where I was. The next thing I knew I was on the beach with the fairies that introduced me to the Mermaids. I was quite embarrassed for the Fairies were praising my helping them over the years in such a wonderful manner that I went red in my face a bright cherry red for they were laying it on rather thick I thought.

Listening to the Fairies and their complimentary remarks about my helping them when trouble was in the air, the Mermaids said that I deserved to be rewarded. One after another they swam out to sea and returned with some pieces of gold. Soon a large pile of gold was in front of me. "This," said one of the mermaids. "Is Pirates gold," so called (Pieces of eight). A Pirate ship sank out way out to sea and the Mermaids had rescued all of the treasures that had been aboard. The Mermaids themselves do not need money and had no real use for such gold but the jewellery they often wore to make themselves look pretty. No Mermaid owned any jewellery the just helped themselves to whatever they fancied for the day or evening wear.

I did not know what to do with all this gold, first of all how was I to get it back to my home? I was on holiday. The fairies read my thoughts and they solved the problem for me. Each took his or her magic wand from their pockets and pointed them towards the gold with a few magic words the gold disappeared. I knew that when I got home I would find the gold in my bed or under the coal in the coal shed for the Fairies love to play tricks even or should I say especially on me. They knew that I took it all in good part even on the day when they painted all of my shoes bright red.

The Dolphins had stopped playing and were now quite close to the Mermaids one of them gave a warning and all of the Mermaids and the Dolphins sank into the waters of the cove. The Fairies too had disappeared leaving me standing in the cove looking at a small motorboat that was going much too fast. As it came to where I was standing. An angry man shouted to me that I was trespassing and that the cove was private property that I should leave immediately. I apologised and looked for a way out of the cove but I could see no way up the cliffs and to tell the man that the Fairies had brought me here did not seem a good idea.

The man in the boat suddenly realised for the first time that I had no boat. How did I manage to get into the cove? It was then that the Fairies placed me back on top of the cliffs and I was looking down at a man that was wildly waving his arms. He did not see me and I thought it better to step back from the cliffs so that he could calm down. I bet he felt a fool telling the fresh air that it was forbidden to be in the private cove. Looking down into the sea I could see the dolphins and the Mermaids they were churning the water up so wildly that I though the man with his boat would not make it back out to sea. He had a very rough ride as he turned out of the cove and made his way out of the cove. The Fairies were still with me and tried to persuade me to go back down to the cove with them again. I refused as it can be very confusing travelling by means of magic.

I said my goodbyes to the Fairies and made my way back onto the beaten track. I decided that I had had enough excitement for this walking holiday and decided to slowly make my way home. On arriving at my home I unlocked the front door and moved into the hallway. There was the gold it was laying all over the hallway floor. I left it lying there and went to the kitchen switched the electric back on and turned on the water at the main and made myself a sweet cup of hot tea. I got myself a plastic bucket and collected the gold there were exactly one hundred pieces of eight. I could now get the roof repaired it needed doing badly. You know you really should come and visit me I am sure that the Fairies and even the Mermaids would be happy to play with you all.

Holiday.

The Farmers are bringing in the harvest; it has been a good year with just the right amount of sunshine and rain. Most of the farm workers are thinking about a holiday at the seaside. A short break before the winter took over with its snow and bad weather. The Witter family had made plans for a trip to Dymchurch on the Kentish coast, a holiday resort that caters for small parties. The Witter family were looking forward to their visit by the seaside that is all but the youngest son Jason. Jason had always had a way with him and most people thought that he was not all there. He stood or sat for long periods staring at something that only he could see. His parents were even more alarmed when he started talking to himself. The Doctors at the local hospital could find nothing wrong with Jason and told his parents that he would grow out of it and for them not to worry too much.

One day I met Jason's father, he was in my Doctor's surgery and we got talking. I heard all about Jason and how he would sit and see things and how he would speak to himself. I am a good listener and did not say anything until Jason's father had finished his conversation about his son. I then asked if the family had taken the boy with them out into the countryside. "We have no time for anything like that, what with the farm work and the bringing in of the harvest." " In the winter we take him into the local market town but not often as he shows no interest in anything." I then made a proposal, "I have a small group of boys and girls that go with me into the woods where I teach them about nature and the names of the trees and of all that is to be seen. The wild life and how the wild life lives." The father showed interest and I told him to send the boy to my house on the Saturday morning and with the group of boys and girls we would have what some would call a nature lesson. The lesson is not really a lesson I make a small competition out of it. Who could find the first wild rose, who could bring me a picture that they had drawn of a birds nest and many other little things that keep children occupied.

At first Jason did not show much interest. I showed him a picture from one of my clever little books, an acorn and asked him to find one for me. Jason did not say anything but ran off looking for the acorn. Other children came back with their drawings or the flowers or nuts or whatever and showed them to me and I gave them another picture or asked them to find something like a mushroom for me. Off the children ran and only came back when they had found their nuts or flowers or leaves from a certain tree, whatever I had sent them off to find. Jason came back with some acorns that I had shown him in my clever book and brought four of them back to me. I thanked Jason and asked him to help me plant the acorns in the ground so that we might have some more trees. He was delighted and we dug holes in the ground and planted our acorns about twenty yards apart from one another. Other children also took part in this little work of ours and soon many children were off looking for seeds or acorns, which were planted in the ground. When it was time for us all to go back to our own homes Jason came and put his small hand in mine and we walked back together right to his home, the farm. I said my goodbyes and promised to take him on my next little trip to the woods.

I met Jason's father last week at my Doctors, he was full of his boy Jason. Jason now spoke to his parents and showed them little things that he had found in nature, flowers and leaves and nuts and berries. I had given him a few of my clever little books and in his spare time instead of sitting staring into nothing he was on his way looking and learning about nature. In other words there is now a little boy that is interested. He has plenty to say to his parents explaining all of the things he finds sometimes he brings things home that are not in the clever little books and either his father or mother will tell him what they are or he will come to me. Between us we know all the answers to his questions and he is a very learned boy when it comes to nature. There is not a birds nest in our district that he has not found, he even goes as far as to draw the birds eggs and colour the drawings in the same colours as the eggs in the nests.

The day for the Witter family to go on Holiday came and one of the first to get into the car was Jason. He had excitedly told me that they were going to the sea and I asked him to bring anything back that he thought might interest me. The week went past and on the Sunday morning after Church Jason was waiting at my house with a bucket. In the bucket were different sorts of seaweed and shells, of winkles, muscles and many others. Going into the house I looked for another of my clever little books and we went through all of the treasures that he had brought back from the seaside. The seaweed we threw on to my compost heap and the shells we washed in soapy water to get rid of the smell that was by now rather bad. Then with my clever little book in his hand and his bucket of freshly washed seashells he went back home and showed his parents all of his treasures. Jason no longer stares into space, he no longer talks to himself and he can always find something to do with his spare time. His Father was pleased that he had told me about his boy Jason and of how the boy had changed so much after coming to my little walks session in the woods with all of the other children.

Horses Tails.

When the world was young there were many strange creatures roaming this earth of ours. Strange looking bird like creatures flew in the skies. In the oceans many other creatures swam around most of them are now forgotten. Just one I would like to mention, the two tailed horse. It may sound strange to you that a horse should have had two tails. I assure you that it was so, all those many hundreds of thousand years ago.

Horses were much bigger than the horse of today huge creatures with large brown eyes. That is when one could see their eyes. You see one of the tails was on the horse's forehead and the other at the back like the horses of today. I can hear you asking how does he know what horses looked like all of those years ago. It is easy you see Her Majesty Queen Feeana showed me some drawings on old parchments that are kept in the University of the fairies. Her Majesty also told me this little story, telling why the horses of today only have one tail at the back end.

The Fairy Queen of those far off days told the fairies that she wanted all of Fairyland to be clean there was to be no dead leaves from the winter to be on the ground. The fairies knew that this would be very hard work as there were always so many dead leaves after the winter. Many and long discussions were held as how it would be best to clean up such a large area in such a short time, An old Leprechaun boasted that he could get the help of the horses with the two tails. The horses could sweep the leaves together with the aid of their long tails. The fairies would then only have to make the piles of leaves disappear with the aid of their magic wands.

All of the peoples of Fairyland worked hard to get the forest floor clean. The horses were sent down the trails left by the wild animals and by using their two tails many leaves were swept up. These, the fairies got rid of by magic. All was going well when the first of the two tailed hoses plunged with his front leg down a hole and a sharp snap was heard then a whinnying. The horse was in great pain. Her Majesty was sent for and she came and waved her magic wand, a bright flash and the horse was no longer in pain. Her Majesty looked closer at the horse.

Why asked her Majesty should a horse have two tails? Only one was necessary, another wave of her magic wand a huge blue spark and all of the horses all over the world lost their front tail. This delighted the horses so much for the bothersome tail in the front often stopped them from seeing properly and also got in the way when they were grazing. Now when you look at a horse you will find that it holds its head up proudly. If you look closely there are many horses with a white marking on their foreheads. This marking is all that is left of the original tail.

After Her Majesty had taken the front tails from the horses she looked around and saw that most of the leaves had disappeared the little folk and the two tailed horses had done a very good job of work. Her Majesty then had this thought by cleaning up the forest she had taken away much of the food and shelter for all of the small creatures that could only exist with the help of the leaves. Another wave of her magic wand and the forest was once again covered with all the leaves from the previous winter.

A feast was held in Fairyland and the celebrations went on well into the dawn of the following morning. This feast was talked about for many a year.

India.

Saturday afternoon, I have finished my garden work and am resting on the two comfortable cushions in my old wheelbarrow. I must have dozed off into a deep sleep the next thing that I knew I heard a well-known voice greeting me. Opening my eyes I recognised Shamus my Leprechaun friend. Shamus had his rucksack on his back and looked very brown in his face. "Where have you come from?" I asked. "From India," said Shamus. "What on earth were you doing in India?" came my next question. "Oh I was doing some odd jobs for the Maharajah from Indispor. I invited Shamus in to my kitchen and proceeded to make a pot of tea. With a cup of hot sweet tea and a half a pound of sweet ginger biscuits Shamus told me this story.

In the village where Shamus was staying there was an elderly man that gathered the children around him and told them a story. Every evening a different story a fire would be lit in the open market place and all of the children sitting in a half circle would listen to the exciting stories that the elderly man told. On this evening the children were each holding a two-meter long bamboo pole. One end of the pole was held in their hands the other end was placed near to the fire. The man started telling his story. Shamus could not understand a word that the man spoke because he had no knowledge of Hindi. The full story was told to him later by one of the children that could speak English.

After ten minutes of telling his story the man told the children to blow. Each child placed the bamboo pole to its mouth and blew into the fire that was burning. At the word blow each child blew and the fire flamed up. The man reached into a small sack and threw some powder onto the fire. Smoke rose from the fire and at the top of the smoke a tiger appeared small but beautifully formed. The man caught the tiger as it fell to the ground and placed it in his sack. Then again the story and blow and this time an elephant appeared from the fire. This too was caught and placed in the man's sack then a monkey after the monkey a snake. The man finished telling his story and the children after thanking him wandered off each to his own home.

The next day Shamus saw the old man and asked him where the animals were that he had conjured out of the fire with his magic powder. The man opened his sack and showed Shamus the animals each more wonderful than the next. Shamus then opened his rucksack and handed me first the elephant then the tiger the monkey and the snake, all were as if carved by a master hand. "These are for you," shamus said. I thanked Shamus and placed the animals on my shelf above the fireplace. We spoke about India and the famous places that Shamus had seen and soon it was time for bed. I showed Shamus the spare room and went to my own bedroom.

The following day all was not as it should be sometime during the night the animals had been moved. I asked Shamus if he had gotten up in the night and moved them. Shamus said, "No I slept right through the night," "I was so tired that I could not keep my eyes open. Shamus left me at midday he said his goodbyes and then vanished in a puff of smoke and a blue light. Before going to bed that evening I carefully looked at the animals that Shamus had given me and made a plan as to where each animal stood that is to say its position on the shelf. In the morning the animals had definitely been moved. The snake was now the first in line the tiger the last. I decided to keep a good look out this coming night. If necessary I would give the animals away. That evening I dimmed the lights and made myself comfortable in my armchair. Then Later I faintly heard the words blow and the snake disappeared then the elephant then the tiger and the last the monkey. I was fully awake by now and grabbed the monkey by its tail. I was swept away with the monkey to find myself in the Indian village hanging in the air over a fire. The fire was half surrounded by children each with a piece of bamboo that they blew into when the old man called out blow. The old man saw me hanging on to the monkey and told me that the animals had to come back to him no matter where they were. I was not to frighten the children and with these words I was back in my armchair the animals were on the shelf as if they had not moved and I was the wiser with a new story that I willingly share with you all.

Iron Box.

Something I had not noticed before was the pathway that I have made over the years leading from my back garden gate into the woods. This pathway would lead anyone interested enough to follow me back to my home. I decided to do something about the pathway or trail that I had made and taking a hoe I chopped the soil and loosened it up with the blade of the hoe. My next move was to buy some grass seed and sow it along the old trail, I sowed the seed on a very rainy day, I normally do not mind birds pecking away seeds that I have sown, I usually sow more than is needed but on this day I did not want the birds to get any of the seeds. My plan worked out well in a couple of weeks there was no pathway or trail to be seen leading from my back garden gate into the woods.

The next time that I go into woods I thought to myself I would have to take a different way every time otherwise I would soon have another trail back to my house. On my next trip into the woods I decided to hop as far as I could first on one leg then on the other. I would repeat this so that if anything there would only be a widespread footstep here and there to be seen. I hopped along and getting into the woods I was surprised to see the fairies they were all hopping as I had done. I stopped one of the fairies and asked what they were doing hopping like they were. Normally fairies seldom use their legs they fly everywhere they go. One of the fairies had seen me hopping from leg to the other and told all his friends about my curious behaviour. The fairies thought that I had invented a new dance and they wanted to see whether they would be able to dance as well as they thought I could dance. As I heard this I burst into laughter, me inventing a new dance.

One of the fairies Mayfee asked me to show her the new dance she had only heard about it and wanted to be as good if not better than the other fairies. I told her about my pathway and what I had done to turn it back into the grassland that it was before I had trodden the pathway into the ground. I could see that the little one Mayfee did not believe me and I was not surprised when she pulled out of her pocket a small handkerchief in which she had three small gold nuggets. She offered me the nuggets in exchange for showing her my new dance. Gold is not unknown in Fairyland but I did wonder where the little one had got the gold nuggets. I asked her where she had got such nice looking gold nuggets, her reply shook me somewhat, "In the stream there are many of these gold stones in the stream." I promised to show her what she thought was my new dance if she showed me whereabouts in the stream such gold nuggets were to be found.

Taking me by the hand she led me to the stream that runs through the woods. It is the same stream that I paddled my feet in for more times than I care to remember. Mayfee bent down and picked out a small gold nugget from the bed of the stream. I looked and found a dozen more such nuggets. This is not normal I thought to myself there has never been gold nuggets in this stream. I sent a mental picture to her Majesty Queen Feeana. Her Majesty arrived in her usual blue flash of light and a small puff of smoke. I showed Her Majesty the gold nuggets that I had found and those of Mayfee. "There has never been any gold in this stream Your Majesty," I said. "Something is going on that I do not like to think about." Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and placing the gold nuggets on to its surface we watched a series of pictures. A witch by the name of Doomsbury was seen to be melting a bar of gold which she let fall into a large bucket. When the bar of gold was completely melted away she took the gold from the bucket and taking her broom she flew off into the night. The gold nuggets she carefully let fall into the stream that runs through our woods. "Why did she do that," I asked Her Majesty "it seems such a waste to throw all of that gold into the stream."

Her Majesty looked quite concerned as she took a small golden whistle from her pocket and blew into the whistle. Suddenly there were hundreds of fairies surrounding her Majesty and myself. Her Majesty asked them all to give up any gold that had been found in the stream. Fairies came forward and soon there was a small heap of gold nuggets in front of Her Majesty. Then another flash of bluish light and a whiff of smoke and Shamus my Leprechaun friend was with us. "Shamus I want you to make an iron box that I will seal with magic, in the box there must be room for all of this gold. Shamus smiled and Her Majesty waved her wand and a small forge appeared complete with bellows and soon Shamus had fire burning in the forge and iron was melted, as soon as it was liquid shamus poured the hot metal into the mould that he had made from clay. As soon as the clay was cold enough to be touched Shamus knocked the clay from the mould and in the middle was an iron box complete with lid. Taking all of the gold Shamus put it into the iron box. " I will melt the gold in the box Your Majesty then it will be even more difficult for any one to use it." Shamus melted the gold that was in the iron box and Her Majesty took out her magic wand and the box was sealed. Another wave of the wand and the box disappeared. Her Majesty said that the witch Doomsbury would have to go a long way to find her gold. The idea of placing the gold nuggets in the stream was that if each Fairy had only one piece of gold when the witch cast her spell all of the fairies would have been transported to her cave where she had prepared a huge room in which to keep all of the fairies. She wanted the knowledge that all fairies posses, the knowledge of being able to disappear. Doomsbury is still looking for the gold that she placed in the stream up until now she has found no nuggets and she never did catch a fairy thanks to me wanting to hide the pathway from my back garden to the woods.

The Spot.

To tell this story properly I must describe my bedroom. In the front of the room I have two windows. The right side wall there is also a window. When I moved into the house all of those years ago this side window had been bricked in. In the old days in England a tax was made on windows that were not considered necessary. The owners in the past had, had the window bricked in to save paying tax. When I took over the house I decided to replace the bricks with another window. The window looks on to the wall of my neighbour's house. My bed is against the back wall of the room and while lying in bed I can see the side of my neighbours house. Waking up one morning I happened to glance at the neighbour's wall and saw a dark spot on the wall. I did not think much about it and went about my morning toilet such as washing ,shaving and getting dressed and the making of my breakfast.

The following morning much to my surprise the spot on the neighbour's wall is getting bigger. I wondered what was causing the spot, was it dampness? Or has my neighbour got a burst pipe in his wall? I called on my neighbour and told him about the spot on his wall. He came to the side of his house and after a good look he told me that he could see no such spot and that perhaps I was imagining things. The following morning the spot is still there only now it has got even bigger and covers nearly the whole wall. The spot eventually grew into a large screen something like a television screen. Then I started seeing the pictures on the screen. I saw parts of Fairyland. Then the pictures showed me the animal world that co-exists with Fairyland. I saw all of the animals. Now every morning I wake up to a wonderful picture world. I see the small fairies at their school it was at this moment that I realised that the spot on the neighbour's wall was similar to the blackboards of the fairies school. They too could act as a screen and the fairy children were often shown nature pictures to give them a better understanding of this world.

One morning as I awoke I looked at my new screen and saw something that shook me. A hundred or more Witches were flying on their brooms over Fairyland as I watched they started dropping small sacks of what looked like red powder. Each Witch had at least a dozen such sacks and they meant to bombard fairyland with whatever powder was in the sacks. What to do? I sent a mental picture to Mother Nature and showed her the Witches at their evil work. The heavens turned black with scurrying rain clouds then the wind blew and it started to pour with rain. A real storm came blowing into Fairyland. The Witches were now scattered all over the skies there was no more bombing with the red powder as most of the Witches dropped all of the sacks in panic. The brooms that the witches were flying were now unmanageable and Witches crashed into each other and came tumbling from out of the skies. Soaking wet they hurried as fast as they could to leave fairyland I watched as the last one left. I sent a series of mental pictures to Mother Nature, thanking her for her help.

The air in my bedroom turned into a bright blue and with a slight wisp of smoke the Fairy Queen, Queen Feeana stood in my bedroom. "How do you like your new screen?" she asked me. Then after I had thanked her for her kindness in giving me such a screen she told me that she had intercepted my mental pictures to Mother Nature and Her Majesty too watched the events that led to all of the Witches leaving fairyland. The screen is still there on my neighbour's wall but I am the only one that knows that it is a screen for seeing all that goes on in Fairyland. Her Majesty also told me that she had given me the screen to make it easier to be able to write about the woods, Fairyland and all of its creatures including the fairies.

Jam Making.

Things are wrong in Fairyland. The fairies are complaining that the wild wood strawberries are not ripening, that is the few berries that are on the plants. These are small and still green there is no ripening process taking place. This is terrible news, as most of you know that wild strawberries are used in the making of fairy cakes. The fairies are blaming the bees; they say the bees did not move from flower to flower, exchanging pollen from one flower to another, as they should have done. The bees are now very upset it is the first time that they have been accused of not doing their job properly. Now the bees are saying they will only go from one flower to another until they have enough pollen to make the honey that is needed by the baby bees. The rest of the flowers will just have to make do with what the wind can do to spread the pollen. This is what the birds have told me as I have not been to Fairyland for a week or more, too much to do in my own garden. My strawberries are ripening nicely and it is a pleasure to see the lush ripe strawberries nestling into the fresh straw that I had previously laid for the berries to rest on; instead of the ground, which if it rains makes the strawberries dirty and not nice to look at.

I thought that I had better go quickly to Fairyland and tell the fairies that they could have all of the ripening strawberries in my garden and if they were not enough I would buy some at the local market, after all I did not want the bees to go on strike what would happen in my garden? Going in to Fairyland I called the fairies together and told them that they could have all of my strawberries and that I would supply more if they were needed. In this way Fairy cakes could still be made and eaten. There was to be no quarrelling with the bees, as everyone knows bees are very good workers and travel miles for the pollen to make the honey. This little talk and my offer unfortunately did not settle the arguments. I decided to get the help from the wise old fairies they would come up with an answer. Sending a robin to the fairies asking them to come and sort out this quarrel. Two of the wise old fairies appeared and I explained things to them. One of the wise old fairies was in charge of all plants the other for all flying insects.

Looking at the poor wild strawberry plants the wise old fairy in charge of the plants said, "Someone has not done their work as they should have these plants have not been set into the earth properly." The other wise old fairy said "The bees have done their work properly it is not the bees fault." Taking out of a pocket her magic wand the wise old fairy in charge of all growing plants spoke in the old language and waved her wand. Immediately the forest floor was covered in wild strawberry plants and what is more important the plants all were bearing fresh strawberries. There were so many strawberries that I wondered what the fairies would do with them. The fairies only needed so many strawberries for the fairy cakes. What will they do with other strawberries? Then I had an idea, I called all of the fairies together and told them that because so many strawberries were in the woods that we would hold a jam-making contest. I wanted first of all that no strawberries were wasted and that the fairies were given something to do to make up for the shoddy work they had done when planting the strawberry plants. Fifty or more fairies came back to my house where in the kitchen I produced saucepans and jam jars with the special covers, to make jam from the strawberries. I went to my local store while the fairies cleaned and prepared the strawberries. I bought enough sugar back home with me to make sure that all of the strawberries were used.

The fairies had a wonderful time in my kitchen and soon there were pots and pans of cooking strawberries on my big old-fashioned range stove. The smell was something out of this world and soon I was spooning the fresh hot jam into the jam-jars then firmly screwing the tops on them until my kitchen table was covered in freshly made pots of jam. I then made some cups of tea and from my cupboard I took the last ten packets of ginger biscuits and the fairies had a good feed. I then gave them a lecture about when doing something, it always pays to give of your best there are no shortcuts as shortcuts usually lead to bad work and no one wants that their work is considered bad. I also told the fairies that Mother Nature had not been told of the near disaster with the wild strawberry plants. I had spoken with the bees and if they needed anything sweet to get through the winter I would willingly give them some of the jam that the fairies had made. Now all is well in Fairyland and the fairies and the bees are back on speaking terms. Flowers are being pollinated and honey is being produced. The fairies are working as fairies should work.

Janefee.

Once in a while a fairy child is born that has a most beautiful melodious voice. Janefee was such a child. Even when she was ever so small her laughs were like peals of music a delight for every ear that was privileged to hear those sweet tones. I often went to the fairy school to listen to the sweet voices of the little ones playing the old fairy games. They are not much different to the games that very young children play today in the human world. I was always rewarded by the soft sweet tones of Janefee's voice. The time came when all the fairy children were finished with their schooling and they went off into the woods doing all of the things that they had been taught to do. Some painted flowers others polished the small pebbles in the stream. Fairies often sing while they work and play and Janefee was no exception. I heard the most wonderful songs coming from her sweet lips as she sang the old fairy songs.

Janefee's voice was the talk of all of Fairyland. A few said that she only sang just to show off, others that she sang because she was happy. I myself asked Janefee why she sang while she was going about her work. The answer was simple " I love to sing." One day I could tell that something was wrong in Fairyland. It took me a couple of hours to fathom out what was wrong. The fairies were not singing, they were working as usual but no singing. I asked one of the fairies why it was so silent in Fairyland. This was her answer, Janefee had gone down with a cold and her voice was so weak that she was forbidden to sing. The fairies said that until Janefee was able to sing with them again they would not sing. I thought that this was terrible I love my fairy songs and often stroll into the woods to listen to the singing. I have heard other people say that when they go into the woods all they can hear is the breeze that floats through the trees. I too hear the soft winds; I hear also the voices of many of the folk that live in the woods. One must listen very carefully to hear the songs of the beetles the songs of the grasshoppers and the songs of many other of natures wonders. Not to hear the fairies was indeed for me a sad loss and I sadly walked my way back to my home.

Every day I went to the nursing home where Janefee was being treated. I asked how she was and why she could not sing. I offered to gather in the woods any of the herbs that she might need to cure her. The wise old fairies smiled and told me that they had everything that they needed for Janefee. I took her every day a Daisy the daisies were her favourite flowers and I know that she thanked me with the small smile that appeared at the edge of her sweet mouth. Janefee did not get better and the wise old fairies held a conference it was decided that the strange illness was not of natural origin but must be caused by some outside means. Her Majesty Queen Feeana came to the nursing home and took a hair from the pillow of Janefee. Placing the hair on the surface of the magic mirror a picture started forming. The picture was of a woman that was dressed all in black she had stars sewn to her gown and a half moon on her long pointed hat She was seen in the picture to be pointing a long hollow stem at Janefee and as Her Majesty looked the woman blew a black powder at Janefee. The powder got into Janefee's nose and mouth and that is what stopped the poor fairy from singing. Her Majesty let the pictures run on and they showed the woman going back to her home.

The woman went into her house and took from a shelf a piece of manuscript on which was written notes of music. The women then opened her mouth and sang from the notes on the music manuscript. Her voice was good and strong but lacked the delicacy of Janefee's sweet voice. Her Majesty was now very angry that any one should harm a fairy just so that she or he could sing better. Waving her Magic wand over Janefee Her majesty said some words in the old language and Janefee sat up in bed and smiled. Then Janefee sang a most beautiful old fairy song her voice was even better stronger that it had been. Her Majesty sent the song to the woman dressed in black with the stars sewn on to her dress. The woman heard the most beautiful singing of Janefee and then Her Majesty waved her magic wand once more and right in the middle of the song the women in black turned stone deaf and could hear no more the ending of the song. Janefee sings again while she is working and what is more the fairies are now singing the old songs and all is well in Fairyland. The woman in black can now not hear her own voice so she cannot sing like she used to.

Joyfee.

Joyfee is one of those fairies that find it very difficult to keep herself clean. While she was at the fairy school she did not really pay attention and played many a prank on her fellow fairies and even the teachers. Fairy Joyfee came to school every morning dressed in a clean dress and looked very clean and smart, after a few minutes she looked scruffy and her dress was grubby. How she managed to get so grubby at school is a secret known only to Joyfee. Soon the other fairies both boys and girls avoided Joyfee. Joyfee tried hard to get back into favour with the other fairies by playing even more tricks both to the teachers and all of the other fairies at school.

I have often stopped to watch the wild pigs taking a mud bath right in the middle of the forest. A shallow dip in the ground fills quickly with rainwater and as the ground is always wet and soggy it makes a perfect mud bath for the pigs. I do not get too close to the pigs, as they can be very dangerous especially if a mother pig has young piglets with her. One day last week I went for my usual walk in Fairyland and heard a fairy voice crying. I walked to where the voice was coming from and saw Joyfee, she had been running through the woods not looking where she was going and had fallen into the pig's mud bath. Poor Joyfee looked terrible she was covered in mud and looked very scruffy. I went to her and told her not to cry but to come with me back to my home.

At home I had a doll that one of my nieces had left behind after staying for a holiday. The doll had a beautiful dress and shoes, which I thought, would fit Joyfee. We reached my home and I showed Joyfee to the bathroom and told her to wash and clean herself. In the meantime I went upstairs to the room where my niece had been sleeping when she stayed with me and took the doll and undressed it. Taking the clothes to the bathroom I knocked on the door and told Joyfee that I had put some clean clothes and shoes outside the bathroom door. When she was ready she should come downstairs and I would make a cup of tea and we would eat some ginger biscuits. Joyfee thanked me and sounded a lot happier.

In the kitchen I made a pot of tea and sweetening it with honey I waited for Joyfee to appear. Soon I heard her tripping down the stairs and as she entered the kitchen I was pleased to see that the clothes and the dolls shoes fitted her a treat. I poured the tea and we both sipped the sweetened tea and eat some ginger biscuits. As we were eating and drinking I asked Joyfee why she always looked so grubby and why did she run through the woods and fall into the mud pool that the wild pigs used.

Joyfee then shyly told me that although she tried very hard to keep clean she always splashed paint on her clothes and rubbed her hands on her dress when they were wet or dirty. The other fairies would not play with her and she was very unhappy especially when she overheard some fairies saying that she was a disgrace to Fairyland and should be sent away until she had learned how to keep clean. On hearing this she decided to run away. Not looking where she was going she fell into the mud pool where I found her crying. Joyfee was a very unhappy fairy.

You now have a clean dress and have eaten biscuits and drank tea and you are not a bit grubby I told her. The shoes from the doll fit you and you look really smart. Go back to the woods and let the other fairies see you. If you keep yourself clean and do not play tricks on the other fairies they will soon play with you again. When you are working do try to keep a piece of cloth with you so that you can clean your hands on the cloth and not upon your dress. Take your time when you are given some work to do and take pride in your work you will then be a clean fairy like all of the other fairies. Joyfee thanked me for the clothes and shoes also for the tea and ginger biscuits then she left after saying she hoped to see me soon.

Two weeks later I was walking again in the woods and there was Joyfee playing with the other fairies. Joyfee was now clean and tidy like all of the other fairies she avoids the forest where the pig's mud bath is and everyone likes her. She sometimes comes to see me with some of the other fairies and we drink tea and eat ginger biscuits and talk about how my niece's dolls dress fitted her so well. Now I am happy to say Joyfee is well liked by all of the fairies and is as clean as a fairy can be.

Just a Dream.

Have you ever had a dream where you are a passenger in a train going nowhere? I often have such a dream. I board a train and when the conductor comes along for the tickets my ticket always says nowhere. The destination is nowhere. It is difficult for me to grasp that I am on a train going to nowhere. I do not know how I get onto the train. I am always sitting in the same compartment I am always alone. Where or what is nowhere? How long will it take me to get there? Have I time to read a book? How fast does the train go and why am I always alone? I decided to get help for my problem and went to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies.

Her Majesty was seated in a rather comfortable looking armchair when I arrived at her country cottage home. Smiling she asked me what was bothering me, I looked rather pale in my face, not my usual self. I told Her Majesty about my train journey to a place called nowhere. Of the many times I have used this train and never reached my destination. Of my frustration about having this stupid dream would Her Majesty be able to help me with perhaps some of the Fairies famous herbal mixtures or even magic. I really want to be free of this dream that is taking me at regular intervals to nowhere where I never arrive.

Her Majesty took out of one of her capacious pockets her famous magic mirror. Breath on to the mirror she told me and let us see what is behind this strange dream. I breathed over the surface of the mirror and was not surprised to see a picture of myself dressed in my pyjamas. I am sitting in a compartment of a train that is rushing through the night. The door opens and in comes the conductor and takes my ticket and punches a hole in it. The picture blurs over and I look anxiously at Her Majesty. Had she seen enough to be able to tell the meaning of the strange dream and why the destination nowhere I wondered? "Breath on the mirror again," said Her Majesty this time as I breathed Her Majesty had her magic wand in her hand. The picture of before returned, with me in my pyjamas sitting patiently in the compartment. A wave of her magic wand and her Majesty was now in the picture sitting opposite me in the compartment. The compartment door opened and in came the conductor to punch my ticket. Her majesty waved her wand and the conductor started to speak. " All trains going to nowhere use this line; nowhere is not to be found as the train is running on tracks that go around in a circle. There is no station, just the train, one passenger each night and the train never stops as it is run by magic. The magic comes from the wizard Magicorum who runs this train as a hobby. This passenger must use this train every two nights until he stops writing about the wizards and witches and the fairies. He has mentioned the name of this powerful wizard on a number of occasions and the wizard is using this method to tire him out so that he must sleep by day then he will have no time to write fairy-tales. The conductor then vanished as he had come and her Majesty waved her magic wand over me in the compartment and I was now back in my bed.

Later Her Majesty had enticed the wizard onto his own train and now the wizard is compelled to ride his train night after night going to nowhere. The same conductor punches the wizard's ticket night after night. I now sleep well in my own four-poster bed and there have been no train journeys for two months and I have never slept so well. The wizard Magicorum could not attack me in my house but had found a way to infiltrate my dreams. This train journey was his way to drive me insane. It did not drive me insane but gave me yet another little story to tell you all about. By the way before I forget if you are ever on a train that is going to nowhere. Just open your eyes and wake yourself up. Queen Feeana cannot help everyone that rides the trains but you can wake up and tell yourself it was just a dream.

Just a Giant.

Through the woods stumbled an elderly Giant. His clothes were in rags and he had not washed or shaved in a very long time. He fell to the ground tripped by a tree root. He did not seem to care any more for his had been a long weary life. The humans chased him away from the villages and towns by means of half wild dogs. His whole life had been one of hunger. When he was born his parents fed him as well as they could but as he grew and grew they could not afford to keep him any more and sent him off to roam the world.

On his long travels he had leant many languages and as a young boy at school he learned to read, He read anything he could get his hands on. Newspapers, books and even the odd posters that travelling folk stuck on the walls advertising a new circus or some other event, Sometimes he was lucky and was asked to read to children. Another tribute he possessed was that he could tell stories. Children listening to him telling a story could not take their eyes from his face, they were afraid to miss something.

I came across him one autumn day while I was in the woods looking for chestnuts. I tried as best I could to help him up on to his feet and after a few attempts managed to get him back to my house. I warned him to lower his head as he went through my back door into the kitchen. I quickly prepared a saucepan full of vegetable soup and while we waited for it to cook. I gave him a sandwich of bread and butter and corned beef. Although he was very hungry he slowly ate and chewed every mouthful of the sandwich.

The soup is now finished and I get an extra large soup plate and giving him a very large portion of the soup a watched him slowly eat with relish my very simple vegetable soup. For afters I gave him a large slice of Dundee cake, which he ate with relish. I asked him if he was still hungry. "Yes and no." Came back his reply. I only had bread and butter left in the kitchen. It was my plan to go out tomorrow and do the weeks shopping. I next went out into the garden where I keep a few hens. I found a dozen eggs and came back into the back kitchen and cooked him an omelette.

I made him a bed by taking the mattress from the spare room and the mattress from the guest room and laying them on the floor I gave him a couple of blankets and a couple of pillows. This was all I could do at such short notice. I went to bed myself and dreamt a dream of flying horses rescuing sweet damsels in distress. I awoke early in the morning and thought about my guest. What on earth shall I give him for his breakfast? Getting up I quickly washed and dressed and went to the local shop they always open at six thirty every morning except Sundays.

I bought a couple of loaves of bread with two packets of butter. A large piece of cheese some thirty rashers of bacon and a dozen eggs. Hoping that this would be enough I carried my shopping back home and prepared breakfast for my guest the Giant. He came downstairs, as he smelled the bacon frying. I buttered and sliced the two loaves of bread. Made a large pot of tea and told him to sit down and eat his fill. Myself I drank a cup of tea.

After breakfast I told him that we would have to see Her Majesty the Fairy Queen, Feeana. I myself could not possibly give him enough to live on every day. Occasionally it would not worry me but to have to feed such a mountain of a man every day is more than I could afford. He ate all that I put in front of him and after breakfast we walked into the woods. His boots were worn out and it would need a shoemaker to make him some new shoes. One of my Leprechaun friends could help me with the boots. I was hoping that Her Majesty could help with feeding him.

We walked to Her Majesty's cottage and I softly called her name. Her Majesty I think was expecting us for she did now seem at all surprised when she saw the size of the Giant I had brought to her cottage. Looking the Giant over from head to foot her majesty waved her wand and for the first time in years the giant had the feeling that his belly was full. Another wave of her wand and Shamus my Leprechaun friend appeared. Greetings were exchanged and he looked at Her Majesty and said looking shyly at the Giant. "For him?" "Yes for him," said her Majesty. A large bale of magic leather fell to the ground in front of shamus.

Shamus was busy measuring the Giant's feet and legs. Sitting on the ground cross-legged Shamus soon had the magic leather cut and was busy stitching with his fine delicate stitches the leather. Soon he had one of the boots finished then the other. Other Leprechauns had also appeared and their busy hands were making a new suit of clothes for the Giant. When all was finished her Majesty waved her wand and the Giant now had two new boots, which being magic were waterproof and a new grey suit which fitted him well.

Her Majesty then spoke to the Giant. " I cannot let you wander around the world as you are," " you eat so much that people would only drive you from one village to the next." " I have a proposition to make to you. We need a new bridge across the stream that runs though Fairyland. If you will be that bridge during weekdays on Sundays you may eat and drink all that you can." Think about my plan and let me know.

The Giant had, had enough of being passed on around a world that did not understand that there are big people and small people. All are people and should be treated as such. He agreed to be the new bridge and Her Majesty showed him exactly where he should stand and be the new bridge. His boots were waterproof so he could not get wet feet. Every Sunday he is able to eat his fill of good foods (His Favourite foods are the Fairy cakes) now he watches all that happens as people and Fairies cross his broad back. No one knows that the bridge is really a Giant apart from Her Majesty, a few Leprechauns and Myself.

If you should go through the woods look out for a grey bridge that crosses a stream, It is easy to recognise as the bottom of the bridge that stands in water is never wet his boots of magic leather keep his feet very dry.

Just a Tale.

I have no idea what this story will be. My mind is blank at the moment and I hope that something will come into my head to write about. Writing Fairy-Tales, I always thought was something easy to do but now I am not so sure. I have written over two hundred such tales and I must admit at first writing Fairy-Tales came easy to me. I have never told you about the time that I was caught in an argument between a Witch and a Wizard. I was having a sleep in the woods it was about two in the afternoon. I awoke to hear these two evil people shouting rude things at each other then they were using magic wands casting spells. They could not see me as I was lying in a patch of fern. Then both wands somehow pointed at me a sharp noise then I shrank and shrank until I was very small.

Looking at my skin I got a terrible shock my skin was ugly and green. I tried to protest but all that came out of my mouth was a loud croak. I had been turned into a frog by the two that were arguing and they did not know any thing about it. Looking about me, I realised that my eyes could see a lot better. I now saw small things creeping through the grass it was later that I realised that I had been watching ants. The worst thing of all when my tongue shot out of my mouth and I caught and ate a fly before I could even think about it. This is terrible I thought what can I do me a grown man reduced to a frog. I could see no Fairies and get help from them. I was in a mood of deep despair. The two had finished their quarrel and had left the woods. I hopped to the nearest clearing where eventually the Fairies would come and play.

On my way to the clearing I had to take cover, a very big stork with a long pointed beak flew down and just missed me as I managed to hop in a sideways fashion out of its path. Not very elegant for a frosh but I could not afford to wind up in the belly of a stork. I hid for a while until the stork left and then carried on to the clearing. It started to rain and for as a frog it was wonderful I just sat and enjoyed the drops of rain that fell on to my ugly green skin. I had to wait until the next day to see the Fairies, as they do not play when it is raining, as they must not get their wings wet.

Eventually the Fairies came and I racked my brains as to how I could speak to them. I croaked my very loudest but they did not understand me. Then I nibbled some grass, which I arranged in the letter help! It was then that the Fairies knew that something was very wrong. At first, they called in the wise old Fairies to see whether they could help. The wise old Fairies tried all kinds of magic but I remained a frog. Then Her Majesty Queen Feeana arrived on the scene and with her magic mirror pointed at me she read all that had happened to me since my meeting with the Witch and the Wizard. Taking out her Magic wand the Queen and all of the wise old Fairies pointed their magic wands at me. First nothing happened and I thought that I would have to remain a frog all the rest of my life.

Then the whole world seemed to explode and once again, I was standing in the clearing in my own body. I was a man again. I thanked the Fairies and Her Majesty for their help and I was asked by one of the Fairies to write down what had happened to me as a frog. She wanted the story for the fairy newspaper. I told my story then saying goodbye to the Fairies I hurried back home after all there had been no one in my house for one whole day and a night. I was worried that something might have happened while I was away.

My house was as I had left it, I made myself a huge breakfast, and a couple of cups of hot sweet tea and had a feed. I had only had one fly to eat when I was a frog and I was now very hungry. I sometimes get a slight feeling of fear if I see a stork and I am now very careful when I see frogs crossing a road who knows one of them could even have been me if the Fairies had not helped.

Just another day.

It was one of those days; nothing seems to be going right. I cut myself while shaving my face, then the toaster gave up the ghost and I had to eat ordinary bread for breakfast, not my golden brown toast that I like so much. I was very annoyed when I opened the last bottle of milk to find that it was sour. As I went to sit down at the table to eat my breakfast my chair collapsed. Thankfully I did not hurt myself. Grabbing my coat and hat I went out of the house to go down to the village to get some fresh groceries. Halfway to the shops I realised that I had left my wallet with my money on the kitchen table. This I decided was just not my day. In fact I seriously thought about going back home and spending the rest of the day in my bed. Nothing could happen to me there, or could it?

On reaching home I found that I had locked myself out of the house, my door keys were on the kitchen table with my wallet. I had to get into my house and broke the kitchen window. Putting my keys and my wallet in my pocket I cut a large piece of cardboard to cover the broken glass in the window and set out once more for the village shops. I made a mental reminder that I must go the glass shop and get the glazier to put a new sheet of glass in my kitchen window. Paying for my groceries I left the shop with the intention of going to the butcher to get some meat for my dog Wag. The pavement was uneven and I fell spilling my groceries all over the pavement. What? I asked myself had I done wrong to deserve a day like this. Now with a sprained wrist I managed to get back home.

I gave my dog Wag some meat and fresh water and went into the garden to get a few tomatoes and a lettuce for my lunch. This time I fell over an old bucket. The bucket did not belong to me and I wondered who had thrown it into my garden. Picking some ripe tomatoes I went to the bed where the lettuce was growing. I could not believe my eyes slugs had eaten most of the lettuce leaving me with a few roots and a couple of well-eaten leaves. There was only one thing to do and that was to go for a nice long walk in the woods that would take my mind off my what seemed to be my unlucky day.

Calling my dog Wag I went out of the back garden into the woods. Wag my dog was acting very strangely, His nose pointed out in front and he seemed to be sniffing the light breeze that jostled the leaves and grasses. Then his hair stood up as if electrified. I looked very hard but could see nothing. Calling Wag I continued walking then I too had this feeling that I was not alone. Wag was now growling. I stopped and called for whomever it was to show him or herself. Nothing happened. We both could not be wrong I thought. Wag was a very good watchdog and always lets me know if something is out of place or danger threatened.

A robin flew out of a bush and whispered in my ear that I was in great danger. The robin then flew away as quickly as it had appeared. I had left my magic wand that had been given to me by Her Majesty Queen Feeana on the sideboard in my house. Fortunately I had some magic dust in my pocket I shook a little of the dust over Wag I did not want him to be harmed in any way magic or otherwise. Then I went on my way with Wag a few steps in front of me. The attack came so suddenly that I hardly had time to throw my magic dust over my attacker. The magic dust stopped the magic from a large black magic wand from hitting me. My attacker was a large man dressed all in black. A large pointed hat that had stars and a moon sewn onto it covered his head. I reached into my pocket to throw some more magic dust but a bright blue light lit up the forest. It was Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana. One wave of her magic wand and the man turned into a bush covered with red berries. "This is the Wizard Mercuricum," her Majesty said. He was getting angry at all of the Fairy-Tales that you have written about and he wanted to hurt you so that you could not write any more stories for a long time. Her Majesty then waved her magic wand again and the pain in my wrist was gone. "The berries on the bush are for the robins to eat in the wintertime," said Her Majesty. "This is to honour the robin that was brave enough to warn you about Mercuricum. "This bush will in future be known as a Holly Bush and to warn the humans that there are some very bad wizards about, once a year the holly twig with its berries will be taken into the people's houses. Then I found myself back home in my bed. Wag was lying at the foot of the bed as he always does and I could see his legs moving in his sleep. He was having one very good dream.

Downstairs I saw my wallet and my keys still on the table where I had put them the night before. My milk was not sour and the kitchen window was as it always is. Now I ask myself was it all just a silly dream or did Mercuricum really try to stop me writing my Fairy tales. "What do you think?"

Kindness Pays.

I was at least a mile from home when it started to snow. All day long the sky had that rosy tinge that comes before snow. The flakes were coming down thicker and thicker and it was difficult to see ones way. A car pulled in by the pavement and a cheerful voice called, "Do you want a lift?" I was delighted and thanked the young man for being so kind as to stop and offer me a ride.

Getting into the car I could see the windscreen wipers were going at full speed, trying to keep the screen free from snow. The car's lights were not picking out the road very clearly. The driver a young man asked me whether there was a hotel near where I lived, he was on the way to the coast where he had hoped to catch the midnight ferry across to France. With this snow he knew he had no chance of reaching Dover in time and had decided to stay at a hotel for the night.

I directed him to my house and when we arrived the hall light that I had left burning was giving off a welcome glow. " No need for an Hotel." I said. "There is plenty of room here for you, do come on in." I quickly lit the fire in the kitchen and soon the warmth spread all over the room. A kettle of water and soon a pot of tea was brewing on the fireplace, waiting to be poured into the white porcelain cups. I made a few sandwiches and after eating I showed the young man up into the spare bedroom or guest room.

In the morning I went to the guest room to waken the young man to give him breakfast before he left for Dover. His bed was empty; the bed had not been touched. I was now very puzzled. A young man had given me a lift home and I had made tea and sandwiches and shown him up to the room. He could not have got out of the house without waking me, or at least my dog Wag. I went back down into the kitchen and looked at the cups and saucers and plates that we had used the night before. There was two of everything, I had not been dreaming. The car too had disappeared.

Two weeks later there was a knock on my front door and a very puzzled young man that had given me the lift the week before stood on my doorstep. I was surprised to see him and had I must admit nearly forgotten him. This is the story that he told me. As he got into my spare bed, he felt a strange feeling and then found himself with his car in the south of France where he had business with a vintner or a man that grows grapes to make wines.

He had come to me on his way back home hoping that I could explain to him what had happened. Then a knock on the front door and as I opened it Shamus was standing on the doorstep. With a Shilleley in his hand and a large smile on his face he greeted me and I asked him in. He smiled and gave the young man his hand in greeting. Shamus then surprised me even more " You are back from your trip to France, I hope that your business went well."

I gave Shamus a cup of hot sweet tea and waited for him to tell his story. It seemed that he too was on his way to France where he wanted to visit an old Leprechaun friend. Shamus used whatever transport means were available and he thought nothing of making himself invisible and sitting in a strange car that happened to be going his way. He had got into the young man's car because it was going in the right direction and he Shamus got a surprise when the young man stopped and asked me if I wanted a lift.

It was Shamus who spirited the young man out of my spare bed and into his car and transported him to the south of France. This was all done by magic to thank the young man for helping me, Shamus's friend in the snowstorm. The fact that the young man was in France well before he should have been enabled him to do some very good business before he drove back home to the United Kingdom. Shamus had visited his Leprechaun Friend and had come back home with the young man, sitting invisible on the back seat of his car. The customs Officer at Dover waved the young man through the customs so at no time was Shamus likely to be discovered.

Before the young man went on his way Shamus wiped away with magic all knowledge of himself and me and my house from his brain so that he would not remember being transported by magic. I have never seen the young man again but he did leave some very good bottles of vintage wine at my house before he left. Shamus and myself opened a bottle of the wine and drunk to his success and a pleasant happy future for him and his family.

Lazy Day.

It is cold and rainy outside and I have decided to stay at home and have a lazy day. For me a lazy day is to get my feet up and relax in my comfortable armchair. I have many books some of which I have read two or three times others I have sadly neglected and it is time I caught up on my reading. Going to my bookshelves I looked at the titles of the books and of all my books only one caught my interest. It is entitled Magic for beginners. Taking the book from the shelf I sat myself down in my chair and with a soft clean rag wiped my spectacles.

The book started off with a few simple tricks. It was on the third page that I got a shock. The author now wrote in the old language of the Fairies. I understood a lot that was written but not all of it. The tricks were now no longer tricks but real examples on how to perform magic. One caught my eye it was how to become invisible another how to turn a person into a vegetable. This was serious and I looked carefully again for the author. The name was Horwith Markentile. I had never heard of this author before and decided to go with the book to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies.

Putting on my Wellington boots and my raincoat and grabbing my hat I went off into the woods. No Fairies were to be seen they were all under shelter from the rain. Trudging through the muddy wood's floor I made my way to the Fairy Queens cottage. The door opened as I approached the cottage and Her Majesty called for me to come in out of the rain. Taking the book out of my pocket I showed the Queen the writing in the old language that was known only to the Fairies.

"This is very serious," said Her Majesty and taking out of her pocket the magic mirror she placed the book upon it. "There are only six copies of this book I will go into the matter straight away. Taking her magic wand she waved it and said, " There is just one copy of the book now and it is this one that you brought to me." "The author she said looking into her magic mirror once more is Horwith Markentile. He is married to a Fairy how he managed to get the secret out of his wife is a mystery." Taking me by the hand she said the magic words in the old language and we both were travelling by magic.

We landed in a small town in the garden of a large house. The ex Fairy the wife of the man Horwith Markentile recognised the Queen and made us welcome. Her Majesty asked her about the old language and whether she still used it. "No," came the reply. "My husband and I only speak English with each other. Showing the ex fairy the book she recognised the name of the author but swore that she had not taught him one word of the old language. Her Majesty then asked where Horwith Markentile was at the moment. "He is in town he works as a printer in a small printing business."

The ex Fairy made us welcome with a cup of tea and some Fairy cakes she still used magic for small things. The Husband Horwith Markentile came home in the evening and was very surprised to see Her Majesty and myself sitting at his kitchen table. Her Majesty gave him a small cake to eat it looked like a Fairy cake but it held one of the powders from flowers that made one tell the truth. Her Majesty asked him where he had been taught the old language. The words came pouring out of his mouth.

He had cast a spell over his ex fairy wife and it caused her to sleep. While she was sleeping he got her to teach him the old language. The ex fairy did not realise that she was being used to give away the Fairies best kept secret. Horwith Markentile wrote down each word and what it meant and he had been doing this for two years and had a very good command of the old language. So as not to forget the old language he had at work printed the book that had come into my possession with five others that he had hidden away.

Her Majesty looked at Horwith Markentile and raised her wand. You will forget the old language and all of the secret knowledge that you have gained from your wife. In future you will forget that Bern and myself were ever here and you will never be able to cast another spell as long as you live. Her Majesty then waved her magic wand again this time at the ex fairy. You will use the old language never again. Then taking my hand Her Majesty took us back to her house. She wanted to give me the book but I said "No Your Majesty it is better if the book is destroyed it is not time for the human race to hold such power. Please destroy it. A wave of the wand and the book disappeared and I found myself in my own back kitchen sitting in my armchair looking at the rain running down the windowpanes.

Lazy Weekend.

It had been a long week and I was looking forward to a nice lazy weekend. My garden looks as it should look at this time of the year. No weeds anywhere to be seen, my flowers showing their brightly coloured petals, All in all I thought to myself I deserve a break from all of the back breaking work that goes into a garden. The back garden is full of vegetables, with beans and peas that I will next week harvest. I have been using the lettuces and tomatoes for over a week now and have had some delicious salads.

I half lay on the two old cushions that I keep for my wheelbarrow when I saw the cat from next-door approaching me. The Cat from next door is a stray and my neighbours took it in and gave it a home. It was not often that the cat braved coming into my garden as my dog Wag although he does not attack her, is very jealous of who shares my garden with me.

I watched the cat with half closed eyes and she approached me. In front of me she surprisingly stood up on her hind legs and started dancing. I thought to myself the neighbours have made a good job of teaching her to dance. This dancing carried on for a few minutes then the cat purring away jumped up onto my lap. The cat had never done this before and I was surprised, so was my dog Wag. He gave a short bark of protest but he knows that I do not like a lot of noise when I am relaxing in my garden.

Sitting on my lap purring away the cat started to send me pictures in my brain just like the Fairies do whenever they are excited. I watched a series of pictures. First a large house with in every room shelves with glasses, Old glasses that one sees no more nowadays unless one goes to a museum. The glasses were of all shapes and sizes, some were coloured others were milky white. In one room there was a glass with two handles. Under the glass was a notice that said, "Merlin of Camelot's glass," Wizard in chief to King Arthur, King of Great Britain. He who dares to drink from this glass will be endowed with magical powers. Beware not all that is magic is good you have been warned. The notice was worn and frayed and I only managed to read it because the cat's pictures were large and clear in my brain.

Then came another picture a young pretty woman dressed as a Ballerina dancing her way across a stage. Then other ballerinas joined her. The picture changed again I saw myself looking at the Covent Garden Opera House, in London. The picture changed yet again a Wizard was pointing to the glass of Merlin and offering large sums of money for it. A man that looked like the Ballerina was shaking his head; he obviously did not want to sell the glass from his large collection.

Another change of pictures the Ballerina now dressed in normal clothes came into the room. Another exchange of words with the Wizard then I got a shock. The Wizard pulled from his robe a magic wand and pointed it at the girl. The girl shrivelled down to the size and shape of a cat. Stepping out of her clothes she wandered to the man that looked like her father and rubbed herself against his legs. Bending down the wizard picked up the cat and shouting something to the owner of the house he went off in a fearful rage taking the cat with him.

The cat waiting her chance sprang out of the Wizard's arms and ran off as quickly as she could. She wandered into next doors garden by chance, tired and hungry my next-door neighbour gave her some milk and some chicken that was left over from the midday meal, the cat has been with her now for some twelve weeks. Then she the cat sent a picture with the words written on a board. (Please Help Me.) I decided that I had better get some help from Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies I knew that she would help. I put the cat gently on the ground and went and got into my walking boots it was always tricky in the woods one never knew when a root would get under ones feet and trip one.

Walking quietly through the woods so as not to disturb the wild life I sent a series of pictures to Her Majesty, Queen Feeana. I described to her all that the cat had sent to me in picture form. I received the answers straight away Her Majesty was expert in sending mental pictures and she arrived in front of me in a few minutes. We discussed the Glass of Merlin Wizard to King Arthur. I asked her Majesty if there was any truth in the saying that whomsoever drinks out of the glass has a wish free. "Yes it is true and that is what I do not like about the whole thing," said Her Majesty.

"What if he asks for knowledge? He could become the most powerful man in the world." "He has definitely to be stopped before he can do any harm." Her Majesty spoke quietly but she was very serious about stopping the Wizard. Taking my hand she took us with her magic to the house of the Ballerina. The glass was still in its place. Her Majesty then placed a spell on the glass. Who ever took the glass in his or her hands that were not the rightful owner would become a black cat.

Then another short journey and we were facing the Wizard. "You have been warned before and yet you still try to get all the power in the world in your hands." Before the Wizard could speak Her Majesty pointed her magic wand at him, a shower of bright blue sparks and the Wizard was down on the floor on all fours. He had developed into a large black cat. "You will stay a cat for the next thousand years." " I hope that you find a family that will look after you." Taking my hand again we disappeared from the Wizards sight.

I now found myself in my garden again this time the cat that had sent me mental pictures for help was now a young woman. I went with her to London to her Fathers house where the pair of them hugged and kissed and I quickly made my way home again. I have a letter indoors thanking me for my help in a matter known only to the young Ballerina and myself. The ballerina was later to become a prima ballerina at Covent Garden Opera House. She became very famous People say that she dances with all the agility of a cat.

Lazy Weekend.

A weekend without any rushing here or there, a long lay in Saturday and Sunday morning. This is what I wanted to do most. Make the best of the weekend and just take things easy. This is my plan and I am looking forward to a couple of days of doing practically nothing. The weekend shopping I got in on Friday and as I had no intention to cook a meal over the weekend I bought no meat or fish, no vegetables just some lettuce and tomatoes, with a cucumber.

On Friday evening I stopped the alarm clock and went to bed at ten o'clock. I was in one glorious lazy mood; nothing is going to spoil my weekend I told myself as I closed my eyes. I awoke at ten o'clock the next morning and without even washing and shaving I went downstairs to make some coffee and read the newspaper. The house was exceptionally quiet I thought, no old wood groaning or squeaking, just quietness. I smiled to myself as I drank my coffee in small sips and slowly read the newspaper.

I felt really at one with the world, this is the life, just taking things easy. I passed right through the Saturday in this rather exalted way of thinking. Sunday morning a terrific knocking on my front door awakened me. Someone was pounding the old brass knocker as hard as they could. I miserably looked at the clock it was just three minutes past seven. Much too early to get up on a Sunday morning I thought. Putting on my dressing gown I went downstairs to open the front door.

Standing on my doorstep was the local Policeman. Greeting me he said," What have you done to the front of your house?" "Front of the house," I rather stupidly asked. "Yes come outside and see for yourself," the Policeman said. Pulling my dressing gown a little tighter round my waste I stepped out of the front door and walked a couple of steps. Turning I looked at my house. The whole of the front of the house is covered in green moss. It looks as if it had been there for ages. There was no green moss the previous day of that I was very sure.

I invited the Policeman in to have a drink of coffee, in reality I wanted to find out what he knew. I put a lot of questions to him as he drank his hot sweet coffee but I soon realised he knew next to nothing. He was really surprised that my house was covered in moss. Normally my house is a red brick building with brown paint on the doors and window frames no trace of green anywhere.

After drinking his coffee the Policeman left and I got myself dressed and went to my shed where I took out a scraping tool and going to the front of my house I tried scraping the moss away. As fast as I removed the moss it grew again. It looks as if my house is going to stay green until I find a way to get rid of the moss.

I asked Her Majesty the Fairy Queen, Queen Feeana for help in removing the moss, which by now was making my house very damp. Her Majesty took out her Magic wand and although a bright spark appeared nothing happened the moss is still there on the front of my house. Her Majesty looked very serious and took her magic mirror from her pocket. Even her mirror showed no signs of activity. Her Majesty then left me with a promise that she would be back very soon.

Two days went past and no sign of Her Majesty. I was by now very worried the damp was coming through the walls and running down the wallpaper. Small pools of water were collecting on the floor. I had taken all of my carpets out to the garden shed to keep them dry. The rest of the front of the house is getting wetter and wetter. I have no idea how to stop the water running down my walls.

Then Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared and with her was some two hundred Fairies and leprechauns. The leprechauns lined up in front of the house and starting at the bottom they broke off the moss piece by piece until just the bare bricks were showing. They worked so fast that the moss did not have time to grow again. In the house the Walls were being dried by a group of Fairies I had not seen them arrive. With their wings they were fanning the wall and with their magic wands they were heating the walls. The wallpaper just fell of the walls. This did not worry me, as I had wanted to repaper the walls for a long time.

The Leprechauns were singing one of the age-old songs that Leprechauns sing when they are happy. As soon as a layer of bricks was clean the Queen Feeana waved her wand and no moss will ever grow on the front of my house again. Her Majesty had been to the Fairy University and had found the remedy for getting rid of the moss. No one works as fast as a Leprechaun and the speed of their hands as they cleaned brick after brick was amazing.

As soon as the front of the house was cleaned of moss and the fairies inside had dried off all the inside walls and floors the Leprechauns redecorated the front rooms of my house. We then went into the woods to hold a party. The wine and the fairy cakes were provided by Her Majesty and with a glass of wine in my hand I asked what had caused the moss to appear was I under attack by some evil Wizard? "No," said Her Majesty, "I am afraid that the fairies are to blame they brought in on their shoes moss spores." " They are normally not dangerous but when they are gathered in great numbers the spores have a life of their own." " In some walls they would only cause a little moss to grow. In your wall which has been used by the Fairies for so long the walls have become ideal for moss to grow that is why the inside of your house was so wet."

There is just one way to remove the moss and to stop it spreading and that is the speed with which it can be removed. Just Leprechauns have this speed and I sent a message to them for their help and that is why so many of them came. I have taken away the Fairy tracks into and out of your house and all fairies in future must wipe their shoes before entering your home.

I saw the Policeman the next day looking at the front of my house with a very strange look in his eyes. He could not believe what he was seeing my bricks are as clean as when they were first built into the house. I did not tell him about my visit from the Leprechauns and the Fairies. He would not have understood.

Lights.

Many years ago around the nineteen hundred a witch flew to London to attend a witch's coven. This is no ordinary witch she is married to a member of the English Parliament. Flying from South Kent on her way to London she had some near accidents with the newer taller buildings that were being built. In those days no buildings were lit at night and some of the large chimneystacks she only narrowly missed a head on collision. The witch was an excellent flyer and often rode on her broomstick to many parts of Great Britain. The witch's husband is not too happy with his wife being a witch, what if it got around to his fellow members of Parliament his life would not have been worth living. He thought that people would have no respect for the husband of a known witch. On her way back home to her own small town she had some more narrow escapes with the tall buildings and the chimneystacks. On her arrival she immediately told her husband that he should with his fellow members of Parliament make some new laws that all tall buildings over a certain height should be lit up with lights especially at night.

Her husband told her that he could not see any way in which to light up tall buildings in those far off days, electric light was still in its infancy. To light up each tall building, with what? a candle, an oil lamp, or perhaps to light a fire with wood why the idea was ridiculous. The poor man's wife gave him no peace and every time that he had to go to Parliament she reminded him of the tall buildings and what a danger they were. Her husband ignored her for a long time and she made his life a misery. She would give him for his breakfast a cup of cold tea and burnt toast and told him that he would get no other warm meals until each tall building was lit with a light of some kind.

Some fifty years went by and the first electric lamps were being put into houses and to lighten up the dark streets at night these new electric lights replaced the old gas lamps that the gas lighter went around turning the gas on and lighting the gas lamps. The witch was now an elderly woman but she still went flying on her broomstick and now that the electric lights were here to stay she insisted that her husband got parliament to pass a law that all tall buildings over a certain height were to be lit up at night. Her husband; tired of cold cups of tea for his breakfast and burnt toast decided that he would ask his friends in Parliament to pass a bill of law stating that all buildings over a certain height would have to be lit at night. After all the new fangled aeroplanes would also benefit by the new lights.

The Member of Parliament with some of his friends got together and proposed the bill for lighting up tall buildings and chimneystacks at night and in foggy weather. The bill was passed by the House of Commons and rejected by the House of Lords. The witch was now furious. How could the House of Lords refuse to pass such an important bill for the safety of all, that fly by night? At the next witches coven the witches that were married to some of the Lords were asked to treat their husbands so badly that the House of Lords would too pass the bill; then all tall buildings and chimneystacks would be lighted at night. Flying on her broomstick back to her home the witch repeated her tactics of bullying her husband the Member of Parliament. The bill was put to the House of Commons yet once again and only a few of the Lords voted against the new bill.

The new bill was passed and one could see men all over the country fitting new electric lights to all of the tall buildings. The new lights satisfied the witch but she had another idea, why not have the lights red. Red lights could be easier seen and everyone knows that red is for danger. You might have noticed that I have mentioned no names in this my little story. How would you like it if your wife was a witch and had her name mentioned in some old fairy tale? By the way this is a true story and I defy anyone to disprove it.

Pull Together.

The noise is really quite deafening. The Fairies want to split Fairyland in two. One half of Fairyland to be only for the fairies the other half for pixies and goblins, bogies and imps, and all of the other inhabitants of Fairyland. Her Majesty Queen Feeana heard of this ridiculous plan of the fairies to split Fairyland in two and Her Majesty was much annoyed. I was called in as advisor as to what should be done to end such a state of foolishness. All of Fairyland is for the non-humans of the planet and has been for many thousands of years. To alter things now would be ridiculous and the fairies needed to be taught a lesson. We discussed things at my house, Her Majesty knew that nothing would or could get out of my humble abode without our knowledge. We drew up a plan to really split Fairyland in two halves. Things went well for a few days with the fairies going on with their work as usual. Her Majesty made arrangements that no one would be hungry or thirsty in both parts of Fairyland. The fairies had no one to play with, the other non-humans kept to their part of Fairyland and things went on as usual.

After a week or two the fairies were very dissatisfied. They were alone, no one to play with them; no one to speak to. The pranks that the pixies were always getting up to the fairies were missing badly. The ugly looking bogies that peeped out of the trees and bushes making fun of the fairies kept strictly to their part of Fairyland, This was also true of the imps and all of the other little peoples of Fairyland. Not even the Leprechauns came to visit them. Soon the fairy houses looked very neglected and as the fairies became more dissatisfied the flowers started to fade and die off. I with the agreement of Her Majesty kept out of the woods altogether. The fairies soon wanted Fairyland to be one again. Her Majesty and I thought that it would be a good thing to let the fairies see what a parted Fairyland did for them all and it was decided to let them carry on for one whole month in the parted Fairyland.

Exactly one month later her Majesty called a meeting of the fairies. I had made a plan to get the little peoples united again. My plan was to hold a tug of war contest. If the fairies were to win, Fairyland would again become one land and all of the little peoples would be able to mix and play with one another like they always had. Going to the stores in town that sold ropes I bought and had delivered a real thick heavy rope. My idea was to see whether the fairies and the other peoples of Fairyland could and would work together. Her Majesty with the use of her magic wand placed the rope in a large clearing and called all of the little peoples together. Her Majesty explained the tug of war game to all. Both fairies and the other non-humans I was the master of ceremonies and arranged for all of the fairies to take their places on one side of the rope. On the other side all of the other little people. I tied a piece of rag exactly in the middle of the rope. Then I gave them the commands to pick up the rope. The fairies managed to pick up their part of the heavy rope and the non-human their part.

I explained once again the rules telling all of the little peoples that it was a matter of all pulling together. Then I gave the command to pull and both the fairies and the little non-humans pulled and pulled, neither could move the rag tied in the middle of the rope across the line that I had made right in the centre of the ground. After pulling against each other for a while both sides threw the rope down and told me that it was impossible to move the rag across the line. Taking the rope I asked Her Majesty to take the other half. As I was both bigger and stronger than Her Majesty I told ten of the fairies to help Her Majesty. We pulled and pulled; I managed to pull the rope a little way but soon more of the fairies went to help Her majesty soon the other non-humans went to help the Queen. There were too many now pulling on the rope and I had to give way. Soon the rag was pulled right over to Her Majesties side. Her Majesty I called out is the winner. If you all pull together no matter what you do you can win anything. Now go and think it over do you still want Fairyland to be split in two parts or do you all want to live in peace with one another each helping as best he or she can.

Her Majesty thanked me for getting all of the little peoples together again. Now all is well in fairyland and the rope we left on the forest floor so that all may be reminded that it is better to pull together than be apart.

Lost Friends.

My alarm clock was set for seven o'clock. Turning around in my bed, I looked at the clock and saw that I had five minutes to go before I before I left my warm bed. I have no problems with getting out of bed in the mornings. I have always been an early riser. The alarm went off with its somewhat tinny noise and I got up and went to the bathroom. A quick wash and shave not forgetting to clean my teeth and I was ready to face the day. On going downstairs to make myself some breakfast I smelt fresh coffee. Now who I asked myself would be making fresh coffee I live alone and have had no visitors for a month or more.

Opening the door into the kitchen the smell was stronger. It was then I saw the Fairy who put two slices of bread in the toaster. "Good Morning," I said. "What is your name you are not one of the local Fairies are you?" "No," she said I have come to see if you can help me." " I am from the North of England and three of my friends are missing." "I dared them to go into the house of the Wizard Morican. He is a nasty Wizard and I am afraid that he has done them some harm." Have you been to see Queen Feeana," I asked her. "No she replied I am afraid to because if I had not dared them they would not have gone to Morican's house.

"Well we shall see," I said. Let us have some breakfast then we can see what is to be done." The Fairy then told me that her name was Rosefee and that she was worried that something terrible had happened to her friends.

After breakfast I went to my special drawer where I kept my Magic Wand and Mirror given to me by Her Majesty Queen Feeana along with a hefty portion of magic dust. Putting the mirror and Magic Dust in my pocket, I waved my wand and we both arrived at the Wizards house. Motioned the Fairy Rosefee to stay behind me and entered the front door of the house. I saw the Wizard at once he was grinning a wicked smile and painting one wall of his hallway with white wash. I threw some magic dust at his feet hoping he would be rooted to the spot but the dust turned into glass marbles and as he went to move towards me he rolled forward on the marbles and lost his balance. I immediately touched him with my wand and he turned into a stone jar. We then looked for the Fairies but in the whole house not a Fairy was to be seen.

I took out my Magic Mirror and looked into it all I could see was a white washed wall. I looked long and hard at the only wall that had been freshly whitewashed and then the penny fell, I told the Fairy Rosefee to get some rags and I went to the well and filled two buckets with water. Then we both busy washing the fresh whitewash from then wall. Soon I uncovered a pretty little fairy then another soon we had all three of the fairy friends still on the wall but we had found them. I tried with my Magic Wand to free them then the Fairy Rosefee took out her Magic Wand and we both pointed the wands at the wall and there was a blue flash and the Fairies flew one by one to where we were standing. We had saved them. This is the story they told me. The Wizard had let them in to his house and chained them together so that they could not fly away then he tried to make them work for him but they said no. It was after a few days that he decided to place them on the wall and paint the wall with whitewash, His idea was even if anyone came looking for them they would only find a white washed wall. Placing the four Fairies in a circle I pointed my wand at them and they vanished. Later I heard from Rosefee that they had all arrived home safely but it had taken even more magic to get their wings clean from the whitewash. All were now back home painting flowers and all the other things Fairies do.

I received a visit from Queen Feeana, she had it seems been watching over the four Fairies and had guided Rose fee's steps to my house and had all of the time been with us guarding us from any evil that the Wizard might wish on us. I now have a new Magic Wand and my magic dust supply is refilled daily by means of magic.

The Magic Puzzle.

Some one from the North of England is sending me bits of a puzzle, No message, no explanations just the parts of a coloured wooden jigsaw puzzle. One piece of the puzzle every day the puzzle is colourful but I have not enough pieces to see what the puzzle is about. Up until now I have not been able to get any of the pieces to fit together. My Postman is getting rather curious, as it is not usual for him to come every day. Must be something interesting he smiled, an envelope each day without a letter just some small part of something or other. I decided not to tell the Postman about the pieces of puzzle that were being sent to me every day. Three months have gone by and I am still getting the pieces of puzzle one by one each day except Sundays. I still am not able to put any of the pieces together and the colours do not help me.

I do my usual things every day such as gardening or walking in the woods. I sometimes take a piece of the puzzle with me on my walks through the woods or Fairyland, The fairies have often seen me looking hard at a piece of the puzzle but up until now none have asked me what I am doing which is rather strange as fairies as you all know are very curious at anything they see that is new. One day I met Her Majesty, Queen Feeana as I was walking through Fairyland. I had a piece of the puzzle in my hand, which somehow reminded me of an eye. " What do you think this is Your Majesty? I showed her the small piece of the puzzle and she smiled and asked me whether I was going back to my school days when I played with such puzzles. Taking out of her robe the magic mirror she placed the piece of the puzzle onto the glass. Quickly before I could see what the picture was she took the piece of puzzle and gave it back to me. "Have patience my friend when you have received all of the puzzle you will know what to do." Her Majesty disappeared and I walked back home.

The pieces of puzzle came regularly every day and I placed each piece of the puzzle into a large wooden box for safekeeping. The pieces of puzzle continued to arrive and one day I was surprised that the Postman brought no envelope with a puzzle piece in it. Instead he knocked on my door and when I opened it he told me that according to his memory the puzzle pieces had been coming now for four years. I agreed with him and went indoors to my wooden box that contained all of the pieces that had been sent.

Sitting down at my large kitchen table I started to put the pieces of puzzle together. Now I had no difficulty the pieces seemed to fly together and soon I saw a picture emerging, the picture was of a dragon chained to an old oak tree. I got a sheet of hardboard, painted it with glue, and then gently slid the picture onto the hardboard. I left it for a couple of days to dry and hung the picture on my front room wall. I thought no more about it, as it was a sad picture. The dragon had tears in its eyes and I wondered why it had been sent piece by piece to me.

A couple of weeks later Shamus my Leprechaun friend came to see me. We ate a meal of Shamus's favourite Irish stew and we spoke about some of Shamus's adventures. I then told Shamus of the picture that now hung on my front room wall and of how it had been sent piece by piece by letter mail. "This I must see," said Shamus, and we went into the front room where Shamus looked carefully at the picture of the chained dragon. "Its a terrible thing to see the poor animal chained to the tree," said Shamus. "Have you tried sprinkling the picture with magic dust?" "No," I replied", it had not occurred to me to do so." "Better take the picture into Fairyland before you sprinkle it with magic dust." said Shamus. Taking the picture into the woods, I sprinkled it with magic dust and before my eyes the dragon burst the chains that held it to the tree. "Free at last", were its first words. Then it told us this story. A magician wanted some of the scales of the scaly dragon skin to make magic. The dragon refused and the magician placed a spell on it. It would be chained to a tree in an oil painting until the painting was destroyed. The dragon could see all that went on around it but could not speak to any one. The years passed and one day a man bought the picture and cut it up into a jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle the man sent to me one piece each day in the hopes that I could save the dragon. The man did not want the magician to know that the picture was now a puzzle and that I could perhaps free the Dragon. The man had found my address in one of my stories. So that the magician could not detect one piece of puzzle but perhaps could detect it if the whole puzzle had been sent at one time, It had been sent one piece a day. The Dragon is now in the Galaxy of Andromeda with others of its race as are the winged horses and all of the other fable animals.

Magic Slippers.

For my birthday I was sent a pair of woollen slippers. The slippers were hand knitted and in fine stitches a piece of leather had been worked in for the soles of the slippers. The slippers came by post two days before my birthday. There was no covering note as to whom they were from, just a hand written note saying that the slippers were magic. The postmark and stamp was unfortunately blurred so that I could not see from which part of the United Kingdom the parcel was sent. The slippers were a blue in colour and a pattern had been knitted into the uppers. The pattern was more like a snake than a real pattern like one sometimes sees in slippers that are hand knitted. I tried the slippers on for size and they fitted me perfectly. My feet were warm and I felt really comfortable in the new slippers. I sat with the new slippers on my feet watching the television, about fifteen minutes later my eyes started to close and I felt really sleepy. While I was nodding off into a deep sleep my thoughts strayed to the slippers and I began to wonder who had sent them to me. The noise of the television awoke me, it had finished its evening program and a whistling sound was coming from the set.

I opened my eyes and turned off the television. The time was twenty past twelve; I felt refreshed and made myself a cup of tea. While drinking my tea I had a sort of vision. Shamus my Leprechaun friend was busy sewing the soles on the slippers, he was using magic leather. I still had the slippers on my feet and went upstairs to my bed after all it was one thirty in the early morning and I thought that I ought to at least lay myself down in my bed. The rest of the night was uneventful and I lay in my bed dreaming my dreams, I cannot remember what I dreamed but it must have been very pleasant because I awoke in the morning at seven o'clock refreshed and ready to face the day ahead of me. I put on the slippers to go down stairs when I felt myself gliding down the stairs. My feet did not touch the stair treads I just floated from the top to the bottom. It is an eerie feeling this floating down the stairs. I had an idea and turned round at the foot of the stairs and yes, I floated back up to the top of the stairs. I must admit that this form of travelling was very exciting and I went up and down stairs many times until I felt the hunger and made my way to the kitchen where I quickly prepared my breakfast.

After breakfast I went into the garden did a little weeding and picked a few tomatoes then it was time for me to have a meal. I made and ate my lunch and went to the settee to have a nap. I had put the new slippers on my feet and like the yesterday I dropped off into light sleep. My dreams are wonderful and I later awoke feeling quite refreshed. I found that whenever I wore my new slippers I could go anywhere in the house or garden just by thinking about it. The slippers took me in a second to where I wanted to go. All went well and I used my slippers for everything I made no movements of my own, I then realised that I was getting very fat. No walking up or down stairs no walking to the garden just the use of the slippers. The pounds were creeping up on me and the bathroom scales were of no use, they only weighed up to one hundred and twenty kilo's. I decided to put the slippers away until I was really old and could not get about like I can now. I took the slippers up to my bedroom; yes I took the slippers up to my bedroom by using my feet. I found that I was out of breath I have been using the slippers now for about six months. I am really fat. The slippers I wrapped in brown packing paper and put them away in my cupboard. They are still there to this very day, and will stay there until I am really very old and may need them. I now go out into the garden walking like a fat man walks and I worked hard to get the garden back into shape. I have lost very much weight and am back to a slim man that I have always been. Shamus came to see me and I took the opportunity to thank him for the magic slippers. I was sure that he had sent them to me. Shamus denied all knowledge of having made any magic slippers and swore that the slippers were not from him. I walked upstairs and got the slippers from their packing and showed them to Shamus. Shamus looked at them and then said, "These slippers are not from a Leprechaun the stitches are not neat enough and the pattern is of a snake." "Now everyone knows that there are no snakes in Ireland and no Leprechaun would use a snake pattern for embroidering his slippers magic or otherwise." "These slippers are from a woman's hand." "See how the leather for the soles are cut the cut is too ragged." "Have you upset a witch in the last year or so?" I thought very hard but could not think of any one wanting to harm me with such slippers. "Whoever sent you these slippers played on the fact that most humans would use them to get any little thing from the garden. They would be used for floating everywhere in the house." "Did you put on a lot of weight while you were wearing these slippers?" I told Shamus of my problems with the scales in the bathroom. I was so heavy that I could hardly move and that was the reason that I put the slippers away in my bedroom.

Shamus put the word about and it was not long before we received the name of an old woman that called herself a witch. Shamus and I went to see the woman. All around her house she had motives with the snake like pattern that was on the slippers. I asked her why she had sent me the slippers and her answer was that I was punishing too many witches in my fairy tales. She wanted me to get so fat that I would not be able to write any more about my experiences with all of the little people and Her Majesty Queen Feeana. What was so important for the witch was that I did not turn any more witches into crows or black stones. I sprinkled some of my magic dust around the woman's house. The entire snake like patterns disappeared. The woman no longer calls herself a witch and Shamus and I went back home. The slippers I gave to Shamus who promised to use the magic leather for a much better purpose than turning me into a lazy old man that needed slippers to get around his house and garden. By the way my weight is now back to normal and I am very happy about it for it means that I can now eat of the fairy cakes without having to worry about my weight problems.

Magic Teeth.

Wednesday is the day when I go to see the new baby dragon. For safeties, sake the dragon is hiding in the fairy caves under the Himalayan Mountains. Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies invited me to attend the ceremony of the dragon's teeth. This ceremony is important to all of the fairies because the dragon's teeth are very powerful for making magic spells. The first teeth from a baby dragon fall out and new teeth grow, the baby teeth are ground down into a fine powder. The wise old fairies then take the powder to their secret caves and some is given to the Fairy University for experimental purposes.

Suddenly I was spirited through the air and found myself in the Fairy Caves under the Himalayan Mountains. Her Majesty greeted me and I sat next to the wise old fairies. Then it happened the baby dragon opened its mouth and with a slight shake of its head. All of its baby teeth fell onto a silken cloth that had been placed there for this purpose. The fairy dragon then drank a drink made of special herbs. In no time, at all it showed by opening its mouth a full set of wonderful dragons teeth.

The wise old fairies took the teeth on the silken cloth. I found myself back home in my kitchen. I heard no more of the teeth until some months later when I received an invitation to the fairy school to take part in the ceremony of magic wand making. I have told you before that all fairies when leaving school have to burn their baby magic wands and each fairy must make a new wand to be able to put into practice all that they had been taught at school.

The dragon's teeth had been ground down into a fine powder and this powder with other ingredients was the basis for making magic wands. The wands themselves were hand picked branches from the yew tree; the wood is supple and bends easily. Each fairy child that leaves school burns its old childish wand and prepares and makes a new wand for their daily life. All of the things used by the fairies have been collected by the children except the dragon teeth powder. Once there were many dragons roaming this earth, now alas there are only a few well hidden in high mountains or deep in the jungles, the magic teeth powder is very rare indeed.

The fairy children have said the magic words and each now has a new wand. Excitedly the children went out to try their wands but a terrible thing the wands do not work. There is something wrong with the magical powers. Collecting all the new wands, the wise old fairies sent them to the university for testing. News came back the professors had found that the magic powder from the teeth of the dragon had been changed with normal flour now the question is, where is the dragon's teeth powder? Queen Feeana is very worried if the powder falls into the wrong hands it could cause some very bad things to happen in Fairyland. All the birds were to keep an extra sharp eye on all known wizards, witches and sorcerers. Only one of these could use the powder to make magic and the powder was extra strong, as it had come directly from a baby dragon. All the birds all over the world went to the known houses of the witches wizards and sorcerers all of whom were under observation both by day and by night. No news is being sent by the birds that are giving of their best, no one is doing anything out of the ordinary in the way of magic.

Her Majesty took out her magic mirror to trace the dragon teeth powder. Once again, I saw the teeth fall onto the silk, I watched the wise old fairies carefully collecting the teeth and grinding them down to a fine powder. I saw the powder being taken by the wise old fairies ready to prepare for the making of the new wands. Then it happened one wise old fairy that was baking the delicious fairy cakes took the bag of dragon's teeth powder and poured it into the large bowl that she was using to make the cake mixture.

Stirring the dragon's teeth powder into the mixture, she placed on a baking tray the small cakes putting them in the fairy oven. The cakes were very nice to eat and all of the fairy children had eaten one or two of the cakes, Her Majesty smiling said," This class of children will need no magic wands they have the dragon's teeth powder in their tummies that is magic enough."

All of the class could use magic without a wand, which was a blessing for like all small children they either lost the wands or forgot to take them with them. Worst of all many of the children when playing forgot the wands and they broke which meant that each child that lost or broke a wand had to make a new one. In future, Her Majesty would keep all powder from a dragon's teeth then no one would be able to use it for making fairy cakes.

Magic Well.

Something strange is happening in the woods known as fairyland. At the far end of the woods is a magic well. This well was once so famous that people from near and far came to make a wish. These wishes all came true and believe it or not most people wished for wealth and a large house. None of the people that had their wishes come true were really happy; in fact most were bored because with so much wealth servants did all the work. This was talked about for miles around and eventually came to the ears of Her Majesty the Fairy Queen. The Queen placed a most powerful spell on the wishing well and since this time no wish has been granted. People still come to the well and rub the stones of the surrounding wall they think that it will bring them luck.

One of my friends a cheeky Leprechaun told me the other day that a women dressed all in black was often seen by the well and she acted very strangely. Strange chants came from her lips and weird dances around the old wishing well she performed. This I had to see for myself. The next morning I got up early had a shower and a shave then made a pot of tea and some toast. This was my breakfast before I set off to the woods. I took my time and like a hunter I took cover behind each tree or bush until I came to the old wishing well. The woman was therewith a brush that one often sees witches riding on. With the brush she carefully dusted all around the well and then from her large apron pockets that went down to the ground she threw Rose petals all around the well.

This was very strange and I took out my little notebook and pen and wrote down all that she did and said. That is, all that I understood of her words; most of it sounded like gibberish. After the roses she walked around the well three times walking backwards. Why she never fell over her long dress I do not know. Then taking a handful of some powder from her large pocket she threw it in the well saying, Be Lifted from your Fairy block. This she did seven times. I know of no method of anyone being able to break a spell of a Fairy Queen so why was this woman trying so hard.

I heard a slight noise to my right and saw that I was not alone there were many Fairies watching the woman. Over to my left I saw Flanagan the cheeky Irish Leprechaun. He was pulling some very funny faces at what the woman was doing that I nearly laughed out loud. Suddenly there was a blue flash and a small puff of smoke and Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana appeared. In a stern voice she said. "Old woman what are you doing? do you not know that a spell was placed on this well by my Grandmother five hundred years ago. The well is no longer Magic and will not grant you or any other person a wish."

In a more gentle voice the Queen Feeana said, "I know you well you are a kind person that makes all kinds of remedies to heal sick people." Yes Your Majesty came the reply I only wanted one wish not for myself but to help others." Her Majesty said. You may have your wish not from the well but from my magic wand, think most carefully before you wish as Magic has a wonderful way of working and one cannot always see what the future will bring." " Make your wish and it shall be granted." The woman spoke ever so quietly and said. "I wish that I may posses all the knowledge of the Fairy Race then I may cure all peoples that are ill or in need." "Your wish is granted." said the Fairy Queen Feeana.

I thought to myself why has the Fairy Queen granted such a wish the woman would be as powerful as the Fairies. This cannot be a good thing. I took my eyes off Her Majesty and looked at the woman. Her head it was growing bigger and bigger. I thought if she can hold all the knowledge of the Fairies who have lived on this earth for tens of thousands of years she must develop a head bigger than a two-story house. Her head grew and grew; now she was lying on the ground in her rose petals but her head got bigger and bigger then her head exploded. I was not surprised I had expected something like this, not even the Fairies knew all of the knowledge it was written down on parchment that was kept well hidden from human eyes. The wise old fairies knew where to look if they needed some advice, not one of them could hold all that knowledge in their heads.

Her Majesty then waved her wand and the woman appeared as she had before the Magic Spell. It was as if nothing had happened to her. Now Her Majesty spoke again this time in a very gentle voice. "I knew your wish before you had spoken it as you are such a kind person and have always helped others I granted your wish. I knew that your head would explode no person fairy or Human can keep so much knowledge in his or her head it is impossible. I hope that you have learned something from today's little experiment." If you need help with curing people come to the forest and tell one of the birds that you need help. One of my wise old Fairies will always be at hand to help you. The queen vanished the same way as she had come and now one sees the old woman collecting her herbs and berries for her medicines and only once did she need to ask one of the wise old Fairies for advice.

Mermaid.

The boat is gently rocking and I with my fishing rod and line are sitting quietly waiting for a fish to bite. I am using some raw minced meat mixed with bread for bait. The sun is shining down and I feel very comfortable and relaxed in my boat. My eyes slowly closed and I fell into a light sleep. I often dream when dozing in the sunshine and this day was no exception so I cannot really tell if what happened next is true or did I dream it.

A voice or was it voices told me in a singsong fashion that it would be all right for me to let myself slide into the water of the lake. I felt the cool water slowly closing over my head and I sank to the bottom of the lake. Here I was met by a Mermaid and taken by the hand I was led to an underwater cave. The cave is well lit but I can see no lighting arrangements. Sitting on a comfortable armchair was another Mermaid.

The Mermaid welcomed me in a singsong voice asking me if I would like to eat some of the seaweed that she held in her hands. I did not like the look of the seaweed and refused saying that I had already eaten a large breakfast. The question she then asked surprised me very much. Why do you want to eat the fish in the lake? I stuttered and said, " Most humans eat fish it is part of our food supply." "You can if you want to eat seaweed like we do it is very nourishing and has lots of iron in it." said the Mermaid.

"What would you say if I was to give you gold and silver?" was her next question. "Why would you want to give me gold and silver, " I asked. "To stop you killing off my friends the fish came the reply." "Would you like me to give you gold and silver?" "I must admit that gold and silver is a very tempting offer." If the fish are really your friends I heard myself saying let me see them. Up until now I have not seen one fish in this cave of yours. How do I know that they are your friends and that you yourself do not eat the fish?"

With a wave of her hand and a small trumpet that she put to her mouth, she blew a signal. The next minute the cave had so many fish swimming in the waters that I could not count them. I did not know that there were so many fish in the lake. There were all sorts of fish some I recognised others I have never seen before. The fish balancing on their tails moved backwards and forwards as if in greeting to the Mermaid.

"I am convinced." I said, "The fish are really your friends." "I promise you that I will not go fishing in the lake again. I need no gold and silver and I always keep my word." "Try some of this seaweed the Mermaid tempted me and I found myself eating seaweed which was delicious. I thanked the Mermaid and saying my goodbyes I swam back up to the boat. Pulling myself back on board I sat for a few moments wondering if this had really happened to me.

The tip of my rod suddenly jerked and I wound in the line on the reel of the rod. This must be a very big fish I thought as I struggled to pull in the line. The line was pulled in and on the hook there was no fish but a small casket. Lifting the casket on board I rowed back to the shore and tied the boat to the landing pier. I lifted the heavy casket on to the wooden planks of the pier and taking out my fishing knife I pried open the small rusty lock of the casket. The casket is full of gold and silver coins. This was the promised treasure that the Mermaid spoke about.

I knew that I would never go fishing again and I would not eat any fish as long as I live. The gold and silver is now in my safe in my front room and it will stay there. I really did not want any gold or silver. Seeing the fish and the Mermaid who are really good friends was reward enough for me. This all happened thirty years ago and I would have written earlier for you all to read. Now I go looking for seaweed along the coast and when I find the fine seaweed that the Mermaid gave me to eat I place it in a bucket and take it home with me. It is a very nourishing meal.

Merrydome.

I awoke and could not move. My eyelids opened and that was all. I was not in my own bed. I was not even in my own house. What has happened between my going to bed and my wakening in a strange bed? I had drunk my usual cup of Horlicks and then went to bed like I do every evening. I dropped off to sleep soon after my head hit the pillow. Then nothing, I had heard no one, I had seen no one, Where was I and why had I been spirited away from my own house.

I rolled my eyes downwards and saw that I had been strapped into this bed. My head was being held down on the pillow and my arms and legs had very wide straps holding me. There was even a strap across my chest. I had been thoroughly fixed by someone or something that knew exactly what they were doing. I tried to see in the room but the head strap stopped my turning my head and I could only see a white painted door.

At first I thought that I might be in Hospital. Had I been badly injured, while I was sleeping, but no, I had no pain and I was not crazy my thoughts were too well defined for that. I thought at first that the Fairies were responsible for my situation. No magic seemed to be in play. I called loudly to try to attract someone's attention. Why was I here and what was the point of tying me down in this bed?

A door suddenly opened and into my view came a man wearing a long pointed hat on the hat were stars and moons. Ah! I thought there has been magic in play, but then, no that is impossible, and my house is under Her Majesty Queen Feeana's protection. How did this Wizard get me here without magic? I am a fairly heavy man and it would need two men at least to carry me. Coming close to the bed he sneered and said, "Who is under the Queens protection?" There is no protection when I am around. I am the greatest Wizard of all! My name is Merrydome.

Then he told me what he had done; one of his helpers had gotten into my kitchen through the open window and put some special powder in my Jar of Horlicks. I had made my Horlicks and drunken it when through the powder I dropped off into a deep sleep. They then broke open the back door and come upstairs and tied me up tight and then carried me down into a waiting car.

The car had brought me to this house and I was in a bedroom on the first floor. Why on earth would anyone want to kidnap me? I am retired and only write stories for children. That and do some gardening I was not a rich man so it could not be for my money. Then he told me that I would be held prisoner here in this house until Her Majesty Queen Feeana had given up the Fairy Throne in his Merrydome's favour.

On hearing this silly man and his telling me that he would hold me prisoner until Her Majesty gave up her throne. Why this was ridiculous. I laughed out loud. "Why should Her Majesty give up her throne for me" I asked. I am no one I just write stories about fairies and Elves, Pixies and Leprechauns. I have no influence whatsoever with Her Majesty. "We shall see," he mumbled and left the room. Later my headbands were removed and one of my arms. I was given some water and a sandwich and left alone again.

I started sending mental messages to her Majesty hoping that one might get through to her. The Wizard came into the room and said," I have blocked all forms of message sending, so do not try to get help in this way." He left the room. A window was open at the bottom and a robin hopped into the room and came to my bed. "I caught your Pictures how may I help you?" I told him all about my being kidnapped and the evil Wizards plan to take over Fairyland. "Fly my little one and tell Her Majesty that she should in no way involve herself in danger. I was all right and would one way or another free myself."

An hour later Shamus the Leprechaun was sitting on the bottom of my bed. Smiling to me he undid the straps that were tying me to the bed. I just had time to get behind the door. Shamus had placed himself in the bed and covered himself with a sheet. As the Wizard came into the room, I placed my arms around him and squeezed. Did I ever tell you that through my gardening I am a strong man and I easily held the wizard.. Shamus sprang out of the bed and in a few seconds we had placed the Wizard in the bed and strapped him in. To embarrass him completely I took all of his clothes off of him and placed them on a chair.

Shamus asked me what we should do with this evil man. "It is a pity that I do not have my magic powder with me," I said. "With my powder I could turn him into a bed like the one he had me strapped to." That would be a lesson that he would not forget in a hurry. Shamus then took me by the hand and the same old feeling I was back in my own kitchen. Shamus proudly showed me all of the new alarms that he himself had fixed to my house no one would be able to get in and poison my Horlicks again.

Shamus and myself we both went to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana to tell her of what had happened. She waved her magic wand and Merrydome turned into a hospital bed. "Let him see what suffering is, he then will not have time planning how to take over Fairyland. I have written this story just as it happened and if you should ever need a hospital bed it might just be Merrydome that you are lying on.

Merrydomus.

Merrydomus was a powerful magician who wandered through Europe offering his services to the Kings and Queens of that far off time. Merrydomus had a reputation for his knowledge of illness and of the herbs necessary to heal the illnesses. Merrydomus came from somewhere east of Russia and had been trained in looking for and recognising all kinds of herbs. He could and did make all kinds of remedies that he sold. With this money he started off to see as much of the known world as was possible. His many journeys were either on foot or if he could afford one on the back of a horse Merrydomus soon tired of eastern Europe and turned his attention to the western side of Europe. Wandering through Europe on foot or on the back of a horse he wandered from Hungary through to Austria into Germany and on to France. Attending at one court or rich man's mansion he found himself on the coast of France. The French people bought many of his remedies and as soon as he had enough money to pay some fishermen to take him over to England he boarded the small fisherman's boat and off they sailed to southern England. The weather was good to him and he landed safely at Dover.

At the time, one King Canute ruled England. A good King who was always being told by his courtiers how strong he was, How marvellous his powers were, why he could even turn the sea back with just the mere sound of his voice. To prove his courtiers wrong King Canute ordered that his Royal Throne be taken to the seaside and as the tide came in he ordered the sea to turn about and go back into the ocean. The sea relentlessly went about its business and the water came in and in to the shore ever nearer. At the very last minute King Canute told his silly courtiers after they were standing knee deep in sea water that they should all go back on to dry land. Now every man will know that even a King has not the power to interfere directly with all that is natural.

It was at this time that Merrydomus came across the King and his courtiers many of whom had caught a severe cold by standing in the cold waters of the North Sea. He gave away his remedies and potions and the courtiers invited him to go with them back to the royal court. Merrydomus thanked his lucky stars that he had landed in England right at the moment in time that a king proved that he could not command nature. Merrydomus went to the court and was introduced to the King Canute. King Canute told Merrydomus that he could stay as a doctor at his court but there was to be no use of magic in any form whatever. Merrydomus agreed to this and stayed at the court healing coughs, colds. The occasional attack of gout (A painful illness that causes the bottom of the legs to swell.) A very painful illness indeed for the person that was suffering from gout he or she could hardly walk, and many small illnesses such as boils and the like.

Merrydomus became in his own way famous. He not only treated the courtiers but also the local people such as the farmers and anyone that could afford to pay for his remedies. Soon Merrydomus was a very rich man. His riches went to his head and he boasted that he could do any thing he wanted to do. Nothing could stop his powers over matter. On hearing this King Canute told his courtiers to get Merrydomus to stop the tide from coming in. The king could not do so let us see if this Merrydomus has really got the powers that he says he has. All went down to the beach including the very silly Merrydomus, Going down to the water's edge Merrydomus in a loud voice told the tide to stop coming in but to go back out to the sea. Nothing happened. Again a loud voice I command you to stop coming in. Nothing! The tide came in as it always did. The King Canute smiled and made his way back to the royal palace as for Merrydomus the last I heard of him he was looking for a fishing boat to take him back to France. As far as I know there is no one that has tried to seriously stop the tides from coming in and going out except perhaps for some school children that have been told the story of King Canute and his proving to his courtiers that he was not as powerful as they tried to persuade him that he was.

Missing Fairies.

Another week without the Fairies, Where are they all? Not one is to be seen in Fairyland. Every day for a whole month I have walked in the woods but not a trace is to be seen of the Fairies. The weather is good no rainy days and the flowers are blooming as usual. The fruits are ripening on the bushes and it will be a good blackberry year. Hazel nuts will be plentiful it is just the Fairies who are absent.

I decided to look in the fragment of mirror that Her Majesty Queen Feeana had given to me to see whether I could find the Fairies. The piece of mirror is from Her Majesties old mirror that was broken by an old witch. The piece that I was given was fairly large and gave off a good picture of what has happened in the past to any object that I place on the mirror.

Going back into the woods with my piece of broken mirror I picked from a fairy ring one of the toadstools. Placing the toadstool on the mirror I looked carefully. A small group of fairies were sitting on the toadstools talking about a long journey they had to make in the coming weeks. I myself had heard of no plans that the Fairies were going to make a long journey.

Placing the mirror back into my pocket I decided to go to the old caves that were the winter residence of the Fairies. These caves are under the Himalayan Mountains. The fairies have for thousands of years used the caves for their winter residence to get away from the cold and the snow. Each winter they take the butterflies and moths with them that is why one rarely sees a moth or butterfly in the winter.

Saying the two magic words that took me to the caves. I had a wonderful feeling of moving at great speed. In the winter caves all was as it should be. Hundreds of small cottages each with its own garden and flowers were to be seen but no Fairies. Strange trees with large roots stretched to the furthest walls of the caves. Fruits of all kinds everywhere that one looked. No Fairies were to be seen although I spent a long time looking for them.

I was not surprised when Her Majesty appeared beside me she came with a bright light and a small whiff of smoke. Greeting me Her Majesty told me that there had been no time for her to warn me that all of the Fairies had been made invisible for safety. A most powerful Wizard was determined to take over the very old records office of the Fairies. In the records office were all the knowledge and secrets of what magic the Fairies had ever performed. If this got into the wrong hands the person that held the knowledge would be indeed the ruler of the whole world.

I took out my piece of broken mirror that I had put into my pocket. "No need for that." said Her Majesty I have my own magic mirror with me and I will show you the Wizard that is trying to get hold of the thousands of years old secrets. Her Majesty gave me the mirror and I saw a man dressed all in black he even had a black hat on his head. "This." said her majesty. "Is the infamous wizard Macdonegally. He has always been under our watchful eyes, even as an apprentice to his Master he was bad and stole anything that he could use to gain more power. He even killed his master to get the secret of becoming invisible. A very bad boy grew into a wicked Master of Wizardry."

I have with the wise old Fairies changed all of the magic traps that exist to protect the Fairies secrets. With magic we have transferred all of the old records her to another secret cave, as you know only those with the magic words can enter here into our winter quarters so all is well. Taking me by the hand Her Majesty Queen Feeana transported us back to Fairyland by magic.

Now there is a difference I can see the Fairies going about their normal routines and no one is afraid of the Wizard Macdonegally, it was as if every one had forgotten that this evil man existed. I was taken by surprise by the amounts of Fairy traps that had been set for the Wizard. Simple traps ranging to very complicated he would set off secret alarms all over Fairyland if he managed to get near enough to threaten the Fairies.

The Fairy alarms also covered my house and garden which the Fairies considered part of Fairyland. Ten to four in the morning I was awakened from a very deep sleep by the most terrible crying of what seemed to be someone in very great pain. I quickly dressed myself and went out into the garden the noise was louder now. I followed the noise and it brought me to a very strange sight indeed.

What looked like a horses head with the body of a dragon and the wings of an eagle was trapped in a very strong cage made of frozen atoms. Every time the creature approached the bars he got a charge of magic energy running through his body. Soon Her Majesty arrived with the wise old Fairies and with a wave of her wand the creature turned back into the Wizard Macdonegally. He had used his own magic to change his body and thought that he could enter Fairyland. As soon as he entered Fairyland one of the traps caught him the cage of magic atoms.

The Wizard Macdonegally could not use magic to break the spell that was placed on him as he entered Fairyland and as he attacked the bars of his cage he got a shock and cried out in that terrible voice that had woken me. The Queen said in the old language a few words the words were then chanted in a singsong voice by all of the wise old Fairies and the Wizard Macdonegally sank to the ground and before my eyes I watched him turn into a large black stone. There is peace now in Fairyland and no one has to turn invisible not to give the Wizard Macdonegally a chance to capture a Fairy to try and get the whereabouts of the secret records of Fairy Magic and Knowledge.

Missing Hankies.

Something strange is happening in Fairyland. All Fairies learn at a very early age in Fairy school how to make hankies from the threads of the spiders. The spiders are fed on special honey that lets them produce threads that are not at all sticky. Only the Fairies can use these threads they would be no good for a spider's web as they are not at all sticky.

Fairy hankies are disappearing and no one knows why. Fairies like humans use a fresh hankie every day sometimes two or more and it is these hankies that disappear. I have been asked by the Fairies to find out why the hankies are disappearing, it is one big mystery.

I asked the Fairies to weave me a few hankies so that I could experiment on them to see why they are disappearing. No one was stealing the hankies' that is for sure. I have had the birds to look out for anyone that tried to steal a hankie but no the birds although they looked at each and every Fairy and anyone that came into Fairyland no one was caught stealing. The hankies just disappeared a few minutes after the Fairies put them in their pockets. I tried to solve the problem by buying a couple of dozen human hankies but the Fairies said they were too rough and would not use them.

My hankies that the Fairies wove for me, did not disappear. They were on show for all to see but no one took them. I then got the Fairies to sit in a circle and tell me what they did just before putting the hankies in their pockets or bags. Each Fairy answered that before using their hankies they sprayed perfume over them so that they smelt nice.

I asked the Fairies to show me how they made their perfumes. All did the same they took the petals from flowers these they boiled until the juices of the petals were ready to pour into small bottles. One of the juices that were in nearly every perfume was the flower from lavender. I asked the Fairies to give me a bottle or two of their perfumes and I took them to the wise old Fairies and asked them to test the perfumes for me.

The wise old Fairies soon found what was causing the hankies to disappear; it was the lavender that came all the way from the lavender fields in France. A group of witches had sprayed the lavender fields with a strange black powder, which the plants sucked in with the food that all plants get from the ground. This black powder was causing the lavender to give off an acid that just burnt the fine meshed hankies of the Fairies away until nothing was left of them.

The witches just wanted to tease the Fairies and the lavender was sent by magic all over the world to make perfumes. I then went to Her Majesty Queen Feeana and told her what was causing the hankies to disappear. Her Majesty took out her Magic wand and murmuring some words in the old language. She told me that the black powder that the witches had used was now just ordinary earth and no more lavender would be harmed in this way again. The witches Her Majesty punished by taking away their sense of smell. The witches are no longer able to smell any flower or other sweet thing that people love to sniff at.

The fairies have been feeding the spiders with much honey so that they can replace their lost hankies. Scent is again being used after all of the old scents had been destroyed by magic. Lavender is being sent by magic to all parts of the world and the Fairies may now use their hankies without worrying that they would disappear.

Mordecai The Ring.

The sound was coming from nowhere and everywhere. It was difficult to pin down. A weird type of wailing mixed with sounds of lamentations seemed to curdle in my ear. The noise, yes it was a noise, was somehow threatening. I felt waves of small shudders running up and down my spine. I tried turning on the radio to get rid of the unwanted sound but it is still in my head. Am I going mad Is a question that I now asked myself? My dog Wag was going about his normal routine as he always did he obviously could hear nothing.

I called Wag and went for a walk in the nearby woods I thought that the fresh air would get rid of the unwanted noise in my brain. Wag stopped still and with one leg in the air his snout pointed straight out. He furiously wagged his tail. Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared before me. After greeting me she stroked Wag's head and he stood there quivering with delight and his tail moving so fast that I could not keep up with watching it.

"My Friend you are in trouble there are noises in your head that should not be there." " You are under attack yet once again." " I must strengthen the magic on your house." With a wave of her wand the noise disappeared and instead I felt a numb ringing. It soon wore off and all was as it should be. "Who was attacking me and why?" I asked her Majesty. Looking in her magic mirror Her Majesty said. " It is Mordecai up to his old tricks yet once again.

He would have attacked Wag but dogs he considers are stupid animals and not worth the time and trouble to waste magic on. He had read my last story about finding a magic ring and some Anglo Saxon coins. He was not interested in the coins but the ring, which would grant him any wish he cared to make. I knew that Mordecai would never find the ring, knowing her majesty she had disposed of the ring with means of magic.

By attacking me he thought that he could get me to ask Her Majesty for the ring. It would he thought be easier to steal the ring from me than from Her Majesty. He could not understand why I had given the ring to her Majesty in the first place. With such a ring I could be the wealthiest man in the world. I could live a very long life; in fact with a magic ring all was open to me.

I asked her Majesty whether she would do me a small kindness. Her Majesty said. Yes of course I will." Suddenly on my finger of my right hand appeared a diamond ring. Her Majesty had read my mind. I thought if Mordecai were to be a ring on my finger he would be able to live through my daily life with all of its fairy happenings and that should satisfy his needs. The ring is on my finger as I write this little story to tell you.

The diamond is made of Mordecai's two eyes and shines and sparkles as the light hits it as I write. Through the ring on my finger Mordecai now sees and hears all that I see or hear, all that I do he must take part he is now my prisoner in the ring and will be for a very long time. I now have no secrets from Mordecai the magician and he to would have to share in whatever magic that was to be fired at me no matter where it came from. The ring I take off at night and place it in my bedroom drawer Mordecai shall share none of my dreams. My dreams are happy and filled with fairies and we all have a wonderful time this man would definitely be out of place.

When I get up in the mornings before, I have my cold shower; I place Mordecai back onto my finger. I think that he will appreciate a cold shower every morning, it might put new ideas into his head and make him lead a decent respectful life. Not wanting to get magic rings to help him in his plan to rule the world. He will stay on my finger for five whole years and if at the end of that time he has not learned to behave, well I can always ask Her Majesty to renew the spell.

Wag my dog avoids my right hand when ever he can and it makes me wonder if he too can smell or sense the Magician Mordecai on my finger.

Mother Nature.

All is not well in Fairyland. The Fairies are discontented with things in general. It might have been the weather that is getting them down, after all it has been raining on and off for the last four weeks. As I walk through Fairyland sometimes even my greetings are ignored. This has got to stop I thought to myself and decided to go and see the Fairy Queen Feeana. I will ask Her Majesty to arrange a meeting between Mother Nature and myself.

A week later it is still raining but I do have a meeting with Mother Nature. We met in Fairyland, there was I wrapped up in my mackintosh and Wellington boots with the water running down my cheeks. Mother Nature appeared in all her glory. A lovely white silk garment covered her slender body. Her hair although it is snow white with age is still wavy and Mother Nature has a kind look on her face, a few wrinkles around her lips showed that she has a sense of humour. In fact she looked something like my Granny who died a long, long time ago.

Her Voice was soft and gentle as she asked me why I wanted an appointment with such a busy person as Mother Nature that had so much work to do. I told of the unhappy Fairies in Fairyland who could not understand why it is raining so much. Mother Natures face lit up with a smile as she said to me. "That is all that you are worried about a few Fairies who have to put up with some rain." "I am disappointed I thought that you wanted me to water a desert or bring snow at Christmas time." "You are sure it is the fairies that you are worried about?"

I explained to Mother Nature how the Fairies are so upset because it was raining so much. It interrupted their play and work what made it worse they could find no reason why it should rain. Mother Nature gave me this answer and I must say I felt a bit of a fool for having taken up so much of her time. "For the last five years there has been very little rain here in Fairyland. The water that soaks into the ground and is called ground water has nearly dried up. This means that the roots of the trees will not get that much needed water and they will shrivel and die." It is raining and will continue to do so until all danger of the trees going thirsty has been banned.

I thanked Mother Nature and went back to see the Fairies. I told them of my long talk with Mother Nature and her explanation of why it has been raining so much in Fairyland. This simple answer brought smiles again to the Fairies faces. I myself went off to see her Majesty Queen Feeana. I asked Her Majesty if it would be possible to teach the fairy children more about the work that Mother Nature does. It seems to me that although they know a great deal about nature something appears to be missing.

Her Majesty thought that it was a good idea and now all the Fairy Children are learning about the work that Mother Nature does. Above all they learn that it rains for a purpose although we cannot always see why.

Fairyland is once again the happy place that it always has been and tonight there will be held a Fairy Ball to celebrate the rain and for the groundwater that keeps the trees and plants alive. All are invited and I myself have a place of honour next to her Majesty. There was much elderberry wine drunken on this night and many a Fairy complained the next day that his legs were aching from too much dancing.

Mother Nature has been invited to the dance but as she is too busy I do not think that she will come. At midnight a cloud covered the moon and for two whole minutes it rained. Mother Nature had come to the ball and to let the Fairies know that rain was something that all peoples and plants and flowers need. She had in her wisdom given the Fairies a few more drops of that most precious thing, Water.

Moving House.

Just another day I thought to myself as I got on with some work in my garden. Was it just another day? I saw movements. It seemed as if the whole population of Fairyland was playing around my house and garden. Pretending not to notice them I got on with my weeding. I had neglected this large bed for a week or two it is now full of weeds that I have to pull out by hand. Slowly but surely there appeared one row of carrots after the other. I told myself that in future I would not neglect the garden as I have done. I could still see the little peoples of Fairyland and wondered what had brought so many of them to play here of all places. My garden tilted as if someone or something had tried to lift it. I saw much to my surprise that my house and the whole of my garden was slowly rising in the air. The whole garden and house started moving over the ground into the forest. I suddenly realised that all that I owned was being transported into Fairyland.

Going to the edge of my garden I saw the ground slowly moving beneath me. Not a crumb of earth had been dislodged. The little peoples had all gotten together to move my house and garden into Fairyland. I wondered to myself why have they gone to all of this trouble? Why should I be moved to Fairyland? It was for me just a few minutes walk into the woods and I was among the fairies and the pixies, the trolls and all of the others that make up the little peoples. The whole piece of land then rose higher into the air and I realised that we had now come to the wooded area where the trees are quite tall. There was no lurch just an upward movement. I went back into my house. I wondered what was happening to my crockery, the cups and saucers and all of the other breakable things that go with a house. Nothing had happened to them they were all in their rightful places and must have been held together by magic. Why this moving of my house and garden into the woods? Nothing seemed to be right.

Then a sinking movement and my house and garden settled down into a large clearing that had been made by magic. Not a tree or bush not a flower or shrub was out of place. My old wheelbarrow was where it always stands. Going into the house nothing was disturbed. The moving of my house into the woods had gone smoothly and without a slip up on the part of the little peoples. I asked myself again why? My house is protected by magic and by Her Majesties own personal word. There was no explanation by the little people. No one came and told me why the house and garden had been moved. I was all alone now the fairies and pixies and all of the other folk from Fairyland had gone about their own business.

I wondered what had happened to the ground where my house and garden had stood walking from my house I retraced my way back and to my surprise the ground was as if no house or garden had ever stood there. Green grass and bushes and a tree or two covered the old place but nothing to remind anyone that my house had once stood there. Now I was beginning to have my doubts. All houses and ground belong to some one or another, if my ground and house had been moved then the records in the local council would be all wrong. I decided to go to the council offices and look at the large book where every piece of ground and every house is registered. The fairies had even thought about this and my house and garden are registered as if they had always been in Fairyland.

It is time I though to myself to have a talk to Her Majesty to find out why I have been moved into the heart of fairyland. Her Majesty came to see me at my house in the late afternoon. Her Majesty was as pretty as ever and she did not come alone. Three of the wise old fairies were her escort. This is how Her majesty explained the moving of my house and garden to the middle of Fairyland. The humans are going to build a new road and bridge across the Dartford Heath. This road would have meant that my house would have been pulled down and I would have been moved somewhere else. This the fairies did not want and I must say neither did I. It would have been an awful blow for me to move away from my Fairyland. My thoughts and fears that witches or wizards were behind the moving were not true and my house and garden are still protected by Her Majesties Magic power and I am now surrounded by all of my friends. I now have visitors every day even on weekends. I have gotten used to living direct in the woods and am very happy to hear the birds as they waken me to their dawn chorus. Even the wild animals now come to visit and I have laid out places in my garden for each of them to feed. It is not unusual to find a fox and some rabbits eating in my garden. All is to my liking peaceful and that is how it should be.

Moving Mice.

It is a very high-pitched signal that rose and then sunk as if someone is trying to recall an old melody. The signal woke me just before six in the early morning. I thought at first that some animal was making the noise then it dawned on me that no animal could sustain such a signal without pausing or at least taking breath. I could not go back to sleep so I got up and washed and dressed, had a shave and then went downstairs to make my breakfast. The back kitchen is not very inviting first thing in the morning so I placed paper and wood splittings in the stove and lit the fire. Soon I could feel the warmth coming from the stove and filling the kettle with water I placed it on the stove. The water soon began to boil and I made myself a pot of strong coffee. Coffee and toasted bread was my breakfast, in the background the wailing tones of someone trying to play a long forgotten melody.

I soon washed and dried the breakfast dishes and put them away. Now I decide to go out and see what it is that is causing the loud wailing noise. As I opened my back door I received a small shock, from all directions mice were running. Yes you have read properly Mice. The mice were following the wailing notes of some old instrument that I could not place. I followed the mice there were literally thousands of them all running in the same direction. Soon I saw the mice were not only on the ground but also in the trees, some even fell from the trees trying to follow the wailing sounds. The person that was causing the high-pitched noise I found in a clearing in the woods that are a part of Fairyland.

A tall woman dressed in black clothing was leaning against a tree playing on a very old flute. This is what is causing the high-pitched wailing. I could now hear that it was indeed some very old melody that no one in years had played. The woman saw me and did not stop playing. Mice were all over the clearing. It was as if the notes of the old flute attracted them. Suddenly she stopped playing and the silence was very uncanny then she started to speak. " I see the man that had my sister turned into a black stone. This man is now a part of Fairyland and I with the mice will now destroy all that one can see. She played a different melody and the mice started eating all that they could see. Mice were still coming attracted by the music. Soon all of the trees were empty of the young nuts. The blackberries even those that were not ripe were eaten by the mice. Then the mice devoured all of the berries that grew along the ground. The mice attacked the bird's nests and ate the eggs and killed and ate the young birds. Then the mice started attacking me. I fought them off as best I could. This was a nightmare. I desperately called for help to Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

Her Majesty it seems had too been disturbed by the sounds made by the woman in black. Suddenly a bright blue flash and her Majesty stood in the clearing holding her magic wand. On seeing the woman in black Her Majesty pointed her wand and a stream of sparks covered the woman in black. The noise stopped and the mice stood around not knowing what to do. Queen Feeana had turned the women in black into a large black stone. The flute that the woman had been playing lay on the ground in front of the black stone. Picking up the flute I saw some writing in German on the edge of the flute. It was written, " Hamlin Deutschland." I showed the flute to Her Majesty and she told me that it was indeed the flute that was used, to get rid of the rats in the town of Hamlin. The people of Hamlin had refused to pay the piper that had got rid of the rats and he played his flute once again this time all of the children followed him never to be seen again. "This Your Majesty is a very dangerous thing to be lying around it should be destroyed." "With your permission I will burn the flute in a human fire." "Please do," said Her Majesty. I quickly made a fire and Her Majesty and I watched as the flute that was so dangerous burn away to ash. I kicked the ashes all over the clearing. "Now," said Her Majesty, "It is time for me to repair all of the damage that this evil woman has done." With her magic wand the Queen pointed to the woods and the trees and along the ground soon there were nuts again on the trees and the berries and other things destroyed by the mice were all back to normal. The mice on not hearing the music any more all turned and went back to where they had come from. There is peace again in Fairyland and all is well. I have now written this story for you all to read if you should by chance hear some high pitched whistling sounds. Do no be afraid, The Pied Piper of Hamlin's flute has been thoroughly burnt and will no more entice rats or mice no not even children anymore. You have my word on this. Bern

Museum.

Today I have been to what one could call a Fairy Museum. It was a small building with a thatched roof and looked like a cottage out of some old oil painting. Shelves were all around the walls. On a table in the middle of the cottage was a large cauldron used for cooking and the preservation of herbs. Under some glass covers were a few old manuscripts written in a very ancient language. Hanging from the ceiling were bunches of dried herbs and flowers.

The woman that looked after this cottage or museum was one of the wise old fairies. It was her job to tell the visitors that came, all about the old times when there were no Doctors and the curing of illness was left to some wizards or witches. These people had made a study of herbs and the illnesses they could cure. Some of them were very knowledgeable and helped many people. Others were not so good but the people living around them respected most of them.

While the wise old fairy was showing me around the museum, when a woman in a long black dress entered the cottage, and made her way to a small wooden box. In the box was an old magic wand that had lain there for a very long time. The woman ignored the wise old fairy and myself and took the wand into her hand. Muttering some words that I did not understand the woman waved the wand in our direction. The wise old fairy smiled and called to the woman there is no magic left in the wand you should have come some hundreds of years ago then the magic would have worked.

The woman muttered something again and went out into the daylight. As she caught the full rays of the sun she shrank down to a small size and now looked like a troll. The sunlight had blinded her and what is more the magic protection that was over the museum did its work and shrank the woman down to the size of a big doll. The doll or woman was completely helpless and muttered some strange words half in a whining voice. I had better help her said the wise old fairy and taking out her magic wand she pointed it at the doll.

The doll grew into a witch again and wanted to run off but the wise old fairy with her magic kept her standing on the same spot. "Why did you want the wand?" she said. "I wanted it to get rid of a nasty old wizard that has been making my life a misery." Whenever I go into the woods to look for herbs he is always there before me and turns everything black. He has such strong powers that I cannot stop him from turning all of the herbs that I collect into useless plants.

The wise old Fairy went back into the cottage and took some bright orange powder from a large box. This she gave to the witch and told her just to sprinkle it on the plants and all would be well. The witch she then let go. Go home now and use the powder whenever it is necessary. Thanking the wise old fairy the woman went off back to her home. Giving me a leather bag full of the orange powder she told me just to sprinkle it whenever I wanted something to grow. I had a last look around the museum and then thanking the wise old fairy, I too went back home.

There is a place in the woods next to my home where nothing ever seemed to grow and taking the orange powder I sprinkled it in a large area and went off home to do some much needed work. The following day I went to where I had sprinkled the powder and to my surprise and great delight the area was full of grass and small flowers and plants. A week later the growth was so good that ferns now covered the ground and in between the ferns plants were growing. It had become a most beautiful spot and the Fairies and myself went there quite often to enjoy the bounty of Mother Nature's goodness. It had taken the orange powder to work such a wonder.

Mushroom adventure.

It is time for me to go looking for mushrooms. The rain in the last few days plus the hot sunshine of today, the woods should be full of them. I collect the mushrooms and carefully clean them in the woods and take them home for cooking. Some I dry off and freeze them in the deep freeze for the long winter months. It makes a good meal in the cold time of the year.

I put on my Wellington boots and taking a basket from under the stairs I made sure that I had my pocket-knife to clean the mushrooms and set out for the woods. It was quite muddy under my feet and I was pleased that I was wearing rubber Wellington boots and not my leather boots. The first mushroom that I came across was fresh and quite large. Carefully easing it out of the ground I cleaned the base with my knife and placed it carefully in my basket.

I went through the woods and picked and cleaned the mushrooms. I was myself surprised at there being so many. I soon had my basket full of mushrooms and turned to head back for home. I then noticed that some earth had been washed away from a little slope. Poking out from the earth was what looked like a leather bag. Getting down on my knees I scratched the earth away from the leather bag, which was falling to pieces and saw that it contained some very old coins.

Carefully I uncovered the sack until all was free of earth. I spread my handkerchief on the ground next to it and transferred the old coins into my handkerchief. At the bottom of the bag was a small square object. Looking at it closely I saw that something had been wrapped in oiled silk. I decided to take all that I found back to my house where I could look at them under a magnifying glass.

Picking up my handkerchief I placed it among the mushrooms and carried on back home. I put the basket on the kitchen table and took my handkerchief into the front room where I had a magnifying glass. The coins were very old Anglo Saxon if I was correct. My local museum would be delighted at my find. Two of the coins were of gold the rest of silver and copper. I then turned my attention to the square object that was at the bottom of the leather bag.

I saw that I could not open it without damaging it so I decided on the next day to ask the Fairy Queen Feeana to open it for me with her magic, in that way I could not damage anything. On the next day I went into the woods and sent a mental picture to Her Majesty. Queen Feeana appeared in the usual blue flash and the puff of smoke. I told her of my find and how I was afraid to open the little square object without damaging it.

Her Majesty looked at the square for a moment then took out her magic wand and pointed it at the object. A small flash of brightly coloured sparks and the square object slowly unfolded itself before my eyes. First the oiled silk then a piece of parchment with some writing on it and a golden ring with a diamond set into the gold. Her Majesty looked at the parchment then read out aloud what was written. "This ring is for the finder. It will grant him one wish. Be warned only one wish then the ring must be passed on to the next person that crosses your way." Her Majesty smiled at me and said. "Your luck is in you may have a wish think about it carefully." I did not need long to think. Smiling back at her Majesty I said to her. "I need no luck, I am a happy man with that what I have."

Her Majesty asked me what to do with the ring and I told her that if she could she should break the rings magic spell and then dispose of it as she thought best. Another wave of the wand a shower of sparks and the ring with the parchment and oiled silk disappeared. I took my leave of Her Majesty after thanking her for her kindness and went off back to my home where a basket full of mushrooms was awaiting my attention. I cut and dried most of them for the winter months the rest I cooked and ate for my dinner.

The local museum now has a small collection of Anglo Saxon coins and in the glass cabinet is a small notice that says" Donated by Mr. Bernard Shaw. I sometimes go in to the museum to look at the coins. The ring I have not given another thought until I wrote this little story for you all.

Mushroom Adventure. Part two.

It must have been ten years or more since I found the Anglo Saxon coins and the magic ring. I had often been to the woods looking for berries and mushrooms and nuts when in season. I rarely saw any people in the woods. On this day I saw an elderly man who kept looking at a piece of parchment that he held in his hand. The man was looking for something it was then that I remembered that it was at this spot that I had found the coins and the ring.

I called a good morning to the man and asked him if he was looking for anything in particular. The man sat himself down on an old tree stump and I got a chance to see his face. His face was lined by many years of life. He told me this story. Over one thousand years ago I found a ring. The ring was magic. I did not know this at first it was only when one day I wished that I could be wealthy that I started earning money with whatever I had to do with. Whether it was selling or buying the money just rolled in and I became a very wealthy man. I still am very wealthy perhaps the wealthiest man in the world.

I was now rich and then decided to wish again the ring was still on my finger. I wish to live to be a very old man was my next wish. I lost one after the other all of my relations and friends then all of my acquaintances until I was the last left. I have lived a lonely life ever since. At the age of one hundred I passed through this forest yes it was a forest in those days not the small woods that it is now.

Some one was following me, it was then I decided to place the money in my pocket and the ring in a leather bag and bury it over night. Just in case I should be attacked and lose all that I had with me. I made this sketch of the place where I buried the ring and the money. He then showed me the rough sketch that he had made all of those years ago.

On my part I told him of my finding the ring and the message that was with it telling one not to make two wishes. He was surprised and told me that he certainly did not write the warning as did not know the powers of the ring himself. I also told him of my connection with the local Fairies and Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana. Queen Feeana was the only one that knew where the ring was. I must see Her Majesty he told me and I agreed to see whether the Queen would help him or not.

Her Majesty agreed to help the man on one condition. The man must get rid of his vast fortune and become the poor man that he was before he found the ring. The man agreed and asked me if I would help him to get rid of his wealth. I told him to use the money to build hospitals and schools, Homes for orphaned children where the children would not be more than five to a foster mother. The man agreed and it took well over a year before he was as poor as he was before he found the ring.

We went together to the woods to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the Fairies. Her Majesty looked long and hard at the man then took out her magic mirror. The man's whole long life of well over one thousand years passed quickly before her eyes. You have helped the poor and needy over the years and as you are now as poor as you were before finding the ring I can lift the long life wish from you. Do you wish me to do this? He answered yes please and I hope the ring is destroyed before some other poor human wishes for wealth and a long life neither are worth it.

Her Majesty took out her magic wand and pointed it at the very, very old man and a shower of sparks and then there was just a small pile of fine dust where the man had been standing. Her Majesty asked me to tell you all, this little story so that you might learn a lesson from it and that is, be happy with what you have.

Mushroom Book.

It was a small hotel, comfortable enough, the bed was extra large and I slept well until sometime in the early hours of the morning. What woke me? I do not know my eyes were open and my body was soaked in perspiration. My heart was racing and I switched on the room lights. Nothing was out of place so why was I bathed in perspiration and my heart thumping in my chest? I must have had a bad dream was my first thought but I could not recall any dream or dreams that I may have had during the period that I slept.

Getting out of bed I went to the bathroom and had a warm shower. Putting on fresh clothing I decided to finish reading the very old book that I had brought with me. The book is about mushrooms and other fungi that grow in the fields and woods of Great Britain. I had been meaning to read the book for some time but had not gotten round to doing so. I knew most of the mushrooms and toadstools and was concentrating on the poisonous varieties.

I could not finish the book so I packed my overnight bag and went down to the breakfast room. Taking a seat at a small table I waited until the waitress came to take my order. Eggs, bacon, sausages, and mushrooms with a pot of coffee and some bread and butter. I ate a very large breakfast, as I would be travelling home by train and the journey was a couple of hundred miles. There was no restaurant car on the train and I asked the waitress to bring me four sandwiches for my journey.

I boarded the train and had a compartment to myself. I read the daily newspaper and after a while I took out my very old book on mushrooms meaning to finish it. I suddenly had this terrible feeling that I had during the night. My heart was racing and the sweat ran down my face. I was frightened but why? It was just an ordinary train there was no one in the compartment. I pulled myself together and turned my eyes to my book the feeling was with me again but I somehow shook it off and managed to read the fine print and the pictures were of excellent quality I had plenty to look at and learn.

I slowly came to the end of the book and was really annoyed the last two pages were stuck together. I had no means of prying them apart so decided to wait until I reached home. The feeling was still with me as left the station and made my way towards my home. Opening the front door with my key I placed my overnight bag on the hall table and went in to the kitchen it was time for something to eat and a hot cup of sweet tea. I quickly prepared a meal and a pot of tea and soon my hunger and thirst were gone. I decided to get the mushroom book from my overnight bag to open the two sealed pages at the end of the book.

Switching on the lights in the hall I took the book from my bag and made my way back to the kitchen. I looked very closely at the two pages that were stuck together and then decided to use a pair of sharp scissors to part the two pages by cutting the outer edges. The feeling was now something like unbearable. what is it? I asked that is causing me so much fear. I was at the specialists last week and he gave me a good checking over. My heart and lungs are in good order so why the attack of breathlessness. What was I afraid of surely not the book on mushrooms it looked so innocent laying on my table.

I carefully cut the outer edges of the two stuck together pages. As I finished there was a large flash a peel of what sounded like thunder and right in the middle of my kitchen was a Wizard. Dressed all in black with a large pointed hat on his head. I must say that now my heart was really pounding and I was breathlessly watching the Wizard. The Wizard spoke saying in a loud voice, you have one wish open for freeing me from that book.

Although I was scared I thought very quickly and made my wish out loud- "Get back into that book and seal it as it was before I opened it." "Get you gone." The Wizard was furious as I with my wish banned him back into the book again. Cursing me the Wizard shrunk before my eyes and disappeared between the last two pages of the book on mushrooms. I took the book with me the next day and gave it to Her Majesty Queen Feeana asking her to make sure that the Wizard would no more bother the peoples of this earth.

Her Majesty took out her magic mirror and placed the book on it then the pictures appeared. The Queens own Grandmother had placed the Wizard between the pages of the book on mushrooms because he had found the way to get into the secret caves under the Himalayan Mountains where all Fairies go during the winter months. The wizard had been in the book for two thousand years now the book is buried under some hundreds of tons of rock this Wizard would never see the light of day again.

Natural Causes.

The going down of the sun is and always has been a most fascinating sight; the heavens are filled with deep reds through to orange. Someone that has hidden sympathies with Mother Nature can only appreciate a sight such as this. These special effects of nature occur every day all over the world and yet there are many that show no interest in this Mother Natures greatest of shows.

We see snow falling from the heavens and do not regard it as a miracle. We see rain sometimes storms, are we impressed? Not really. When one is young there is a fear of thunderstorms when the clouds clash together to perform one of the loudest noises known to man, children and yes even grown ups fear what is Natures most natural of events. Clouds, heat and cold cause thunderstorms, which when they are over have cleared the air.

Having said this I must tell you a story about the fish that take messages to and fro between the Fairies and the Mermaids. This of course would be impossible without water. The main messengers that are used are the rainbow trout. How do you know all this I can hear you asking? That is easy to answer, I was walking through the forest and came across a Fairy that was so deeply immersed in what she was doing that she did not even notice me. The Fairy was talking to a fish and as I came nearer, I could see the fish quite clearly it was a rainbow trout.

The fish saw me first and warned the Fairy who quickly turned around. When she saw me she smiled and said "Hello Mr. Shaw you here in the forest? I thought that you would be in your back garden tending your plants." She turned a little red in the cheeks and said, "Please do not tell anyone about the fish and I, he is my messenger and takes messages to the mermaids that live in the sea. I especially trained him to be my messenger.

I smiled and said," My dear if you have trained the fish to be your messengers then I am sure that Her Majesty, Queen Feeana would know all about it." " Her Majesty sees and hears all that goes on Fairyland. If it is your little secret then I of course will tell no other person about it." "As I sad this I had my fingers crossed I knew it would make a good story to tell you all."

The Fairy said something to the fish that I did not hear and the fish swam off with a flick of its tail. " Fish said the Fairy are better messengers than the birds, take the Robin for example, if it takes a message it broadcasts it to all and sundry." Robins just cannot keep quiet. Owls are much better but as they work at night it is difficult to find one by day. The fish are ideal as messengers especially the Rainbow Trout.

I often saw the fairy talking to the fish and kept quiet about it I did not want to upset her. Then one day as I was passing the river I saw that the Fairy was very upset about something. Going to her I asked her what was wrong. "One of my fish have swallowed a nasty hook with a piece of cord attached to it and although he managed to break the string and get away he just cannot get the hook out of his mouth, and I she wept, have not got the strength in my hands to pull it out for him."

Keep him here I said to her and give him some of that plant over there, I pointed to a plant that I knew would help to take the pain away and I will run back to my house for a pair of pliers and take the hook out of its mouth." I ran as fast as my legs would carry me and finally got a long pair of pliers and ran back to the Fairy and the fish as fast as I could.

The Fairy asked the fish to trust me and to spring into my waiting hand. The trout did as the Fairy asked it and landed with a slight plop in my hand. Taking my long pliers I got the Fairy to tell the fish to open its mouth as wide as it could. Then I saw a nasty fisherman's hook deep in the fish's throat. Taking my pliers I eased it out of the fishes throat and placed it in my pocket. Gently I put the fish back into the water and it told the Fairy that I should come back on the morrow, as he wanted to see me and thank me properly for taking the hook out of its throat.

I am a very curious man and wanted to see just what the fish wanted. I arrived at the river the same time as the Fairy. Then up came one rainbow trout after the other and each was carrying in its mouth a golden coin. The Mermaids on hearing about my helping the fish that was a messenger had decided to reward me with a piece of gold. I have never seen so many trout at one time and in one place. Each had a coin in its mouth for me and I went home with twenty-five pieces of gold.

The Fairy and I became good friends and I often see her down by the river talking to the fish. Now I keep a discreet distance from them as they might be passing on secrets and it is not for me to listen in on any secret messages that were being passed along between the Fairies and the Mermaids.

New Queen.

There is much sadness in fairyland Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies has announced that she will shortly retire and go back to the planet in outer space where all fairies originate. This news has rocked the whole of Fairyland. Many of the fairies are neglecting their work others are asking what is to be done? Others who will be the next Queen? Without a Queen the whole of Fairyland would be lost. The fairies have so many enemies. The evil witches, The Magicians that are hungry for power. Why even the pixies are saying that it is time that a pixie is chosen to be Queen why must it be a fairy? I sent a few mental pictures to my friend Shamus asking him to bring all of his Leprechaun friends I wanted help if things got out of hand and the Leprechauns are just the ones to have on hand if there is any trouble. Her Majesty came secretly to me and told me that she had no intention of leaving Fairyland I should not worry too much it was necessary for her to hide away for a couple of months.

The wise old fairies were my next secret visitors and they told me this story, which explains why Her Majesty was to go into hiding for a while. It seems that there has been a serious leakage of secret magic and the magician behind the loss of secret magic had collected all of the dissatisfied little people of fairyland to help him to gain power. He has friends among the trolls, the imps, the bogies, and of course the evil old witches and the other dissatisfied magicians. Each evening after dark I received a visit from one of the wise old fairies, I was kept informed of what magic secrets had been stolen and passed on to the Magician, Whose name is Monshakeddraw. Monshakeddraw has now many secrets and very much magic that he can and does use. Her Majesty Queen Feeana blocks most of the magic but even she cannot be everywhere.

The leprechauns have been arriving in two's and three's and spread themselves around fairyland. Each Leprechaun has been told by Shamus to be on the look out for strangers and for any trouble that might come from the imps, the pixies, or the trolls and bogies. Each Leprechaun is armed with a wooden stick that if used properly can become a very dangerous weapon, most of Fairyland knows about the so-called Shillelagh and not many would be daft enough to cross a Leprechaun's path when he was carrying such a weapon. Soon I was confidant enough that Shamus with his friends could control any nonsense from the trolls or imps not to mention the pixies and bogies.

Some one has broken into her Majesties cottage and Her Majesties magic mirror is missing. Her Majesty came and told me it was time for her and the wise old fairies to stop the stealing of magic secrets and objects, I agreed with her and told her that I and the Leprechauns would control any uprising from the trolls and pixies and that Her Majesty should concentrate on stopping Monshakeddraw. The following night Her Majesty and all of the wise old fairies armed with their magic wands and enough magic powder to keep a magician like Monshakeddraw quiet for a very long time, Came to the clearing in Fairyland where all of the dances and meetings were held. Some of the fairies that could be trusted were also there then Her Majesty and all of the wise old fairies and the other trusted fairies took their wands in their hands.

A bright blue flash and the magician Monshakeddraw was sitting looking very puzzled in the middle of a circle of fairies, all of which had their magic wands pointing at him. Her Majesty did not stop to ask any questions, she with her wand pointing at the magician said, "Return all of the magic secrets that you have stolen over the last few months." The magician Monshakeddraw at seeing all of the fairies and her majesty with me standing just behind them gave out a roar of anger and then tears of self pity came from his eyes. I thought at first that it had started to rain but no, from the skies came books and papers bottles of strange mixtures and then the magic mirror that had been stolen from Her Majesty and then there fell on its own as if being carried by magical hands was the Queens own royal crown. Stealing the Queen's Crown was what had caught Her Majesties attention. By using magic Her Majesty soon knew whom it was that wanted to take over Fairyland.

The trolls and the pixies started some troubles that were soon put down with the help of the Leprechaun's shillelaghs. Soon Fairyland was back to its normal way of life and Her Majesty threw a party for all of the peoples of Fairyland and at the beginning of the party she told them that she was not going away but would remain their Queen as long as they wanted her to be. Monshakeddraw Her Majesty sent to the middle of the Sahara desert, He is now a camel belonging to a group of Arab nomads. That is people that move about all of the time and live in tents. He has now plenty of time to think about his foul deeds in Fairyland.

Night Train.

The overnight train from Scotland pulled into Kings Cross railway station at six forty five in the morning. I stood at the barrier waiting for the passengers to alight and leave the train. First one then other railway carriage doors opened and sleepy eyed people made their way to the barrier. The ticket collector took the proffered tickets from the passengers in a, could not care less fashion. Watching this procedure I nearly missed the passenger that I had come to meet at Kings Cross. A gentle poke in the ribs woke me from my daydreaming and there stood Shamus my Irish Leprechaun friend. We shook hands and greeted each other and made our way out into the forecourt of the railway station.

I raised my hand and a Taxi driver drove his cab to where we were waiting and I said the words, "Charring Cross please," There was not too much traffic at this early hour and we were soon making our way into Charring Cross railway station. A train that stopped at every station was waiting on platform one and we went through the barrier after I showed the ticket collector our tickets that I had bought on the way to Kings Cross. The train to Dartford was nearly empty at this early hour of the morning as most people were going into London to work. A taxi took us to my house on Dartford Heath or should I say to my house next to Fairyland.

I had lit the fire in the kitchen and the living room before setting off to the railway station so the house was nice and warm and a kettle was soon filled and a pot of tea made. While Shamus was sipping his first hot cup of tea I prepared and cooked eggs, bacon and sausages with some crisp fried bread. We ate our meal in silence and after breakfast Shamus went up to the spare bedroom that I had prepared the day before. He must have been very tired for he slept for sixteen hours. I heard him washing and dressing and made breakfast for us both and then sat back to listen to what shamus had to tell me.

Shamus started his story by telling me that he had been asked to repair a very old house in Edinburgh. A certain McAllister owns the house; McAllister is one of the modern wizards a few of whom live in Cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow, Cardiff and London. All belong to a secret clan of wizards' that were trying still to learn the secrets of the wisdom of the ancient wizards of so long ago. The wizards that could use magic and cast spells the secret is lost and it is these wizards that are trying to find the means to bring back magic to control the entire world.

Shamus and one of his Leprechaun friends started to repair the roof by taking the old tiles from house. In the attic of the house they found a secret room. In this room was a very old leather bound book. The book had been kept in a glass case to keep the dust and the wearage of time from damaging the book. Shamus has a very enquiring mind and opened the case and read through the leaves of the old leather bound book. Shamus has a very sound knowledge of the language of the fairies that first brought magic to this earth. The book if it fell into the wrong hands would make the owner the most powerful man or woman in the world. Shamus closed the book and carefully wrapping it in some old clean sacking he placed it where only he could get at it. Something went wrong by opening the book Shamus had sent a signal to most of the wizards of Great Britain. All of the wizards now knew that the secrets that they had been looking for were again free for whoever found them. Shamus and his Leprechaun friend quickly repaired the roof and making excuses to the wizard made their way to the railway station. Shamus could not use magic to get away from Edinburgh, as it would have given away the secret that he had the long lost book of magic.

Shamus's friend took a bus to London so that the wizards did not know whom to chase for the book. Guarding the book Shamus had not slept and it had tired him out. Knowing that Her Majesty Queen Feeana protects my house, he telephoned me from Edinburgh station and arranged for me to meet him at Kings Cross railway station. Taking his rucksack, which he had placed under his bed on arriving at my house. We went out into the woods and gave this most dangerous book to Her Majesty for safekeeping. Human beings cannot be trusted with magic as many wizards have tried to use it for personal gain, Be it power or riches and most have plunged whole countries into war. The book is now in the Fairy University where it will be safe from all human beings until they have learned how to use magic for the good of mankind. Shamus stayed with me for a week and then went back home to his beloved Ireland.

No Blooms.

Way down in Fairyland there is a rose bush. The bush is every year full of buds but it just will not bloom. Not a single bud will turn into a rose. The Fairies have tried for years to make it blossom. The rose bush they say would be an attraction for Fairyland. The Fairies have watered the rose and fed it with horse dung but the buds remained small. It is a shame to see such a lovely bush that has no flowers.

As you all know I am a keen gardener and I did my best to get the rose bush to develop its blooms. Not a single flower did I get although I looked after the wild rose bush for two years. I asked a friend that worked full time as a gardener what I could do to get the buds to break out into blossom so that we would have some pretty wild roses to help make Fairyland pretty.

My friend the gardener told me to get some beef fat from the butchers and I was to carefully raise the roots of the bush and place the fat under the plant. I did as he told me and waited but still no blossoms just the little rosebuds. I was very disappointed and made up my mind to get Her Majesty Queen Feeana to have a look at the wild rose to see whether it had at some time or another been placed under a magic spell.

Towards the end of the summer I managed to see Her Majesty and told her about the strange wild rose bush that had plenty of buds but none of the buds turned into flowers. Her Majesty came with me to see the rose bush. Taking one of the small buds Her Majesty placed it on her magic mirror. The rose bud remained a rose bud. Her Majesty told me that the bush had not been placed under a spell. The bush should have plenty of flowers. I thanked Her majesty and went back home to think about what I could do to get the rose bush to blossom.

The only plan that came to me as I was having my breakfast was to dig the rose bush out of the ground and place it somewhere else in the woods. This I did before the winter set in. I carefully chose a spot where there was plenty of sunshine and a place that I could easily get to feed and water the rose bush. I was determined to see it bloom. It is such a shame to see all those pretty little rose buds not breaking out into flowers.

It was a cold winter there was plenty of snow. My rose bush, I now considered it to be my rose bush took no harm from the frosty nights as I had placed a couple of old sacks over it to stop the freezing night air from harming it. In the winter months there was no sap in the bushes and the frost cannot really harm them but I was taking no chances, as I desperately wanted to see my rose bush full of flowers.

The following spring I tended the wild rose bush every day. The Fairies all helped me and we eagerly awaited the first signs of a flower. The buds came there were hundreds of them on the bush but nowhere were a flower or bloom to be seen. The Fairies tried hard to cheer me up and often made suggestions as to what I should do. Then one little Fairy said, "It is all alone, it is probably lonely and sad it needs another wild rose bush to keep it company. On hearing this I set off into the woods looking for another wild rose bush. I walked for miles and on the third day of my looking I found a wild rose bush that I dug out of the ground and took back home with me.

The new wild rose bush I planted a few yards away from my rose bush that would not flower. Now I had two wild rose bushes and looked after them right through the autumn and spring. This year I was in for a lovely surprise both of my rose bushes were full of buds and then the first flower appeared after that both wild rose bushes were full of blooming flowers. It was a most beautiful sight to see and the Fairies came from miles away to see the beautiful flowers.

Now whenever I plant anything be it a flower or a bush even a tree I always plant them in pairs so that none are ever lonely.

Welsh Dragon.

It was three thousand years ago that some welsh hunters made a fire to cook the wild deer that they had caught while hunting. The fire was made as always. They got stones and placed them in a circle to keep the flames from setting the woods on fire. On this day the only stones available were black and shiny. They did not know it but the stones were really pieces of coal that had been eroded from out of the side of a mountain.

To their surprise the stones burnt with the wood and gave off a good heat. This was the first time that man had burned coal. The coal stayed in their heads and they went looking for it. Soon they found where the coal had been loosened from a seam of coal that ran into the mountain. With axes made from the antlers of the stags they found that they could get the coal from the mountain the early hunters founded thus the first coal works.

Men made a living by digging it from the mountains and exchanging it for food and tools. Soon nearly every village had its own coal fires for cooking. It was hard work for the early men and women to dig the coal from the earth and they looked for a means to get the coal more easily. Some of the hunters trapped and caught a Dragon. The Dragon was very strong and the men trained it to dig out the coal with its front feet. The Dragons feet were very suitable as the toes were long and pointed and made a good digging tool. It was now easier to get the coal from the mountain.

The Dragon was at the time it was caught covered in shiny black scales and the coal that it dug being black it did not look out of place. The Dragon dug coal for twenty long years and was getting too old to dig the coal from the mountain. This meant that the men had to let the Dragon go as it took too much to feed it. They ungratefully drove the Dragon from the mine and dug out the coal themselves. The Dragon now pleased to be free went off into the large forests that covered Wales in those far off days.

All went well with the Dragon it managed to get enough to eat and the rain soon washed the dust of the coal from his black shiny scales. Soon

The Fairies found the dragon its claws on its front feet were in a terrible state through scratching and digging out the coal. They felt sorry for it and looked after the dragon for a few years. Soon its claws got better and the Fairies were afraid that the men would catch it again and put it back in the mine to dig for coal.

The Fairies came up with a plan they would paint the Dragon a bright red in that way he would be easy to be seen and no man would dare to touch him as he was under the care of the Fairies. This meant that the dragon could be seen from far away and the men of Wales knew better that to capture a red Dragon as the Fairies have some real nasty ways of punishing anyone that went against their laws. Now in Wales there was a red Dragon roaming the hills and mountains no one interfered with it and soon people began to say that the Dragon brought them luck and it was decided to make flags with pictures of the Dragon on them. The flags were to be coloured white for the sky and green for the woods and in the middle was the proud red Dragon. This flag has been waving for a very long time. It is still used in Wales and many a soldier has fought under the flag of the red Dragon.

Today the flag is still used although there are no more Dragons to roam the earth like they used to do. The Welsh People are very proud of their Red Dragon and one finds it on many papers that are printed. Most Welsh Schools use the Red Dragon as their emblem.

Not Feeling Well.

This will be my last little Fairy tale. I have completely run out of ideas and will now turn my hand to something else. This tale begins with my being ill in bed with a nasty head cold that threatened to go down to my lungs. I have used at least two boxes of paper handkerchiefs and am lying quietly looking at the ceiling. I trace little patterns and pictures in the whitewash on the ceiling. Suddenly I realised that I was no longer alone in my bedroom. Shamus my Leprechaun friend had appeared by magic. Greeting me with much sympathy in his voice he asked me what I needed and how he could help me.

All I really wanted was peace and quiet to help me get rid of the head cold. Shamus went down stairs where I could hear him in the kitchen making a cup of tea. He soon reappeared with a tray on which were a teapot and cup and saucer with a plate full of cucumber sandwiches. "Now he said, "eat these and drink this nice cup of sweet tea." "I have an errand to perform." He disappeared as suddenly as he had come and I drank the cup of tea and ate one or two of the cucumber sandwiches. I had not realised how hungry I was.

Soon Shamus reappeared and with him was Her Majesty, Queen of all the Fairies, Queen Feeana. Her Majesty had with her two small bottles of some brown herbal liquid. "Drink from this little bottle and then in eight hours drink from the second bottle." With that Her Majesty left me with Shamus who took the empty cup and plate down to the kitchen. I do not know what it was that Her Majesty had given me to drink but I turned around in my bed and dropped off into a deep sleep.

It was seven o'clock in the evening when I came to myself. Shamus gave me the other little bottle to drink. The taste was awful and I asked Shamus for a glass of water to take the bitterness away. I dropped off to sleep again and slept right through the night. I did not cough once and woke in the early morning feeling quite well. Shamus had slept through the night perched on the bottom of my bed.

Shamus woke just after I did and asked me how I was feeling after the two drinks from Her Majesty. I told him that I now felt fine and that my cough and cold had gone. I wanted to get up and make some breakfast but Shamus would not hear of it. "You stay in bed my friend, I will make breakfast." He went down to the kitchen and soon I could smell the frying of bacon and eggs. Shamus came into the bedroom carrying a tray with eggs, bacon and delicately cut slices of bread. A cup of tea was also on the tray.

I ate my breakfast and then decided that I needed a shower and a shave. After my shower I dressed in some fresh clothes and went down into the kitchen where Shamus was preparing food for lunch. While we ate our meal Shamus said, "It is about time that you went for a holiday to the seaside, a change of air would do you the world of good." I agreed, it was time that I had a break. I had been overdoing things lately but where to go. "I myself would send you to Ireland," said Shamus "but the weather at the moment it is raining most of the time." I would like to go to Brighton I heard myself saying. Then it happened Shamus and I was in the Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton. We had been sent by means of magic. Two rooms had been booked and paid for and the man behind the reception desk handed me a rather thick envelope. A Mrs. Feeana had made the bookings and left the envelope there for me. We were in rooms overlooking the seafront.

Shamus and I spent two whole weeks at Brighton enjoying the sea air in the envelope was enough money for the two of us to have a real holiday. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and spent many hours walking along the seafront. At the end of the two weeks we were both transported back to my house by means of magic. I was now very fit and had no traces of a cold. I owe this holiday to Her Majesty Queen Feeana to whom I am very grateful.

Shamus has gone back to his beloved Ireland with the promise that he would visit in the near future. All that was left for me to do was to thank Her Majesty for wonderful holiday and for her curing my rotten cold. I cannot say what herbs were in the bottles but they were very effective I have not had a cold since.

Oak Tree.

An old oak tree standing right in the middle of Fairyland no one knows exactly how old the tree is, it has stood braving the weather for hundreds of years. Under its large leafy boughs, many an animal has found shade and shelter from the storms that sometimes rage over this part of the world. In the autumn the ripe oak seeds fall to the floor, some to be eaten by the wild animals, some that took root and another young oak tree was soon to be seen. This tree has a hollow stem that one can easily hide in when danger threatens. One day a forester came looking in the woods to see whether there were any trees that needed to be chopped down as some were considered to be dangerous. Two years earlier the woodcutters had chopped down some very old elm trees and that had been a sad blow for the fairies and other inhabitants of the woods. The news that the forester had again made his appearance and had marked the old oak for chopping down spread very quickly throughout fairyland.

A meeting was called and all of fairyland attended to see what could be done to save the tree. All were allowed to speak even the animals and all could understand what was being said. I as a very good friend of the fairies was also asked to be present. I know most of the animals and little people living in Fairyland and it came as a surprise that Her Majesty, Queen Feeana had cast a spell so that we could all understand what each animal or person had to say. Most of the little people were in favour of saving the tree and there were many suggestions as to how to save it from the woodsman's axe. One I liked was put forward by one of the young deer, It said the tree should be turned into a young tree again in that way no woodsman would dream of chopping it down. Many other suggestions such as the tree should become invisible to all that came into the forest.

Her Majesty called the meeting to an end saying that she would have to get in touch with Mother Nature to see whether Mother Nature could help. A week later the tree was different. The hollow had completely filled in and the tree was now as strong as it had been some three hundred years ago. Her Majesty had spoken with Mother Nature who agreed that it would be a shame to cut down such an old tree that had given such good service to the peoples and animals of Fairyland.

A month passed by and the woodsman came with his freshly sharpened axe. The Forester had marked the oak tree with a special paint. The woodsman looked and looked for the oak tree but could only see the young strong oaks. None of the trees carried a marking and the woodsman went back to the forester and told him that no trees had been marked and he could not find an oak tree that was hollow. The forester himself came into fairyland with the woodsman. He too could find no tree that needed to be chopped down. Her Majesty took pity on the forester and woodsman and they both saw an old oak tree that was hollow. The tree had the foresters marking on it and the pair of them were happy. The forester left the woodchopper with the marked tree and the woodsman swung his axe and chopped and chopped until the old oak tree fell. The woodsman chopped the tree into lengths suitable for burning in fire grates and went on his way.

The inhabitants of Fairyland smiled as they saw the woodcutter chopping away at what seemed to be nothing. Soon all was back to normal and the real oak tree is still the good hiding place that it had been for such a long time. The animals of the forest and the fairies still play or shelter under the branches of the old oak. Mother Nature herself sees to it that no storms or floods could damage such an old tree and everyone wants the tree to remain in fairyland forever and ever.

A Days Work.

No time to put my feet up I have decided that today I will do the spring-cleaning. I started by taking down all of the curtains in the house; this alone meant at least two washing machines full of curtains to wash and iron. I loaded the washing machine with the first lot of curtains and went and cleaned all of the windows in the upper part of the house. By the time that I had finished the windows the first lot of curtains were ready to be hung out on the line. Hanging out the curtains I then made myself a cup of hot sweet coffee. Loaded the next lot of curtains in the washing machine and cleaned the downstairs windows. It was a windy but sunny day and the thin curtains dried out quickly and I took the first batch indoors to iron. Then I hung the fresh curtains in the upstairs windows. I was tired and wanted my midday meal.

I cooked and ate my lunch and went into the garden and took in the second lot of curtains for the ground floor. I hung the curtains and went outside to see what the house looked like with the freshly cleaned windows and the washed and ironed curtains. The house looked a treat and I decided to go back inside and have a little afternoon nap. I often lay down after lunch it gives me new energy for a walk in the afternoon. Before I laid myself down on the couch I looked in the letterbox to see whether any one had written to me. Apart from a few begging letters and a few bills there was nothing of interest.

Lying down on my comfortable old couch I soon dropped off into one of those weird dream worlds. I was going from house to house offering my services as a washer of curtains and a cleaner of windows. I went to one house after another, all it seemed wanted their curtains washed and ironed and their windows cleaned. The dream dragged out and I must have cleaned over a hundred windows and washed and ironed thousands of curtains. I awoke about one hour later I was covered in perspiration and was more tired than I had been before I laid myself down on the couch. I decided to go for a walk in the fresh air it might take some of the tiredness from my bones and muscles.

Walking along the edge of the woods I came to an old house that I had often passed by but had never seen any one in the garden. To my surprise an elderly woman was balancing on a ladder trying to clean her upstairs windows. I walked into her front garden and called softly, I did not want to startle her. "May I be of some help to you? You do not appear to be at ease on that high ladder." The elderly lady climbed slowly down the ladder and I took the small bucket and the cleaning rags and climbed up the ladder. I went all around the house, cleaning window after window when I was finished at the top of the house I started cleaning the windows on the ground floor. A couple of hours had passed and I found to my surprise that I was no longer tired the cleaning of the windows seemed to have taken away all of the signs of stress that I had previously felt.

I finished the downstairs windows and the elderly lady came out of the house carrying a tray with a couple of sandwiches and a pot of tea. "It is time for a break." She said and offered me the tray, Slowly I ate my sandwich and poured myself a cup of tea. The elderly woman thanked me for my kindness and wanted to offer me some money for my work. I of course refused to take payment. I put away the ladder in the shed running along side the house and went to say goodbye. The elderly lady smiled and suddenly there was a light blue flash, a small whiff of smoke and the elderly lady turned into Her Majesty, Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. " I knew that you could not pass the house without offering to clean the windows." I myself smiled and said. "Believe me Your Majesty I have had enough of window cleaning for while, I have cleaned all of the windows and washed all of the curtains in my house, but I could not pass by without offering to clean the windows for the elderly lady she looked so frail on that tall ladder that I just had to do the work for her."

Her Majesty smiled again and told me that I would never have to touch a window or curtain in my house again. This all happened some years ago and I have never had to clean a window or wash a curtain since. I think that I am lucky to have such a friend as Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

One Wish A Day,

The voices of two people came to my ears. I was too far away to really hear what they were saying as I got closer I saw two people a man and a woman. The couple were in a loud conversation and did not seem to worry that they could be overheard. I slowly approached them and so that they could not see me I performed a little trick that I had learned from the Fairies. I moved to an oak tree and merged myself into the tree's bark. I became a part of the tree.

The couple were waiting for someone and it soon became clear that each were waiting for a wish to be granted. They spoke of other wishes that they had made. How rich they were, how beautiful and how handsome the couple now were, for weeks every day each had made a wish, which was granted. I was now very interested and decided to stay with the tree to see who it was that could grant so many wishes.

The tree had made me very comfortable in its bark and I was in danger of dropping off into a deep sleep. To stop myself from falling asleep I repeated to myself the numbers from one hundred down to one and then back again. If I forgot a number I started all over. The couple were still talking about what wish they would ask for today. The woman said," I want blue eyes from today not these brown ones from last week." The man was just as stupid and said, "I want an egg for my breakfast every day not a sausage." The wishes were getting more and more silly as the time went past.

Then in a flash of blue light and a puff of smoke Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared and in a tired voice asked the two what wish they wanted. Now this really did surprise me Her Majesty granting these two silly people a wish each day. Something was definitely wrong. I decided to stay hidden in the tree's bark to see if I could find out what the couple had, that made the Queen grant them a wish each, every day. "I wish for an egg for my breakfast every day." Said the man. "I want blue eyes from now on." Said the woman. The Queen Feeana tiredly waved her magic wand and then disappeared the way she had come.

The man boasted to the woman that they could have any thing they wanted. They only had to come to the woods and wait for the queen and each wish would be granted. Then he boasted that as long as they had the Queen's magic ring she would have to grant them a wish each day. If only the Queen knew that the ring was now lost and that they did not have it any more. The pair then ran off laughing into the woods.

I went to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana and told her my story of what I had seen and heard in the woods. Her Majesty was very angry indeed to know that she had been made a fool of. Waving her magic wand the two suddenly appeared before Her Majesty. "I will grant you no more wishes for it has come to my ears that you no longer have the Queens magic ring." "What do you have to say for yourselves?" The man tried to tell Her Majesty that they still had the ring, the woman being as silly as the man told the Queen the same story they still had the ring. " Show me the ring if you still have it said Her Majesty in a very angry voice. The two could only stutter and it soon came out of them that they had foolishly lost the ring. Her Majesty waved her magic wand and her ring that she had lost from her finger, that the two had found, was back on her finger.

Her Majesty now waved her magic wand once more and all of the wishes that had been made to the couple in the past were now taken away. They both now looked very ugly and both had no more money or wealth. Her Majesty also gave the two of them one blue eye and one brown eye this was to remind them of how silly they had been telling their story in the woods so that all could hear.

Her Majesty thanked me for letting her know what the two silly people had been saying in the forest also for telling her that the two had lost the ring, which was then very easy for Her Majesty to get back with the help of the magic wand.

A Patched Old Overcoat.

Looking in my letterbox I saw that the postman had delivered a couple of letters. One of the letters is from my bank the other is from a friend that I have not seen for some time. In my friends letter was an invitation to attend a tramps party. I must admit I had no idea what a tramps party involved and telephoned my friend for a few details. My friend's answer was quite simple all I had to do was to dress like a tramp. Looking through my wardrobe I found an old suit that I could wear. To make it look more like a tramps suit I tore a hole in the legs of the trousers and sewed a large patch onto the jacket of the suit. I had in a cupboard under the stairs a pair of old boots that I had been meaning to throw away. Taking hold of the boots I pulled the sole from each boot so that it was hanging half off the boot. Now all I needed was an old raincoat or an old overcoat and one of my very old garden hats. I could find no old raincoat or even an overcoat, I had given the last ones to charity and I was not going to ruin one of my new coats for a tramps party.

I wandered into town to a second hand shop that I knew of and asked if they had something like an old mackintosh or an old overcoat. The shopkeeper disappeared into the back of the shop and came out with an old overcoat. The overcoat is warm to wear; just the patches that had been used to repair it put me off a little. The shopkeeper gave me a knowing look and said, "This coat will keep you more than warm, take no heed of the patches they give the coat that little something extra." The price he asked for the coat was so little that I decided to buy it and take it with me.

On reaching my home I put on my old suit and the boots with the soles coming off, next I put on the overcoat. Taking the invite for the tramps party I placed it in my inside pocket of the overcoat. Then I turned to the mirror to see how the outfit looked. Imagine my surprise as I looked into the mirror I saw nothing. There was no me any more, I had completely disappeared. Putting my hand in my inside pocket I took out the invitation and there I was dressed in the old overcoat with its many coloured patches. I put the invite in my inside pocket again and still looking in the mirror I had once again disappeared. I tried putting other things into my pockets, some coins, an old tobacco tin with a few cigar stumps in it, If the pockets of the overcoat were empty the coat looked like a coat with its coloured patches as soon as I put something in one of the pockets the coat with me just was not to be seen.

I had very much fun as I made my way to the tramps party I had you see the invitation in my inside pocket and that made me invisible. I purposely bumped into people and apologised. Many of those that I bumped into, shook their heads they could see no one just the voice saying I am sorry. Arriving at the house where the party was being held I knocked on the front door and took the invitation card from my inside pocket and became visible again for all to see. The party was a great success and all of the guests voted my dress as the best tramp costume of the evening. I received a small cup with my name engraved on it saying that I am the best-dressed tramp of the year.

The very next day I went into the woods with the overcoat and showed it to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Touching the coat with her magic wand the coat turned into a brand new coat that had never been worn. The old coloured patches were now laying on the floor of the woods another wave of her magic wand and the patches disappeared. Her Majesty told me that the fairies knew of the coat. A wizard that had need of the ability to disappear whenever he wanted had sewed the coloured patches onto the coat. The patches when placed side by side in a special order would as soon as something was placed in one of its pockets cause the wearer of the coat to disappear. It was this coat that I had bought from the second hand shop. I now have a brand new very warm overcoat that does not make me disappear whenever I put it on. The small cup is now on my sideboard gathering dust as many other strange things that I have collected over the years.

Patrick, Leprechaun by choice.

On my way into town to get the weekly shopping I ran into my old friend Patrick. Patrick is an old Leprechaun that according to his story he has done and seen about everything there is to be seen and done in this world. I like Patrick he always has a cheerful smile on his face and with his tales of his life he amuses me quite often when we meet he has one really annoying problem he is always playing tricks on one at the most unexpected moment. Patrick tells me that he was not always a Leprechaun once he was a young Irish boy trying to make a living in this hard world. It seems that he changed lives with a Leprechaun who thought that it would be better for him the Leprechaun to be a human.

This took place in Ireland some one hundred and fifty years ago. The original Leprechaun is long dead but Patrick as a Leprechaun will live for many a long year. Patrick met the Leprechaun who had just lost all of his gold and he smiled at the Leprechauns tears of woe. "You would not be so happy if it was you that had lost all of his gold." "Why?" said Patrick to the Leprechaun. If it was me that had lost my gold I would go to England, I hear that in London Town the streets are paved with gold." The Leprechaun sobbed even more "I cannot go to England I am always very sick if I have to travel by boat. It was then that Patrick had this idea. "You are a Leprechaun and I am a young Irish boy; you can work magic why do we not just change lives? You become me and I will become you." "So be it. Said the Leprechaun and the two of them changed lives Patrick became the Leprechaun and the Leprechaun became a young Irish boy. The two of them parted company and went each on his way.

The Leprechaun married and had three healthy children. A boy and two girls he lived a normal life and died at the age of sixty-nine. Patrick who is now a Leprechaun roamed the world doing what Leprechauns do best he was a Jack-of-all-trades. At home he had learned from his father how to repair shoes and how to mend the roof in fact he was a good all round workman. As a Leprechaun he could work simple magic spells and whatever work he did he did it well. There were no complaints and Patrick worked not only well but he charged less than most workers would for his jobs of work that he did. Patrick was all in all a well-liked Leprechaun that had one yes just one drawback he loved to play practical jokes. No one was safe from him. He has played many a trick on me but as an easy going type of person I take his jokes all in good part but sometimes even I get angry with him.

One of Patrick's favourite jokes takes place on the motorways. Lorries suddenly turn into horse and carts and the drivers think that they have had a daydream or something. This is very dangerous and I asked him to leave the traffic on the motorways in peace. Patrick now concentrates more on the little folk with his practical jokes and the Fairies and Pixies got together to play one big joke on Patrick in the hopes that this will cure him of his mischievous ways. Many a plan was made but all seemed to be hopeless and Patrick got worse in his behaviour. Then Moonafee had an idea let us turn Patrick into a pig then he cannot tease us and we can fatten him up. The Fairies all thought that this was an excellent idea and would perhaps teach Patrick a lesson that he so well deserved. On seeing Patrick the Fairies all pointed their magic wands at him and spoke in the old tongue. Let him be a pig. Whoosh Patrick turned into a fat pig and ran about the floor of the woods grunting and complaining as only pigs can complain.

The Fairies true to their words fed him on all kinds of foods and in a couple of months he was just one big fat pig. Patrick now a pig eats anything and everything that was set before him. He got so fat that he could hardly move. One day as I was going through the woods I saw Patrick he was so big that he could hardly move. I then had pity on him and asked the Fairies not to feed him so much. If you do he will burst and you will all be sorry. On hearing my words the Fairies had a talk and decided to turn him back into a Leprechaun again. Out came the magic wands and with a shower of sparks Patrick the pig was turned back into Patrick the Leprechaun. "Patrick," Moonafee said. "If you play any more tricks on the little folk you will be turned back into a pig and will roam the woods for ever more." Patrick had learned his lesson and from that day on he became a steady Leprechaun that helped any and everyone.

Pearl Tears.

For the last few minutes I thought that I heard someone sobbing. It was a young Fairy sobbing with all her might. I saw her sitting on a grass mound with a small pile of pearls on the ground in front of her. "What is the matter little one have you hurt yourself?" " Are you sick?" " What is the matter why are you crying so bitterly?" Still crying with the tears running down her cheeks she told me this little story.

An elderly woman was looking in the woods to see whether she could find something to eat. It was way out of season but being so hungry, she looked for the odd berry that perchance, might have been left over by the fruit pickers. The odd mushroom would have given her something to eat but alas there was not even a hazel nut to be seen although the squirrels bury them in the ground and an experienced eye can see these little mounds.

The Fairy had mocked the elderly woman and was not very nice to someone that was in hunger pain. Mimicking the elderly woman's voice, she cried out, I am hungry is there nothing in all of the woods to eat? This enraged the elderly woman who took from her skirt pocket a magic wand. Pointing it at the Fairy she muttered these words. Your eyes will cry and you will sigh, until many pearls come from your eyes.

With this the Fairy sat herself down on this mound and began to cry each tear was a perfect pearl. I produced a small tray and collecting the pearls I at the same time counted them. Over a thousand tears did the Fairy shed and of course over a thousand pearls were in my tray. I carried the Fairy over to the stream where I gently washed her face and made her a little more comfortable. She had stopped crying and I felt that we were not alone.

Her Majesty had registered that a Fairy was in distress and had come to see what had happened. Hearing that the Fairy had not helped the elderly woman who was hungry. Her Majesty was very angry. Before Her Majesty could say anything more to the Fairy, along came the elderly woman. Have you cried the thousand tears? And where are the thousand pearls? I will take the pearls and thread them and sell them through the long winter months so that I can buy some food. It is not good to have to go hungry.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana said that it was a good thing and that the Fairy should go with the elderly woman who really was a Witch. She should stay one long winter with the elderly woman and share her way of life, it would teach her a lesson. The Fairy could easily have helped the elderly woman by giving her some Fairy Cakes. All Fairies can produce Fairy cakes it is taught them at a very early age.

The elderly woman made pearl necklaces and these she sold through the winter months. When the pearls ran out or were all sold. The Fairy cried her tears and new pearls appeared. The elderly woman and the Fairy through having to share the same hard life became very good friends and now she helps all that are in trouble. The pearly necklaces are still very much in demand and if you happen to receive one. Know that they are small pearls from the tears that ran out of a Fairies eyes. The Fairy has long since gone back to her friends the other Fairies and she can, thanks to the elderly woman, still cry these small wonderful pearl tears.

Penellafee.

Have you seen Penellafee? The fairies have been playing hide and seek and it seems that all have been found except Penellafee. I myself spent a half hour looking for her but it was to no avail. Penellafee has completely vanished. Either she has found a new hiding place that we all cannot see or she is missing. No Fairy would run off without telling the others where she or he was going.

This is indeed a mystery, myself I was not too concerned as I had seen one of the Fairies running toward my garden and that has some good hiding places for a Fairy. Why the rhubarb leaves were so big this year that a fairy could hide for hours without being found. I suggested to the other Fairies that we look in my back garden and they all agreed and soon the fairies were searching my back garden. One of the Fairies even found my old pruning knife, which I had lost sometime in autumn.

Penellafee was not to be found and I was getting worried. I told the other Fairies to go back home and report the loss of Penellafee. I myself went indoors and looked at my piece of magic mirror that Her Majesty Queen Feeana had given me. I looked and looked but could find no trace of the missing young Fairy; I made a thermos of cold tea and a few sandwiches and went back out into the woods.

I looked everywhere, high in the trees, below the bushes, why I even looked in to the old drainage tubes that had once been deposited here and then left. Soon Mother Nature had covered them with weeds and grasses and as I say, they made good hiding places for the Fairies. I could not find Penellafee anywhere and decided to get the help of the Fairy Queen Feeana.

Her Majesty was awaiting me in her garden, she had been told about the mysterious disappearance of Penellafee. "I cannot see her in my mirror," Your Majesty I said. "Neither can I," came the royal reply. I placed my piece of magic mirror onto Her Majesties Mirror but it was the same dull surface that we both watched. Nothing was moving in the mirror. It was as if Penellafee had never existed.

The only way that the mirror would not see her, was if she was the same colour as the mirror. The mirror was of highly polished black glass. It was then that I wondered whether the Fairy Penellafee had hidden in my coal shed. She would soon become black as coal in the dusty old coal shed. Telling Her Majesty my thoughts I left to go back home to my coal shed.

In the coal shed it was very dark and I could hardly see. "Penellafee," I called, I repeated the call, No answer. I went into the house and got myself a strong electric torch and went back to the coal shed. I shone the bright light around the shed, it was then that I saw her, she had slid down the coal and it had started a slide and she was soon covered with coal and coal dust.

I picked her up gently and took her to Her Majesty. Her Majesty waved her magic wand and the coal disappeared. Another wave of the wand and Penellafee was asking what had happened. Her Majesty took the fairy in her arms and turning to me she said, "I am taking her to the wise old fairies they will look after her." Thank you for your help. I went back home happy that I had been able to help one of the little Fairies.

I did not recognise my Kitchen it was like a green grocers shop. On the chairs and on the tables there were all kinds of fruits and nuts, vegetables, lovely ripe tomatoes everything that grew in my garden and in the woods had been placed here for my use. I bottled fruits and made jams and dried the nuts and placed them in biscuit tins that I had over the years collected. The Fairies had shown their thanks yet once again.

I soon saw Penellafee playing with the other fairies and a robin told me that all fairies had been warned not to play in or near garden sheds or coal sheds, as they were dangerous to Fairies. Human gardens were now out of bounds to all of the little folk as the new machines for cutting grass or hedges were considered very dangerous and were under no circumstances to be played with.

I now have a fully stocked larder and my refrigerator is full so I have asked Her Majesty and all the fairies back to my home for a feast. I placed coloured lanterns all around the garden, tables and chairs were soon placed at the most convenient spots and food and drink I put on all of the tables. For music I had an old fashioned gramophone and we played all the old evergreens. It was a most wonderful feast and soon we will do it again. I promise.

Pink Cloak.

O'Leary the Leprechaun thanked the fairy Queen for the roll of cloth that the Queen had just given to him. O'Leary did not know that the cloth was magic. He thanked the Queen and went on his way. Stopping at an inn, he took the bundle of cloth and cut for himself a cloak, O'Leary was I am sorry to say colour blind and he did not realize that his cloak would be in a shocking pink. Stitching away, he placed one neat stitch after the other. Soon his pink cloak was finished and with a flourish, he threw it over his shoulders.

Paying his bill, he left the inn with the innkeeper smiling a large smile all over his face. He was laughing of course at the pink cloak not at the Leprechaun. The cloak being made of magic cloth kept the Leprechaun warm on the coldest of days and cool when the sun shone so bright as it does in summer. Everywhere he went people laughed at him, his cloak made him look somehow strange and funny.

O'Leary soon got used to people smiling at him as he went on his way with his shocking pink cloak, Being a helpful kind of man he often did odd jobs for poor people. Unbeknown to the Leprechaun his coat gradually turned to a deep russet brown. For every one that he helped his cloak changed slowly from shocking pink to a colour that hid him quite well when he went among the trees. In fact his cloak made him invisible as soon as he entered a woods or forest.

One day a few years later, the Leprechaun O'Leary happened to meet Her Majesty, Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. "Where is the lovely pink cloth that I gave you on our last meeting?" she asked. "I made myself this cloak Your Majesty," He replied. "The cloth that I gave to you was in a lovely pink, why is it now a deep russet brown?" O'Leary then told her Majesty of how people laughed at him and as the months went by the people stopped laughing. It was then Her Majesty waved her magic wand and O'Leary the Leprechaun could now see nature in all of its beautiful colours.

This was too much for O'Leary, who now with tears running down his cheeks thanked Her Majesty for allowing him to see everything in colour. Her Majesty Queen Feeana said, "This is my reward for your helping people." "You made your cloak and it was a colour most unfitting for a man and although many laughed at you, you still helped those that were needy. The cloth that I gave to you is magic and for every good deed that you did it turned colour. You being colour blind did not notice this. "Now O'Leary go on your way and find out more secrets of the cloak. It will surprise you at what it can do."

Leaving Her Majesty with a bow, O'Leary went on his way and soon came to a town where he set up a tailors shop making suits to measure for men. He, O'Leary being an excellent man with the needle made one suit after another and he did a very good trade. His fame soon spread and he had so much work to do that he had to take on an apprentice. The apprentice was a willing kind of boy and worked hard but no matter how hard they both worked; the suits were never ready on time. One evening the new apprentice was working away sewing and as it was winter, O'Leary placed his cloak around the lad's shoulders to keep him warm. The apprentice soon warmed up under the magic cloth and worked harder sewing on one button after another. Soon he became tired and made a wish that all of the suits were finished so that he could go and lay down.

A bright flash and there was a neat pile of suits finished and waiting for the customers to come and take them home. The Leprechaun realised what had happened and taking the cloak from the apprentice, he covered him in a blanket. The apprentice dropped off into a deep sleep. In the morning as the apprentice awoke, he thought that he had been dreaming. However, the suits were all finished and the Leprechaun O'Leary had made them both a breakfast and then told the apprentice his story of the pink coloured cloth that the Fairy Queen had given him. Of his shocking pink, cloak that had with each good deed changed colour. He also told the apprentice of his cloak being magic.

The apprentice was very excited and blurted out that he had made a wish for all of the suits to be finished so that he could have a rest. O'Leary said, "I thought that is what happened but I did not know that the cloak would work for you, or I would not have placed it around your shoulders as I did. The apprentice soon became a master of his trade and the Leprechaun O'Leary went on his way leaving the shop to the now young man that was an excellent tailor. O'Leary took his magic cloak with him and is still roaming this earth helping all that need his help.

He O'Leary is still finding out the magic of the cloak and he has been able to help all kinds of people on his travels. Perhaps he has helped you in the past or will help you in the future. Who Knows?

Pixie Troubles.

There is again trouble in Fairyland. The robins were the first to notice that something was terribly wrong. Some one has been going around looking for bird's nests and gluing the eggs together that were in the nests. This is a terrible thing to do as it means that the birds cannot turn the eggs in the nest and that means that only one part of the egg is warmed. All birds must turn their eggs it is the only way for the eggs to hatch out properly. One of the robins flew to Her Majesty queen Feeana and told her the terrible thing that had been done to the eggs. Her Majesty was very upset and asked the robin to sit for a moment on her Magic mirror. The robin sat on the mirror and pictures slowly went past on the surface of the mirror. First the mother bird and the father bird were to be seen building the nest. Then the mother bird laid her eggs while she was sitting on the nest to keep the eggs warm the father bird went flying off looking for food, which he brought back to the nest and fed the mother bird. One picture after another went slowly by, then the mother bird flew off for a few minutes to stretch her wings. The picture changed a hand appeared holding a tube of glue. The glue was spread over the eggs and in a few seconds the eggs were tightly stuck together.

Her Majesty told the robin to fly back to its nest, in the meantime Her Majesty waved her magic wand and the eggs were freed of all glue. Bird after bird came to Her Majesty complaining of the glued together eggs, the sparrows the blackbirds the tits and even the owls and the night jays. Somebody had been to all the nests in Fairyland squirting glue onto the eggs in the nests. Looking deeply into the mirror Her Majesty saw that the nests had been visited by the Pixies. Pixies as everyone knows are very mischievous and play some awful tricks not only on each other but also on the whole of the little peoples and all of the birds and wild animals.

Calling together the Wise Old Fairies Her Majesty told them of the latest tricks that the Pixies had played on the poor birds. "It is time I think," said Her Majesty, "to ban all of the Pixie folk from Fairyland. "After all they cause more mischief than all of the other little peoples together." The Wise Old Fairies looked very concerned after all they knew the Pixies and all of the tricks they played on the other folk in Fairyland. One after the other they stood up and asked Her Majesty to reconsider her idea of banning all of the Pixies from Fairyland. It seemed a very harsh punishment for all of the Pixies to be banned. Her Majesty thought about it for a while and then said, "I will give the Pixies one more chance. Waving her magic wand Her Majesty took all of the Pixies to the huge caves under the Himalayan Mountains the very caves where the fairies and the butterflies spend the long cold winter months.

Some of the Pixies had been to the caves before and they were asking each other why Her Majesty had brought them all to this place. Her Majesty waved her magic wand once again and the Pixies found themselves in another huge cave. This cave had no flowers or trees, no lighting apart from what came from Her Majesties magic wand. "This Cave will be your future home if you do not mend your terrible ways. What you have done to the bird's nests and their eggs is disgraceful and it could have been that no new birds would be ready in time to sing the dawn chorus the following year." "Here in this cave you will only find enough to enable you to build some kind of shelter. Food you would have to find for yourselves and the only light will be from a globe that I will place high in the ceiling of the cave." "What is it going to be will you all behave yourselves or do I have to send you all here to this cave."

The Pixies all solemnly promised that there would be no more tricks on their part and in future they would help all of the peoples of Fairyland. Waving her wand again Her Majesty transferred all of the pixies back to Fairyland and I am happy to be able to tell you all that the Pixies held to their promise and now help the other folk in Fairyland. One year later Her Majesty turned the cave that she had prepared for the Pixies back into solid rock. The birds have no more complaints and everyone is happy in Fairyland especially the Wise Old Fairies. They knew that Her Majesty would have kept her word and the Pixies would have been banned in the far off cave under the Himalayan Mountains.

Pixies Dilemma.

On my way into the woods, I felt that something was wrong. I missed the voices of the Pixies who at this time of the morning were to be found playing tricks on all and sundry that came into the woods. After a five minutes walk I came across one of the Pixies who had been turned into a stone statue. I was shocked to see that such a pretty pixie now just a statue, a very pretty statue but a statue never the less. Going further into the woods, I came across another Pixie statue then another. Something terrible had happened in the early hours of the morning or knowing the Pixies something could have happened during the night.

Walking through the woods with my eyes opened for more statues I tripped over a mushroom. No ordinary mushroom it too had been turned into stone. This was getting serious first the Pixies now mushrooms and yes even the blackberries everything had been turned to stone during the night or early hours of the morning. I looked for the Fairies but no Fairies were to be seen and I was now very worried that something had happened to the little people. I called to the birds and then to other animals in the woods. Not even a rabbit was to be seen. Something or someone had turned this part of Fairyland into stone. I did not know what to do or what is worse whom I could turn to for help. I turned about, hurried back to my home, and got the Magic Wand that her Majesty Queen Feeana had given me and went back to the woods.

I managed to turn the trees and bushes back into living things again but I could do nothing about the Pixies. The rabbits and other animals now were to be seen going about their business and I felt a touch of relief. Now the birds were with me in the woods and I asked their help by taking a message to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The birds came back telling me that no one was at home in Her Majesties House. One of the Robins agreed to show me the way to the Queen's house and off I went. The Robin flew just in front of my nose and it was easy to follow. We soon came to the house and I with my Magic Wand opened the door and went into the Queens parlour where I looked for and found the magic mirror.

Looking into the mirror I traced back through the night all that had happened in the woods. There were a number of Pixies playing and as usual, they were looking for someone to play their tricks on. It was at this time that four Witches flew over the woods. The Pixies with some catapults that they had made bombarded the Witches with itching powder. The four Witches were furious and cast a spell over the Pixies turning them to stone before they flew on about their Witches business. I then looked for Her Majesty Queen Feeana. I found her in the Fairies Winter Quarters under the Himalayan Mountains. The Queen Feeana had taken the fairies with her to plant new seeds and flowers for the wintertime.

I then spoke the magic words that transported me to the Fairies Winter Quarters. I arrived with a look of concern on my face and quickly told the Queen Feeana what had happened in her absence. I told her of my attempts to put things right and how everything had worked except for the Pixies. They were still turned to stone. " The Pixies can wait," said Her Majesty. " It will perhaps teach them a lesson and they will leave other people in peace. I spent the next two days with the Fairies and helped them plant fresh flowers and sew new seeds. I had a real nice time and for food, there were the delicious Fairy Cakes and Parsnip wine.

Soon all was finished and Her Majesty called us together and waving her Magic wand and saying the spell in the old language, we soon arrived in the woods at the back of my house. Her Majesty looked at the stone Pixies and said, " Perhaps I should leave them here as stone then they will cause no more mischief." I pleaded with Her Majesty to turn them back into living Pixies. It would be terrible if some humans were to find them and place them in their gardens for show. The Queen knowing that I had a soft pot for Pixies deep in my heart waved her wand again and the Pixies came back to life. All were carrying their catapults some even had itching powder ready to fire into the air. The Queen smiled and said a small punishment is the best for them and all of the itching powder flew into the air around the Pixies and soon they were all scratching away. After five minutes, Her Majesty waved her wand once more and the itching stopped. In future, you will not interfere when Witches or Wizards fly over the woods they are to be left strictly in peace. With downcast eyes, the Pixies said they would not interfere again and soon all were playing as if nothing had happened. I think they might have learnt a lesson from this but somehow I doubt it.

Pull Together.

Rainbow Trouble.

The sun is shining brightly the heavens are clear of clouds a most beautiful day. The fairies have done all of their little jobs of work and are now happily playing one or the other games that fairies have played down through the years. I was in the woods collecting the lush blackberries that were so ripe that I am afraid more went into my mouth than in the basket. Suddenly a large cloud covered the sky and it started to pour with rain.

The rain lasted only a couple of minutes and out came the sun. A most gorgeous rainbow appeared in the sky nearly overhead from where I was picking my blackberries. This delighted the fairies that quickly flew over to slide down the rainbow. Unknowingly to the fairies and me, a very powerful wizard had not only caused the clouds and rain to appear he was also responsible for the rainbow.

At the bottom of the rainbow, he had built a trap to ensnare the fairies. As they slid down the rainbow laughing and shouting with joy at this most unexpected of treats, they landed right into the trap. Soon there were no more fairies anywhere. The wizard had trapped them all and sent them off with magic to his castle somewhere in the middle of England.

I had not really been paying much attention to the fairies as the noise they made delighted my ears. I love to hear the tinkling voices of fairies at play. Soon I became aware that there were no more fairies to be seen or heard. I looked everywhere the rainbow had gone where rainbows go after showing their lovely colours and it was as if no fairies had been happily playing in the woods.

Becoming alarmed I sent a message with a robin redbreast to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. Her Majesty appeared as she usually did, a flash of light a small puff of smoke and she was there in all of her beauty. I quickly explained what had happened the cloud, the rain, and the rainbow. Her Majesty took out her magic mirror from her pocket and looking deeply into it, she told me that the wizard Margeridorm was holding the Fairies prisoner. Showing me the mirror, I saw a square shaped castle surrounded by a moat, to get into the castle one had to cross the moat by way of a drawbridge.

The drawbridge was down, the moat was deep, and there were no boats anywhere so it would be very difficult to get into the castle. I then had an idea. I said to Her Majesty "Give me an old book of magic, I will go to the castle and try to get the wizard out. If you stand by me invisible you will be able to free the fairies." Her Majesty agreed and by means of magic, we soon arrived at the castle.

I set up a small tent and with the book of magic in my hand I called across to the castle saying that I had a book of magic it is very, very old. I want four pieces of gold for the book. The wizard was by now very curious and lowered the drawbridge. Coming across to where I stood he asked to look at the book. I gave it to him and as he looked in its pages, I said to her Majesty "Quick turn him into a fish and throw him in the moat." "There he will stay a fish until the moat runs dry."

Her Majesty waved her wand and the wizard turned into fish, which I threw into the moat. Her Majesty then freed all of the fairies and sent them back home. I had another idea and went to see one of the local councillors. If you lead the waters of the stream into the moat and then out on the other side you will always have water in the moat and a large piece of ground will be available for the local council to build on. The councillor agreed with me, at the next council meeting a decision to do this very thing, and the stream was quickly diverted so the wizard will be a fish for a very long time.

Rainy Days.

The rain is like a wall. Large drops hitting me like small stones being thrown by an angry giant. Trickles of water running down my neck into the opening of my collar caused me to shudder. I had forgotten to take a hat and an umbrella, cursing at the rain and the force of the wind I struggled along the road leading to my house. I pictured a nice hot bath and a shot of warming four-star brandy. The house, my house finally came into view. With my wet hands I rummage through my coat pockets trying to find the house door keys. I finally held the keys in my wet hand and tried to fit the house door key into the lock. The wind drove the rain at the door and streams of water were running down the door onto my hand and it is very difficult to turn the key in the lock. At last I managed to open the front door and pushing it shut I bolted it for the night. Nothing would get me to go out in the rain again this day.

I struggled out of my coat and undoing the laces in my boots I kicked them into the corner and ran upstairs to the bathroom. I am soaking wet even my vest and underpants are wet with the rain. Turning on the hot water tap then the cold-water tap I ran myself a nice hot bath. I rushed downstairs to the pantry and taking a spoonful of mustard powder I went back to the bathroom and threw the mustard powder into the bath water. I definitely did not want to catch a cold. Soaking in the bath's hot water I sipped on the brandy that I had poured for myself and relaxed. Ten minutes later I dried myself on the large white bath towels and dressed myself into fresh clean dry clothes.

Carrying my empty brandy glass I went down the stairs into the kitchen where I thought to make myself a cup of hot sweet tea and have a sandwich before I went up stairs again to go to bed. The kettle boiled and a ring on the front door bell startled me. Who on earth was out in this rainy weather? I went to the front door and turning the key I unlocked the door and opened it an inch or two. The rain is still beating against the door. "Let me in," I heard the well-known voice of Shamus my Leprechaun friend. I opened the door wide and pulled him into the dry hall and slammed the door shut. Shamus was as wet or even wetter than I had been a while ago.

Taking shamus into the kitchen I helped him off with his coat and told him to go upstairs to the bathroom and run himself a hot bath while I got things ready for a hot cup of sweet tea. Shamus had dropped a large parcel onto the hall floor as I pulled him in out of the rain. Grinning with pleasure Shamus sat down to a cup of hot sweet tea and bacon sandwiches that I had made while he was having a bath. After we had finished eating, Shamus helped me to wash and dry the dishes then we sat in the two old arm chairs and I asked shamus what on earth he had been doing out in such weather. "I was coming to see you but something turned up and I started out too late to be here before the rain and the storms came."

"Mother Nature told me in confidence that this part of England was in for some stormy weather and plenty of rain and I wanted to bring you a new magic umbrella that I made especially for you after I heard of the bad weather that was told me by Mother Nature." Getting up out of his chair Shamus went into the hallway and bringing in his parcel he opened it and there it was an umbrella like thousands of umbrellas that I have seen in my long life. "It looks like an ordinary umbrella to me," I said. Shamus smiled and told me to go out into the garden with the umbrella spanned over my head. It is pouring with rain and I am very reluctant to go out into the rain again. Shamus is my best friend and if he says the umbrella is magic then I believe him after all he is one very clever Leprechaun.

I pushed the small knob on the handle of the umbrella and it opened. Then I opened the back door and stepping out into the rain I could see the rain driving against an invisible wall. I now boldly stepped out into the pouring rain with the gusts of wind driving it full force against me. I did not feel a drop of rain the umbrella was like a shield that surrounded me. The gusts of wind could not turn the umbrella inside out like some high winds do with umbrellas. Going back into the kitchen I went to place umbrella into the kitchen sink so that it could drip and dry itself. What do you know the umbrella is as dry as if I had never been out in the rain?

Shamus then told me that the umbrella was for my use only and if anyone else tried to use it, it would behave like any other normal umbrella. It would not keep a person's legs and shoes from becoming wet. For me it would be a shield against all wind and rain, hail or snow. I would always be dry." Why did you not use it Shamus?" "It would have kept you dry on your way to me." Shamus smiled and said, "I made it just for you the magic will only work for you so it did not matter whether I used it or not I still would have been soaked while coming here." We both went to our respective rooms and I slept like a log. In the morning after a hearty breakfast Shamus went on his way. I now have an umbrella that will keep me dry in all weathers and I am well pleased to know this.

Reading.

The day is nearly at an end and I am thinking of calling it a day and settle down to do some reading. I have not read a book for about four weeks now. It is time that I got down to some serious reading. Having said this to myself I looked for a book that I had not read on my bookshelves. There are over two hundred books and I have read them all some of them two or more times. I decided that I would go into town on the morrow and get myself some more books. Getting up at my usual time I performed my morning toiletry, made myself some breakfast and then set out for the town. I would I thought do the washing up at midday. I had forgotten that today is market day in the town and was surprised at the amount of stalls lining the old market square. One of the stalls caught my eye it held books. Books of all shapes and sizes. The man in charge of the stall seeing that I was interested showed me some books that he had hidden in a box under his stall. One of the books looked very interesting it had a thick leather binding and the print was in golden letters.

Offering me the book to look at the man smiled a rather knowing smile. I took the book and wondered what it would be about. The first pages were an introduction by a James Watten. James Watten explained that the book was meant only for learned people that studied magic. I was now caught and asked the man if he had any other books like this one. He had six books that all were bound in leather and had gold letters on the covers. The man reached under the stall and brought forward a box that he placed the books in. I now had enough reading material to keep me occupied for a couple of weeks or more. I paid the man two pounds ten shillings for each book and wandered off with my books on my shoulder. On reaching home I must admit I did not feel at all tired although I had carried the books on my shoulder for over a mile.

Opening the box I realised that I had been tricked there were no books in the box. Not even a scrap of paper. Oh no I thought to myself the man had caught me good and proper. I felt one awful fool to have been caught by one of the oldest tricks in the world. I hurried back to town but I was too late the man with bookstall had gone as had most of the stalls. Wednesday afternoon was closing day in the town and I angrily made my way back home. I cooked and ate my lunch and washed up both the breakfast dishes and the midday dishes that I had used to make my lunch. Going into my front room I had one big surprise, the books that I had bought in the morning were on the table. The books were arranged from one to six. How they had gotten there I do not know. Taking the book number one I glanced through it, wondering whether there would be any pictures in it. I like a picture now and again it shows me what the author means when sometimes the writing is not too clear.

The first book had right in the middle about twenty pictures. The pictures were of wild flowers and fruits. I was now definitely interested. I love wild flowers and often pick and bring some home to put in vases to brighten up the house. The fruits I make my own jam with. I started to read and got a small shock when a bunch of wild flowers fell into my lap. I read some more about the wild berries that one can eat and about the other berries that were poisonous. The same thing happened two small bowls of freshly picked fruit landed on the table in front of my eyes. One of the bowls was full of berries that one can eat the other full of poisonous berries. Putting the book down on the table I picked up book number six. Reading through this book I saw that it was explaining how to perform magic. I read one chapter on how to make magic leather. The leather when used to make shoes had to be sewn with cross-stitches. The stitches were in a picture and one could see exactly what was meant. Anyone wearing these shoes would have to dance until he managed to find the magic word to stop him from dancing.

I decided that these books were too dangerous to be left around for any one to use and perhaps cause mischief. I decided that in the morning I would give the books to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The Queen would know what to do with them and they would be safe with her. The following day I was up early and putting on my old boots I walked into the woods. I was awaited; Her Majesty smiled and told me that the books that I was bringing her were a test to see whether the man with the bookstall could be trusted. He was shown a picture of me and told to sell the books to me at the price that he had asked. Her Majesty knew that I would bring the books to her when I realised how dangerous they would be if the got into the wrong hands.

The books were given to the Fairy University and the man that had written the books was well known to the fairies. The name James Watten was the name that a sorcerer that lived in the old days used when he walked among the humans. The books he had written to give to his son. He died a comparatively young man without children. The books have been hidden in an old library and it was a fairy that had found them and given them to the Queen. The man on the stall had shown that he could be trusted and Her Majesty now had at least two human that she could trust with messages and other important things. Smiling Her Majesty told me that on my arriving home I would be repaid in full for the money I had given out for the books. At home on the kitchen table was a small leather bag with six gold coins. Much more than I paid for the books. The gold I put in my hiding place and there it will stay until some emergency arises where I need cash to help people.

Ring.

For one whole week I have not been in my garden. It has rained every day. Sometimes I thought that it would never stop. My garden is looking rather badly; it is now full with growing vegetables and weeds. The weeds are practically taking over. As soon as it stops raining I must get rid of the weeds. With these thoughts in my head I went about my housekeeping. Glad to be able to do some work even if it is only housework. Then at last it stopped raining and I went out into my garden to get rid of the weeds. I worked one whole day and my garden now looked more like a garden with beds of vegetables arranged in neat rows.

I pulled one long weed from the ground and saw something sparkle that was hanging to its roots. It was a diamond ring; I wondered how long it had been in my garden. Who could possibly be the owner? I had now finished the weeding so I took the ring to the garden pump and let the water run over the ring. The dirt fell away from the ring and I saw that it was very old. People did not make rings like this these days.

I washed and dressed myself and took the ring to my local jewellers. The Jeweller told me the ring was well over five hundred years old. The diamond was a little roughly cut but had at least three carats and was worth much money. The antique value was something that he could not even guess. On second thoughts I decided to show the ring to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. She with her magic mirror could tell me more about its previous owners.

I met Her Majesty in the woods and showed her the ring. Taking out her magic mirror she placed the ring onto its glass and a picture appeared. A young woman had been given the ring for her engagement some five hundred years ago. At the engagement party she lost the ring from her finger. All the guests and servants looked for the ring but no one found it and it had lain in my garden all those years.

I then asked her Majesty if she could tell whether there were any descendants from the young woman that I could send the ring to. Looking long in her mirror her Majesty traced the line right down to this day. " Yes there is one person left from that far off time. It is a Young Maiden that is thinking over a proposal of marriage." Her Majesty then gave me the address of the young maid and I sent a registered letter to her quite anonym and with the letter the ring that the jeweller had cleaned and polished for me.

I saw in the papers that the maid had married and her ring was to be seen on her finger. I was very pleased that the maid had married with the ring from her ancestors that had lost it so long ago. I have found nothing of interest in my garden since then. As for the weeds I keep them well down as the vegetables help take me through the winter months. I also bottle fruit and lay in a supply of nuts of all kinds. One never knows when one will get a bad winter with much snowfall and no opportunity to get to the shops.

Yesterday a car drew up to the front of the house and out stepped the young maiden now of course a married woman. She had gone to the trouble of finding out who had sent the registered letter with the ring. I had some explaining to do. I convinced her that at one time her ancestors had lived in this house and that a bride had lost the ring all those years ago. I did not mention Her Majesty of course and she left me with a slightly puzzled face and a ring that sparkled in the sunlight like a twinkling star.

The bride is now a mother to a girl and a boy and I am sure that the ring will go to one of the children when they get married.

Rose Bush.

A small party of fairies came to see me the other day, they were excited about something and I patiently waited until they had settled down enough to tell me. I did not expect what came next, "we want to plant a rose bush in your back garden, may we, may we they chorused altogether." I had not the heart to refuse them and gave them my permission after all it is not every day that the fairies want to plant something in my garden." Will you dig a large hole for us?" they next asked. I went to my garden shed where I keep my gardening tools and taking a spade I asked them where I should start digging. Putting their heads together they discussed where they would like the rose bush to be planted. After a while one of the fairies acted as spokesman and told me exactly where they wanted the rose bush to be. Taking my spade I went to where they wanted the rose bush to be planted. It was a good position with plenty of sunshine and next to the wall this would protect the bush from the cold east winds that prevail in Southern England.

Taking off my coat I started to dig a large hole. The fairies watched my every move. When I had dug what I considered to be a hole large enough to take the rose bush I placed a layer of leaves in the hole then some compost from my compost heap. Then I remembered what I had read about the two elderly ladies that always put a piece of fatty beef in the hole before planting the bush. I took a piece of fatty beef from my refrigerator and placed it in the hole. Next a thick layer of earth and the hole was ready. Taking the rose bush from what seemed out of the air and grinning all over their faces they solemnly gave me the rose bush to plant. I wondered what they found so funny and proceeded to plant the bush. I covered the roots well with earth and filled the hole with the rest of the earth that I had previously dug. My next move was to fill a watering can with water from my rain barrel the barrel that collects the rainwater from the roofs. Watering the rose bush well into the earth I cleaned my spade and put it back into the garden shed. The fairies were still admiring the rose bush that was now well anchored into the earth. As they saw me they started to giggle once again, I wondered why, what is there in a rose bush to giggle about?

The fairies left me still laughing at some joke that I did not know about. The rose bush grew quite well and got strong but it did not have any buds on it that is for the next two years. I wondered if the fairies knew that the rose bush would have no flowers and were playing a prank on me. Often a few of the fairies entered the garden to look at the rose bush. What they saw seemed to satisfy them and off they would go again. I watered and pruned the bush like I did all of my rose bushes. I could not explain why the bush did not bud and flower it was quite a mystery.

Then in the third year there appeared on the rose bush a bud, it was quite large for a rose bush and I wondered what kind of rose it would turn out to be. The colour of the bud was pink and I kept a good look out for insects and any other creatures that might harm it. I mixed some washing up liquid in a spray and sprayed the rose bushes against lice. This I did at regular intervals throughout the summer months. One warm day at the end of July I had the surprise of my life. The bud on the rose bush had turned into a face. A pretty face with eyes and nose and mouth it even had eye lashes. With me watching in amazement the flower spoke to me. " I am a present from the fairies, this is their way to say thank you for being such a good friend. I will only appear to you with this face, anyone else seeing me will think that I am just another rose. No other roses will grow on this bush but I will appear each year just for you. The rose bush got larger and larger, no other roses appeared and only I could see the pretty face that spoke to me whenever I watered the garden or did some digging or planting. The rose bush disappeared over night last year. I do not know what happened to it, No one stole it or took it way it just disappeared. Later the fairies told me that the bush was ever so lonely, it only had me to talk to and had asked the fairies to send it back to where it came from. There it had others of its kind and could speak to them and be very happy. In my garden the roses were not able to speak and were of no solace to the rose with a human face.

Scale changing.

The bright rays of the moon shone down over the forest clearing. The trees and bushes were bathed in a silvery light and everything looked so peaceful. You might ask what was I doing in the woods so late at night. That is easily answered. I could not sleep and after an hour of tossing and turning in my comfortable four-poster bed I decided to get up and go for a walk. I do this quite often, I am an elderly man that does not need much sleep, a couple of hours and I am satisfied.

I walk very quietly in the woods and often see the wild animals going about their nightly business. A few moments ago I had seen a fox stealthily stalking a mouse then an owl beat the fox to the prey and snapped it away. The owl had come so quietly that not even the fox's keen ears detected her. I sat down beneath an old tree and watched what went on in front of my eyes. There are so many animals awake during the night, stoats, weasels, foxes, deer and many others, not to mention the moths and fireflies and all the other flying beetles and insects.

I was comfortable under my tree and must have dozed off for when I awoke I was no longer alone. The small clearing was now filled with Fairies and other little folk. It took me a moment or two to register what was going on. I saw what the little folk were doing. A green dragon sat in the clearing and the Fairies were feeding it. The dragon had a very good appetite for the more the Fairies fed it the more it ate.

A strange noise filled the clearing it was the dragon as I watched it slowly shed its skin. With its front paws it gently took the skin that was now hanging from its face and the Fairies were flying all over the dragon helping it out of its old skin. The skin the Fairies carefully laid out on the grass. It took an hour for the dragon to shed its skin. Now the dragon stood with its new skin shining green in the light of the moon. The Fairies carefully took the old skin that the dragon had shed and carried it away to some place known only to the Fairies.

Fifty Fairies were gathered around the dragon and all had their magic wands pointing to it. From the magic wands there came a series of sparks and the dragon slowly disappeared. The clearing in the moonlight was now empty of the little people. It was as if nothing had happened. All looked as it did when I first came into the woods bushes, trees and the wild animals all as it had been an hour ago.

I went back home and wondered whether what I had seen was really a dream. I decided that on the morrow I would go and speak with the fairies. I went back to my bed and slept quite well until the following morning. I awoke to a ringing in my ears and I felt none too well. I got out of bed and caught a glimpse of my face in the bedroom mirror. I was shocked the skin of my face was peeling. Going into the bathroom I took off my pyjamas and saw that the skin on my body was also peeling. Under the old skin was a new skin rosy like a babies skin. Soon I was standing looking in the bathroom mirror. I had now new skin; I decided to shower and had a warm shower. The new skin tingled under the pressure of the water. I felt wonderful. Dressing as quickly as I could I made myself some breakfast and went into the woods to speak to Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. Her Majesty looked quite concerned as I told her about my skin change.

"Did you hear the Fairies chanting in the old language?" She asked me. I had heard no chanting it must have happened after I had fallen asleep. Her Majesty smiled and waved her Magic wand at me. "You came under the spell of the Dragon Changing of skin." She told me I have now taken off the spell so that you do not change your skin every year. The dragon was due for a skin change and we brought it here from Andromeda, as we need the scaly skin for some of the magic potions that we make. After the change we sent him back home. He is now very happy and he too dreams of the night he was brought to earth. This is a true story and it happened to me some twenty years ago.

School days.

I am very excited tomorrow is my first day at the infants school. With all the other children from the orphanage I marched down to the front of the Matrons office where she held her weekday parade. All of the children boys and girls had to attend with their respective Foster Mothers. Matron came and went down the three lines of waiting children all drawn up as if in a military parade. After Matron had made her inspection we were dismissed and walked quietly to the school, which was next door to the orphanage. On entering the school playground it was as if someone had released a valve and the children shouting at the tops of their voices went into the playground. A whistle blew and the Headmaster and the teachers came out of the school. Another whistle and the children formed up into squares each child to its class. A little girl and I were standing to one side when a lady approached us and asked if we were the new school children. This teacher told us that her name is Mrs. Coleman. "Come with me," she said and took us to a class of waiting children. "Every time that you come to school you must form up with this class. Another whistle blew and the children marched into the main hall of the school each class had its own position. The Headmaster then called out a hymn and the children sang with the Headmaster playing the piano. After the hymn prayers were said and then the children quietly walked to their respective classrooms.

Mrs. Coleman showed we two newcomers to the school to a classroom and told us where to sit. Mrs. Coleman was a lovely person who seemed to know at once whether a child had a problem or not. Mrs. Coleman taught us the alphabet and showed us simple arithmetic, history and geography. School was from nine in the morning until twelve midday an hour's break for lunch then from one o'clock until four we had reading lessons and writing. A quarter of an hour before school ended for the day Mrs. Coleman would tell us a story. This lovely person had a new story every day, I loved my school days in her class and always enjoyed her little stories.

Mrs. Coleman was a neatly dressed person and had on a clean dress or blouse and skirt every day. What is more she wore a necklace of beads and an arm bracelet to match. The beads and the bracelet were made from ebony wood inlaid with fine silver patterns. These beads and the bracelet were made she told us by a man that suffered with Leprosy. We children did not know what leprosy was but it stuck in my mind. This little tale she told us about the beads and the bracelet. The man worked all day on one bead and one whole week for the bracelet. When the evening fires were lit and the children of the African village gathered around the man still working away on his beads and bracelet told the children stories, stories about the animals and the African jungle and its inhabitants. The man was a good storyteller and it seemed that as he worked on his beads and bracelets he was putting his tales into the beads.

An Uncle who had lived for a while in Africa had given Mrs. Coleman the beads. The Uncle told Mrs. Coleman that whoever possesses the beads would always be able to tell a good tale no matter where he or she lived. One day as Mrs. Coleman was writing on the blackboard in the classroom she snagged her beads with her hands causing the silk that held the beads together, to break. The beads ran all over the floor and I and another little boy had great fun picking up the beads and giving them back to Mrs. Coleman. When all of the beads had been gathered together she gave me and the other little boy a large bead each. Keep the bead safely it will perhaps one day give you the ability to tell stories like I tell them to the class. I lost sight of the other boy when I was evacuated down to Wales. Since I have had the bead I have always been able to tell a story, as I write this the bead is sitting on the top of my computer. I am sure that all of my stories come from the bead that I was given all of those years ago.

School's End.

All have come to attend the school leaving ceremony. Parents, friends, relatives of all kinds, it is one of the biggest events of the year. No one wanted to miss taking part in the feast that followed. There would be dancing and singing, an orchestra will play. Thousands of fireflies will light the night and the most important all of the Fairies will have a new magic wand. The wand if it is used properly can make a fairy disappear. It can provide food and the most important it will protect the Fairy from all harm. We all know that some Fairies are forgetful and do not always take their magic wands with them. It was one such Fairy that I shall tell you about in this my little story.

Lenafee is the name of the Fairy that I will tell you about. Lenafee was not a very good scholar and often played truant in other words she was missing when some of the most important Fairy lessons were being held in class and so her knowledge was not that which it should have been. To give you an example she did not go to school on the day that the Fairies were shown how to place their magic wands in their dresses so that they never would be without the wand when it was needed.

Lenafee's parents were at the school leaving ceremony and happily applauded when Lenafee's name was called out to receive her magic wand. Lenafee went up to the raised platform where the head teacher was giving out the wands. As each child came up to the platform the head teacher spoke a few words to each Fairy mainly praising the Fairy. When Lenafee went up for her wand she did not praise her but told Lenafee to be very careful. Lenafee accepted the magic wand and went back to her smiling parents.

"What did the Head Teacher say to you?" they excitedly asked Lenafee. "He told me that I was a very good fairy," mumbled Lenafee. This answer satisfied the parents and they with Lenafee went to where the food and drinks were appearing out of the air. One just had to reach out and whatever one desired it appeared in one's hand. All kinds of fruit juices and wines were served and of course the most famous Fairy cakes.

During the dancing that followed Lenafee went missing. Her worried parents looked everywhere for her but she was gone. Lenafee's Father went to where the orchestra was playing and asked in a loud voice if anyone had seen his daughter. No one had seen her. Lenafee had disappeared, all through the night her parents looked for her. In the morning it was known all over Fairyland that Lenafee had gone missing.

The thousands of fireflies that were lighting up the dance fascinated Lenafee and when a hundred or more of the fireflies suddenly flew off away from the feast she rather stupidly followed them. Her Magic wand she had given to her mother for safekeeping. The fireflies flew deeper and deeper into the night and Lenafee followed them until her wings were so tired that she could no longer fly.

Still following the fireflies she walked as quickly as she could until she stumbled into a large spider web that had been spun across the forest path. Lenafee was now caught in the sticky mesh of the web. She was not frightened; as spiders could not harm her, it was the sticky web that held her so tight. She could not free herself. If only she had her magic wand she could easily have freed herself from the web.

In the end Lenafee stopped struggling to free herself and waited for help. She knew that the Fairies would be looking for her. What she did not realise was how far away she was from her part of fairyland. A faint whistling came down the forest floor it was a woodchopper who was on his way to work. The woodchopper saw Lenafee and set her free by cutting with his axe the spider web. He asked her why she had not freed herself everyone knew that Fairies could do magic things. Freeing herself should have been very easy. Lenafee then shyly told the woodcutter that she had given her Magic wand to her mother to look after that is why she did now have it with her.

The woodcutter shared with the Fairy Lenafee his meal, which was plain bread and water from a nearby stream. Then he looked carefully on the ground until he found the tracks made by Lenafee as she followed the fireflies. " This is the path you should follow look for your own footprints and that will bring you back to your own part of the woods." said the woodcutter.

Lenafee soon followed her own tracks this time she walked a while then flew a while. Soon she was back in her own part of Fairyland and met up with some of the Fairies that were looking for her, The birds of the woods were telling all that the Lenafee has been found. Lenafee's parents were delighted to have their daughter back safe and took her home to where they lived. When school started for the fairy children Lenafee asked if she too could attend school again. Permission was granted and Lenafee was a very good scholar she did not play truant and learned all that a fairy should know before going off on her own.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana visited the Woodcutter that had helped Lenafee and he was handsomely rewarded with a small box of coins. No matter how often he emptied the box of coins it refilled itself. Lenafee has now finished school and is one of the best workers among the Fairies and it is rumoured that she will soon be with the wise old Fairies.

Earrings.

Seaweed.

Walking along the sandy beach enjoying the sand between my toes and under my feet I came across some queer looking seaweed. Picking the seaweed up I noticed that there was some nylon thread running through it. Sitting in the sand I unravelled the nylon thread it was in the form of netting. I was surprised at how long it was, it must have been lost from a fishing boat I decided to take it back home with me, it would be useful for tying up plants like peas or even beans.

Back home I took the nylon and placed it on a shelf in my garden shed. I must admit I had forgotten all about it when one Saturday afternoon I needed string to tie some cucumbers in my green house. The plants were quite big and the cucumbers were hanging down to the floor. I had not done very much in the greenhouse this year just planted a few tomatoes and cucumbers. I watered them whenever I thought about it and must admit I was one very lazy gardener this summer.

Taking the nylon thread I went to the green house to tie up the heavy cucumbers. Imagine my surprise when the nylon thread took on a life of its own and before my eyes it tied all the plants in the greenhouse. I looked carefully at the nylon thread it was just the same as when I had unravelled it on the beach a couple of months ago. Although all the cucumbers and tomatoes had been tied the nylon thread had not lost any of its quantity.

I used the same thread a week or two later to tie up my beans it was just the same, although all had been tied not a piece of nylon thread had been used. This was indeed a puzzle. Taking the nylon with me I went into the woods and tried a little experiment. Tying one end of the thread to a tree I walked deep into the woods trailing the thread behind me. The thread remained the same it was just the same amount that I had on the seashore unravelled. I must have walked about three miles unwinding the thread behind me. It remained the same.

I decided to go back home and rewound the nylon thread but the ball did not get bigger it remained the same although I had unwound three miles of thread and now rewound the same. At home I got my magic mirror and placed the nylon thread onto it. The mirror glowed and I saw this series of pictures. Mermaids had been swimming in the sea when they were caught in the nylon mesh of a boat's fishing nets.

Neptune on seeing his lovely daughters caught in the nets sent a heavy storm that caused the fisher boats to abandon the nets and make their way into harbour. To unravel the knots in the nets King Neptune got some Octopuses to unravel the nets with their many arms and free his daughters. The nylon thread that they unravelled as they freed one daughter after another caught King Neptune's eye He placed a spell on the nylon thread saying that whoever unravelled any of this netting would never have to want for nylon thread again. By unravelling the thread that I had found wrapped in seaweed I had invoked the spell of King Neptune.

Now I always have thread for tying the plants in my garden. I even use it for wrapping up parcels for birthday presents or if I want to post a packet I always have thread. The nylon has only one disadvantage and that is the strong smell of seaweed. If you do not like the smell of seaweed then do not unravel any netting that you might find on the seashore. Yes the smell gets stronger on hot days. If you have neighbours that are not friendly do not use the nylon thread. I have even had complaints from the Post Office about the strong smell of seaweed in and around my parcels. One other use for the nylon thread is, if you cut it up into very small pieces and dig it into your garden you will have the best manure in your neighbourhood. The smell is as I say not very nice in fact it stinks. If you live by the seaside then it does not matter whether the nylon smells or not you can always say the tide is in early, or something like that, if and when your seaweed starts to smell.

Secluded Place.

Many years ago I walked through the forest looking for mushrooms. I also kept my eyes open for wild animals. It is my custom to tread quietly on my rambles through the forest. On one such a day I saw many of the wild life on their business through the woods. To come to the point of my story on this particular day I could not turn left there was always a thick bush and bramble wall that stopped me. The wall was so thick that even when I climbed a tree to see what was behind the wall all I saw was, brambles, bushes and trees. Some one or some thing had caused the woods to grow very thick making a natural barrier. I followed this wall keeping my eyes open for signs of an entry. I must admit I was now very intrigued at the wall and what its purpose was. No wild animal had planted it that was for sure. Could it have been from human hand, if so what had anyone to hide in such a dense forest?

I nearly missed the path that was overgrown as if no one had used it for a long time. Clearing the path as best I could I followed it through about twenty meters of thick brush as I say it was a living wall. The path came to an end and I saw a large clearing stretching as far as the eye could see. This clearing was covered in splashes of colour. Some one has gone to a lot of trouble to plant this clearing with thousands of brightly coloured flowers. All kinds of bees were at work flying from flower to flower. The scent in the air was absolutely wonderful it was as if a large factory had thrown away buckets and buckets full of sweet smelling scents. I was fascinated and wandered like a child through the delightful flower garden, for that is what it was, a flower garden. Not just wild flowers but carefully cultivated Roses, Lilies even Orchids. A light falling of soft rain caught me completely unawares. No heavy drops just an even pattern of rain that one sometimes sees when sprinklers have been turned on in a garden.

I did not bother to look for shelter, as the rain was very refreshing after having walked through the forest. The soft rain gently washed the sweat from my face and arms and I wandered from one patch of flowers to the next. I must admit I was now very curious about this magnificent garden that surely no human hand had touched. Who had taken so much trouble to clear away the trees and bushes? Who had planted these most beautiful of colours? The rain after about an hour and a half stopped; as it had started. No noise was to be heard apart from the singing of hundreds of birds that were really a symphony of musicians playing an age-old melody that is nearly forgotten in this modern world of ours.

Walking round a large patch of anemones I saw a most beautiful lady, She was dressed in a long flowing gown that gently wiped away the tiny droplets of rain that had previously fallen, she left a light trail in the floor of the clearing that was covered in small green grass patches between the flowers. The lady, for lady she surely was, played a melody on a flute that matched the birds sweet sounding notes as if she was part of the bird's choir. Seeing me she smiled and said, "I see you have found the only entrance to my secluded place." "Enjoy while you are here, you will never find this garden again." On hearing her sweet voice I became very sad, I would never find this lovely garden again." I softly asked the lady, "Is this the Garden of Eden that one hears about in the Holy Bible?" "No this is my own secluded place and only those with a love of all things natural, such as the flowers and the insects and all of the living things of this world can come for a while to enjoy this secluded place." You have been chosen to find the entrance because you have a love for all of the living things in nature. I left the lady and wandered around the most beautiful garden until I felt tired and laid my self down beneath a small tree. I dropped off to sleep and when I awoke I was under a tree right in the middle of the forest. The only flowers that I saw were a few wild flowers growing underneath a small bush as if they were hiding from me. The most loveliest of gardens had disappeared and I sadly made my way home to my own home and after looking at my flowers in my garden I made a vow that in future my garden would be like the one that I was privileged to see in the forest. Later I saw a picture of the lady in the garden in a newspaper under which was the caption (Is this Mother Nature?) What do you think did Mother Nature show her very own garden to me?

Seeing Things.

In my long life I have seen many things, things sometimes incredible, at others so simple that no explanation need be given to explain them. It was one such a case of seeing things that I want to write about. I am not asking anyone to believe me; I am long past that stage. Just bear with me that is all I ask. I was a young man when this episode happened it was the hard winter of nineteen sixty-six. Bitterly cold then came the snow. It snowed non-stop for two whole days and nights. All is white, a thick covering of newly fallen snow a pleasure to see but not to have to wade through to get to work. When I left home well wrapped up I decided to walk to work and leave the car parked in the garage. On my way home in the evening I noticed that about forty yards from my house someone had built a snowman. This did not bother me I thought that the children from the house had been enjoying themselves playing in the fresh snow.

The following day I left the house and looked hard at the snowman, it had a remarkably cruel face. It seemed to me that the children had a budding artist among them. I am not the man to be frightened easily and the cruel face I shrugged off and carried on to my place of work. In the evening on reaching home I looked at the snowman and I swear that it had been moved nearer the house. I thought no more of it and went in to have my supper and wash and get ready for bed. Looking out of the bedroom window I saw the snowman and it had moved again not far but I was I admit now very curious. How could a snowman move? It is not possible. In the morning the snowman was even closer to the house. I decided to watch it now and if it moved again I was determined to break the snowman into pieces and throw the snow on the road so that a snowplough could move it away. If this had happened in the summer I would have blamed the pixies or the fairies this was something that they would love to do. The fairies and the pixies with all of the other little people were away in a deep cave under the Himalayan Mountains. All the butterflies would be with them to be able to get over the winter months this happened every year as you all know fairies hate getting their wings wet and the butterflies, well the Fairy Queen has been taking the butterflies with the fairies for hundreds of years.

The following morning I got up a little earlier and went well wrapped up out into the snow to inspect the snowman at close quarters it had a real ugly face that was somehow menacing. It was even nearer to the house. I went to my place of work and made up my mind to destroy the snowman when I got home in the evening. This day my work suffered I was not able to concentrate, I kept getting visions that the snowman was watching everything that I did. I made some very stupid mistakes and spent time correcting them. Five o'clock came and I dressed myself against the cold and went home. The snowman had now reached the front window. I wondered whether anyone else had seen the snowman moving ever so slowly toward the house. Reaching home I went to the garage and got out my shovel. The first thing that I did was to knock the head off the snowman. It gave out a horrible laugh and I continued using the shovel until the snowman was completely destroyed. Then I shovelled the snow out on to the road. One of my neighbours asked me what on earth I was doing at that time of night, shovelling snow out on to the road. In the morning, which was a Saturday, the children were out with shovels and buckets and they soon had a new snowman built. I must say that I helped them after all it was I that had destroyed their old snowman it was only fair that I helped build a new one. The face of the new snowman I modelled and it was now a jolly face that would not hurt anyone. To make it up to the children, I went indoors and sorted out a pair of trousers and a pair of very old shoes armed with these things and an old jacket that I did not wear anymore I went back to the snowman and this time I helped the children dress the snowman. The shoes I put on it so that they were facing away from the house. If it moved now it would only be able to go away from us and do no harm. I dressed it in the same way. The children thought it great fun to have a snowman that looked away from them, you may take my word for it that this snowman was in no way able to be a danger to any one. I watched it right up until the sun eventually melted it away. It did not move an inch. The first snowman has been forgotten now by all of the children just the snowman that looked away from them is still in their memories. I am glad that I have been able to write this story as some things that happen are really unbelievable and one must always have an open mind.

Shaggy Old Dog.

The prickling sensation in the back of my neck got worse, I quickly looked around, was I being followed? All I saw behind me was a shaggy old dog it looked as if it could do with first a wash then a good solid meal. The feeling in my neck continued and all I could see was a shaggy old dog walking behind me. Shrugging my shoulders I continued on to the shops and bought the necessary groceries for the coming week.

Needless to say the dog followed me from shop to shop and stood patiently waiting until I had finished my shopping and followed me to the next shop. I still had this feeling of danger but as my next shop was a Butcher I went in and bought a large bone. Going to the door of the shop I threw the bone to the dog. To my surprise the dog completely ignored the bone. I told the Butcher of the dogs behaviour and he came himself to look at the dog that ignored a huge bone. When you leave said the Butcher use the back door that might get rid of the dog for you.

I left the Butchers and made my way back home, as I reached my home the dog was following me he had his nose to the ground and I managed to get into my garden and close the gate. I am not frightened of dogs but I had this strange feeling that there was more to this dog than meets the eye. I left the dog sitting outside of my garden gate while I went indoors to put my groceries away. I could not just leave the dog there so I got a bowl of fresh water and some pieces of meat and placed them on the pavement in front of the dog. More I could not do.

I made my lunch and after eating my meal I went out to the garden and saw that the dog was still there but it had not touched the water or eaten of the meat. I forgot all about danger and went outside and took the dog by the collar and led him into my garden. The water and meat I brought in from the pavement and placed them on the floor in front of him. He was filthy dirty and my one wish was to wash him thoroughly. I took a bathtub and some shampoo and filling the bathtub with warm water I placed the dog into the bath.

For the first time the dog wagged its tail I washed him and dried him and gave him from the meat. He now ate the meat and drank the water. Looking at me with his big brown eyes he barked. His bark was soft and easy on my ears then I realised that the dog was trying to talk to me. I got my Magic wand and waved it at the dog. The dog turned into a young man and this is the story he told me.

He was an apprentice to a Wizard. That meant he had to obey all that the Wizard told him to do. The Wizard had turned him into a dog and told him to watch all that I did he was not to eat or drink before he had found out all about me. The Wizard was a very wicked man and for any little thing that the apprentice did wrong he was punished. He had of course not found out much about me and I told the apprentice if he wanted to go back working for the man I would give him many a story for the Wizard to think about.

The apprentice had, had enough of the Wizard and wanted to go back home to his Mum and Dad and his Brothers and Sisters. That is no problem I will send you back to your home but before I do so I would like for you to look into my Magic Mirror and think about the Wizard. The Apprentice looked into my mirror and flinched when he first saw his wicked old Wizard. "Do not be afraid he cannot hurt or even see you, you are quite safe here with me." This quietened the boy down and together we watched the Wizard. He was busy mixing some powders and leaves together the whole thing he grounded down in a mortar. Soon smoke came out of the mixture and I realised that the Wizard was looking for the dog his apprentice and me. I placed the mirror back into my pocket and took out my magic wand.

Waving my wand I spoke a spell that Queen Feeana had told me while learning magic. I took out my mirror again and saw the Wizard turn into a dog. Now I can send you home. The Wizard now runs around on four legs like you were doing when following me. I think that is a just punishment for such an evil man. I then waved my wand once again and the young man vanished I had sent him back to his family. I had by using my magic wand at the same time given him the knowledge of how to build houses now he has a real trade that he can do and earn enough money to help keep his family until his brothers and Sisters are grown up.

The Wizard is still running around the streets always afraid that one of the animal rescue workers will catch him and place him in a dogs home for strays. That is I think a fitting punishment for such a wicked man.

Shamus.

Shamus is a Leprechaun of the old school. Generous, polite, and always smiling, nothing it seemed could upset him or indeed throw him off of the course he had set himself. He is a messenger of Her Majesty, the Fairy Queen, Feeana. Once a year Shamus went home to his place in Ireland. Shamus owned a cottage that he kept in tiptop condition. It, he would say is my home for when I retire. Shamus's cottage was in the middle of a plot of land. Around the land he had planted quick growing trees. It is difficult to see the cottage what with the trees and shrubs; the cottage is hidden behind this living wall.

Shamus had once told me that he wanted to retire and live a secluded life; his only visitors would be some well-chosen friends. "I," he said, was one of his friends and I would always be welcome to visit him and spend some time in his Irish abode. This all took place some years ago Shamus still has some time before he retires. He is a man that can turn his hands to anything. The shoes that he makes are of excellent quality and in house building he is second to none.

Shamus appeared late one evening and I asked him to share my evening meal. I had a half of a chicken that was left over from my midday meal. Leprechauns do not eat meat as a rule but I knew that Shamus was very partial to a portion of cold chicken leg. We washed the chicken down with some cider that I had bought while I was journeying through Somerset in the spring.

After the meal I went upstairs to the spare bedroom and placed some pyjamas for Shamus. The bed I had changed yesterday so it was nice and fresh. As a rule Shamus sleeps on the floor he says it is more comfortable. I was hoping that on this night he would sleep in the bed. I went downstairs and after a few more words of conversation we went upstairs, Shamus went into the spare room and I went into my own bedroom. Soon I heard hearty snores coming from the spare room. Shamus must have lain himself down in the bed for normally he does not snore.

I awoke at my usual time of seven o'clock washed and dressed and went downstairs. The smell of fresh coffee wafted up to my nose and I knew that Shamus was up and preparing breakfast. "One egg or two? Were his first words. " Two," came my quick reply. We both ate our breakfast without talking and after we had washed the dishes we walked to the woods.

Listening to the birds Shamus said there is something wrong in Fairyland. I listened very carefully and realised that the birds were very noisy and appeared to be upset. I took out my Magic wand and waved it in front of me. Then we saw a being with a horse's body and two heads. One head was of a woman the other of a man. Going towards them I spoke gently and asked why they were in this part of Fairyland we did not as a rule have such strangers.

They told me this story, Shamus and myself sat down under a tree and listened to the Mans head speaking. The Woman's head only nodded as if to support what her partner said. In the land of Norne an island way out in the pacific there lived a Wizard that wanted to marry the woman. The woman was in love with this young man who loved her so much that they both wanted to get married. The Wizard when he heard that the two were already engaged spoke a terrible curse on the two. "You want to be married then I will marry you. "First nothing happened then the two were sailing through the air clutching each other's hands. When they landed both were terribly changed the man's body was now a horse. The horse had two heads a man's head and a woman's head. The two had roamed through the countryside of Great Britain ever since. They had travelled by night and during the day they hid. They had unknowingly made there way to that part of Britain where the Fairy Queen lived.

I sent a robin to ask Her Royal Highness to come and see for herself what the Wizard had done. Soon the blue light and small puff of smoke and Her Royal Highness was with us. On seeing the Horse with the two heads she took out her Magic Mirror and spoke some words into it. I did not hear what Her Majesty had said but there was another flash and an ugly looking wizard was standing before Her Majesty.

"This is your work you rascal what have you to say for yourself." The Wizard stammered, "I wanted to marry her but she had already chosen the other and I thought if I cannot have her then no one will." "That is very wrong of you," said Her Majesty now change them back to what they were before you worked your evil magic. The Wizard mumbled some words and the horse changed back into a lovely girl and a handsome young man. Both were naked and Her Majesty quickly waved her wand and both were clothed. Shamus offered to take them back to their own country of Norne. Her Majesty told the three of them to hold hands and a bright flash of light a small puff of smoke and the three vanished.

Her Majesty waved her wand once more and the Wizard turned into a horse, the horse wanders all over Great Britain but will never disturb the love of the young couple again. Shamus appeared the next day and told me that all had arrived safely in the Island of Norne. He himself had travelled back the same way by using the same words that Her Majesty had used. We had a meal and Shamus saying goodbye to me disappeared in a bright blue flash and is now at his home in Ireland.

Shamus and I.

The daylight was fading fast. Soon the sky will be one field of diamonds sparkling deep into the night. The rays of the moon shine gently down to the forest's floor. I am sitting with my back to an old oak tree, waiting for my old friend, The Leprechaun Shamus. Shamus and I have many adventures behind us and to tell the truth I am looking forward to seeing him again and perhaps another adventure to live through.

Shamus came into view dressed as usual in his green and russet brown suit that suited him well despite his small stature of growth. We greeted each other and Shamus sat down beside me under the old oak. "What is new?" I asked him. Nothing much this end to report about, but we will know more when Her Majesty joins us, in about five minutes. Looking at his old-fashioned silver pocket watch that had seen many years of service, he corrected himself in about three minutes now I think.

Her Majesty appeared in her usual fashion, a bright blue flash and a small whiff of smoke. To my surprise she was dressed in green and russet brown similar to Shamus. No royal gown, no jewellery. Ha I thought to myself we are going on a secret mission where we would be able to get near to any thing or anybody without being seen. I too was wearing a dark brown suit and had my old cap on my head.

Her Majesty did not waste any time, taking Shamus and I by the hand, I felt the now familiar sensation of my tummy sinking and then we arrived in the middle of Sherwood Forest. Her Majesty then told us about a certain Wizard that had been taking Fairies prisoner and making them do the rough housework in his large old house. Her Majesty had been doing a routine check to see whether the Fairies in Great Britain were well. Through her magic mirror she had discovered the Wizard Manaway and his capturing the Fairies while they were going about their daily tasks,

He had made a magic cloak that made him invisible and with the help of this cloak he had caught fifteen Fairies and made them servants in his house. Her Majesty knew that it would be difficult to catch him as he always wore his cloak when going out into Sherwood Forest. That is the reason that we all had green and russet brown clothing to help us hide in the forest without being seen.

Shamus had made a special metal rod that when it was swung in the air and anyone was about it would give off a whistling tone. Then we saw the Fairies going about their usual tasks of painting the flowers the birds, the butterflies; there was so much to do. Other Fairies who had finished their work were playing hide and seek. Every now and again Shamus twirled his metal piece in the air, for a long time nothing happened then the metal gave off a whistling tone although there was no one to be seen. Her Majesty and I watched and listened every time the metal pointed to the north it gave off a whistle.

Her Majesty pointed her Magic Wand to the north and then we all saw him. An evil looking man that was so concentrated on the fairies that he did not see the three of us as we hid behind the trees. Then the Wizard Manaway pointed a long stick at one of the Fairies that was busy painting some flowers. The Fairy stood frozen to the spot and the Wizard went to her and placing her on his shoulder he strode back to his house.

We, Shamus, Her Majesty and I followed not making a sound. We were all used to walking in the woods and avoided any broken branches that might have given us away, still keeping an eye on the Wizard Manaway. He led us to his house a huge rambling old building that was badly in need of repair. He unlocked a heavy wooden door and he and the Fairy vanished inside of the big old house. We crept up to the door and gently pushed it open. Now Her Majesty was very cross all of the fairies that he had captured and taken home with him had, had their wings cropped they could not fly.

Her Majesty still had her Magic Wand in her hand and it was pointing at Manaway the Wizard. She turned Manaway into a Donkey and Shamus led him out of the house and giving him a hard smack on his backside. The Donkey ran off into the woods of Sherwood never to be seen again. The Fairies, Her Majesty with another pointing of her Magic wand she repaired all of the cropped wings and made them all forget what had happened in the house of Manaway.

The Fairies went back to what they were doing before their encounter with Manaway and all have forgotten that they were forced to work for him. There is now peace in Sherwood Forest and this all happened before Robin Hood made his appearance on the scene.

Shamus's Present.

Many years ago I helped a Leprechaun that was having some trouble from some drunken men. The leprechaun was doing quite well with his shillelagh but I felt I had to help him and I myself attacked the men. They soon ran off when the opposition got too much for them. Since that day the Leprechaun, his name is Shamus, often visits me and has repaid me for my help by mending my roof and doing odd jobs around my big old house. We have had some quite exciting adventures in the last twenty years or so. It did not surprise me to receive a parcel from him.

The parcel had been posted from the town of Killarney in Ireland and had taken three days to reach me. I had no idea what was in the parcel and I opened it with some excitement. Shamus always was good for a surprise or two. Cutting the string that held the parcel together I opened the brown paper wrapping and saw a pair of boots. The boots I tried on and they fitted me perfectly. In one of the boots I felt a small obstruction and reaching inside of the boot I pulled out a piece of paper. On the paper written in the finest copperplate writing a message from Shamus.

If you are ever in danger while wearing these boots jump! I thought to myself to jump in such heavy boots would mean that I would soon be tired. My gardening boots are very old and I had been thinking of getting myself some new ones for while now Shamus had sent me just the right present a pair of boots that would do me well in my garden work. Three or four weeks went by and the boots were a treat to work in. Comfortable with the leather giving way to my every move, I am delighted. I have written to Shamus's address thanking him for his very generous present. Today I had an answer from Shamus who tells me that he is coming to see me in a couple of days if that is all right with me. It is a pleasure for me to have Shamus come to visit he is full of tales about his many travels.

Shamus arrived some four days later and after a cup of sweet tea and some ginger biscuits he asked me whether I had jumped in the new boots. I told him no that I had, had no need to jump I have not been in any kind of danger. "Come into the garden," said Shamus and we both went out into my large back garden. "Now jump," said Shamus, I was not prepared for what happened next. I jumped and landed some sixty feet away from the spot that I had been standing on. "That will happen every time you call jump," smiled shamus. "I made you these boots with some magic leather as I have heard that you are about to be attacked by a group of wizards." "This is one of your defences. Another is this my shillelagh, (Irish cudgel) I now give it to you as your second means of defence." "The third means of defence is your old wheelbarrow. I have taken the trouble to fix it a little, so do not be surprised at what it may do if you are attacked." I am sorry that I cannot stay to help you, like you helped me but I am officially on some business for Her Majesty Queen Feeana and should be in Delaware in the US of A. Grinning all over his face, Shamus waved goodbye and disappeared in a small flash of smoke.

Going back indoors I thought about what Shamus had told me. I was to be attacked by a group of wizards. I did not for one-minute doubt Shamus's words he is always too well informed for me to be in doubt. I decided that the wizards would not attack me here in my house as it is too well guarded by Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The garden I did not think that I would be attacked in my garden. My old dog Wag would warn me of any danger. I did take the shillelagh and wore the boots everywhere that I went. Embarrassing for me was the fact that every time that I went out of my house wearing my boots and carrying the shillelagh my old wheelbarrow followed me. I was afraid that the neighbours would start gossiping if the wheelbarrow moved on its own so I put the shillelagh in the wheelbarrow and walked behind it. If any one came along I would bend down and grab the handles of the barrow to make it look as if I was pushing the thing. Half way into town to do some shopping it happened. I was surrounded by a group of five wizards. The wizards were all dressed in black clothing with gold and silver stars on their cloaks on their heads each had a long pointed hat. My old dog Wag gave off a vicious snarl and then did not wait he ran for the nearest and sank his teeth in the man's leg. The shillelagh sprang from the barrow and started in on the wizards one after the other got a big surprise as the blows rained down on them from the shillelagh. As the wizards fell unconscious from the attacks of the shillelagh. The wheelbarrow under its own power collected the bodies and transported them to the nearest ditch where it promptly pitched them into the dirty water in the ditch.

Then as quickly as it had started it was over. Wag stood by my feet his tail wagging to and fro he was very satisfied. The shillelagh was now resting in my wheelbarrow. My wheelbarrow turned and headed for home. I walked behind and then thought to myself I did not need Shamus's boots after all I had not needed to jump. Then Wag growled once and I saw that the wizards had now formed a line across my path to stop me from getting home. They were now pointing some magic wands at me and started to chant an old spell. Now I realised I was trouble and called to my boots jump. My boots lifted me to a spot behind the wizards and now my dog wag, my wheelbarrow and my shillelagh were again attacking the wizards. Four of whom were trying to protect the fifth who with his magic wand pointing at me was chanting his spells again. Jump! I landed way behind the wizard: jump again and I was on his left then jump and I was on his right. He just could not concentrate long enough for his spell to work. The five wizards then gave up trying to attack me and off they ran. My shillelagh and my wheelbarrow followed them for a while then returned home to my back garden. Nowadays I only use the boots for my garden work. The shillelagh has a place of honour in my walking stick stand and the wheelbarrow is still as comfortable to sleep in as it always has been. Later I told Shamus of what had happened and he was not very happy as he himself would liked to have been with me while I was under attack.

Shamus's Visit.

I have spent the last two days cleaning the spare room and getting it ready for Shamus. Shamus as I have previously mentioned in an earlier story is an Irish Leprechaun. In fact I can say that Shamus is my best friend. I quickly made the bed with fresh linen and got things ready for a comfortable stay. My next step was to go to the village store. I stocked up with the usual things such as butter sugar and milk. My last purchase was six packets of ginger biscuits. All Fairies and Leprechauns love ginger biscuits and I keep some in my pantry for the little people when they come to stay.

Late Saturday afternoon Shamus walked quietly through my garden up to the back door. Knocking on the door he opened it with a jovial, "Well I am Here." We exchanged greetings and I put the kettle on to the fire to make a pot of sweet tea. Sweet tea and ginger biscuits was just the right thing for Shamus. He loves his hot sweet tea and can drink cup after cup, and still ask for more. After tea we went out into the back garden and I showed Shamus my splendid growth of vegetables. Tomatoes were ready for plucking and Shamus took one and bit into it. "You have green fingers my friend." He said and with that we went back indoors.

We spoke about all kinds of things well into the night and it was very late or should I say early morning when we both went to our rooms to sleep. Shamus was up early in spite of the late night and I awoke to the smell of fresh bacon and fried bread, Then I smelt the coffee and having a quick wash I dressed and went down to the kitchen where Shamus was sitting down to breakfast of eggs, bacon and fried bread. After we had eaten our fill we went out on to the porch with a cup of coffee and Shamus told me this small story.

On his last visit Shamus had gone to the woods as he usually did, he had a basket with him and was collecting blackberries for jam making. Much to his surprise he came across what looked like a bundle of rags. He soon saw that the rags were in reality a little old woman that had been collecting herbs and roots. She had unfortunately fallen over a tree root and had badly sprained her ankle. Shamus then recognised the elderly woman, She lived close by the woods and spent her time looking for herbs and roots with which she made medicines and other healthful remedies. Shamus made the elderly woman as comfortable as he could and gave her some water to drink.

Shamus then made a form of splint and picking up the elderly woman in his strong arms he carried her back to her cottage, The old lady then told Shamus to take the pestle and mortar that was on the shelf and to place in the mortar a number of dried plants and roots that were hung all over the ceiling. Shamus soon had a thick paste in the mortar and taking it over to the old ladies bed he gently rubbed the paste over the sprained ankle. He then made her a cup of hot tea, which he sweetened with honey. Taking from his pouch a small leaf Shamus told the old lady to chew the leaf and as the old lady did so she dropped off into a long sleep. Shamus made another mortar full of the paste and rubbed it in to the sleeping woman's ankle.

Shamus curled up at the foot of the old woman's bed on the floor and slept lightly with one ear tuned for any movement of the elderly woman. The elderly woman who had made some sweet honeyed tea awakened him in the morning. Shamus was not at all surprised that the woman was walking as if nothing had happened. The elderly woman then asked Shamus to accompany her to the woods; She had something that she wanted to show him. Walking through one of the many paths that the wild animals make as they hunt for food the woman stopped at a large bramble bush. Putting her hand into her pocket she sprinkled what looked like magic dust over the bramble bush. To Shamus's delight the bramble bush flowered and quickly changed into fruit. Shamus had never in the whole of his long life seen such big juicy blackberries. Then the old woman spoke. " As long as you shall live this black berry bush will give you and yours as much fruit as you can carry." After saying these words she disappeared leaving Shamus with all of the wonderful blackberries that he had ever seen.

"Come with me," said Shamus, " it is time that I showed you the blackberry bush," take some baskets with you, as you will be in for a big surprise. Going into the woods we followed an old trail and soon there was a clearing in the middle of which was this huge bramble bush. As Shamus and I approached it the bush trembled and suddenly it was full of flowers. The flowers turned to red fruit in front of our eyes and soon the whole bush was full of large sweet blackberries. We soon filled our baskets and made our way home. This year I would have a dozen or more pots of blackberry jam.

Soon after Shamus said his goodbyes and went on his way, I have often walked along the hidden trail to where the blackberry bush still stands but I have never seen it bearing fruit. When Shamus next comes to visit me I will ask him to go with me to the blackberry bush to see whether it will give Shamus more of those delicious blackberries.

Shoe troubles.

A little moonlight lit the landing. The stairs were dark and I was afraid to hurt myself by falling if I ran down the stairs, as I wanted. You might ask what was I doing in the middle of the night wanting to run down the stairs in the dark. The knocking on the door was now louder and I managed to call out, "Who is there?" No answer in words just the very loud knocking. I pulled back the two bolts one at the top of the door and one at the bottom unlocking the heavy lock I threw the door open. Standing on my doorstep was a Leprechaun. "What are you making such a noise for?" I angrily asked. "Let me in and lock the door," he pleaded. Pulling him in through the open door, I slammed and re-bolted the door turning the key in the heavy lock.

Lighting a candle I led him in to the kitchen, there were still a few glowing coals on the fire so I filled the fire with fresh coal and put the kettle on the fire to make a cup of tea. The leprechaun looked as if he could do with a cup of hot sweet tea. Pulling up two chairs to the fire I motioned the Leprechaun to sit in one and I carried on making the tea. I would not let him speak before he had drunk his sweet tea there is nothing better for shock as sweet hot tea, and this Leprechaun was in a state of shock he could hardly speak. I soon had some cups and saucers ready and taking the sugar from the shelf and placing the dry tea in the pot, I waited for the kettle to boil. Soon we were drinking each a cup of hot sweet tea.

The Leprechaun started to tell me his story he was a maker of boots and fine shoes for Ladies and Gentlemen. His work was in great demand and he was working nearly day and night to finish off the orders that came pouring in. He tried to engage other Leprechauns to join him but they were not interested in earning money, most had a large pot of gold and were satisfied. A wizard heard of the Leprechaun shoemaker and gave him some magic leather and told him to drop everything that he was doing and to make him some boots with the magic leather. Not wanting to get on the bad side of the Wizard the Leprechaun agreed. A pair of good solid boots was soon on the shelf waiting for the Wizard to collect them.

The shoes were looking so smart with their highly polished black leather that the Leprechaun became curious and tried them on. A strange feeling went right through his body and the shoes vanished. They were still on his feet but try as hard as he could he could not take the shoes from off of his feet. He made a new pair of shoes hoping that the Wizard would not notice the difference. The Wizard eventually came for his shoes and tried on the ones that the Leprechaun had placed on the shelf instead of the ones that were now on the Leprechauns feet. The Wizard knew at once that the shoes were not from his magic leather. He threatened to do some very nasty things to the Leprechaun if on the morrow he did not get the shoes made with his magic leather.

The magic shoes had the advantage that the wearer was always one day in front of the wizard this meant that the Wizard would never be able to catch the wearer. The poor Leprechaun did not want the shoes he just wanted to get them off from his feet. The Wizard would never be able to catch him but at the same time he wanted to stay in his shop and make shoes for everyone. Showing me his feet I could see no way to rid him of the boots. Later on that morning after we had both eaten a good breakfast we made our way into the woods that was part of Fairyland.

I knew that only help from the Fairies could remove those boots. I called the fairies to me and explained to them the trouble that the poor Leprechaun was in and would they help? Out came a dozen or more fairy wands that were pointed to the Leprechauns feet. Nothing happened, try as they would the fairies could not undo the magic of the leather. Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the Fairies was asked by one of the Fairies if she could help. Her Majesty appeared in her usual blue flash with the small puff of smoke and I explained to her all that had happened to the Leprechaun since he had made the shoes from the magic leather.

Her Majesty took from her pocket her magic mirror and carefully looking into the mirror she studied the Wizard. He had, had the shoes made because he always wanted to be a day in advance in the world of the humans it would be to his great advantage to be one day in front of all other humans he could make enormous sums of money on the stock exchange. He would know what was happening in the world one day before it actually happened he would have a tremendous advantage over the rest of mankind. He Majesty decided to help the Leprechaun and with a wave of her wand the shoes disappeared.

The Wizard appeared before Her Majesty and was promptly turned into a very simple man that only knew about herbs and gardens. He was sent back to his own country and now works as a gardener. The Leprechaun still has his shoe shop but will only work with his own leather to make ordinary shoes for ordinary people. Both are still doing well and only the Leprechaun remembers his journey to me for help.

Shoemaker.

Have you ever had the feeling that something is going to happen? And do not know what it is. It was just such a feeling that came over me as I was walking along the country lanes in the county of Kent. I was twenty-one years of age and had just been discharged from the British Army. I hated my time as a soldier and was more than glad to be a civilian again. No more marching, no more saluting. No more exercising with the weapon. I was free and could wander the country lanes as I did when a youngster. I am extremely happy at the thought that my time was now my own.

The smell of sweet honeysuckle wafted to my nose the hedge was full of honeysuckle and I took a small piece and placed it to my nose, breathing in the sweet heavy smell. This I thought was just the life to be leading. In my happy state I had forgotten the world around me and did not hear the soft voice that called to me from behind the hedge. "Help me please," I listened and heard the voice again, "Help me please." I made my way through the hedge and promptly tore my trousers on a bramble bush. Then I saw the little man.

He was about four feet tall and dressed in green with a chicken's feather in his hat, on his feet he had a pair of soft leather shoes that went up to his knees. I looked at him very closely for I had not seen such a little man before this. "Stop staring and help me." This time his voice was more of a command. "How may I help you?" I asked for he seemed to be in no trouble whatsoever. "My feet are sticking to this spot and I cannot move," he said. I now was feeling a little sorry for the man but could see no reason for his feet being stuck to the ground.

Then he told me this story, He had been making shoes for a wizard, when the shoes were finished the wizard refused to pay him. The wizard said that he could make a much better pair of shoes himself and would not give any monies for such poor workmanship. Instead he cast a spell over the little man. You will only be able to walk three miles at any one time. This is my revenge for you not making good shoes for my tired aching feet. The little man laughed for he thought the wizard was just being stupid.

True enough the little man could only walk three miles then his feet just stuck to the ground and he could not move. I am a Leprechaun and did not believe the wizard my shoes were perfectly made for his feet but he just did not want to pay me for my leather and for my hard work. "How shall I help you?" I asked again. I have no knowledge of wizards or spells and you are the first Leprechaun that I have ever met.

"In your lapel you have the magic flower known to humans as honeysuckle. This flower could free me if it is used properly." I took the honeysuckle from my lapel and gave it to the Leprechaun. "This is not enough he said I will need at least two armfuls for it to help me." "Wait a minute. I said and went back to the hedgerow for more of the sweet smelling honeysuckle. I had to go six times in all to get him the amount of honeysuckle that he needed. Then he took from a bag that was resting at his feet a metal pot. "Bring me some wood for me to make a fire," he then said. Off I went and brought back an armful of wood. He quickly lit the wood with a tinder and stone and once it was burning he hung the pot over the fire he had just made.

Throwing all of the honeysuckle into the pot he took from his leather bag some dark reddish powder and threw a handful into the pot. "Now we will have to wait, it takes some forty minutes for the spell to work." I sat there and not wanting to sound rude, I did not ask him any questions but after a few minutes of silence he told me that he was a wandering shoemaker and only made shoes for a living." The wizard was he thought just another customer and it was the biggest mistake that he could make to give him a new pair of shoes. He told me of his wandering around the country and of the many people he had worked for.

Suddenly from the pot came a small cloud of smoke and a wonderful smell of honeysuckle. Quickly tasking the pot he poured the liquid that was in the pot over his shoes. Suddenly he began to sing and dance the spell was broken and he was once again as free as the air. Reaching into his leather bag he took out a piece of gold and wanted to give it to me. I refused his very generous offer and it was then that he noticed the tear in my trousers.

"Give me your trousers he said and within a few minutes he had stitched my trousers together with such fine stitches that when he was finished I could not tell where the rip was. We walked together for some miles and I told him that it was time for me to make my way home. He helped me through the hedge back onto the road and as I walked on my way back to my home I saw him waving friendly to me. I was sorry to see the little man go. I myself had a life to lead and the next day I looked for and found work, in a shoe shop of all places. No I have never seen the Leprechaun again. It was quite an experience.

Shooting Stars.

The shooting stars were streaking across the sky each one carrying a fairy. The Fairies know exactly when to spring from the shooting stars and slowly fly down to earth. This month had been a very good month for Fairies for nearly every night there had been a series of shooting stars. As the Fairies landed each went to a fairy clearing where the name and age of each Fairy was entered into a very old parchment book that was thousands of years old.

On this night for some unknown reason two fairies came to earth on the same shooting star. Landing in a part of Fairyland that is well known to me, their arrival caused quite some concern. The reason being that both Fairies insisted that they were Violafee. There is always trouble when two Fairies are called by the same name. It was decided to call them Violafee one and two. This did not suit the two fairies as neither wanted the name of Violafee number two.

In the village where the Fairies live in this part of Fairyland it had been peaceful without any kinds of trouble now this. Two Fairies that could not agree to a name the wise old Fairies were called in and asked to help to solve the problem of the two fairies and their names. The wise old Fairies put many suggestions forward but the two obstinate Fairies would not agree to being called Violafee one and two.

It was decided to call in Her Royal Majesty Feeana to help settle the problem. Her Majesty appeared on the scene wearing a wonderful flower patterned dress. The flowers were real and waved and gave off a most beautiful smell as Her Majesty walked along the wooded paths of Fairyland. The wise old Fairies soon told Her Majesty of the problem and their difficulty solving it.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana thought for a moment or two and then said these words." Both Fairies would be returned to the shooting stars this time each Fairy would have their own shooting star and then there would be no problem as to their names. Her Majesty waved her magic wand and the two Fairies disappeared. Then on looking up into the sky the Fairies saw a two large shooting stars streaking across the sky.

Soon there were two new Fairies in Fairyland one called herself Lunafee, the other Petalfee. Neither had any idea that they had been in Fairyland before and had come down to earth a second time. Both Fairies became good friends and after a while they made a petition to Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The petition was that they change their name to Violafee, as they both liked the sound of the name.

Her Majesty granted their wish and in future the two Fairies were called Violafee number one and Violafee number two. Neither had any memory of being in Fairyland before and are now happy to be called by the very names they had previously rejected.

Silver Flutes.

I went for my usual walk through the woods at the back of my house. The woods as many of you will know are part of Fairyland. I have had many encounters with fairies and leprechauns, pixies and all of the other little people that live and play in this enchanted piece of land. The woods are what one could call a mixed forest not like some of the forests on the continent of Europe where the trees are all of one variety. As I was walking along enjoying my daily walk I thought that I heard some music in the distance. I adjusted my hearing aids and yes there was some delightful silvery sounding music to be heard. The fairies were playing a strange yet somehow familiar piece of music. The music got louder and in the next forest clearing I saw them, there were six fairies sitting in a somewhat straight line, with one fairy in the front. As the fairy in the front put up one or two or three fingers they were the notes that the fairies played on their flutes. To make it even more mystifying the one in the front pointed first to one then to another fairy his fingers moved so quickly that my eyes could hardly keep up with him. The music playing is like water pushing through a stream one could imagine the fish swimming in tune with the music.

Suddenly a blue flash lit up the clearing and Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared in her usual fashion. The Queen had on a dress that shimmered with crystals as if she had just stepped out of the water that the music inspired into my willing mind. "Children where did you get the flutes," asked Her Majesty. "From the man that is over there looking at us," came the answer and six hands clutching a silver flute pointed in the direction of an old elm tree. "Come out from behind that tree," I had not heard Her Majesty use such a hard tone before. A man stepped out from behind the tree and asked Her Majesty what she wanted from him, he had done no harm. Just given the fairies some silver flutes because he like the sounds that such fairies could produce. Her Majesty waved her Magic Wand and the man stood rooted to the spot he could not move at all. Pointing to the fairy that had been directing the other fairies Her majesty asked him to give his flute to me. As a child I could play some small tunes on a flute but that flute in my childhood was a wooden flute not a silver flute that looked as if it was very expensive. I took the proffered flute and tried to play one of my old childhood tunes. All I could produce was the sound of a crow that was very angry. Her Majesty then told the other fairies to give me their flutes one after another. It was the same with all of the flutes; just the noise of an angry crow came from my lips.

Pointing her Magic Wand yet again at the man that had given the fairies the flutes she said, "You will now tell me the truth," "Why did you give my children the flutes? It was not to listen to the music that they made." Another wave of her Magic wand and the fairies played or tried to play the flutes again. This time it was as if hundreds of crows were flying overhead. The noise was terrible and looking up I saw that there were crows flying and looking for a landing place on the tree branches. Then the crows swooped down to attack the fairies. Her Majesty was even quicker as the crows took off from the branches they turned into rain; all that came down from the skies was rain. There was not a crow to be seen. Her Majesty turned again to the man that had given the fairies the flutes. "You will be punished, for the rest of your days you will be a crow and fly the heavens with all the other crows." Her Majesty then turned to me and asked me what she should do with the flutes, should she destroy them or should she turn them into proper music instruments for the fairies. I was all for turning the flutes into proper instruments the fairies had played such delightful tunes and it would be a shame to destroy such instruments that were made of the finest silver. Her Majesty then waved her magic wand once again and each fairy had a flute in their hands. I smiled and asked the fairies to walk past me playing each their flute. As they walked past me each was playing his or her flute and I sprinkled some magic dust from my large coat pocket on the fairies and on the flutes. "No crow will ever attack a player of one of these instruments again." Were my words as I said goodbye to Her Majesty and the fairies that played their delightful music until I could hear them no more? I even turned up my hearing aids to see whether I could get one last hearing of the magic music it was no good as my hearing aids are good for short distance but sounds from far away I cannot hear. I did see a lone crow flying in the sky it looked as if it was searching for its mates and I wondered whether it was the man that Her Majesty had turned into a crow.

Sports Hall.

Another dreary, rainy day in late September, I have so much work to do to get my garden ready for the winter but because of the bad weather, I am not able to get out in the garden and dig and prepare, the garden beds for the spring planting. I have a big compost heap waiting to be dug into the ground. It looks as if I will not be able to dig my garden until the spring and that means the compost will not be able to rot into the earth and feed the new plants and seeds for next year. The postman knocked on the front door interrupting my thoughts about the inconvenience of the rainy weather. The Postman asked me to sign for a registered letter. I quickly scribbled my name and thanked him, I asked him in for a coffee or a cup of tea but he was in a hurry probably to get in out of the rain.

Going back into my kitchen I took my letter and slit open the envelope. A document that looked very official fell onto the kitchen table. Picking up the document I started to read the words. Dear Mr. Shaw you are invited to attend the local Development board to discuss the planning and building of a large sports hall on Dartford heath. Many people have written to ask why we have no sports hall in Dartford. As a Neighbour to such a sports hall we would like you to express your opinion as to whether such a building should be built. You are invited to attend the next Council meeting to be held in the Town Hall on Friday the tenth of October. I was very much concerned a large sports hall on Dartford Heath I certainly did not want to be bothered with people parking their cars and the general noise that comes from such a hall. What about Fairyland if they built a large sports hall where would the fairies go. I would be on my own without the fairies. I would have nothing more to write about. I decided to go to the meeting and state that I did not think that it would be a good idea as Dartford Heath was a place for people to walk and enjoy the fresh air that the heath provides.

I spent over an hour thinking about how I prevent the building of a sports hall on the Heath. I then put on my Wellington boots and my raincoat and with my old hat I opened the door and went into the woods at the bottom of my garden. The letter I had placed in my coat pocket and wandered off into the woods. I could not help thinking what would happen to the Heath when the building equipment started to rip open the ground for the foundations. The noise would be terrible and what about the wild life many animals lived on the heath also the bird life. In and around Dartford were many birds that are not to be found elsewhere. What would happen to them if such a building were to be built?

My feet had unknowingly taken me to the cottage of Her Majesty Queen Feeana. Her Majesty had been awaiting me. Come on in and dry yourself you will catch a cold if you do not get out of those wet clothes. A magic wand appeared in Her Majesties hand and a bright shower of blue sparks covered me from head to toe. I was now dressed like one of Robin Hoods merry men. I did not have a bow and arrows though but I felt very comfortable. "What brings you into Fairyland on such a wet day," asked Her Majesty. I showed Her Majesty the letter that I had received from the Dartford Council. " I do not know how I can stop them building such a sports hall," I told Her Majesty. "It is worrying me." "What will happen to the fairies and the animal and bird life? There will be no peace on Dartford Heath any more." Her Majesty said that she would think about the matter and let me know what she would decide should be done.

Her Majesty then waved her wand once more and I was dressed, as I had left my house the only difference was that my clothes were now dry. I heard nothing more until the day before the council meeting. Her Majesty sent one of the fairies to me with a small parcel in it were official papers from a firm of surveyors. The papers stated that the heath where the sports hall was to be built was under the surface very marshy and any buildings would sink into the marsh. The papers were very impressive and I went to the meeting quite confidant that I could with the help of Her Majesties documents get the building of the sports hall stopped. The meeting started with the Mayor of Dartford telling what a good idea such a sports hall would be for the youth of Dartford. Other speakers stood up and had their say; some were for the sports hall others were against it. Then I stood up and read one of the documents after the other. Soon the audience were listening to my every word. The surveyor's papers were passed on to the Mayor of Dartford and it was decided to build the sports hall somewhere else.

I went after the meeting to the woods where I was eagerly awaited by her Majesty and all of the folk from Fairyland. I was, I am happy to say the hero of the day and all wanted to shake my hand. It was decided to hold a feast there and then to celebrate. I must admit that I ate more than my fair share of the fairy cakes and the elderberry wine. It was just past midnight when I went home to sleep in my four-poster bed. I was very tired but very happy we had saved Dartford Heath from becoming a building site. The fairies can now live their lives in peace not to mention the birds and the wildlife.

Stopped Clocks.

It is a strange old day; one of those days when one felt one should have stayed in bed. As I opened my eyes I saw that the hands of my clock were at seven o'clock. The second hand had stopped. Picking up the clock I shook it to see whether I could get the second hand to move. Nothing happened, the second hand did not move no matter how hard I shook the clock. I took from my bedroom locker my silver hunter pocket watch. It too had stopped, at seven o'clock. I must admit I was a little worried about the clock and the watch that both had stopped at the same time. Getting out of bed I made my way to the bathroom and after a wash and a shave I went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast.

To my surprise the two clocks in the kitchen had stopped at exactly seven o'clock. I made myself a pot of tea and a couple of pieces of toast and after washing up my breakfast dishes I went out into the back garden. From my back garden I have a good view of the local church. The clock on the church tower had also stopped at exactly seven o'clock. This was getting very mysterious. I had what I thought was a brilliant idea; I went back into the house and phoned the local time service. The well-known voice replied as it always did in its singsong voice. It is now seven of the clock. I nearly dropped the phone this just could not be. I phoned time again and yes the same voice saying it is now seven of the clock.

I thought it was time to get some help and went out into the woods keeping an eye open for the fairies. There were no fairies to be seen. All the animals of the woods were there. The shy deer with its kid the hares were playing the usual hare games, the birds greeted me, and all seemed as normal as it always is in the woods, except that I could see no fairies. I called to one of the robins and asked it to take a message for me to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. After a few anxious moments her Majesty appeared in a bright blue flash of light. She looked as lovely as she always did. Her robe was of pure silk with hand-embroidered flowers forming a ring of bright colours around her tiny waist.

"You asked to see me Bernard how may I help you?" I told Her Majesty about the clocks and how time seemed to have stood still since seven of the clock. Her Majesty listened to my story and after a moment or two she bent down to the ground and plucked a ripe dandy lion one that had gone to seed. Her Majesty then smiled at me and blew gently on the seeds. She blew six times and on the seventh blow there were no more seeds to be blown away. Her Majesty was now very surprised and took from a fold of her dress a small magic mirror. Looking into the mirror she smiled and showed me the picture therein. I saw that a dozen or more Pixies were pulling the beard of old Father time. Old Father time was so angry and upset at the behaviour of the Pixies that he had forgotten to turn the clock any further after seven o'clock all of the clocks in the world would remain at seven o'clock until the Pixies got tired of their game or Her Majesty stopped them.

Her Majesty smiled another smile and all of the pixies were now helping Old Father Time to get all of the clocks in the world to go at the right time again. Wheels were being turned and pulleys were being pulled and all in all the pixies were working very hard to help Old Father Time to put the time right for this world of ours that depends on the right time for everything that one does. I thanked Her Majesty and went back to my house. The hands of the clocks were going around and around running up to my bedroom the alarm clock was racing round with one hand chasing the other my silver pocket watch was the same. I began to wonder how long had it been "seven of the clock," how much time had passed since the Pixies began to tease Old Father Time. Then the earth gave a quick shake it rocked my bedroom furniture and I noticed that the hands of the clock were now going round as they usually did and the time was now ten past twelve at midday. It had been a very excitable morning and I am beginning to wonder if any one else noticed that the Pixies had played with the time or was I the only one to notice it.

Strange Objects.

I am on the way to a part of the country that I have always wanted to visit. I could have gone before but somehow the time did not seem right. Now the train could not go fast enough for me. The book that I am reading is not that what I thought it would be. The title is Strange Objects. The only thing that was strange about the book is its age. I bought the book on one of my visits to London. I meant to read the book months previously but something else turned my attention to other things. The book was a last minute decision on my part; I took it from the shelf and placed it in the outside zipped pocket of my suitcase.

The author was describing things that he thought were strange. The first chapter was about Stonehenge. The theory that he suggested in his book was that the stones were arranged by a race of people that had visited earth from another planet. Lasers were his answer to the cutting of the stones and a form of helicopter that could lift enormous weights did the placing of them. I could not agree to this theory of his and placed the book back into the zipped outer pocket of my suitcase. I settled back in my seat and closed my eyes. I in fact meant to have a sleep in the train compartment on my way down to Devon.

The train slowed down and stopped at a railway station. The door of the compartment opened and in came a married couple with three children. A boy and two girls with their parents, The children were well behaved but I did not feel like a conversation so opening the side pocket of my case I took out the book and started reading the second chapter. The second chapter was even worse than the first chapter had been. The author was rambling on about how the aliens from space had built the pyramids in Egypt from Egypt he made a sprung to South America and gave his opinion of how the same aliens from outer space had built the numerous pyramids of South America. I was now fed up with the book and closing it I placed it in the luggage rack above my head. The rest of the journey was uneventful and I left the train at a small station named Plymouth. I had reserved a room at one of the local hotels and after placing my suitcase in the room I went for a meal. The restaurant served me an excellent fish lunch and a glass of refreshing white wine.

Walking through the town of Plymouth I came to a shop that caught my attention by the objects in its window that were on sale. At the back of the shop window there was an old painting of Sir Walter Raleigh who was supposedly playing a game of bowls at the time of England's threatened invasion. I wont go into the history most of you will know the story. In front of the picture there was a skull that had been shrunk it was on offer for four pounds. Next to the skull was a small long black box printed on a card was the words, The Fairy Queen's magic wand. This was on offer for eight pounds. I was now very curious and entered the shop. The lighting was very poor just one lamp lit up the rather small shop. A man came out of a back room and asked me what it was that I wanted. I replied that I would like to see the Queens Magic wand. As I spoke the man seemed to shrink and cowered away from me. "You must take the wand from the window yourself," he said. "I cannot touch it as I am too frightened at what will happen to me if I take it again in my hands." He then showed me his hands the palms of his hands had been badly burnt at some time or another. "This, he said is from the wand."

Taking the wand from the window I felt immediately the power that was in the wand. I gave the man eight pounds and saying goodbye I left the shop. As soon as I was outside of the door he quickly bolted the door from the inside and disappeared into the back of the shop. I walked back to my hotel; paying my bill for the rest of my stay I went into my bedroom and waved the magic wand. A bright blue flash of light and I was back home in my house. Going into the woods I sent a bird to tell her Majesty Queen Feeana that I had something to give her. Her Majesty came and I told her of my little adventure in the shop and how the man's hands were badly scarred. Her Majesty took the wand and told me that it was a long lost wand from her Grandmother. The wand it seems had been stolen and any one holding it in their hands would be badly burnt. Now in Plymouth there are two mysteries. The one of how I vanished from the hotel. The wand would not hurt any one that was in any way connected with the fairies. The man still has difficulty in explaining his badly scarred hands.

Summer Wind.

It is now exactly three months since it last rained. Everything here in Fairyland badly needs water. The trees are hanging there branches the bushes are showing brown leaves as they do in late August. If we do not get rain soon, the year will indeed have been a bad year. The stream has only a small flow of water in the middle of the stream's bed. Many fish have died and all of Fairyland is complaining that Mother Nature has forgotten them all. Her Majesty Queen Feeana has sent a message to Mother Nature asking for her help. Eight weeks have gone by and there is still no reply from Mother Nature. The fairies have been collecting the early morning dewdrops and have tried to keep most of the flowers from going thirsty.

Many complaints from the animal world, some of the wild animals are jumping the fences put up by the farmers. This is there only means to get at water from the troughs that are placed in the fields for the horses, cows and sheep. Some animals have narrowly escaped with their lives after having been shot at by the farmers. "Something must be done!" Her Majesty told the wise old fairies. "We will all use our magic wands to see if we can produce a shower of rain or even a rain storm." Sitting in a circle with Her Majesty in the middle the wise old fairies and Her Majesty pointed their magic wands toward the skies. Soon a faint murmuring could be heard, this got louder and a summer wind at first a slight breeze then as the magic took hold it became a strong wind that cooled down everything but did not produce any rain. Her Majesty called all of the fairies together and soon the whole of Fairyland were pointing their magic wands toward the heavens. Bright sparks bluer than the skies lit up the whole of Fairyland. The wind got stronger and stronger but there were no clouds and as everyone knows without clouds there can be no rain.

Mother Nature was very busy in North America where for months there had been rain falling daily. Flooding in North America and here in Fairyland no water. Suddenly Mother Nature saw the blue light, lighting up the skies. This bright blue light now caught her attention. Mother Nature herself came to see what was causing so much blueness in the skies. As she travelled across the Atlantic Ocean she took with her the rain that had been flooding down in North America. Now the skies over Fairyland looked very different the strong wind that had been blowing changed into a storm with clouds sailing across the sky. The clouds were full of water and soon the water was pouring down out of the skies. In no time the stream had turned into a river there was water everywhere. Much of the water soaked into the ground and the bushes and the trees had enough water for them to straighten out their leaves and branches that had been hanging down. Soon all was thoroughly soaked through with water all of the fairies and her Majesty put their magic wands away. It rained and rained all day and all of the night. Soon large puddles were appearing everywhere. The puddles got larger and larger and there was a real flood developing in Fairyland.

Sitting under the shelter of an old Oak tree Her Majesty and the wise old fairies tried to stop the rain. In the middle of the waving of the wands Mother Nature appeared. "Stop using Magic." She sternly called "I cannot manage the storm with all of this stray magic floating about." The Fairy Queen stopped all of the magic by waving her wand. "What was all of the blue lighting in the sky?" asked Mother Nature. Her Majesty Queen Feeana told her of the period where no rain fell and the state that Fairyland was in. "I sent you two messages but you did not reply and I did not know what to do." Said Her Majesty. Mother Nature called out some words in the old language and the rain stopped and the summer wind that the Fairies had made stopped also. Soon there was only the noise made by the raindrops falling from the trees. Mother Nature then gave Her Majesty the magic words that bring rain in case Fairyland went dry again. The North American storms passed out into the Atlantic and soon there was peace in the world and Mother Nature and Her Majesty were drinking some of her Majesties home made elderberry wine. That is the end of my little tale about the summer wind. This all happened some years ago and most of you will have forgotten the episode where the wild animals were drinking water from the farmer's troughs.

Sunday.

Today is Sunday. Sundays I sleep late and only get up at about nine thirty. This Sunday is not like most Sundays. I have a feeling that today something important is going to happen something that will probably change the whole of my life. Today I shaved myself and washed and dressed. Nothing unusual about that I can hear you say it is part of my normal routine. Something I do every day of the week. I walked downstairs and made my way to my kitchen. Boiling some water to make a pot of tea I placed a plate on the table and got a cup and saucer with a spoon for the sugar. I always have sugar in my tea on Sundays. Soon I was drinking some hot sweet tea and eating a piece of toast. Washing up the breakfast things I put on my coat and opened the front door. The first thing I noticed was that my front garden had changed. No flowers no rose bushes of which I am quite proud, in fact if I had not seen the tractor and hay wagon attached to it at the end of the path I would have thought that some one is playing tricks on me. I felt quite lost, Where am I? was my first thought and what has happened to my garden?

I must say I rubbed my eyes thinking to myself that there had been a mistake I was seeing things. The loud crowing of a cockerel woke me up to the fact that I was definitely out in the country but where? I walked toward the tractor and to my surprise a man sitting on the tractor seat asked me if I was going to get the hay in myself or should he do it. I told him to get in the hay; I was too busy sorting out in my mind what had happened over night. In the distance I could see a village with a church. The man started the tractor and drove off with the hay wagon. I decided to walk to the village perhaps someone there knew me and could tell me what had happened.

In the village a woman greeted me by my name and a man raised his hat and said, "A good day for getting the hay in Farmer." I agreed with him and wondered to myself why is he calling me Farmer. I own a house on Dartford Heath I have a large back garden and a small front garden. I own no animals apart from an old dog Wag. Then it struck me Wag is not by my feet as he always is when I go out for a walk. I had given him no breakfast not even some water. I reached the church; on a notice board fixed to the low stonewall were the words in large letters, Saint Albans Church. Sunday services at seven, at ten and in the evening at six o'clock the Vicar Mr John Perry welcomes all to attend.

This is one big mystery; why me I kept thinking to myself. I am an elderly man that writes fairy-tales for children in my spare time. I am certainly not a Farmer. I know next to nothing about running a farm and what is the name of the village. Where am I? I turned around and walked back to my house. The gardens were not mine I did not have a barnyard and where have my roses gone. I went in to my house and looked around. The house is definitely mine. The furniture is mine. There is nothing unusual about the inside of the house. It is as if someone or some thing had placed my house out in the country. I walked in what was once my back garden. This was certainly not my back garden. My back garden is full of growing vegetables, cane fruits and flowers this is all gone, instead I see some low buildings then I heard the mooing of cows. Chickens are running about pecking and eating things off the ground. A cat came and rubbed itself against my legs. I was obviously no stranger to the cat. Going back inside my house I took my magic wand that had been given to me by the Fairy Queen Feeana. Pointing the wand at the strange yard I told the wand to magic me back to my own part of the world. Dartford Heath. Nothing happened; I was now very desperate. I spoke the magic words that take me to the Fairy Winter Quarters under the Himalayan Mountains. The usual feeling of light headedness and I was in the caves. I waited for Her Majesty to arrive. I waited a long time. Then Her Majesty appeared. Her first words were, "Things have gone terribly wrong. The magician Mordecai has attacked Fairyland and I had to move things fast. Your house is now down in Sussex and I placed a spell over the people that now think that you are a Farmer and have lived there all of your life. Your dog Wag was not in the house so I placed him in an animal shelter, He will come to no harm and when I have dealt with Mordecai all will be as it was." Her Majesty sent me back to my house and I made myself a meal and waited for things to change. I went to bed at my usual time of ten thirty and dropped off into a heavy sleep. The happenings of the day had tired me more than I had thought possible.

In the morning I washed and shaved and went down to my kitchen. Making some tea and toast I ate my meal after which I washed the breakfast things and went to my front door. Opening the door somewhat timidly I saw that my rose bushes and flowers were back in their usual positions. Going then to the back Garden all was well with the fruit canes and the vegetables. My house was now back on Dartford Heath.

Later that morning I was sitting in my old wheelbarrow when Her Majesty appeared in a bright blue flash and a whiff of smoke. I stood up to greet her and she told me this story. Mordecai had with the help of a dozen Witches attacked the fairies from the air. Flying on their broomsticks they bombarded the fairies with rotten eggs and overripe tomatoes. The fairies managed with their magic wands to repel the attack. Mordecai in the meantime had tried to blow up my house. Her Majesty was warned of the attack on my house by the magic that she had placed in my house to protect it. There was not much time at Her Majesties disposal and she took my house and transferred it to a small village in Sussex. Her Majesty then showed me with a mental picture the huge hole that was in the middle of where my house had stood. The hole she had filled in and sent my house back to its original place. Fortunately the blast from the bomb had not disturbed my roses or my vegetable and cane fruits. I thanked Her Majesty for saving me and my house and my dog. I had not spoken the word dog when Wag appeared wagging his tail as if very pleased to see me. Mordecai is now a stone on Dartford Heath if you look carefully you might find it. Now the stone is covered with stinging nettles and other weeds and you will have to remove many weeds to get to it. The reason Mordecai wanted to get rid of me and blow up my house I have written too many stories about him and his doings. The witches are still flying, not on broomsticks but with their own wings. Her Majesty turned them into large black crows.

Surprise Party.

The long walk is doing me good, for the first time in days I feel much better in myself. I had decided to go walking on the spur of the moment; I was beginning to feel trapped in my own house. Everywhere I went I saw traces of the Fairies each field each section of wooded landscape. My eyes automatically saw the traces; I just could not miss them. The Fairy rings of mushrooms or toadstools told me that on the previous night there had been a gathering of the Fairies from all over the country.

I wondered to myself why I had not been invited to one of the Fairy fetes. Whenever any thing happens to the Fairies in my area I am told about it in advance. Up to now I had attended each of the Fairy do's, no matter how small; why had I not been invited on this the last night? I wondered whether I had in some way or another upset the Fairies.

After a good long walk I forgot about the Fairies and enjoyed the fresh air and all of the summer flowers that grew in abundance. I told myself the flowers were there for my benefit and I enjoyed the beautiful colours. I do not pick flowers to take home with me I let them grow so that all may see them and get enjoyment from nature's lavish abundance.

The sun was setting as I arrived home, I was tired from all of the walking but it was a day that I enjoyed and would certainly walk again in the near future. I opened the door into my kitchen and quickly prepared myself a strong cup of sweet tea. I was so tired that the thought of a quick shower and then into my bed would round off the day completely. I showered for about ten minutes and then dried myself and put on my pyjama's to go to bed.

I had just finished buttoning up the front of my pyjamas when I heard a repeated knock on my door. I threw my dressing gown over my shoulders and went down the stairs to see whom it was that knocked so late at night. To my surprise it was a bunch of Fairies. "You must come with us," were the first words that they said. I protested saying that I had, had such a busy day and was very tired. In front of my face appeared a golden plate upon which were Fairy cakes.

Eat of the cakes and you will not be tired I was told. I eat two of the Fairy cakes and felt much better. "Wait here for me I will go upstairs and put on some clothing more suitable for the woods than my pyjamas and my dressing gown." Going upstairs I put on a thick shirt and a tweed jacket and some moleskin trousers. This choice I thought would keep me warm in case it turned out to be a cold night. I still did not know what the Fairies wanted of me.

I went down stairs and closed the door and followed the Fairies into the woods. As soon as we got to the wood's edge thousands of fireflies lit up the path for us. Deep in the woods the Fairies had laid a long wooden table with cloths of silk. On the table were bunches of the wild flowers that I had so admired during my days long walk. Goblets of pure gold were carefully arranged on the tabletop and bottles and bottles of Parsnip wine.

An orchestra was playing one of the sweet Fairy melodies and all were waiting talking to each other. I was the only one that had no partner although a hundred Fairies were present. Then as if on a signal the music stopped and Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana appeared in a bright blue flash of smoke and a small puff of smoke. As she appeared right in front of me I quickly bowed my head and greeted the Queen.

Smiling at me Her Majesty asked me what day it was, I said, "Tuesday Your Majesty," Her Majesty said "Yes it is Tuesday and exactly one year ago you saved me from a very great danger. This day has been proclaimed a day of feasting to commemorate your bravery. Two Thrones appeared and Her Majesty sat on one of them I was offered the other. "Let the feasting begin." Said her Majesty and the orchestra played and food appeared on plates of silver, golden goblets of Parsnip wine for every guest. Soon all were eating and drinking Her Majesty and I danced a dance that was very simple but indeed very graceful.

We all enjoyed ourselves and I did not feel at all tired until I made my way back home. The woods were lit with the fireflies and a number of fairies accompanied me to my door. This has been a very memorable day and I slept soundly in my bed. I did not get up until twelve o'clock midday. Happy and glad that the Fairies had not forgotten me I prepared a quick meal and spent the rest of the day thinking about my feast day.

Telephone.

My telephone rings and when I answer it there is no one at the other end. I have complained to the telephone company, they it seems cannot help. There is really no one at the other end of the line. No heavy breathing, no gasping for air. Yes I have had such calls but I have a whistle and if some one phones without speaking, I blow my rather loud whistle. I have been told that the high-pitched tone of the whistle when blown loud enough can cause a temporary deafness. The couple of times that I have used it the calls have ended and I have had no more such calls. To get over this nuisance I decided to get myself one of the new fangled Mobile Phones. The excitement and curiosity it caused at the Fairies annual Dance was something to be seen. All were wondering where the music was coming from that signals a telephone call is waiting to be answered. Then me speaking into a little box obviously exchanging information with another person, all were fascinated and I rang more than a dozen different people to show the little folk my newest gadget. It was not long before the fairies wanted each a mobile phone. I explained that the mobile phones were not something magic. One needed electricity to keep the batteries charged and then the mobile phone must be registered with some company or other and that the mobiles and the calls made on them were not free but had to be paid for in cash.

I then had an idea; I would make some phones that we made when I was a little boy. They are easy enough to make and give the illusion that one is really speaking on a telephone. I got a long piece of thin string and two small round boxes the kind one buys curry in. A hole is made in the bottom of each box and a piece of string threaded through the boxes and fixed to each box with a half a matchstick. The string is pulled tight and one speaks into one of the boxes and listens in, in the other box. I made a couple of dozen of these simple phones and gave them to the fairies to play with. They went down well for a while then like all other things they got tired of plying with these simple toys and played other games instead. I often have to let one or the other fairies listen to my mobile phone.

I bought one of the latest Mobile Phones one with a camera in it and used it a few times to make some pictures of the things that I saw in the woods. I took hundreds of pictures and have managed to capture many of the fairy homes but never a picture of a fairy. Fairies do not like to be photographed and use magic to block any or all cameras that try to take a picture of them. Even for my own private picture album they would not show themselves. I was not disappointed and I did not try very hard to photograph the fairies. I do have a picture of a fairy named Tinafee. This picture was painted for me by one little fairy that has a wonderful talent for drawing and painting pictures. When she paints a picture of a fairy she paints the exact face but the wings are always disguised in some way or other. The wings of a fairy are so fine that one can see right through them. If you look at a picture of a fairy you will see that they have wings like butterflies. Many coloured, they look pretty but no one could paint the wings of a fairy as they should be painted.

I now have a new toy that lets me play music while I am walking and this is also a favourite with the fairies. For the fun of it I place some new batteries in the player and give it to the fairies that go off and listen to the music that comes down box. When the battery runs low or needs renewing they come to find me and in goes a new battery and off they go again. I am going to buy another new toy and this will really open the fairies eyes and that is a tiny television that is integratedin the mobile phone. I try to keep the fairies up to date in all that is happening in the world of the humans so that they will not feel out of things. None of my new gadgets seem to interest them for more than a day. They find more pleasure in painting Mother Natures flowers and trees, animals and insects. The new toys of mine have no lasting value for a fairy I am happy to say.

The Beard.

Getting out of bed, I washed dressed and shaved my face with my electric razor. Going downstairs I made myself some breakfast with a pot of hot sweet tea. Then I put on my overcoat and went to the front door. I wanted to go into town to get some more plants for my flowerbeds in the back garden. In my hallway there is a full sized mirror that I always look in to make sure I am properly dressed. I got quite a shock for in the mirror my face was covered with a beard. This is ridiculous I said to myself I am sure that I had a shave before I came downstairs. Shaking my head I took my overcoat off and went back upstairs and had another shave after the shave I splashed some after shave on my face to cool it down. This time I made sure that my face was free of any beard hairs.

In town I went to the shop where I always buy my potted plants. The shopkeeper greeted me and made a very strange remark. "Growing a beard Mr. Shaw? It certainly suits you. Putting my hand up to my face I felt the thick growth of a beard. This cannot be, I said to myself. I have had two shaves and still this beard. I paid for my potted plants and went down the road straight into the Hairdressers. I have known the hairdresser for years and his first words were, nice beard Mr.Shaw. I sat myself down into the barber's chair and told him that I wanted a very close shave; all of the hair on my face must disappear. The Hairdresser took an old-fashioned so-called cutthroat razor and proceeded to sharpen it by stropping it up and down a long piece of leather. Whipping up a rich creamy lather in an old mug he thickly spread the soapy foam on my face. Soon his expert hands holding the razor slid down my cheeks taking away the soapy lather and what is more important the hair. When he had finished I looked in the shop's mirror and felt the smoothness of my cheeks. I was free of all the hair that had made my beard. Paying the Hairdresser I left the shop and walked home. I had not got far when one of my neighbours wished me a good morning and said Nice beard Mr.Shaw. I was now very much alarmed what was causing my beard to grow so quickly? I decided to go to see The Fairy Queen, Queen Feeana to ask for her help.

Her Majesty was informed by a robin redbreast that I wished to see her and that I needed her help. I had not long to wait. A bright blue flash of light and a small whiff of smoke and Her Majesty stood before me. Making my bow I told Her Majesty about my beard and that no matter how often I shaved my beard grew again just as thick as before I shaved it off. Taking a small pair of silver scissors from her dress pocket Her Majesty asked me if she could cut part of my beard. Cutting off a very small part of my beard Her Majesty disappeared as she had come and I was left on my own in the woods of Fairyland. An hour went by and Her Majesty reappeared as she had done before. Smiling she asked me if I had, had any visitors in the last two or three days. I quickly answered, "Yes Your Majesty, some Pixies came to see me only the day before yesterday." " What did the Pixies do while they were in your house"? "They asked me if they could play in my attic, as you know Your Majesty there are all of my old toys still in the room under the roof." Smiling Her Majesty asked if the Pixies had mended any of my toys. "Why yes Your Majesty they mended my old Teddy Bear, the bear is ever so old at least seventy years old and was missing an eye and its fur had fallen out in many places." "The Pixies asked if they could mend the teddy bear, I gave them permission and as far as I know the bear is still in my attic, I have not seen it myself for many years as I seldom go into the rooms under the roof.

Taking my hand Her Majesty said some words in the old fairy language and we were standing in my attic. Sitting in a very old chair was my teddy bear. The Pixies had indeed done a very good job on him and he now had two eyes and his fur was even thicker than when my mummy gave him to me all of those years ago. Taking a small bottle from her pocket Her Majesty told me to rub it into my now very long beard. As soon as I rubbed the mixture into my beard my beard disappeared. Her Majesty then told me that the Pixies had gone to the wise old fairies to ask them for a mixture that would make hair grow. This they used on the teddy after sewing a new eye on to its head and repairing its left ear that had been hanging off from its head. The Pixies had noticed that I too was getting bald and had hardly any hair left on my head. They decided to help my hair to grow and had placed some of the mixture in my after-shave. Not being able to read English they had mistaken the bottles and had poured the mixture into my after-shave and not into my bottle of hair tonic. Her Majesty and I had a really good laugh at such a simple mistake with such an outcome. I was pleased that some Wizard or some Witch had not bewitched me. The Teddy I took to the local hospital for the sick children.

The Blacksmith.

The rhythmic beat of the hammer as it pounded on the hot iron, excited my senses. Hot bright sparks lit the air to die as quickly as they appeared. The red hot metal slowly took shape under the Blacksmith's capable hands and the heavy hammers. There were many hammers and tongs of all sizes. Two tubs one filled with water the other with oil. Today the smith was making a ploughshare and the local children had been taken to the Smithy, as their Schoolteachers called it, to see what could be done with fire and iron.

Each child had a Fairy sitting on its shoulder most of the children knew about the fairies for some reason the Teachers did not. Her Majesty the Fairy Queen Feeana had asked the fairies to go with the children so that they too could see how such things are made and to see that no human child came to harm. A Blacksmith can with his great knowledge produce anything in iron. I had gone along with the fairies to make sure they did not get up to any mischief. Children must be looked after at all times.

I had not been to the Blacksmiths for many years and was surprised at how much he had modernised the place. The old foot bellows had been replaced by an electric motor that drove the air into the coals causing them to appear white as they fiercely burned. It was very hot in the smithy and the Blacksmith had a rag around his neck to wipe off the sweat as it ran down his face. Telling the children to stand back he hit the red-hot iron into a shape that looked something like a ploughshare then he placed the metal on to the end of the big iron anvil and started to shape the round part of the ploughshare. From time to time he dipped the metal that he was hammering on into the water tub or into the oil tub then back into the glowing fire.

The smith was a large man with big arms and shoulders that he had developed over the years of hammering the iron. Then for some reason I looked up into the rafters of the smithy and saw much to my surprise Shamus my Leprechaun friend he too had come to see the iron and steel being turned into working tools. Shamus often came to see the Smithy to pick up new ideas that he could use himself if he needed any new tool or object. I arranged for him to come back to the house, as I wanted to discuss something with him.

The teachers and the children said their goodbyes to the Black smith and left. The Fairies and Shamus came along with me back to my house. I had prepared a fruit drink for the Fairies and for Shamus and myself I made a cup of hot sweet tea. The Fairies soon became bored with talking about what they had seen at the Smithy and went off into the woods. Shamus told me about a new idea he had for making a playground for the Fairies. Swings were no problem but Shamus wanted to build the Fairies a round about, he had seen one on a picture at the Blacksmiths.

Going out into my garden Shamus asked me if he could build a Smithy like the one we had just visited. I said "Yes of course you may, the only thing is that you put my garden back to how it is now." Shamus agreed and with a wave of his magic wand there appeared a Blacksmiths works like the one we had just visited. The fire for heating up the iron to be able to bend it into shape was of fairy origin. It gave off no heat and yet it turned the iron into red-hot bars that Shamus bent round by hammering them on the anvil. I was surprised at how quick the Leprechaun bent and shaped the iron bars.

Soon there was a small round about in my garden and it was my job to paint it. Not with paint and a paintbrush but with a magic wand that Shamus had taken out of his large pocket. I pointed the wand at the metal and the roundabout was soon looking like a rainbow the colours had run into one another it looked a treat. Shamus next made a slide and yes, I had to paint it with the wand. This time the slide was one beautiful golden colour. We now had swings, a roundabout and a large slide.

Shamus took the wand from my hand and waved it first at the playground things. They disappeared then another wave of his magic wand and the Smithy vanished and my garden now looked as it did before Shamus had started on his ideas of a playground for the Fairies. We went back into the house and I soon made us a meal, both of us were very hungry. After the meal we went to the woods where in a clearing that the Fairies often used to play, were now the swings the slide and the roundabout. Fairies pass news around very quickly and the playground was full of fairies playing on the new things that Shamus with the help of magic had made.

We were both delighted to see so many happy faces. Her Majesty Queen Feeana appeared on the scene and came to where Shamus and I were watching the playing Fairies. Her Majesty thanked us both for the wonderful idea of a playground for the Fairies. Shamus and I watched a little longer then we both went home to my house and I made an evening meal for us both. The playground is still in the woods so if you should find it then please play with the swings and the slide and the roundabout the Fairies will not mind I am sure.

The Boat.

I borrowed a friend's rowing boat to go for a trip down the river. Rowing is not something that I do every day and I was soon very tired from the unaccustomed work. It is a very warm day and the sun is shining brightly in the blue sky. Pulling into the bank where a patch of shade under a tree seemed to invite me to stay a while. I put the two oars in the boat and settled back in the shade under the tree. The boat rocked gently in the water and soon I fell asleep. A shout aroused me from my dreams and I found that the boat was in midstream and was going very fast. A man on the bank had shouted to warn me. Placing the two oars back into the water I struggled to get the boat back to the bank where the current was not pulling so much. Slowly I made some progress and finally the nose of the boat bumped into the bank of the river.

Tying the boat to a tree I climbed out onto the slippery bank and climbed up the slight slope to see where I was. I do not know how long I had slept and drifted with the boat. I did now know where I was. Walking along the top of the riverbank was man, it was he that had shouted and warned me. From the bank he had seen that I was asleep and that the boat was more or less floating without any one controlling it. I thanked the man for his friendly warning and at the same time asked him where I was. I was quite shocked when he told me that I had floated some ten miles down the river. How on earth am I to get the boat back to my friend? Ten miles of rowing a boat on my own was not my idea of a ride in a rowing boat. The boat I knew I had to return to my friend as he needed it for his job, He is a fisherman by trade and has a licence to catch and sell fish from the river.

I asked the man who was indeed very friendly if there was anyone near to us that would lend me a small lorry or van so that I could get the boat back to its owner without having to row all the way back up the river. As it was no one was available but the friendly man smiled and told me that he had a small engine that I could fix on to the boat and more or less drive it back home. I was more than pleased to hear this suggestion and the friendly man told me to go back to the boat and wait for him and the engine. An hour went past and then I heard the sound of a motorcar approaching the river. Sure enough the man had returned and with him he had a small boats engine.

We carried the engine down to the waiting rowboat and the man fixed the engine on to the back of the boat. Going to the car he brought a can of petrol and filled the tank of the engine. The rest of the petrol in the can he placed in the boat telling me that about half way I would have to refill the engine's tank. That should be enough to see you home he told me. I pulled the cord that started the engine. It tuckered away and then the man pushed the rowboat away from the bank of the river and I steered into midstream and was on my way. Calling good-bye to the very kind helpful man I slowly made my way back up the river. Then it struck me I had an engine from a stranger, a full can of petrol and I did not even know where I could send the engine and enough money to pay for a new can of petrol. I had left without an address and any means of knowing whom the kind man was. I felt awful at my forgetfulness and was in a strange mood as I came to the part of the river where my friend moors his boat. Tying up the boat tightly to a tree on the bank I went to my friends house and told him of my adventure. My friend was not at all surprised and asked me if the man had reddish hair and was very tall. I said, "Yes he had red hair and was indeed very tall." "Come with me," said my friend and taking me to a shed he showed me exactly the same engine and a petrol can that the stranger had given to me. We then compared the two petrol cans they were exactly alike. The engine had a mark running down one side. The same mark was on the engine that I had been given. "This is indeed very strange," I said. Tomorrow we will both go down the river using one of the engines and see whether we can find the man that had given two engines and two cans of petrol to two different men. My friend told me that he too had slept and drifted down the river until a shout from the riverbank had woken him. It was as if history had repeated itself but who was the mysterious man that helped complete strangers and was not interested in getting his own property back.

The next morning I was up very early and went to my friends. We placed the two boats engines in the rowing boat and pushed off into the river. The current caught us and we were soon watching the banks of the river rush past. Then we came to the place where the stranger had helped us. Steering the boat into the bank of the river we tied the boat up securely both front and back to be on the safe side. Going up to the top of the riverbank there standing as if waiting for us was the man with the red hair. He was, I now noticed a very tall man. Smiling he told us that he knew that we would both come by with his engines and the two petrol cans that we had now filled to the top. My friend asked him why he had not found him the first time that he had helped? He had brought the engine and a can full of petrol with a small gift and asked all around the district and no one knew of a man with reddish hair and very tall.

The man smiled yet once again and said," I am not from here. I live in Ireland and sometimes get a call to tell me that someone is in danger. I come and do all I can to help. By the way you are speaking to the tallest Leprechaun to come from Ireland and with that he vanished and the two engines and the cans of petrol with him. I do not ask you to believe this that happened twice to two very good friends but I can vouch that it is true. And lets face it have you ever seen a Leprechaun that is over six feet tall?

The Bridge.

Over night the bridge appeared. It was firmly anchored into concrete bases one base on each side of the river. Where the bridge was made and who had built it is a complete mystery. The bridge is a slender construction spanning the river, very elegant in design and a blessing to all that had a need to cross the river. The man that owned the boat that ferried people and animals across the river knew nothing about the bridge or its builders. He was quite put out that someone could build a bridge and spoil his trade. He now had no income and with a family to feed he did not know what he should do to earn a living by working at something else. To help the man and his family many people who had used his ferrying services gave him odd jobs to do. One man wanted to have his house repainted on the outside others had a bed room that needed decorating and many other jobs. Soon the man had enough work to do that he was able to start work at eight in the morning work through until four and then he was free for the evening. While he was ferrying people and animals across the river he started work at five in the morning and worked through until ten in the evening. His wife and children were quite happy with his newfound work and his being at home like other husbands and fathers at a reasonable time.

The bridge remained a mystery for five long years. No one not even the local council knew who had built it. Everyone in the area was pleased and happy with the new bridge and soon like many other things it was taken for granted. One day I was walking along the river path and saw yet once again the slender outlines of the bridge. Whoever had built it was an expert not only with materials but had an exceptionally good eye for beauty. A tall man with a long silver beard approached me with a slight hump on his back. The hump was hardly noticeable and the man began to speak. " Lovely bridge?" he said. I replied that it was indeed a lovely bridge and that I often stopped to look at its beauty. Do you know who built it the elderly man asked me? I said no I had no idea but whoever it was had done the people of the district a very valuable service. "The people of the district have only one man to thank for the bridge," he calmly said. That man is the ferryman. I will tell you this little story but please do not spread it around, as I would not like the ferryman to be embarrassed.

One night it was very late and I wanted to cross the river. The ferryman had put away his oars for the night and safely tied his boat. I asked him to ferry a weary old man across the river He looked at me and could see that I was weary and tired and immediately got the oars and untied the boat and ferried me across the river. I offered him gold and silver for his services and he thanked me and said no. He was indeed very happy to have ferried me across the river, another would have told me to wait for the early morning crossing. The man was late getting home that night and I had time to think about how I could reward him without his refusing my offering. I looked into the hearts of the people that used his ferry and saw that all would help him in a way that I could not. You were in your hearts willing to help him and his family by giving him work. The ferrying of passengers And animals is very hard work if he had carried on with such hard work he would have had a heart attack and someone else would have had to take his place. Then I had the second idea. I would place a bridge over the river right on the spot where he had ferried me across. The bridge I naturally built with magic. Look carefully do you see any bonding or marks of any kind that would have been left by a human bridge builder? I had to admit the bridge was so beautiful that no human bridge builder could have built it Then I asked him to tell me his name any one that could use magic to build such a bridge must indeed be a master magician. Smiling the tall man with the long silver beard smiled and said to me, "Merlin sir. Merlin at your service," and then he disappeared. I have told no one up until now my little story and I ask you to keep it to yourself, as I would hate to embarrass the last of the ferrymen on the river.

The Church.

The Church was empty as it usually is at this time of day. Midday's I walk in, go to the place where I always sit and bow my head in prayer. Nothing unusual you might say many people do the same in all kinds of different churches. I at this time of the day am always alone there is no preacher to be seen, none of the ladies that clean the Church and arrange the flowers, no one. Today for some unknown reason I had this strange feeling of expectancy. Something was different. I could not place it but the atmosphere was not as it usually is. The smell of candles and incense lingered in the air as they always do. The pews are tidy with bibles and prayer books waiting for the visitor to take in his or her hand. For the first time I really looked around the church. The stained windows with their religious pictures looked as they always do. The altar with its candles waiting to be set alight, everything seemed as always. I sat in my pew and listened to the silence. There is no silence like in an empty Church; it is a silence that one can feel. The Cross with Jesus looked as awful to my eyes as it always did. I prefer the small room at the side of the church where the children go to Sunday school, in this room there are happy pictures all is colourful nothing to frighten a child. In the Church the Stations of the Cross give me a feeling of despair. I do not like the Church but as I have the feeling that I should go to Church to pray and thank the Lord for all his blessings. I was taken by surprise in the middle of my prayers it happened.

A peal of trumpets sounded. Looking up from my prayers I expected to hear the Church Organ playing some music, but no, another peal of trumpets and then in front of the alter I saw a picture that I will never forget. A gentle looking man with the most compassionate of eyes sitting on the ground and children, hundreds of children were gathered around him. The man was smiling and one could see that all of the children were happy. Sitting in the pew I looked with amazement at the picture that I was being shown. Above the Alter winged beings sang and the song they were singing was, "Let the little children come unto me." I have never seen such a picture with so much clearness. I was actually there in the picture although I was sitting in a pew half way down the Aisle. The man with the gently smiling eyes raised his hand and said to me, "Come! You too are one of my children." Rising from my seat in the pew I floated towards the children and took my place amongst them. My head was full of wonderful thoughts. I was seeing and feeling for the first time an utter peace. The peace enveloped me like a shielding cloak. The picture faded and the priest who had come into the Church awakened me. "What are you doing sitting with your head on the side of the Alter? I mumbled something and walked back to my pew. I have never had such a vision before but whenever I am in Church this most wonderful picture of Jesus with all of the children comes to me in full force.

I spoke to a priest later and told him what I had seen. "You must have been hallucinating" was his reply. I thought to myself that what I have seen while fully conscious couldn't be a hallucination. I still go to the Church and say my prayers but sadly I have never seen such a picture again. The faces of the little children were smiling, each was happy and strange to say when I joined the children, I too was extremely happy. My wish is for all to have some similar event happen to them and that they will talk about it and show that there are many things in this world that cannot be explained.

The Cloud.

The cloud moved slowly across the sky, it was it seems in no hurry just ambling along, looking neither to the right nor to the left, it was on some very important mission. On a mission known only to itself, what if anything did the cloud hide? We will never know, as we have neither wings nor any other means to get close enough to study it. Here down below a learned professor will tell us if we take the trouble to ask that the cloud is composed of millions of tiny drops of water. What I can hear you say holds the drops of water together? Why does the cloud move at all? Why does it not just stand still? Another learned professor would tell us that high up in the sky there are winds that blow, it is these winds that keep the cloud moving on its set course.

Having told you this I must also tell you that the cloud is not a natural cloud it was made by a terrible Wizard that wants to bring harm to all of the little people in Fairyland. The cloud not being natural holds millions of small bugs. These bugs our professors will tells us are called germs or bacteria. Do not let the words fool you the bugs are dangerous and should be stopped before the cloud breaks into rainfall and drops of bugs pour down on to the earth.

I myself have warned Her Royal Majesty about the cloud and it is being watched by all of the wise old Fairies and of course the Professors from the Fairyland University. Many ideas have been put forward as how one should deal with the cloud. Some say freeze it and then it will fall in one solid piece. Not a good idea as what about the peoples living on the earth to have a large block of ice fall on them would do no one any good. Others say let us heat it up if it gets hot enough it will fly right out of the earth's atmosphere.

As I say many ideas have been put forward but no idea is going to kill all of those bugs. If the cloud were to fall to the earth the bugs would be set free and that would be really terrible. One idea that I myself quite liked was to keep the cloud moving until it was over the Wizard and then let it fall as rain. Others argued that the cloud was too big it would have to be shrunk so as to only hit the Wizard. This was also true and in the end all of the wise old fairies and the professors indeed all of the Fairies pointed their magic wands up to the cloud and the cloud got smaller and smaller until it was large enough to soak one man. The Wizard.

Mother Nature let the winds blow stronger and the cloud moved quickly away from Fairyland until it was just a very small cloud hovering over the Wizard. Then Mother nature let the little cloud turn to rain and the terrible Wizard got soaked in his own bugs. The Wizard does not go outside of his house as he is covered with boils and other nasty illnesses and he can only keep going because his Apprentice looks after him.

Fairyland has been saved and all of the little folk are happy again when they see a cloud in the sky but there are some who ask themselves is the Wizard up to his foul tricks again. I have just looked out of my window and what do you know it is raining not storming just raining a soft gentle rain. This rain I tell myself is not from some Terrible Wizard but direct from Mother Nature sent to water all of the plants, grasses, flowers and trees.

I sit once again at my computer to write this story so that you too may be on your guard whenever you see a large cloud sailing across the sky. Keep an umbrella in your hands so that if there are bugs in the cloud you will not get wet and no horrible old boils will appear on your skin.

The Courtroom.

The postman delivered an official looking letter, without thinking too much about it I opened the letter and found that I was to attend court to be held in the woods on Dartford Heath. I know the Heath quite well but I have never seen a courtroom or any other such building on the Heath. I decided to go and see Her Majesty to see whether she knew anything about the matter. I waited at our usual meeting place for about five minutes and then the bright blue flash and the puff of smoke and Her Majesty appeared. Her Majesty looked very nice in a dark dress covered with strange symbols. By way of explanation Her Majesty told me that she was dressed in the attire that she would be wearing at the trial. "The trial." Your Majesty I asked. "What trial?" The Magician Mercuricor is accused of committing treason against Fairyland and I have decided that a public trial with at least one human shall take place. With a wave of her wand Her Majesty sent me to a large room that did not have any windows or doors. All people attending this court had to be invited and came the same way as I did by magic.

A small sun high up in the ceiling lighted the courtroom. There was a raised podium in the front of the court and sitting looking very important was an owl. A voice whispered in my ear. That is the judge. To one side of the courtroom was a box like structure open to the top and standing in this box was the prisoner Mercuricor. Mercuricor was indeed very angry at being in this situation and loudly proclaimed his innocence. On the other side of the court was a long bench with the words The Jury written in large black letters. Sitting on the bench I saw much to my surprise my old friend Shamus. Shamus grinned a large grin and waved to me. I then saw that I was sitting on another long bench this bench is for witnesses only. On the jury bench were apart from Shamus three other Leprechauns, Five fairies and three Wise Old Fairies. A complete dozen I thought to myself. Then there appeared a large crow dressed in a black gown that covered its wings. The same voice as previously whispered in my ear the Prosecutor. Her Majesty then appeared and saw at once that someone was missing. "Where is the Defence she called out loudly?" A small voice called from behind a curtain. "I am nearly ready with the defence just two more minutes." Then I saw the Defence Lawyer it was no other than Esmerelda a witch well known for her attacks on Fairyland.

The Judge or should I say the Owl called for the first charges to be made. The crow or the prosecutor read from a large sheet of paper the following words. [The magician Mercuricor is charged with treason and a dreadful attack on the area known as Fairyland. I call for a complete banning from the aforesaid Fairyland for as long as he shall live.] Sitting down the crow preened itself under the cloak and was as proud of himself as if he had just been presented with the order of Master of Ceremonies. The defendant then called on his first witness. A witch that I had never seen before swore on oath that Mercuricor was not guilty of the charges made against him. "He is as innocent as I am." she rather loudly said. The owl looked suddenly at the jury and asked Shamus why he was not properly dressed. I could see nothing wrong with Shamus's dress and wondered what the Owl or judge was on about. Shamus stood up and said," I am not wearing my hat as is fitting for a Leprechaun. "Why not? Called the Judge. "I have the truth buckle sewn on to my hat and it would tell everyone that spoke whether he or she is telling the truth." "Put on your hat, said the judge. Shamus placed his green Irish hat on his head. Then all we heard was the hat saying he is lying she is lying all are lying. Shamus smiled at the owl or judge and said, "I am sorry but I knew the hat would not keep quiet." "Contempt of court shouted the owl, ten pieces of gold for the courts expenses. Shamus raised his shillelagh (Irish cudgel or walking stick) sometimes used as a weapon. No one is going to get any of my gold Shamus called back. His shillelagh he raised above his head. The owl or judge called again more contempt of court. Another fine of ten pieces of gold, then Her Majesty spoke. We are not trying Shamus in this court he will pay no pieces of gold to the court or to anyone else. All were taken aback at what Her Majesty had said and the owl called for the jury to speak up. "Is the magician Mercuricor guilty or not," The whole of the jury without hearing any other evidence at all called out he is guilty throw him out of Fairyland. Her Majesty then asked Shamus for his hat. Taking the hat to the prisoner she placed it on his head. Mercuricor are you guilty or not guilty. Mercuricor could do nothing else but to say that he was guilty. "You are hereby proven guilty by your own words." Said Her Majesty. Sentence him she called to the owl. The owl ruffled his feathers and spoke. Mercuricor you are guilty as charged you will be banned from Fairyland for the rest of your natural life. Her Majesty waved her wand and the magician Mercuricor vanished he was never seen again.

The Owl then thanked all of the court and told the defence the prosecutor and the witnesses a large thank you. He would be only too willing to take charge of any other court that Her Majesty chose to call together. Since then the owl had taken to wearing overlarge spectacles. The court I heard later from Shamus had taken place in secret. All of the participants received a handwritten letter of thanks from Her Majesty. My letter is in my desk with all of the other honours that I have been awarded by Her Majesty. Later Shamus told me about the buckle on his hat. All Leprechauns wear a buckle of the hats but Shamus had as a young boy told a magician a lie and the magician placed the buckle on shamus hat and told shamus that he would never be able tell a lie again.

The Fisherman.

The day is one of those days that one expects in late spring. Sunshine and a breeze blowing in from off shore delighted the Fisherman as he rowed his small fishing boat out to sea. The waves are gentle and the smell of salt and seaweed is strong in the Fisherman's nose as he pulls on the two oars. A strong man that had no real effort to move the rowing boat out to sea. His fishing nets were lying neatly piled in front of him and he hoped for full nets of fish. Throwing the net over the side he watched the buoy floating on the water as he threw more and more netting over the side of the boat. The last of the net was firmly attached to the boat and the fisherman settled down to eat a sandwich that he had brought with him. Finishing off the sandwich he then took a thermos flask full of hot sweet tea and poured himself a cup of tea. Suddenly the net started to rock the boat and he thought to himself I have caught a bigger fish than I thought. Pulling in the net inch by inch he realised that he had caught a real big fish in the net. Then to his surprise he noticed the blond hair of a woman. Pulling stronger on the net he pulled the woman into the boat. It was no ordinary woman that he had caught but a Mermaid. The Mermaid had been caught in the net and trying to free herself she had become even more entangled in the netting.

Taking out his long bladed knife he carefully cut the netting away from the Mermaid. The Mermaid kept quite still as he freed her from the net. Lifting the Mermaid bodily up from the floor of the boat he carefully placed her back into the water. The rest of the net he pulled in and only a few fish were caught in the net. The Mermaid did not swim away as he thought she would and she spoke to him saying thank you for freeing me from that nasty old net. The Mermaid promised to show him where the best fishing places were and they agreed to meet on the following day.

The next day came and sure enough the Mermaid showed him where to cast his net. He caught plenty of fish and rowed back home a very happy man. The Mermaid had taken a liking to the Fisherman and they met every day and his fish fang was soon the talk of the village. Many followed him and cast their nets but they did not have the luck of the Fisherman. Strangely not one of the others in their small boats saw the Mermaid and soon they got tired of following the Fisherman.

Pulling strongly on the oars the Fisherman expected to see the Mermaid but she did not come. He caught many fish but there was no sign of the Mermaid. The following day he rowed his boat out to sea and cast his nets. He was very lucky for on this day he soon had the rowboat full of large fish. The Fisherman had eyes only for his nets and the fish that were caught in the nets. He did not see the clouds that were building up on the horizon. Then came the wind it blew his boat in all directions and soon the Fisherman did now know where he was and what is more he could not see the shore anywhere. It got late and the darkness set in the fisherman could do nothing but keep the front of the boat toward the waves.

Unknown to the Fisherman the Mermaid had seen the trouble he was in and she swam to the shore and asked a bird to fly to the Fairy Queen Feeana and ask her if she could make a light or perhaps a large fire then the Fisherman would see the light or the fire and safely row ashore. Her Majesty flew quickly to the seashore and seeing how rough the water was and how dark she called a couple of thousand fireflies to come and light up the shore. Soon there were fireflies bunching together and then they lit up as only fireflies can light up. The beach and the surrounding area were lit up well and the Fisherman saw the light and rowed towards the shore. The closer he got to the shore the lighter all became and he landed in a cove not far away from his cottage. As soon as Her Majesty saw that the Fisherman was safe she dismissed the fireflies that flew off to do what they always do.

The following day the Fisherman stayed at home he had, had enough of fishing for a while and took to strolling along the seashore he still sees his Mermaid but has decided to work at another job rather than risk the dangerous job of fishing from a small rowboat. The Mermaid often comes in very close to the shore in the hopes of seeing and perhaps speaking to her Fisherman. He soon found another job and does not walk very often along the seashore the Mermaid has long swum away and has been seen no more.

The Old Blackboard.

Walking down into town through to the market place I saw many an old piece of what I myself would have called junk and thrown away. Then something caught my eye I saw this old blackboard. It reminded me of the blackboards in my old school. A trellis that pulled out to hold the blackboard and the blackboard that sat on two pegs. At school in my day on one of the pegs hung a piece of wet cloth. This is to wipe the chalked questions or arithmetic sums that were no longer needed. It was the board where the teacher wrote out the early beginnings of my English instruction. One of the other pupils or I would be asked to wipe the board clean, this we did with the damp rag. The board brought back so many memories that I decided to buy it. The man that sold it to me delivered it to my home after he had finished his business at the market place.

I placed the blackboard and the trellis in my front room and did not think about it for a few days. On going in to the front room to water the plants I noticed some writing on the blackboard. The handwriting was my own I recognised it from my far off school days. (I must pay attention.) I had written this all over the board. Then I heard a voice distinctly say, "Pay attention Shaw." I was by now in a very disturbed state of mind a blackboard that wrote words from my long ago schooldays and a voice telling me to pay attention. Sitting facing the blackboard I watched as a damp cloth appeared in the air and wiped the board clean. I was now paying attention. Writing appeared on the board; "Shaw explain the theorem of Pythagoras." I was by now very much wanting to get a specialist to examine me, A doctor that would tell me that there is no such thing as a blackboard that can write and ask questions. I found myself saying, " The sum of the square on the hypotenuse is the same as the sum of the square on the other two sides." This is downright foolish I thought to myself. It is years ago since I was taught Pythagoras's Theory. I can only vaguely remember the formula let alone put it into practise.

The blackboard fascinated me and I watched for hours as writing appeared and was wiped away for more writing or arithmetic to form on the board. History, Geography, Arithmetic, Spelling, with the occasional reminder of, "Shaw are you paying attention?" The natural history that the blackboard gave from itself was fascinating the board had great knowledge of all the plants and wild animals or as the board put it Fauna and Flora. I thought to myself the board is harmless but I had better get a second opinion as to its peaceful nature. I invited Her Majesty Queen Feeana to come to the house and see this wonderful blackboard that knew all of the answers. I sent a mental picture to Her Majesty and watched the writing on the blackboard until she came. The blackboard was in the middle of explaining Einstein's Theory as her Majesty appeared. The accustomed blue flash of light the small whiff of smoke and there she stood as pretty as a picture. Her embroidered flowery dress as pretty as only a part of nature can be. Smiling she asked me what was so important that I called her. I showed Her Majesty the blackboard and asked her to watch it for a few moments. Writing appeared, "Shaw, can you not pay attention when I am giving a lesson?" then another batch of writing explaining the stars in the night sky, going on to the planetary system of our part of the milky way. "Your Majesty this writing goes on for hour after hour, it is as if one of my old teachers is trying to make up for the schooling that I lost as an evacuee in the last world war two.

Smiling again Her Majesty took out of her pocket her magic wand. "Come out of the blackboard Margerich I recognise you and the reason that you have changed yourself into a blackboard," "Mr. Shaw and this house is and as long as Mr.Shaw lives under my own personal protection." "I watched the man from the market deliver the blackboard and easel with its two pegs. I thought it might amuse my friend Mr. Shaw to have such a blackboard for a day or two it has certainly refreshed his memory. I am not going to punish you but I will give you this warning stay away from this house and all that might live in it, now be gone. A small man in a long black cloak ran out of my house and did not stop running until he was well out of sight. Her Majesty told me that Margerich was jealous of all of the fairy tales that I have written. He himself possesses all of the knowledge to write but he lacks the discipline that is needed to write word after word and make up a story."

You will not see him again and as for blackboards I do not think that you will ever be tempted to buy one again Smiling Her Majesty left the same way as she had come a smile a flash of blue light and a whiff of smoke and I was alone again with my blackboard. No more writing has ever appeared on the board again and it is now replacing the one half of my garden shed roof that had developed a leak. A fitting end for a blackboard that has been used to teach so many children it is not; but it is still serving a useful purpose and that is the main thing.

The Old, Old Call.

In the middle of the night I awoke from a deep sleep, yes there it was again the old, old call. This waking at night time was something that had followed me down the years since my childhood. It was always the same, "Come to us we are all waiting for you." I of course did not really hear the voices they came from inside of my head. Clear pleading voices asking me to come to see them. A few years ago I spoke to a psychiatrist, he told me that many people have these wake like dreams and I was to ignore them. Sometimes months would go past and there were no voices, then like tonight the pleading voices asking me to come. I turned over and lay on my back I can concentrate better in this way.

The voices came again and I listened hard trying to fathom out where they came from. I had my eyes closed and yes, I dropped off to sleep again. The voices were still there the pleading tone slightly more intense. I knew that one day I would go looking for these voices but not tonight, I fell into a deep sleep and woke at my usual time the hands on my bedside clock pointed to exactly seven o'clock. Yawning I rose from my bed and went into the bathroom to wash and shave ready for the new day. Going downstairs, I nearly fell over a strange looking doll that was lying as if waiting for me.

Picking up the doll I went into my kitchen and quickly fried a couple of eggs with some rashers of bacon. Cutting and buttering two slices of bread, I made my usual pot of tea and sat down to eat my breakfast. The doll was on the table facing me but until I had finished my breakfast, no doll was going to interrupt me. After I had eaten and cleared away the dishes, I looked again at the doll. She had a piece of paper in one of her hands. I had not noticed it before and carefully easing it out of her hand, I read the following words. Please come and see us we want to speak to you it is very important. Follow the doll she will lead you to us. Carrying the doll in one hand, I was surprised to feel that it was pulling at my hand. I decided to follow it.

Doll and I went out of the house, down to the railway station here I realised that I could not board a train without a valid railway ticket. Where did the doll want me to go? Then in my head came the following words. " A ticket to Brighton we are awaited at the Royal Albion Hotel." This was clear enough and I bought a ticket to London, Charring Cross and a taxi to Victoria Station. The train down to Brighton was a fast train and in an hour and a half, we arrived at Brighton Station. I took another taxi to the Royal Albion Hotel. Here I booked into a room overlooking the seafront. I had lunch in the hotel restaurant and then with the doll in my pocket I walked along the seafront.

I remember the doll saying something, then I was on my own the doll had disappeared. I was in a large room with a fire burning in the grate a long table with chairs; in each chair was a doll all were speaking then I made out what they were saying. "We knew you would come, we knew you would come." I quickly took from my pocket a large handful of magic dust and threw it over the dolls. Next, I saw that all of the dolls were really Fairies my magic dust had freed them from their imprisonment by a witch. Now the Fairies could fly again and they swooped around the room enjoying their freedom.

All of my life the Fairies had tried to get in touch with me but as a child, I could not help them and it was years before they had the idea to send a doll to take me to Brighton. When the fairies had quietened down, I asked them to send a message to Her Majesty Queen Feeana telling her that they were well and now ready to go back to Fairyland. Soon Her Majesty appeared and I told her my story of the voices and of the doll. Her Majesty sent all the Fairies back to Fairyland with magic and no sooner had the last Fairy disappeared the witch showed herself. She was very angry that we had set her Fairies free and she even attacked Her Royal Majesty with a magic wand. Her majesty waved her hand and the witch shrunk until she was the size of the dolls.

Her Majesty then took my hand and we vanished leaving the witch in the room. I found myself back home in my kitchen and soon Her Majesty and I were drinking hot sweet cups of tea. The fairies it seems had only one means of getting assistance and that was by asking a human for help. This they could only do when the human was asleep, any attempt to use magic, the witch would have known. The witch had captured over fifty Fairies. Another of Fairyland's mysteries is no longer a mystery and the Fairies are all well and happy again.

The Path.

Taking my usual walk through Fairyland, enjoying all that nature had to offer from the wild wood strawberries to the briar bushes; where in a few weeks the lush ripe blackberries would be mine to take home to make jam and pies. I must admit that I have walked through Fairyland dozens of times to-day I seem to have lost my way. I am on a strange path all around me are the trees and bushes with the briars and other fruit and nut trees. The wild crab apple that makes an excellent jam is showing hundreds of small green apples. Wild cherries are ripe for the taking. I know that I have never been to this part of the forest before. Then I heard the singing. A voice singing in the old language known only to the fairies filled the air around a cottage. The melodies are somehow very familiar. Lullabies that I heard as a child the sounds lulled me into a sense of peace. I saw a small cottage with a thatched roof all looked very neat and clean with a small garden surrounding the cottage. Then I saw the Leprechaun that was singing the old lullabies. I thought at first that it was my old friend Shamus he was dressed in forest green clothes with a green hat with the same golden buckle as Shamus wore in his hat.

"Come nearer Mr. Shaw," " I have been expecting you." I am now rather confused how did this Leprechaun, that I have never seen before know my name? I should not have been surprised for magic is practised daily by all of the peoples of Fairyland; this Leprechaun is no different from all of the other little peoples. "Step into my cottage Mr.Shaw, I have something to show you and an offer to make you. I slowly approached the cottage and entered into a hallway that was clean and tidy. A long mirror was fixed to one wall and a small table opposite the mirror. "Go into the first door on your right." He said. I opened the door and stepped into a comfortably furnished room. Here too everything was clean and the one picture on the wall was a painting of Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The Queen looked as beautiful as she always did. Soon the Leprechaun made a pot of tea and produced some ginger biscuits. We drank the tea and ate some biscuits. Finishing the tea and biscuits the leprechaun asked me to come with him into another room that led off the hall.

Going in to the room I noticed that here there was expectancy in the air, something is going to happen. Then in front of my face appeared a bundle of papyrus written in the old language known only to the fairies. Take the papyrus Mr.Shaw and read them thoroughly. I found to my amazement that I was able to read the papyrus sheets like I would read an English newspaper. The old language was no longer strange to me. Smiling the Leprechaun said, "On entering my cottage you were granted by Her Majesty all of the knowledge that I myself posses" "You are here in the records office of Fairyland." "All that happens in Fairyland is recorded and sent to me to place in the records office." "I need an assistant as the work is getting heavier as each day goes past." "Her Majesty suggested that you might take up the position and later become the records keeper." I am very surprised I must admit and asked for a little time to think things over. "Of course your life's span will be increased to two thousand years of human time." This I must say put me off altogether and I refused the offer. A blue flash a puff of smoke and Her Majesty Queen Feeana stood before us. I bowed and greeted Her Majesty who smiled and said to the Leprechaun." I told you that Mr. Shaw could not be tempted by a long life. He has no interest in gold or property and is very happy writing about the fairies and their little adventures. We will leave him to his normal human life and be pleased that he writes the stories of the fairies.

Taking me by the hand Her Majesty using magic spirited me back to my garden and told me that I have just two hours to write this story then I would forget all about the house in the woods, the records office and my ability to read the old language used by the fairies for so many generations. The two hours are past and by chance I looked at the two sheets of paper lying in my printer tray and read this story. I can assure you all that I do not remember being in the fairies; records office or even reading the papyrus that appeared in front of me. In fact I cannot even remember going down the strange path that led me to the records office and the Leprechaun.

The Pool.

One of my favourite places in Fairyland is the pool. The pool is filled with rainwater and from a small stream that feeds the dip in the ground. I have never seen the pool empty; at the same time I have never seen a fairy go any where near the pool. I know of course that fairies do not like to get their wings wet but to avoid one of the coolest places in Fairyland there must be a reason. I was determined to find out why the pool was avoided by the fairies. Leprechauns that came to this part of Fairyland often used the pool to have a swim and they really enjoyed the cool waters of the pool.

I have spent a whole week trying to find out why the fairies avoid the pool but no information is coming my way and I decided to ask one of the wise old fairies why the pool is not being used by the fairies. I asked Noonafee one of the oldest of the wise old fairies. Noonafee is the teacher of fairy history to the young fairies that attend school. Noonafee is very reluctant to tell me the history of the pool; this made me all the more enquiring as to why the pool is not being used. The water is fresh and is drinkable by all of the wild animals even the insects and bees drink the water from the pool. I myself have often filled my water bottle that I carry with me when I know that I will be in fairyland most of the day.

I did not let up and asked Noonafee why the fairies did not go near the pool. This is Noonafee's story; many years ago when the fairies first came to this part of fairyland there lived a very powerful wizard a man named Mendadip. Mendadip was a cruel man and hunted all of the wild animals; in those far off days bears roamed all over England and Mendadip captured a bear and put a chain around its neck and kept it for showing people how powerful he was. He thought that anyone that could capture a fully-grown bear must indeed be very powerful.

The fairies of those far off days were very sad to see a bear tied by a chain and collar of iron around its neck to a tree. Mendadip fed the bear whenever he felt like it, for water the chain was just long enough for the bear to drink from the stream. Many a day the poor bear only had water to drink. The fairies secretly fed the bear when Mendadip was away from home. Then a party of fairies came on a visit from China. In China in those far off days some men had found out how to make gunpowder. Gunpowder is used for many things in cartridges for shotguns and for making explosives that can be used for blowing up things like old bridges that are no longer needed and many other purposes.

The Chinese fairies had brought some of this powder with them and one of the Chinese fairies went to the bear and placed a thick leather sack around its neck where the chain was. Then with some of the gunpowder the fairy blew the chain from the bear's neck. The noise of the explosion brought Mendadip running back to his hut but it was too late the bear had run had run off into the forest. The noise of the explosion had frightened the bear and it ran for miles before it came to a stop and rested. The bear has not bee seen since that day.

Mendadip was very annoyed that his bear had escaped. He did not know that the fairies had freed the bear and went out into the woods where he caught another bear and put an iron collar and chain around its neck; like he had the other bear that the fairies had freed. The fairies were now very angry that another poor bear was being put through the same treatment that the other bear had gone through. With gunpowder the fairies freed the bear and then made enough gunpowder to blow up the hut of Mendadip. One of the Chinese fairies placed a huge sack full of the gunpowder around the hut of Mendadip and lit the fuse that would cause the gunpowder to explode. The fuse was too short and the Chinese fairy was badly injured by the explosion. Mendadip's hut was gone and in its place a large hole in the ground. The fairies took the Chinese fairy that was badly injured to the Fairy Queen who waved her wand over the Chinese fairy. The Chinese fairy recovered but walked with a permanent limp. Since that day no fairy ever went to the hole in the ground, which was now a pool. I told Noonafee that the pool is an excellent place to play and even to swim. I also told her that many of my Leprechaun friends went to the pool to have a swim and cool off on a hot summers day.

Now the fairies are back at the pool that was once a hole in the ground and swimming and playing around the pool that is fed by rainwater and the small stream is one of the fairies main pleasures in the summer months. No one ever speaks about Mendadip it is as if he never existed which is a good thing for no animal should ever be kept in captivity.

The Ravens.

In London Tower there are a number of birds called ravens. People say that if the ravens should leave the Tower of London that it will be the end of the English Royalty and even that Great Britain will fall a prey to its enemies. To make sure that the ravens do not leave the Tower it is said that the Beefeaters crop their wings. Whether this story is true or not or even if the Royal Family will be no more, I do not know. I can only tell you about the raven that did manage to get away from the Tower Of London. I do not ask you to believe what I am about to write but please keep an open mind on the subject.

London in the year fourteen eighty-six, a young Leprechaun seeking his fortune had crossed the dangerous Irish Sea and after landing in Liverpool had made his way to London. To keep him going he did odd jobs on houses like repairing roofs or working on farms for a meal. It was a difficult life and the Leprechaun often blamed himself for leaving his beloved Ireland. On his way south he had made friends with a raven. Most people regard ravens as a sign of bad luck, even that ravens foretold of a death in a family. This did not worry Shamus the Leprechaun, he laughed off what he called old wives tales.

Arriving in London with the raven on his shoulder he looked for work, many roofs needed repairing but on seeing the raven people shied away from the little man that had a raven as friend. Shamus is not the type to give in easily and he walked through northern London until he came to the river Thames. Here on the Thames people were used to seeing ravens and took no notice of him and his black bird. Shamus's luck was in for in the Tower of London there was much work to be done. Shamus is a good worker and soon the Beefeaters trusted him with all kinds of jobs even to carrying messages for them. Shamus's friend the raven soon made friends with the other ravens in the tower. In fact the raven fell in love with one of the Tower's ravens. Shamus at first felt sorry for the pair that had fallen love, he decided to help them. His plan was for his raven that he had brought to London with him should fly off and wait for Shamus in the northern part of London. The raven that was on the list of ravens at the tower should now take Shamus's ravens place. Soon Shamus and the tower raven were to be seen together all of the time and no one missed her.

The work in London's Tower came to an end and Shamus with the tower raven set off on his journey to Liverpool to get a ship to carry him across the Irish Sea. Shamus's raven was waiting for them and flew to Shamus as soon as he saw him with his bride to be on Shamus's shoulder. The two birds flew off together and have never since been seen in London. Shamus arrived back in his beloved Ireland after a stormy trip across the Irish Sea. There were tears in Shamus's eyes as he told me this little story. Back in Ireland Shamus soon made friends with a crow and the two of them are often to be seen walking the Irish countryside where Shamus looks for work.

Secret Cave.

The flickering light from the candle slowly burnt to an end. My bedroom is now in complete darkness. Outside I can hear the howl of the wind on the storm pitched shores. It is indeed not a night to be out in. Suddenly the rain splattered heavily against the windows of my bedroom. I was tempted to get out of bed and light a new candle; it was the coldness of the room that stopped me. I cowered back under the sheets and waited for the light of the morning to break through the sky.

I dropped finally off into a deep sleep on hearing the rolling noise of the thunder that had come to add to the terrors of the night. Later my neighbour told me that it was one of the worst storms to be recorded in the last hundred years. Looking out of my bedroom window after I had gotten out of bed. I saw that many an old tree had been uprooted by the storm, a sad sight they looked with their roots now where the leaves should have been.

I made and ate my breakfast and went outside to see how bad the damage really was. My house was all right so was my next-door neighbours but trees had been blown down along the rest of the road

I offered the local services my help which was turned down the professional did not want a few amateurs to get in their way and after a couple of day our street had gone back to normal. I know many of the people that had trees blown over, said, "Thank goodness now we will not have to clear up the leaves every year."

Going to the shops I stocked up on electric batteries and candles it was I think going to be one of those winters. Cold miserable and soon there would be snow and frost. I was pleased that my friends the Fairies had all gone to the deep caves under the Himalayan Mountains. They would be safe from the storms and the snow and icy weather that winter brings with it.

I had over the summer laid in a whole shed full of firewood ready chopped for the fires. I usually light tow fires one in the kitchen in the old fashioned range and one in the living room in the fireplace. I must say these two fires keep the house fairly warm. Just my bedroom is not heated. Not even an electric blanket, I do not believe in the new fangled ideas.

I read many books to pass the time away but I was too a little bored at there being no Fairies they have always kept me out of the doldrums of life with their happy voices and mischievous ways. I sat in my armchair in a mood of depression when all of a sudden I had the familiar feeling of travelling at high speed. It was of course Her Majesty with magic I was taken to the caves under the Himalayan Mountains.

The Fairies greeted me and her Majesty then took me to a side of the huge caves that I had never seen before. We stopped at what looked like a sheer rock face. Her Majesty said a magic word and the wall of the cave opened and taking me by the hand her Majesty took me down a flight of stairs and then I saw for the first time a secret known only to the eldest of the wise old fairies and her Majesty Queen Feeana. The cave was a sort of Fairy Museum. Along the walls were shelves and in the room itself there were rows and rows of tables. The tables were full of every known herb that has ever grown on earth. Rolls and rolls of Parchment with maps of the world showing all five continents and the north and South Pole were to be seen hanging on the walls.

Then Her Majesty took me to a long table that was filled with computer equipment all was connected up and ready to be used. I knew that you were fretful at home in your big old house and I thought it would be a good idea if you were to help us by training the wise old fairies how to use this equipment so that we may make an inventory of everything that is in this series of caves. Here lies the knowledge of generations of Fairies with all of the magic at their disposal. It would be a pity if it were to be lost and future generations could not find their way around the caves.

It was a special occasion as I threw the master switch and electricity went through the computer and the screens and the printing devices. I gave each of the wise old fairies a position of responsibility. One I showed how to use the camera another how to use the printer and another the scanner and then I showed them all how to turn on and off the equipment and how to work their way through the computer terminals.

The wise old fairies were very intelligent and in a few weeks were writing their own programs. Soon Photo's were being made and printed with a description of the plant herb or root. These were then burnt into the storage disks and carefully laid away in a system of simplicity that I could only be astonished at how quick they had grasped the workings of a computer.

The winter soon passed and I was taken back to my house the spring was well under way and the flowers were an apt greeting for a man that had just spent what seemed like a lifetime in the secret caves under the caves under the Himalayan Mountains. The knowledge that the Fairies for generations have collected will soon be available in computer disk form for all of mankind. New Medicines will be made and a new period of life will begin on this earth.

The Snake.

Walking through Fairyland I saw a large green snake. This surprised me because Fairyland is banned to all snakes. A magic barrier surrounds all of fairyland to keep out the unwanted snakes. Snakes climb trees and wait until an animal comes by then the snake drops on the unsuspecting animal and wraps itself so tightly around it that it dies. Other snakes are so quick to bite anyone that crosses their path and are dangerous even to the fairies as their teeth contain a deadly poison. I spotted a robin up in a tree and asked it to take a message to Her Majesty Queen Feeana Queen of all the fairies. The robin flew off and I carefully followed the snake at a safe distance. The snake was six feet long and its skin was coloured green and brown. Her Majesty appeared in her usual fashion a blue light and a puff of smoke and she stood before me.

"What is troubling you?" she asked. I told her about the snake that I was following. Her Majesty followed the snake with me for a while then she stopped and called out, "Come out from behind that tree!" It was then that I saw the fairy, very pretty and she too was following the snake. "Why are you following the snake?" asked her Majesty. " He rescued me from a terrible wizard and we ran off together to get away from the terrible man." Her Majesty waved her magic wand and the snake stopped and raised itself in the air. Her Majesty took my hand and started sending mental pictures to the snake. The snake answered Her Majesty first with a few hisses then it too sent pictures to Her Majesty. This is the story he told Her Majesty.

The wizard Monfierious caught a fairy and took it back to his cave where he lived and worked. The snake is really a young boy that was sent to work for the wizard as an apprentice. The boy immediately fell in love with the very pretty fairy and decided to set her free and run off with her so that they might live together. One day the wizard Monfierious went away to the nearest town to get some much needed provisions. The boy took advantage of his absence and taking a large bottle of acid he poured the acid over the front of the cage where the fairy was held captive. The fairy he had given some cloth sheets so that she could cover herself and the acid ate its way through the metal bars. The fairy flew out of the cage now that the bars were gone and she and the boy walked away from the cave into the woods. They went quickly to put as much distance between them and the wizard as they could. The wizard came home late in the afternoon and saw what his apprentice had done. He was so angry that he cast a spell and the boy turned into a snake. The wizard went after them but he could not find them. The fairy made the pair of them invisible and the wizard finally went home to his cave.

I was the first person to see the snake as it entered Fairyland, the fairy that he had rescued turned off the snake barrier so that the snake could enter. She thought that they would be safe here in Fairyland. Her Majesty waved her magic wand again and the snake turned into a handsome young man. Being a snake had made him older by a few years. The wizard Monfierious would not recognise him now. The young man and the fairy wanted to marry and settle down in Fairyland where there were no wizards or snakes to remind them of the time spent with the wizard. Her Majesty asked the young man if he would be willing to go to the fairy school so that he could eventually become a fairy. The young man thought for a few minutes and then said, "I would be delighted to attend the fairy school so that I might be able to make my fairy that I set free a very happy fairy." "So be it," said Her Majesty and with a wave of her wand the handsome young man turned into a very handsome fairy. He has finished the fairy school and now lives with his fairy bride in a home that my friend Shamus the Leprechaun built for them. Later I heard that in Monfierious's cave an explosion had taken place and the wicked wizard has been seen no more.

The Spot.

The Storm.

Ten past eleven at night. The heavens were full of stars. I picked out the patterns of some of the constellations that I knew, the Plough, the Great Bear and one or two others. High up in the sky I saw an aeroplane's navigation lights twinkling and thought at first that I had found a new star. Then the picture changed, clouds came in from the east and soon the heavens were dark. No more twinkling stars a few spots of rain fell onto my upturned face and I decided to go back indoors. Then the rain came down, more of a torrential rain than the normal rain that one gets in Southern England. Soon there were large puddles to be seen on the road that ran past the front of the house. A rumbling in the distance and then lightning lit up the dark night skies. The storm for that is what it turned out to be got worse, trees were uprooted by the high winds, such a storm happens very rarely and I went upstairs to my bedroom to have a nights sleep.

The storm kept me awake for some time then I fell asleep and heard no more until I awoke in the morning. The storm had brought hailstones with it the garden was white with large tennis ball size hailstones. My first thought was my roof and then the glasshouse in my garden. My roof has been badly damaged and when I looked into the garden the glasshouse was a shambles, broken glass everywhere.

The Insurance man and the damage assessor came and agreed on a sum of money that would after I had filled in a dozen forms be paid into my bank account. Going to the local builders yard I ordered enough slates to re-roof the house. The local builders yard knew me well and the slates were delivered in the next couple of days.

I spent one whole week trying to find a builder that would repair my roof. All of the local builders were busy there had been much damage in the town and nearly every second roof needed repairing. I had spent much of the morning trying to get someone to repair my roof to no avail. As I sat down to eat my lunch there came a knock on the front door. I went to the door and saw much to my surprise six small men, all dressed in green and brown. Leprechauns sprang into my mind. I asked them in and offered them to share my meal with me. It was only corned beef sandwiches but they were very welcome to eat with me.

"Shamus has asked us to drop by as you have a problem with your roof." The speaker was a little taken aback that it was he that had spoken. He turned red in the face and the other small men all smiled. "Uncle Patrick is our spokesman," one of them said. After lunch, which consisted of corned beef sandwiches and a large glass jar of pickled onions all washed down with lots of sweet tea and ginger biscuits. The small men went out into the garden that is all of the men except one. "I am the one chosen to do the washing up and help in the house," he proudly said. Going out side I saw that they had placed two long ladders against the side of the house and most of the men were on the roof. Expertly they removed the broken slates and replaced them with new ones.

It took two whole days for them to finish the roof and after cleaning up the garden all around the house they went to work on my greenhouse. Uncle Patrick came to me and said, "We will need glass if we are to renew the greenhouse." I phoned up the local glass merchant and asked him to come around and measure the glass that I needed so that he could deliver it already cut to size. While the glass merchant was in the garden all of my Leprechauns hid in my kitchen and did not come out until he left. The glass will be delivered in two days time I told the Leprechauns. I half expected them to complain that it was too long to wait. In the meantime they emptied all of the earth from the greenhouse, it was full of glass splitters and was of no use for using as planting soil. Then the glass was delivered and after the glass merchant had left the leprechauns started to replace the glass. Soon the roof was as new and my glasshouse looked as it did when I first had it built. I wanted to give the Leprechauns a treat and asked them what I should cook for them. They all agreed to Irish stew. Uncle Patrick gave me a long list and I went into town to get all of the items needed for making an Irish stew. On arriving home the Leprechaun that had proudly told me that he was to look after the house took all of my ingredients and vanished into the kitchen. He was a happy go lucky little man and I heard him singing some very strange songs.

The smell of Irish stew soon filled the house and we were all pleased when the little man told us to come to the table, as all was ready. We sat down to the table and I noticed that an extra place had been laid. "Who is that place for I asked the little men." Then it happened Shamus came sailing through the air landing at the place that had been made ready for him at the table. The Irish stew was served and each ate a large plateful. After the meal the little man then cleared the table and washed and wiped all of the dishes and pots and pans and we sat down at the table and listened to Shamus. Shamus was busy in America where he had just finished building a new skyscraper. He had heard my plea for help but as he himself could not come he had sent a small crew of his workers. The Leprechauns turned down my offer of payment although I had gold to pay them with. For a friend of Shamus we would go anywhere and do anything one of them explained to me. Shamus was a very famous man in the world of the Leprechauns. I am very pleased to be able to call Shamus my friend.

The Stranger.

The weather has broken it is now raining softly all day. It looks as if we will get a night of rain. The weather forecast says rain for the coming week. I placed my Wellington boots ready for my daily walk through the woods. My Macintosh hangs on a peg on the inside of the back door. My hat is on the other peg. I like rain it brings many animals and insects to view that one Does not see in dry weather. I finished making my breakfast and after eating my fill I pulled on my Wellingtons pulled my raincoat over my shoulders and with my hat on my head I went out to brave the weather.

There was no one to be seen, the wild animals were either taking shelter or were hiding under the trees out of the wet. Salamanders were running on the floor of the woods and I saw a few frogs and a couple of toads. Apart from that there was nothing to be seen. No Fairies were out playing, it seemed as if I was alone in the world. I stopped under an old oak tree and kept my eyes open to see what if anything would be the first to cross my path.

The first animal was a Doe with two young by her side. She the Doe kept throwing her head up on the look out for danger. The two young were constantly by her side. When the Doe was satisfied that no danger was around she nudged the young ones to drink. It was a peaceful scene one that I had often enjoyed in my quiet walks through the woods

A whistling, the whistler was somehow out of tune but one could make out the song he was whistling, broke the quietness. It was a happy kind of whistling as if the whistler was glad to be out in the wetness of the woods. Then I saw him, a small man with a rucksack on his back. He was quite wet but it did not seem to bother him. I thought that, like myself he liked the rain.

It was then he saw me under my old oak tree. "The top of the morning to you? He greeted me. I smiled and asked him to take shelter under my old oak tree. "Thank you I will," came his quick reply. We held a long conversation about the weather about work in general and whether he would be able find work in my town. I asked him back to the house for a meal and he accepted my offer and the pair of us went back to my house.

In the kitchen I gave him a towel to dry his face and hands his clothing seemed to be dry and I got to wonder what kind of material it was that he was wearing. I prepared a quick meal and we sat sown to eat. The stranger had a good appetite and the food disappeared quickly from his plate. For Afters I had made custard and steamed treacle pudding. This also disappeared very quickly. After we had washed and dried the pots and pans and the plates and cutlery, I asked him into my front room where we could sit comfortably and asked him about his travels.

He surprised me with his first words. I am here because of my Grandfather. We are a family of Leprechauns and as we were talking about our travels my Grandfather spoke of you. You were a young man in those days either you or your Father, one of you helped him when he was in a rather bad situation. You or your Father helped him he stayed for over a week and he was fed and looked after by one of you.

"That must have been my Father or Grandfather, both kept an open house where any weary traveller was welcome to stay even if it was only for one night." " The tradition of hospitality goes way back in my family and your story does not surprise me." " I have interrupted your story please go on from where you left off." " My Grandfather says that such hospitality does not exist any more. People are more selfish nowadays and not willing to help strangers."

"I, like my Father and Grandfather, will always hold an open house for the needy," was my reply. "I know said the Leprechaun you have shown it by taking me in and giving me a meal. Now it is my family's turn to do something for you," "Come with me up stairs to the room where my Grandfather slept, I have something there for you."

Going upstairs with the stranger who knew exactly where he was we went into the front bedroom. Going to the far corner of the room near the window he took from his pocket a screwdriver and prised up one of the floorboards. Reaching in he took out a leather sack, which he gave to me. "This sack was placed here all those years ago by my Grandfather it was his store of gold coins." "I was sent here to either recover the coins or give them to the person that offered me hospitality" "This is my Grandfathers wish and I gladly give you the coins for the hospitality shown to me and my family over the years."

I felt rather bad about the coins but the stranger would not take no for an answer and the coins are still with me in my house and are used solely for the purpose of giving a helping hand where it is necessary.

The Truth.

I have decided to let you all know about this true story. Many of you will pooh, pooh the story some of you might even say that I am a notorious fibber and that I could not write the truth even if I wanted to. It has taken me six months to make up my mind whether to tell you this story or not. Those of you that will believe me outweigh those that say I am telling one fib after the other. That is then no longer my problem so I will write my story for you all to read and perhaps believe me.

It was at the time of the full moon, I heard my name being called softly from a far distance away. Bernard, Bernard, come to me Bernard. The calling was so persuasive that I stopped looking at the stars through my telescope and went looking for whomever it was that was calling me. Listening intently I heard the call again and again. Following the call I went deeper and deeper into the woods. In a clearing sat a most beautiful young maiden. It was she that was calling me.

"Here I am," I said. "What do you want of me?" " What I want is quite simple," she said. "Stop writing about Fairies and Leprechauns, there have been so many good Wizards and Witches lost through your stories, that I have been sent to get you to stop writing. I smiled and said, "How are you going to get me to stop writing? Why I even have Her Majesty Queen Feeana's permission to write all about the little folk." "I can easy stop you writing," she said. "All I have to do is cast a spell."

"Look now at your writing hand," I looked at my hand to see that what had once been a good normal hand was now a shrivelled up claw. Why I could now not even hold a pen. "That is just one way to stop you," came a laugh from the beautiful young maiden. I could turn you into a pig or a dog or any other animal. Perhaps you would like to be a frog. Plops I was now a frog. I felt terrible. At the same time I was beginning to get angry and that is a sure sign that I would do something silly.

Then the beautiful young maiden turned into a hideous old witch now she showed me a room full of jewels. "These jewels are for you if you stop writing." she said. I said to her, "you will have to change me back into a man, as a frog I can make no promises" plops I was a man again. "I as a man do not want or need jewels. What shall I do with all of those diamonds and precious stones? I am not a jeweller."

Then she showed me a room full of money there were banknotes from floor to ceiling also boxes filled with gold coins. "These shall be yours if you give me your word not to write about Witches and Wizards." I was now getting tired of the woman and her threats and promises. Taking from my pocket a handful of magic dust I threw it over the witch. There was a flash and the woman turned into a large black cat.

I took the cat in my arms and walked back to my home. Here I rubbed some butter into its paws and left it to settle down. Rubbing butter into the cats paws when it is taken to a new house or flat is an old trick and one that I have often used. Next I gave it a bowl with watered milk and some fish that was left over from dinner.

I then went to her Majesty Queen Feeana and told her of my adventure and of the young beautiful woman that offered me all the riches of this world. I then told her how the woman had turned into an ugly old witch and of my throwing magic dust over her. Her Majesty said that she would like to see the cat as it must have been very powerful to show me rooms with jewels and rooms filled with money and gold. Taking my hand Her Majesty Queen Feeana and I showed up in my kitchen where the black cat was licking herself she had eaten all of the fish and drunken all of the watered milk.

On seeing Her Majesty the cat buckled its back and hissed at the Fairy Queen. Her Majesty pointed her magic wand and the cat turned back into an old ugly witch then into the beautiful young maiden that had first called to me. "Why! Said Her Majesty it is the witch Roanna," " Tell me why did you tempt this mortal in such a way?" " He is weakening the Wizards and Witches in such a way with all of his writings about us and the Fairies, that we all got together and I was chosen to be the one to get him to stop writing about us, too many of us have gone as Your Majesty well knows.

"I will turn you back into the being you always were, said her Majesty and her wand waved once and the Witch Roanna stood there before my very eyes. She asked Her Majesty why I had been given Fairy dust it was dangerous in the wrong hands. Her Majesty answered by saying Fairy dust in his hands is safe he does not use it for himself but to help all the creatures of this earth. And yes he will go on writing about the whole of Fairyland. Perhaps one day He will be writing about the good Witches and Wizards. Who knows?

The scene then changed I was at home in my bed. I only got up to write this story and yes it is the truth in every detail.

The wheelbarrow.

The wheelbarrow is a most wonderful thing to have in the garden. I have my wheelbarrow now for the last forty years. Wheelbarrows can be used for many things. One thing is to use them if you want to transport something heavy. On the day I bought my wheelbarrow from the garden shop it cost me sixty pounds. I remember the neighbour's remarks. One who thought that he was being extra funny asked me where the motor was, another told me that I had a flat tyre although the wheel was made of wood with an iron band around the wheel. I think on the whole they were a little envious not many people had a wheelbarrow in those far off days.

I cleared my garden of stones and had placed the stones in the wheelbarrow. I took them over to the heath and spread them on one of the old roads that had large wheel ruts in it. On my way back home a small man walked a way beside me. "You have one smart wheelbarrow there," he said. "How much do you want for it?" I told him that it was not for sale and that in the garden centre in the town they had many wheelbarrows to sell. Why did he not go into town and buy himself one.

Two days later I met the same littler man who now proudly pushed a wheelbarrow of his own. "I see that you too, now own a wheelbarrow," I said in the way of greeting. With a large smile on his face he told me that he had bought the wheelbarrow in the local garden stores. "This will surprise my wife," he smilingly said. " I have always wanted a wheelbarrow but could never make up my mind to buy one." "Now I can clear my garden of stones and do as you do put them in the ruts of the old roadways."

We parted company, He went on his way and I went back home to my garden. In my garden half lying in my wheelbarrow I got a small shock for sitting in my barrow was the same little man that I had previously said goodbye to on the road. Smiling all over his face he told me that his name was Patrick and he was on an errand for Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies. Taking me by the hand he spoke the magic words that took us to the caves under the Himalayan Mountains.

Arriving at the caves I saw that Her Majesty was waiting for us to arrive. After our usual greetings she took me to a part of the caves that I had not seen before. "This Her Majesty said is your new refuge if you ever have need to get away from things in the human world." A wave of her wand and before my eyes appeared my house and my garden it was complete down to my wheelbarrow with its two old cushions that I find so comfortable.

Patrick smiled again and asked me whether I recognised the wheelbarrow that stood in my new back garden. "That," he said, is the wheelbarrow that I got from your local gardeners store. My asking you for your old wheelbarrow was to bring it here because here in Fairyland we have no such things as wheelbarrows. Now I have my own place of refuge under the Himalayan Mountains. The house and garden are replicas of my own house and garden in the human world. I often come here especially in the winter months when it is cold and the snow is laying on the ground. The Fairies come to my house and we often have long discussions about what goes on in the world of the humans. My wheelbarrow is in exactly the same place as it is in the human world, complete with its two cushions, which are ever so comfortable.

It is wonderful to have such a place to retire to when one is down in the dumps or one is feeling the cold and snow of the winter months. I also enjoy the company of the Fairies who keep me happy with their talking and singing. They sometimes play pranks on me such as the day when they laid a trail of honey from my garden right into my kitchen. It took me weeks to get rid of the ants. This amused the Fairies who eventually used their magic to place the ants back into the garden where they belong.

Witch Plot.

In the local newspaper I read that a coven of witches was to be held on Dartford Heath. It is nothing new for Witches to hold meetings but not on Dartford Heath this was new to me. I decided that at the time of the meeting I would be on the Heath with my powerful binoculars, I wanted to see what they were up to. A week went past and the day of the meeting or should I say night, came and I with my binoculars was out on the heath hidden behind some very high trees.

As soon as it was dark I saw them flying in on their broomsticks. One after another flew in until twenty witches were present. I crept silently closer to see if I could hear or see something new. The witches sat in a circle and were chanting some old song. There was no moon and it was very dark except for a fire that was burning in the middle of the circle. One of the witches got up and started to perform a weird dance around the fire.

Soon all of the witches were dancing and chanting around the fire. Ten minutes of dancing and chanting and then all sat around the fire once more. By now I was very close to the witches using every bit of cover, I had crept to within a few yards of them all. The witches were speaking in a very strange language, which I did not understand. After two hours the witches started to leave the meeting. One after the other got on their broomsticks and flew off into the night. Soon there were only two witches left and they huddled close to the fire and then I heard their plot.

They were going to get some spiders and feed them until they were big and strong. Then they would get the spiders to spin one huge net. With the net they would fly on their brooms dragging the net behind them. In this way they were going to fish for fairies. I could not follow them, as I do not posses a broom that flies. I decided to go back home and wait to see what if anything happened to their plot. I waited until the last two witches flew off and then I went to the fire and carefully put it out. There is always the danger of forest fires when people leave fires unattended.

Six months went past and I thought no more of the witches until suddenly a dozen or more Fairies went missing. No one had seen them go off and all were worried that something terrible might have happened to them. It was then that I remembered the two witches and their plan to catch Fairies with a large sticky cobweb. I went to Her Majesty Queen Feeana and told her of my night, watching the witches and of my suspicions that the witches had taken the Fairies by means of the sticky cobweb.

Her Majesty took from her robe the famous Magic Mirror. The mirror showed a picture of the witch's coven and of my putting out the fire that they had left burning in the woods. The mirror then showed more pictures. The two witches feeding ordinary spiders that grew so big that they had no trouble spinning a large cobweb between two high trees. The witches then carefully cut the cobweb and attached it to their brooms. Then the two of them flew off over the woods and meadows where the Fairies were working and playing. In this way they caught the Fairies who were not prepared for the danger from the skies.

The Magic Mirror then showed a village that I recognised as being the village of Old Bexley not far away from the Dartford Heath. One old house with smoke coming from its chimneys caught my eye. The house was large and rambling and had been built many years ago. The Mirror then showed a small room in which the Fairies were being held prisoner. The door was made of solid oak and was ever so strong. A key was hanging on a nail beside the door. The door did not stop the Magic Mirror from entering the room. Two-dozen Fairies were being held prisoner here. The two witches had taken away their magic wands and the Fairies were looking very miserable indeed.

Her Majesty was now very angry and the Mirror wandered around the house and found the two witches in the kitchen drinking tea. Her Majesty's wand came into action and turned both the witches into two large black spiders. One of the witches nearly fell into her teacup the magic from Her Majesty's wand was very quick.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana waved her magic wand again and all of the Fairies were now able to fly out of the room the door had completely vanished. A High-pitched whistle that could only be heard by the Fairies led them back home to Dartford Heath. The next day the Fairies spent making new Magic Wands. No one talks anymore about spiders and the two witches have been forgotten until this day, when I decided to tell you all about this story.

Three Warts.

I awoke this morning with my right hand itching; I could fell three small lumps and thought that some insect or other had bitten me during the night. I thought no more about it until I was eating my breakfast, as I was cutting my bacon, I noticed the three lumps on my right hand. I took a magnifying glass and looked at the three small lumps. To my surprise the lumps were not from an insect bite but three small warts. I have never had warts before in my life and did not worry too much. A trip to the chemists and buy a small bottle of wart remover and the warts will soon be gone.

In the town of Dartford in Kent I went to "Boots the Chemists" and told the young lady what I wanted. The lady asked to see my hand. I showed it to her and she smiled and went to one of the large sliding draws that most chemists seem to have nowadays and came back with a small bottle of wart remover. I paid and went home where I removed the small lid from off the bottle and in the lid was a small brush fitted. This brush was meant for me to dab some of the liquid on to each wart. I did so and nothing happened. I repeated the treatment before I went to bed. In the morning the three warts were still there embedded in the skin on the back of my hand, and what's more they had grown bigger. I used all of the liquid in the small bottle but all it did was to increase the size of the warts that were now large brown from the liquid and very ugly. I could not use gloves as it was summer time and gloves would have been too warm.

Next door but one there lived a family with two small boys. They had noticed the warts on my hand and had written on the ground outside my house Mr.Shaw has warts, in white chalk. I did not notice this until the Postman that brought me my mail asked to look at the warts. I was very reluctant to show them to him, as they were very large and very, very ugly. The Postman's remarks were " Boy they are three beauties." I could have hidden my face I did not know what to say. I saw in the local newspaper that a woman living in the town of Old Bexley had an advert claiming to cure warts of all shapes and sizes. I caught the train and looked for the woman's house, I soon found it and after she had invited me in I showed her my warts. The woman was very interested and told me that it would cost five shillings each wart. I thought to myself fifteen shillings is a lot of money and told her that I would come again on the morrow and if the warts were gone I would giver her five pounds sterling. The woman took my right hand in hers and painted what looked like the same stuff that I had got from the chemists in Dartford. You are right the warts just got a little bigger and uglier. I did not pay the woman and I did not go back to her house again.

I went into the woods and tried rubbing the juice from various herbs into my warts but it was no good they were still just as big. I saw one of the wise old fairies and asked her advice as to what I could do to remove these big ugly warts. The wise old fairy waved her wand at my hand and murmured some strange words that I did not understand but my warts remained right where they were still big and ugly. I will speak to Her Royal Majesty, Mr. Shaw, we cannot have you running around with large warts on your hand. Her Majesty came and after looking at my right hand she told me that the only way to get rid of such warts was to be in the forest when the moon was at it fullest. Raise your right hand up to the moon and say warts be gone you are no longer welcome. On hearing these words from Her Majesty I decided that at the next full moon I would be in the woods and do as her Majesty had told me. Full moon came around and I went into the woods and raised my right hand to the moonlight so that the warts could be seen, by the light of the moon. I said my little speech. Whoosh! A shooting star or meteorite landed at my feet right in front of me. The meteorite glowed for a while and I picked it up with my handkerchief, it was now warm to the touch. I had an idea I placed the meteorite on my three ugly warts. There was a zishing sound and the three ugly warts just disappeared. I did not know whether this was magic by Her Majesty or was the meteorite so pure that it on its own got rid of my warts. I have never had warts since but the meteorite I have in a glass box on my sideboard. One never knows and just in case I will keep it as long as I live. Who knows if the warts will at some time or other come again?

Time of Giants.

Once long, long ago there were Giants roaming this earth tall strong men and women that could pull a tree out by its roots. There were also Fairies, dainty little creatures with wings. With these wings Fairies could fly. The Giants believed in brute force for everything they were terrible men and women that were always looking for trouble. At the same time there were Dragons, these Dragons were covered in a scaly skin that protected them from most of the attacks of the Giants. The Dragons and Fairies wanted only one thing and that was to be left in peace so that they could go about their daily tasks. The Dragons were not meat eaters nor were the Fairies but the Giants only ate meat, no animal be it large or small was safe from the Giants.

The Fairies were very good at making healing ointments and lotions and often helped a Dragon that had been injured by the Giants. Soon the two races, Dragons and Fairies got together to stop the Giants from Killing off every animal that they came across. In those far off days of long ago there were no colours in this world every thing was either black or white. This is when the Fairies came up with the idea of giving everything on earth its own colour. This helped all the animals to hide when the Giants were out hunting. This solved many problems but the Giants were so big that even though many animals escaped from them, others were still being killed.

The Fairies and the Dragons got together and talked for many a long hour; one of the Dragons came up with the idea for the Fairies who were very skilled in magic to make the giants small. If the Giants were one third of their height and weight, they would not be so strong and need so much meat to eat and things would be more peaceful for all of the folk on the earth. The Fairies not only made the Giants smaller and weaker but also showed them how to grow corn and other things that the Fairies themselves ate. This is how farming started and for a while all was peaceful on earth until one of the Dragons was caught happily eating corn from the fields of one of the Farmers. The Farmer swore he would stop that Dragon eating his corn even if he had to kill him. This killing of Dragons soon became a sport with the Farmers.

In China the Dragons and the Humans became friends and lived peacefully together also in other parts of the world Dragons were treated with respect. Wales is such a country, Dragons are National signs and most Welsh Firms have a Dragon for a logo. Then the Humans started off killing one another. Knights in armour with lances and swords went out deliberately to kill the Dragons. Their excuse for this killing was that Dragons eat young Maidens. This of course was not true dragons do not eat meat and they do not breathe fire from their noses. What the Dragon does have for its defence is a couple of glands that produce acid. This acid is so strong that it dissolves anything that is steel such as armour and swords. The knights were afraid of this acid because it caused terrible wounds to their flesh and parts of their bodies were dissolved and they died a terrible death.

A terrible disease swept over the world and most of the Dragons died. A few that lived in remote mountain areas managed to avoid the illness and as they are a long living race of creatures, some may still exist today in the remote parts of China for example. The Fairies too managed to save a few of the Dragons and gave them the power to become invisible. That is another reason that dragons are not to be seen. They do not want to be seen as they recognise mankind as their worst enemy. The last Dragons that freely roamed the earth were tall with powerful wings and a long barbed tail that was in fact another deadly weapon as some of the knights of long ago can vouch for.

Many of the animals of long ago such as the Winged Horse, the Unicorn, The Phoenix, the animal that rises from its own ashes. There are many more some we cannot remember most of them now live on a planet far out in space in the Andromeda area. There they have a planet all of there own and here all live in peace. Sooner or later mankind or the humans will discover this planet and see the creatures that he hunted so long ago. I hope that by this time we will have learned to live in peace among our own nations and families and can meet in peace and harmony with each other. When this time comes the Fairies will also make themselves known and mankind will benefit even more from the knowledge of the Fairy Folk.

Tiny Feet.

I can hear the noise of tiny feet as they go through the woods, two's and three's four's and five's. It seems that the whole of Fairyland is on the move. Fairies, Pixies, Trolls, Leprechauns all are making their way to the meeting place between the four old oak trees. No one is singing. No one is dancing all are very upset about something that has been happening in Fairyland for the past two weeks.

I asked a few of the little folk what was the matter and why they are so upset. I received no satisfactory answer in fact some of the Trolls were downright rude to me telling me it was none of my business. I decided to follow them and walked along with a few Leprechauns. Soon we arrived at the meeting place by the four old oak trees. The noise was now very loud and I wondered how long it would take Her Majesty, Queen Feeana to come and see what all of the fuss was about.

A bright blue light and a small puff of smoke and Her Royal Majesty stood in the midst of the Little People. As the Little People saw Her Majesty they murmured and grumbled even more. Her Majesty waved her magic wand and all was silent in the woods. Picking one of the Fairies Her Majesty asked her what was wrong in Fairyland and why the peace that all enjoy was being broken by so many of the Little People. The Fairy at being spoken to directly by Her Majesty could only stutter and we could not make out what was wrong.

One of the Leprechauns then boldly spoke up and told her Majesty this little story. The Trolls had sent invitations to all of their relatives in Sweden, Norway and Iceland. There were so many of the Trolls now in Fairyland that it was getting very difficult to feed everyone. The Fairies and Pixies with the Leprechauns want them all sent back home to their own countries.

There has never been a shortage of food before in Fairyland as the Fairies all knew how to produce Fairy cakes with their magic wands and then normally there were so many blackberries and other fruits in the woods so that all had plenty to eat. It seemed that the Trolls would or could not stop eating and food was getting very short. Why even the bees were complaining that their precious honey was being stolen faster than they could replace it. The Trolls have got to go said a young worker bee that happened to be flying by.

Her Majesty was very angry with the Trolls for taking advantage of the invitations to rob Fairyland of its food. Her Majesty waved her magic wand and all of the Trolls found themselves back in Sweden and Norway and a few from Iceland were also sent back home. Her Majesty then waved her magic wand once more and the food was back in Fairyland for all to eat and even the bees found extra pollen to make their honey.

The Fairies and the Pixies with the Leprechauns decided to hold a dance to celebrate the removal of the Trolls. An orchestra of Frogs came along each carrying a musical instrument and with a young Leprechaun as conductor they played some really wonderful Fairy music. Soon all were dancing and as there was now no shortage of food a small feast was also underway. As the evening wore on, no one gave the Trolls a second thought. All were happy at the Dance that lasted until six in the morning.

Yes I too was at the dance and I eat the wonderful Fairy Cakes and drank of the elderberry wine. Why I even danced a dance with Her Majesty. It is an evening that I will not forget in a hurry. The Trolls because of their bad behaviour were not admitted to fairyland for five long years. This was a terrible punishment for the Trolls, as they cannot make Fairy cakes and had to eat the dry bread that the Scandinavian Peoples like so much. That and dried fish, If they are ever invited again I expect they will behave themselves as the Fairy cakes are wonderful treats for Trolls.

This happened some ten years ago and the Trolls have been invited again to Fairyland and this time not one of them was greedy and only ate and drank what they were given and all had a wonderful holiday in Fairyland.

Tiny Tots.

I have been asked by Her Majesty Queen Feeana to look after the young fairies that are still at school. The wise old fairy that does this most important work has to go to another school way up north. I am to look after the Tiny Tots until another wise old fairy can replace her. "Your Majesty, you honour me greatly but I could never compete with one of the wise old fairies. I do not have the magical powers that they possess." Her Majesty waved her magic wand at me and a shower of blue sparks enveloped me from head to toe. Something strange has happened to me. I know all of the school fairies their ways, their likes and dislikes in fact I knew more than the ordinary fairies. With just a thought I could quieten a child that was unruly. Make a child smile when it was deep in tears. In fact I could teach the children all they had to know so as to leave school as fairies with magical powers.

"If it pleases you Mr. Shaw you will start on Monday next, School starts at six in the morning exactly." "Good luck," Her Majesty smiled and was gone just as she had come. I went to bed at nine o'clock and dropped off into a deep sleep. At five in the morning I got up, made my morning toilet and after a breakfast was in the fairy school at six sharp. The children were sitting each at his or her desk and I said in a loud clear voice. "Good morning children," All went well for about an hour the children seemed to be a little subdued because there was no wise old fairy teaching them. Then it started. Three of the fairies started to rise to the ceiling. Go back to your seats I said in a firm voice. One of the fairies went back to its seat the other two just grinned at me. Remembering Her Majesties word that I would have all power that the wise old fairies have. With a thought I placed both of the fairies back into their respective seats. There was silence as the fairies saw that I was just as able to use magic as the wise old fairies.

The rest of the day went quite well I had not only magical powers but I knew all that the old fairies knew and teaching the young fairies was something that I was well able to do. I am rather surprised that all of the fairies are good in doing arithmetic. Geography is also well known to them all. I found myself enjoying teaching the tiny tots. All were happy about learning especially anything to do with nature. Here my knowledge of the woods came into play. I knew all of the animals and birds, most of the insects and the flowers bushes and trees. I think that the little ones did not miss the wise old fairy and at three in the afternoon when lessons were over, I sent the little ones away with the knowledge that I had been of some use to them in their quest to learn.

Three and a half weeks later Her Majesty appeared and asked me how I liked the idea of being a teacher and would I like the job as a full time occupation. I thanked her Majesty and said No thanks I will leave the teaching to those that have been trained to do the work. I now have a permanent pleasure in going to the school and listening to what there is being taught. I am surprised that there is so much about nature that I do not know. On my last day at school the fairies decided that they must give me something to take away with me to remember them all by. I pretended not to notice the many ideas that were put forward by the tiny tots. The school bell rang it was the end of the lessons and my last day at school. All of the children rose to the ceiling and started singing this little song. I myself know nothing about music so I cannot give you the melody. Here are the words that they sang. Mr. Shaw is a very nice man.

He is filled with magic. Teaching children he surely can. We find that is not so tragic. The following Monday the new wise old fairy took over the school and told her Majesty how well behaved the children all were. No one would believe that for the last three weeks a human had been teaching the children or better the tiny tots.

Toffee Apples.

The smell was getting stronger and stronger as I went my way through the woods of Fairyland. The smell was not unpleasant, I just could not place it, it reminded me of something from my child hood days, I could not remember what it was though. Walking from behind the elder trees I saw a rather strange sight. A man dressed in a long cloak and a tall pointed hat with stars and a half moon sewn onto the hat and cloak. The man is standing near and open fire with a tripod over the fire hanging on the tripod was a large cauldron. From this cauldron or cooking pot the smell came even stronger to my nose. Near to the fire was a small table, on the table were apples, lovely rosy red apples. On the table was also a pot with sticks placed in it. The man had not seen me and I stood behind the elder trees and watched him stirring whatever was in the pot with a large wooden spoon. Taking one of the sticks from the small pot on the table he took an apple and pushed the stick into the apple. I noticed that as he took the stick from the pot a few drops of some reddish liquid fell from the stick. The apple he then dipped into the large cauldron and and as I watched he pulled the apple with the stick from the pot and I recognised it for what it was. The man who was so strangely dressed was making toffee apples.

One apple after the other was given a stick from which a few drops of the reddish liquid fell and dipped into the large cauldron. The finished toffee apples he placed on a tray that I could see was covered with a thin layer of butter, this was to stop the toffee apples from sticking to the tray while the toffee set. I now saw that many fairies had come to see what the smell was about. The fairies had never seen toffee apples before and were very curious to see what the man in the black cloak was going to do with the toffee apples. Soon the man had finished making his toffee apples and looked about him and saw the fairies. These are toffee apples and they are good to eat, nice and sweet, each fairy may have one, so come and get your own toffee apple you will not be disappointed. He called to the fairies. Soon each fairy was munching away on their toffee apple the man still had not seen me and I wondered why he should be so generous and give away his toffee apples to the fairies.

I saw with great concern that as the fairies finished their toffee apples they fell over and slept. The man quickly picked up five of the sleeping fairies and hurried away from the woods. He left his cauldron and the fire that was still burning as he hurried away. I quickly threw some dirt and stones over the fire and then followed the way that the man dressed in black had gone. In the woods it was not difficult to follow him without being seen. Out in the open I followed him at a great distance and saw that he took the fairies to a house that was standing on its own. He had no neighbours to see what he was doing. I waited patiently until it was dark and then went to his house. One of the windows on the ground floor was lit by the light of some flickering candles that were burning in the room. Creeping carefully to the window I looked in. The man dressed in black with his strange hat was sitting opposite a large cage. In the cage he had the five fairies, slowly one by one the fairies awoke from the deep sleep they had fallen into after eating the apples. Then I realised that the red liquid that the man had dipped the sticks into was a powerful sleeping potion.

I waited outside of the window until the man went to bed and then I prised open the window and broke open the cage that held the fairies. Setting them free I told them to fly back to Fairyland and tell Her Majesty Queen Feeana what had happened. The fairies flew off and I waited in the room for Her Majesty, A light blue flash and a small whiff of smoke and Her Majesty appeared. Taking me by the hand she spoke some words in the old language and we were now outside of the house. Pointing her magic wand at the house she spoke some more words in the old language and the house and all that was in it turned into a brown powder. Looking back at the house all I saw was this huge pile of brown dust. The following day her Majesty called all of the fairies together and warned them not to take anything, no matter how nice, from strangers. This warning I willingly give to all that read my tales from Fairyland.

Train Stop.

I am sorry to say it is not exactly a fast train. The hypnotic noise of the wheels running over the points or gaps in the rails slowly sent me off into a light doze, broken only when I opened my eyes as the train passed through an empty railway station. Bridges increased the noise the wheels made; this did not wake me but the high-pitched whistle as the train driver saw an obstacle on the line, then the harsh noise of squealing brakes as the train slowly lumbered to a stop. Now all of the passengers were wide-awake, windows are being opened and questions being asked. What is the matter? Why have we stopped? Has there been an accident? The guard ran past the window where I held look out. A cow is on the line. I heard him reply to another passengers enquiring question. The Guard ran back to his compartment and another long whistling sound and the train slowly got under way again.

I settled back into my seat hoping that the noise of the wheels would put me off to sleep again. My eyes slowly closed and I dozed off once more. The opening of the compartment door awoke me yet again. I focused my eyes on the person that had opened the door expecting to see the guard of the train. To my surprise it was not the guard but my old Leprechaun friend Shamus. "What are you doing on the train?" I asked. "I have come to see you but you were not at home. Your neighbour told me that you were on the night train to Cornwall. I could not get to Paddington Station in time and the only way for me to board the train was to set a cow on the line." "The cow was in no danger as I was prepared to magic her away if the train had not stopped." Shamus made himself comfortable on the seat opposite me. I took out my thermos flask and some corned beef sandwiches and we had a snack as the train moved through the night.

After our snack Shamus leaned back in his seat and dropped off into a deep sleep. I sat for a while looking at the lights from the road. It was a busy night for many cars and lorries were on the roads. The occasional farmhouse or small village and more lights as the train moved on into the south west of England. I wondered what had brought Shamus to visit me. It must be important or he would have waited at home for me until I returned. "Was anything wrong in Fairyland?" I asked myself. Did Shamus want my help with some human problem? Perhaps a form to fill in, some kind of council document, or other that he had been sent? I at last opened my eyes as the train pulled slowly into Penzance. Shamus grinned at me and asked me how I had slept. Leaving the train with my small suitcase, I always travel light. We went into Penzance looking for a coffee house where we could have a much needed breakfast. A flashing sign caught my eye. Full breakfast from six thirty until eleven o'clock in the morning. Shamus and I went into the coffee shop and ordered a full British breakfast. Giving the waitress our orders we were soon served with bacon, eggs, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread and sausages. Coffee from a steaming pot with sugar and milk finished off the meal.

Why have you come to see me Shamus I asked as we drank the last of our coffee? I have come to warn you about a book that you have come to Penzance to buy. How did Shamus know that I had come to Penzance to buy a book? I did not follow the thought if he had come all the way from Ireland then it was on a request from Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. Her Majesty had sent Shamus to me I am sure. Shamus told me that Her Majesty had been told that the wizard Moonigant has set a trap for me. The trap is in the form of a book. I had read about this very old book of magic and had travelled down to Penzance to buy it, I was going to present the book to the Fairy University. Shamus and I went along to the shop where Moonigant had placed the book for me to buy. The shop was like many old bookshops. It certainly needed a coat of paint on the outside and much better system of lighting on the inside.

Going into the bookshop I asked the man that seemed to be in charge for the book called Magicus Ferocitous. The man was expecting me for he took a small book from a shelf and wanted to hand it to me. The man is wearing gloves and before I could take the book from him, Shamus had produced a bag from out of his pocket and told the man to drop the book into the bag. The man asked Shamus if he was called Bern. Shamus said, "No this gentleman is Bern". Just put the book into the bag. Dropping the book into the bag that Shamus held open for him he suddenly turned and ran out of the back of the shop. Taking me by the hand Shamus pulled me to the entrance of the shop and we walked quickly away from shop. Suddenly an explosion blew the front of the shop out and books and papers were soon flying all over the road. Still holding my hand Shamus muttered some words in the old language and we were both in my kitchen.

Shamus and I then went into Fairyland with the book still in the bag. Her Majesty Queen Feeana came to meet us. "Mr. Shaw the book that you thought would be good for the Fairy University was really a trap. If you had opened the book you would have lost all knowledge of Fairyland and all of your fairy stories would have been lost to the world for ever." The wizard Magicus Ferocitous had been drinking in a tavern and the more beer that he drank the more he boasted of how he was to become famous as the wizard that had stopped Bern writing about the fairies." "One of the Leprechauns was in the tavern and heard all that the wizard said and came to me to let me know what the wizard was boasting about." Fortunately I knew Shamus was free and I arranged for him to see you but it seems that you were already on your way to Penzance before Shamus could warn you." Thanking Her Majesty for taking so much trouble to save me from loosing all knowledge of the fairies. Shamus and I took our leave of Her Majesty and went back home where I cooked a favourite meal for Shamus as my way of thanking him. The meal was a delicious Irish stew.

Travelling.

The Fairies were once again dissatisfied with their way of life. We want to travel in a different way than by using magic. It goes too quick and we see nothing of the world about us they complained. As for flying with their wings if they flew for long distances they got tired very quickly in spite of eating the nourishing Fairy cakes as they flew. What to do about it? Her Majesty Fairy Queen Feeana said that no human transport was to be used as there were too many accidents and she did not want her Fairies to get hurt.

I was asked to find a solution but without magic and the use of their own wings I could see no way for the Fairies to travel. I went home to my back garden and lay myself down in my old comfortable wheelbarrow. I was looking up into the sky and saw the clouds rolling across. If there was a high wind the clouds flew quickly if there was no or very little wind the clouds took their time. I watched the clouds for a long time then I had this idea. The Fairies could travel by flying clouds. The clouds were soft and if they bumped into one another there would be no damage done.

I went into my house and made myself some sweet hot tea and ate some ginger biscuits. This was my supper and after making sure that all the doors and windows was locked downstairs. I went up the stairs to my bed. I dreamt that Fairies were using clouds as trains some clouds were acting as railway stations and there was a regular coming and going of Fairies from all over the world. I could find no fault with this means of travel it was cheap and easy to use. I would suggest it to Her Majesty when I got up in the morning.

The next day I washed and shaved and made and ate my breakfast in record time. I was full of the news as to how the Fairies could safely travel in the future. In the clouds they could hide themselves and if the were quiet they could see the whole world in this way of travelling. I waited under the old oak tree for Her Majesty to come. Her Majesty arrived dressed in a lovely blue gown covered in little pearls. She looked so beautiful. I soon told her of my idea of how the Fairies could travel in future.

Her Majesty was delighted with idea and sent a message to Mother Nature asking her if she was agreeable and would provide the clouds for the Fairy Trains. Mother Nature was gracious and soon there were clouds scurrying across the skies in all directions. All Fairies were warned not to fly too high as the sun could dry out the clouds and they would have to use their wings and fly again. Fairies from all over the world came to visit us and our Fairies went to other parts of the world. Although it took longer all agreed that it was better to travel by cloud than by magic.

Soon the skies were overfull of clouds and Mother Nature was troubled that all was not right in the world. Too many clouds and the sun could not shine. Without sunshine no fruit could ripen. Mother Nature then sent a warning to all of the Fairies they were to make their way home as quickly as possible. Then Mother Nature sent winds blowing in all directions. These winds soon cleared the skies and the sun shone once again and the fruit ripened.

Mother Nature and the Fairy Queen Feeana got together and worked out a plan that the Fairies could only travel in the spring and in the autumn. It did not matter that the sun did not shine to ripen off any fruits, as all the fruits would be harvested by this time. In the winter months the Fairies were all safely under the Himalayan Mountains in the huge series of large caves and did not want transport. Only in the spring was travelling allowed and in the late autumn. This pleased the Fairies and now if you see a long cloud flying across the sky. Look at it closely you just might find the fairies travelling by riding the clouds. No more using magic where no one could see where one was going.

All the Fairies now travel long distances by cloud when it is not raining or the sun is not shining too strongly. There are no more complaints from the Fairies and fairyland is peaceful once again. I have gone back to my old wheelbarrow and sit and watch the clouds hurrying across the sky sometimes I wave my hand in greeting to the Fairies but not often as they are much too busy talking among themselves about this new way of travelling.

Tree Of Knowledge.

Long, long ago there was a tree that if you pressed your head to its bark all the knowledge in the world was yours to use as you thought fit. Many men have used this tree and many of them used the knowledge wrongly. Some of the names you might remember there was, Genghis Khan, Alexander the great, Julius Caesar, Adolph Hitler and many more whose names I have forgotten.

Then there were others who have used the twig of the tree for purposes of good. Madame Curie, Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming, Albert Einstein, just to mention a few. All of these people have at one time or another found what is left of the tree of knowledge and that is a small twig that comes into your possession and then vanishes no matter how well you lock it away for safety reasons. It disappears to fall into the hands of another, who may use it wisely or badly.

This twig of wood is well known to the Fairies it was the fairies that took the twig from the tree many years ago before the tree was destroyed in an earthquake. The Twig just would not stay with the Fairies and has ever since gone around the world and been found by different people. The twig is it seems looking for the right person to keep it and use it wisely.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the Fairies, told me about the twig and that one day it would be the beginning of another tree of knowledge. This time is approaching and there will be a tree of knowledge in every land of this earth for all peoples to use. There will be no more crimes, no more wars, no more illness, no more poverty, for the trees will take over the ruling of this world and all men and women will be equal.

Just knowing about this twig means that you are well on the way to receiving the twig that came from the tree of knowledge. It means that you can read and to be able to read is just the start. There is much knowledge written down in books perhaps when you next read a book the twig may come to you. Are you ready to receive the twig? Will you be able to use the knowledge wisely? Many have received the twig but few have been able to use it correctly.

Fairies do not need the twig they have all of the knowledge to benefit the world. We must accept the Fairies and they will lead us to the new world. We will no longer need the twig from the tree of knowledge. The twig will then just disappear for ever and it will be as it should be, a peaceful world without disease, without crime and above all no more wars fought in the name of religion or what ever man thinks up to justify war.

I have told you the story of the twig from the tree of knowledge, now it is up to you to be ready to receive it and use it wisely. Perhaps it is now on the way to you.

Troll's.

What is a troll you might ask? A troll is a being that is from birth very ugly. Trolls also fear the light of day, only coming out into the open when it is dark; Trolls hate every one and are very bad liars. Trolls always find something to do to upset other people. No one likes trolls they are born under a hard life's star. Believe me you would not want to know or even meet such people as the trolls. Lying, cheating, stealing anything that is bad, these are trolls.

There are trolls all over the world, they came originally from Scandinavia, that is Sweden, Norway and Denmark and parts of Finland Most of them travelled on the old Viking ships that sailed all over the world and the trolls went from board to cause mischief to other folk. England was in the old days a good place for the trolls. Lying, stealing and cheating they soon spread all over the British Islands. One thing and only one thing were the trolls afraid of and that was sunlight. The light of day caused them to shrivel and die.

This little story is to tell you about some of the trolls that lived in and around Fairyland in the British Islands. As you all know the Fairies not only breed fireflies but also look after them to keep them shining as brightly as possible. The Fairies had a number of uses for the fireflies the main one being to lighten up the woods when the Fairies hold a dance or a feast even at important meetings, fireflies always attended.

As a source of light fireflies are very good as long as there are enough of them. Sometimes in good years there would be millions of fireflies lighting up the forest floor. These fireflies were a source of danger to the trolls who had often tried to get rid of them. Some even tried killing the fireflies. On most dark nights one can see a troll or trolls lurking about in dark places. The trolls love to frighten people and often lurk at places like graveyards or in dark alleys, anywhere where they can pounce upon and frighten people.

One dark evening some two hundred trolls got together and made plans on how to stop light from entering their lives. One plan after another was made only to be put aside as not possible or too difficult. No troll likes to do anything difficult it is against their nature. One plan was for all the fireflies to be captured and killed but that still left the light from the stars also the light from the moon.

One of the trolls, a little brighter than the others, put forward this plan. One of the trolls was to break into the Fairy Queens home and steal all of the magic dust that he or she could find. With this magic dust the whole of the heaven could be filled with rain clouds then there would be no starlight or moonlight and the fireflies will not light when it is raining. All thought that this was a good idea. One of the trolls went to the Fairy Queen's house, when she was not there and stole all of the magic dust he could find.

Coming back to the other trolls he showed them the magic dust that he had stolen. To steal magic dust is perhaps easy but to use it is a different matter. One of them threw a hand full of dust into the air and called out in aloud voice, "Let it rain!" Nothing happened so another handful was thrown into the air, "Let it pour down with rain." still nothing happened a third voice shouted from a tree that he had climbed, "Let it thunder and lightning." He too threw the rest of the magic dust high into the air spreading it so that it fell onto a swarm of fireflies. The fireflies glowed with a bright light for five minutes through the magic dust.

The sudden light caught the trolls by surprise and most of them died in fright at being caught in so much light. This caused the rest of the trolls to run away. They called even more trolls to a meeting and the trolls were so angry that the magic dust had not worked. They decided to get revenge on the Fairies. This time one of the trolls went secretly to the Queen Feeana's cottage and stole her reserve magic wand.

What the trolls did not know her Majesty Queen Feeana knew all about their plans with the magic dust and she had sent the swarm of fireflies to the woods. Her Majesty also felt that her reserve wand had been stolen and waited for the trolls to use it. One troll more ugly than the others called while waving the wand, " Let the moon and the stars disappear." Waving the wand again he called out, "Let the fireflies all die." He had hardly finished when the sun appeared over the horizon and all of the trolls were caught in the bright light of the rising sun. All but two died instantly. These two ran off when a cloud covered the sun for a few moments.

There are only a few trolls left now in Fairyland and they have too much respect from magic to cause much trouble. They still try though and often they leave fairyland to go to the houses of humans who are frightened very easily. If you meet a troll stand up to it and tell it in a firm voice to go away. It will go if you show that you are not afraid.

Unhappy Fairy.

One evening as I went with my dog Wag for our evening stroll, Wag sniffed the evening air and pulled on the line, I thought perhaps Wag had smelt one of the wild animals that live on Dartford Heath. Following Wag I have hardly time to see what a wonderful evening it is. The moon is bright in the night sky and millions of stars are twinkling like diamonds waiting to be set in some royal crown. Wag led me deeper into the woods that are part of Fairyland. Sitting on a toadstool is a young fairy. As we got closer to her I saw that it was Honeyfee. Honeyfee sitting on a toadstool with tears running down her cheeks. I coughed a little so that would hear me and not be startled at someone being in the woods at this time of night.

Approaching the toadstool I smiled and asked her why she was crying, "I am so plain," she pitifully said. "Plain!" I asked her. "Who says that you are plain?" "To my old eyes you are one of the prettiest of fairies that I have ever seen. Then Honeyfee told me that she had overheard some of the other fairies saying that she Honeyfee is one of the plainest of fairies in this part of Fairyland. "Nonsense," I heard myself saying. "There is no such thing as plain, every creature on this earth is pretty in one way or another." "Honeyfee I want you to look at this picture that I am going to show you. I put my hand into my large overcoat pocket and took out a handful of magic dust. Throwing the dust in the air, there appeared fifty or more glow-worms. "Tell me Honeyfee which is the prettiest of the glow-worms and what is more important which is the plainest of them all? Honeyfee looked long and hard at the glow-worms then she said, "They are all alike, it is impossible to tell which is the prettiest and which the plainest of the all."

"Another picture for you Honeyfee, look up to the stars and tell me which is the prettiest of all the stars so high up in the heavens." A slight pause as Honeyfee looked up into the night skies. "Why they are all most beautiful." she said meekly. "Now picture to yourself the daylight with a bright sun and ask yourself which is prettier the sun or the moon?" "Oh! That is easy the sun shines so brightly that it hurts my eyes to look at it but the moon is so pretty as she sails over the night skies slowly getting bigger and bigger then smaller and smaller. The moon is the prettiest. "Are you sure? I asked Honeyfee. "Think about it the sun gives us the warmth that we need, the sun makes everything grow without the sun the world would be one very dark place." Then I asked Honeyfee to look into the eyes of my dog Wag. What do you see when you look into Wags eyes? Honeyfee said, "Wags eyes are so beautiful. I can see that he is honest and that he is ever so faithful to you Mr.Shaw." Is he pretty? I asked. "Yes Wag is a handsome dog." She replied. "Now Honeyfee look deep into this mirror," I said, showing her a mirror that I with the help of some simple magic took from my pocket.

Honeyfee looked long and deeply into the mirror, "What do your eyes tell you Honeyfee." I gently asked. Then Honeyfee's face broke into a big smile. "Why I see eyes that are somewhat like Wags eyes, they tell me that I am gentle, that I am true and yes that I in my own way am a very pretty fairy." "Honeyfee tonight you have learned a very valuable lesson some faces are very pretty and that is only skin deep. One must look deep into the eyes to see whether one is pretty or not. No one on this earth be it fairy or human is plain. We all have something about us that belongs to us, it is this something one must look for, and then one can say that one is pretty or handsome. No one is just plain." "Goodnight Honeyfee in the morning you will smile when you realise that the tears you shed this evening were just tears, now you know what to look for things will be decidedly better."

Unicorn.

The way into the woods was not easy, first of all one had to get through the gorse bushes that were abundant at the forest's edge. Then the thickets of ash end elder also made it difficult. Once past these obstacles the woods opened out into green clearings and trees that invited one to while away a few hours. There is much to be seen, birds are busy feeding their young if one remains silent one will see the shy wild animals such as the deer, the foxes with their young playing as if they had not a care in the world. The badger grunting his way through the undergrowth showing proudly his white striped back. Stoats and weasels are also to be seen if one looks closely.

On one such a day I saw my first Unicorn. Snow white with a horn on its forehead it grazes away taking no notice whatsoever of myself. Rooted to the spot I watched its mouth stripping the fresh green grass from the ground it is in no hurry and seems to be unaware of myself. Watching the muscles ripple as it moved so graciously over the ground I fell into a trance like state of mind and saw that it was not alone. Sitting in the grass was a young Fairy she occasionally waved her wings and I thought that she was going to fly away but she remained looking at the Unicorn and watched the surrounding woods with a very alert pair of eyes.

I sat watching this peaceful scene for at least fifteen minutes when I thought I saw a movement to my right. I turned my head away from the Unicorn and the Fairy and concentrated on the right sight of the clearing. Then I saw it again it moved so quick that I thought at first that my eyes were playing tricks on me. Whatever it was it moved closer and closer to the Unicorn and the Fairy. I still could not make out what it was it moved so fast in fact all I saw was a blur of movement. It stopped at the tree that was closest to the Fairy and the Unicorn. Then I saw that it had blended completely in with the bark of the tree.

A wave of its hand and the Fairy and the Unicorn were as if frozen to the ground neither could move a muscle. I was now really concerned who on earth would want to harm such a magnificent animal as the Unicorn not to mention the Fairy. Slowly it moved away from the tree and I saw a Wizard that was dressed in a long cloak down to its ankles and a hood to cover his head, The cloak was like the bark of a tree and that is why I could not see him properly before he moved into the open.

Going towards the Unicorn he took from under his cloak a saw. Approaching the beast's head he placed the saw on the horn next to the animals head. He is going to cut off the Unicorns horn I thought; it is time that I did something to stop him. Creeping up behind the Wizard I placed my hand in my pocket and took out a handful of magic dust. Throwing the dust on the Wizard I watched as he froze into a one stiff person. He could not move a muscle. Taking the saw out of his hand I threw it away into some bushes. Tearing off the cloak that he was wearing I ripped the cloak into long strips and then tied the Wizard up so tight that even if the magic dust effects were to wear off he would not be able to move and do any damage.

I tried throwing magic dust over the Fairy and the Unicorn but to no avail I could not lift the spell spoken by the Wizard. Turning to the birds that were in the trees watching what was going on, on the ground. I told them to fly to Her Majesty Queen Feeana and let her know what had happened to the Fairy and the Unicorn. Her majesty appeared in a flash of blue light and a small puff of smoke and saw what I had done with the Wizard. "You have tied him up very well and with his own cloak too that is a deed well done." Her Majesty then turned to the Unicorn and the Fairy, waving her wand and speaking in the old language she lifted the spell on them and both were able to move again. The Wizard she turned into a small pile of dust that was swept away by a gust of wind and was never seen again.

I then saw for the first time two Yew Trees the form of their lower branches reminded me of a large Cathedral door. Through this door the Fairy and the Unicorn slowly passed through and disappeared. Her Majesty told me that there are many such doorways into and out of Fairyland most people think that they are just two trees with the lower branches entwined. These trees are magic. I myself tried to go through the door all I got for my pains was a sharp tingling up and down my spine. This doorway was not meant for me.

Thanking me Her Majesty disappeared into the evening as she had come a blue flash a puff of smoke and she was gone. I went back to my home pleased that I had been able to help a Unicorn and a Fairy. The Unicorn's Horn is used for making magic wands mixed with many plants and flowers. The unicorn looses his horn every fifty years and the fairy that finds the horn is well rewarded with magic gold. No Fairy would ever dream of sawing off a Unicorns horn.

Urgent Call.

I have received an urgent call to go to Fairyland to see Her Majesty Queen Feeana. It was a bad day as regards the weather. It has been raining for two days now and it is very wet in the woods. Pulling on my Wellington boots, I donned my Macintosh and I went out through my back garden into the woods on Dartford Heath the raindrops were falling down the back of my neck. I noticed at once that the rain had caused the mushrooms to grow and I was sorry that I had not brought a basket with me. Mushrooms make a good lunch and are very good for one. Then I thought about Her Majesties urgent call and carried on through the woods until I reached Her Majesties cottage. The Queen was waiting for me and greeted me as she usually did and handed me a large towel to dry my hair and the back of my neck.

Showing me a large wall mirror Her Majesty asked me to look at the pictures that were appearing on the surface of the mirror. I saw a picture of a young boy that was looking after five donkeys. He drove the donkeys from one green spot of grass to another spot. The boy was looking very unhappy and I saw that he had been crying. As I watched another tear ran down his cheek. I felt very sorry for the boy and wished that I could help him in some way or another. Her Majesty touched the large mirror with her magic wand and I saw another picture. This picture showed a family with six children. Three boys and three girls they looked very happy as they played a game unknown to me. They were interrupted by a knock on the door. At the door was a man dressed in black on his head he had a pointed hat that was covered in stars and a quarter moon.

The father of the children had opened the door and the man in the strange hat spoke very roughly to him. "Have you decided?" the man asked. In the corner of the room the children's mother started to cry and called out in a weepy voice "Don't take my boy," "Don't take my eldest son I need him so badly at home." The man with the pointed hat snarled a savage reply he comes with me now or all of your other children will become donkeys and he will roam with them or he comes with me. The children's father said, "There is no way that I will give my eldest boy away from his home he is needed here, to help me and his mother, we are very poor, go away you wicked man and leave my family in peace.

The man in black pointed a wand at the children and shouted a rhyme that went like this, Donkeys you will be until the eldest comes to me. From the wand came sparks and five of the children turned into donkeys just the eldest boy remained his self. Now the Mother and the father were crying and the children went out of the door braying as loud as they could. The eldest son followed them and told his parents that he would look after them and see that his brothers and sisters came to no harm. He too followed the donkeys that were still loudly braying as they walked away from the poor man's cottage. The man in the black dress and the strange hat was nowhere to be seen.

The eldest son drove his brothers and sisters that were now donkeys to the best grass that he could find and made sure that they never strayed away and always were near to water so that they did not suffer from thirst.

Her Majesty then told me that a robin had flown in and told her of the sorrow and the tears of the two parents who had lost all six of their children. "You Majesty what can I do to be of help?" I asked the Queen, "We must turn the donkeys back into children at once and punish the wicked man dressed all in black with his strange hat." "I will return home and get my magic wand and my magic powder, I said to Her Majesty. "No need said Her Majesty here is my own magic wand and your pockets I have filled with magic dust, I will send you by magic to the home of the man in black. I felt the strange sensation of being transported by magic and found myself at the door of the man in blacks house. Her Majesty had turned me into a young man and I knocked on the door. The man in black opened the door and I blurted out that I wanted to be his apprentice so that I too could use magic. The man beckoned me into his house and as I went through the door he turned his back on me. I threw quickly two hands full of magic powder over him and he turned in front of my eyes into an old grey haired donkey. I shushed the donkey out of the house and using Her Majesties magic wand I went by magic to the house of the grieving parents. I told them that their children would soon be home and that they had no need to fear the man in black ever again. There was a loud shout from outside of the cottage and all of the children ran into the waiting arms of their parents. I used Her Majesties magic wand again and arrived at her Majesties cottage just in time for a cup of sweet tea and some very delicious fairy cakes. As far as I know no one has turned the man in black back, into a human being again and if he is still alive he is braying his way through the world as a donkey.

Wag My Dog.

Wag is very happy, at the moment he is sitting in a waiting position. His large brown eyes follow my every move. What captures his attention so much? I am afraid it is the meat that I have cut and mixed with his vegetables. In other words his dinner, if he wants to wag his tail, his tail will give off periodic wagging motions half as if he is under some kind of impulsive suggestion. I know that when I am finished and tell him that he can now have his dinner, his tail will wag backwards and forwards just once before he settles down to the serious business of eating. Finishing his meal his tail wags fast backwards and forwards until he has wagged enough as if as to say thank you. Wag's meals vary he eats anything that I place before him. There is such a trust between the pair of us. One day I had nothing but some stale bread in the house. I cut the bread into large squares and soaked them in some milk and water. Placing the milk and water soaked bread into wags dish, I apologised and set it before him. To my surprise he wolfed down the wet bread and wagged his tail to show his appreciation. It was the same on the day when I only had fish in the house. A large piece of cod that I cooked in the oven with some milk leftovers and a pinch of salt, this was our midday lunch. Wags tail goes mad after eating. No matter what I serve up he always wags his tail.

On a visit to a friend's house I told Wag to be on his best behaviour. Wag seemed to understand me and was during our stay very unobtrusive. He settled down behind the sofa, which gave him plenty of cover, and he could see my legs and feet. My friend brought a bowl with some meat and dog biscuits Wag did not touch them. My friend asked me to give Wag the food. I placed the bowl on the floor and told Wag that it was all right and that he could come and eat the food. Wag stretched and slowly got up from behind the sofa with a slight wag of his tail he ate the biscuits and meat then with a wag of his tail he disappeared behind the sofa watching again my feet and legs. As the evening wore on my friend asked me whether Wag would like some water, I said no but I bet he would love to stretch his legs. Getting up out of the sofa I watched Wag crawl out from under the sofa with his tail wagging as fast as he could move it. We went out onto the strip of grass at the back of my friend's house and Wag ran off with a light bark and his tail wagging as if it was his tail that kept him in balance. I gave Wag ten minutes and told my friend that it was time for us to leave as I had much to do the next day. We parted with the words see you again soon and with Wag at my heels we walked quickly home.

Wag's next adventure was with a dog from down the road. Now Wag is a mixture of at least three different dogs if not more. The dog that he was friendly with was a thoroughbred German shepherd dog. Wag is a powerful dog standing broad shoulders and will face anything that he thinks is coming too close to me. He growls once before showing his teeth. I have to be quick in telling him that the person or animal is a friend. One day the German shepherd made a run for me, why I do not know it just attacked without warning. From the back of the house Wag came running and with his sheer weight pushed the German shepherd over to one side. Then came the growl and the fletching of teeth. I quickly said, "out! Wag and Wag backed off from the German shepherd. Since that day the two dogs have a likening for each other and they often share food bowls and water pots. Now whenever I see the German shepherd he comes a running with his tail wagging, not so fast as Wags tail but it does wag. Wags favourite though is a small tortoise shell cat from down the street. The cat owns my house with all that is in it. Wag lets her sleep between his front paws and lays his rather large head next to her. Food is shared with the cat taking what she wanted before Wag even touches the food bowl. This is Wag my dog and I ask all to respect him for being the most faithful and obedient dog that I have ever had staying with me.

Wednesday's Ride.

The clip clop of the horse's hooves lulled me into a gentle sleep. I was with my father on the way into town to buy flour and yeast for the weekly bread making. My mother made all of the bread that was eaten in our house and once a week my father went with the horse and cart into town to do the shopping. At first my dream was like a melody made probably by the horses hooves. Soon I was fast asleep and saw the fairies for the first time. Fairies everywhere I looked, on the horses back flying around my Father's head and some were sitting in the cart enjoying the ride.

My father woke me as we entered the town, I thought that my dream was at an end but the fairies were still with us, they even entered the shop where my father bought the flour and yeast. Mum had asked dad to get a couple of packets of salt as she was running low on salt. I reminded dad of this and he bought two large packets of salt. I was given a lollipop by the owner of the shop and watched as the two men carried a large sack of flour and loaded it on to the cart. The shopkeeper gave my father the bag with the yeast and the salt and we made our return journey back home the fairies are still with us.

Each day of the week was a special day for my mother. Monday washday, Tuesday ironing and putting away the freshly ironed clothes, sheets and so on. Wednesdays the weekly trip to town for the flour and yeast and anything else that my mother needed in the way of groceries. Thursday was baking day, Friday mother did all the cleaning in the house. Saturdays were visiting days, either we visited a relative or a relative or friends came to our house. Sundays, Church and in the afternoon Sunday school, sometimes in the summer we also went to evening Church the weeks did not alter much and in this friendly atmosphere I slowly grew from a child to a young man.

Fairies were not mentioned in our house although I was allowed to read books written about the fairies. When I was not at school I would wonder off into the woods where I met and played with my friends the fairies. Many an adventure did we have among the trees and bushes. The fairies knew where the best fruits such as wild strawberries or blackberries were to be picked and I often surprised my mother with a basket full of mushrooms or fruit. Even the hazel nuts and chestnuts I collected and took home with me. Mother made the most delicious jams and fruit tarts for us my dad loved the mushrooms and as mother and I did not care for them they were considered a treat for him.

It was on such a Saturday that I first met a witch. The fairies had seen her and were carefully watching all that she did. She appeared harmless and was seen to be collecting wild herbs, of which there were many in the woods. All went well until she took from the pocket of her long black dress, a magic wand. Waving the wand she muttered something that I did not understand and all of the fairies stopped doing what they were doing, many a fairy fell from the air as their wings stopped moving others stood as if rooted to the spot. This was terrible and I did not know what to do to help the fairies. I stood there myself, I could move if I wanted too but the fairies just could not.

It was then that I saw the birds in the trees a pair of robins had their nest in a hole high up in the trunk of the tree. One of them flew off very quickly and the witch waved her wand but this time the robin was too quick for her and took a message to the Fairy Queen Feeana telling her of the plight of the fairies. It did not take long and Her Majesty flew to where the witch was still waving her magic wand. "Why do you attack my children in this way?" The queen's voice was not angry she sounded a little astonished that the fairies had been placed under this witches spell.

"I hate all beings that fly, fairies, birds and insects. I often ask myself why I cannot fly, it is not right that I have to ride a broomstick to get from one place to another." Her Majesty waved her wand and the witch developed a large pair of wings. "Fly!" said Her Majesty and the witch took a few steps and then flew off the ground into the nearest tree. She slid down the tree grazing her arms and legs as she did so.

In the meantime the Queen Feeana waved her magic wand and all of the fairies much to my relief were able to move again. The Queen made the witch fly again and again each time she either flew into a tree or landed heavily onto the ground. Ten minutes or so later the Queen asked the witch if she was satisfied with her new wings and her ability to fly. The witch said that she had had enough of flying and would rather be a witch again. Waving her magic wand once again her majesty spoke a spell in the old language and the witch lost her wings and could only walk like any other human being.

"Let this be a lesson to you." Said Her Majesty and flew off with the fairies following her. I often saw the fairies while in the woods but they have never come into town again while we fetched the flour and yeast. I still go into the woods picking blackberries and strawberries or collecting nuts and mushrooms but now I am well into my seventies the fairies come to me in the same house that my mother baked the bread in.

Wheelbarrow.

I am going away on holiday. I do not know where I will go, I have made no plans and do not intend to make any. This holiday will be the best that I have had in a very long life. All the holidays of my past life will be nothing. I have not even thought about where I will go or what I will do to pass the time. I have not even thought about money. How much will I need? What will I buy? So many questions but it will be the best holiday of my life this I know. Should I pack a suitcase or two is it necessary? What clothing will I need? I do not know. Will I go alone or will I invite a friend or two to go with me. This is a tormenting thing for a man like me to go through. I think that I will go into my back garden and think about things while I have a nap in my old wheelbarrow. My eyes close like they usually do when I lay down in my old barrow. I do not know whether it is the shape of the old wheelbarrow or the two large cushions that I have placed in the barrow; all I know is that it is very comfortable, sometimes even more comfortable than my bed with its expensive mattress and its silken sheets. Why even my pillows are of the softest down from the Eider Ducks that swim in the lakes and rivers.

What is happening? I know that I am lying in my old wheelbarrow; I know that I am more than comfortable whom or what is turning my world into a spinning top. The motion is not to my liking. Please stop the spinning even if for a moment or two. That is better, the spinning motion has stopped and I see that I am no longer in my wheelbarrow in my back garden. The whole world is bathed in a bluish light and little people surround me. I can see Fairies, Pixies, Leprechauns, Elves, Bogies and many more especially the Trolls. What do these little people want with me why have they appeared while I am at my weakest lying in my wheelbarrow? Something I decided is desperately wrong. Where am I. what am I doing here in this strange place and what is causing the light to be so bluish? I decided that I did not like this place and decided to wake up and be in my back garden. Then I saw the most beautiful being that I have ever seen in my life. The being floated toward me dressed in a most heavenly coloured dress there must have been all the colours of the rainbow woven into the silk. I saw that the being was a Lady or should I say a Queen. Drifting toward me she sent me pictures into my innermost mind. "You want a holiday, friend of all the little people. A holiday you shall have. You will need no suitcases you will need no money. You are now on the most wonderful holiday that a human being may have, here with the little people in Fairyland. Whatever you want or need just ask and it will be given."

The Lady then took off of her head a crown so delicately made and encrusted with diamonds and other jewels it shone in its own glory. She shook her head and the long flowing hair framed her face like one sometimes sees in pictures. I was now utterly at her service she could have asked me to do anything and I know I would have done it. Slowly she faded away into the far distance and the fairies came to me on their silver delicate wings. Play with us they pleaded. No play with us this was the pixies calling. Then the trolls called to me, come with us we can show you many things that you have never seen. All of this fuss and attention was slowly going to my head and I lay back on my wheelbarrow and closed my eyes. The scene changed I was now in a deep cave. The cave is lit by lights that are so high up in the ceiling of the cave that I could not see whether they were electric or some other form of lighting. Everything was bathed in the blue light that I had experienced in my other dream. The floor of the cave were small cottages and flowers, many flowers covered the floor of the cave, in between were fruit trees all carrying ripe fruit. I could see date palms, coconut palms and all of the fruits that one finds in Europe such as the apples the pears and plums and many more. I looked around me but decided I was much better off in my old wheelbarrow than wandering around this most excellent of caves. The lady that I had seen previously now came again this time she was differently dressed and wore another crown. I am Queen Feeana and you will never have such a holiday as this that you are now experiencing. This is to show my gratitude for all of the help that you have given to the little people in Fairyland. When you have had enough of this holiday just call out your name loudly and you will be back in your own back garden. The Queen then vanished as she had come. I called out loudly feeling a bit of a fool. Bernard Shaw. Suddenly I was back in my garden sitting or half lying in my wheelbarrow. I definitely did not want a holiday now there was too much to think of too much to do. I decided not to go on Holiday after all. It is much better in my own back garden than is someone else's home no matter how luxurious it is. What do you all think?

Who Is Who?

In Fairyland the fairies and the little people found a copy of the human. (Who is who?) Book. There was no stopping the fairies they all wanted to be in a book so that everyone would know who they are and what they do. I myself on hearing this smiled a little smile and told them to get on with it. Then they asked me how to go about it. I told them to write down all of the information on a piece of paper and give the pieces of paper to the best writer among them. The fairies went to much trouble to write down all of their details on a piece of paper. The papers were then given to Maryfee who was known to be the best hand writer among all of the fairies.

Maryfee collected all of the pieces of paper together and went off to write in copperplate writing each of the pieces of paper with its information. Maryfee sat down at her desk and started to arrange the papers in alphabetical order. This started off a quarrel straight away. Each fairy thought that they should be the first in the book. I suggested that Maryfee start off with Her Majesty Queen Feeana and then the wise old fairies. After much disagreement it was decided to do as I had suggested with the name and information of Her Royal Majesty Queen Feeana as the first in the book.

The fairies have no means of making a book and it was decided that I buy a thick writing book from one of the human shops. I went all over the town and finally found a bookshop with some very thick volumes; one of these volumes I thought would have enough space for all of the fairies information to be written into. I gave the fairy Maryfee the empty volume and showed her how to divide it up so that at least six fairies with all of their personal information could be written into each page. Her Majesty was asked to fill in a piece of paper with all of her information such as Fathers name, Mothers name. Where she was born and when she had become Queen of all the fairies. Her Majesty did not think much about such a book of who is who and reluctantly wrote down all of the information. Maryfee in her best copperplate handwriting wrote down all of the details that Her Majesty had given to her and after drawing a thick line under the information she started on the wise old fairies. It took months for Maryfee to get all of the information written down in the fairies book of who is who?

The book Maryfee finished off and showed it to Her Majesty and the wise old fairies and then all of the other fairies. So much knowledge written down in a thick volume the fairies had never before seen and all wanted to look at the book especially the pages where their name and information was written. All went well until about a month after the book had been finished. Julefee knocked on Maryfee's door just after midnight and wanted to see the information that she had previously written down on her piece of paper. Maryfee was annoyed at being woken at such a late hour and refused to let Julefee see her information. This started off another quarrel and Maryfee told all of the fairies that the book of, "who is who," could only be read on one day a week. The quarrels and bickering that went on among the fairies came to the ears of Her Majesty Queen Feeana.

Her Majesty then told Maryfee to bring the book to the queens home where it shall be kept. The only persons to read the book were to be the wise old fairies, when and if they wanted information about any one of the fairies. It was decided that Maryfee should in future write down all of the information about each new fairy that was born. The teachers and the helpers in the Baby crèche would give this information to Maryfee and she is to write it down in her most excellent handwriting. This pleased all of the Fairies and all are proud that they now have a book of Who Is Who in Fairyland. To my knowledge this was the first book in Fairyland that gave such detailed information about each fairy. Now all Fairies have access to the book but all must pay Maryfee a small payment in the form of some flowers or fairy cakes when wanting to see the book. Maryfee keeps office hours of eight in the morning until twelve at midday. No Fairy is to ask to see the book at any other time. Now all of the fairies are content they have book of who is who in Fairyland. The book "who is who?" about the humans, that was found by the fairies is no longer looked at.

Why?

Why do you call me? I have nothing to say to you. I need my sleep and you call every hour or so by day and by night. It is not in my power to help you and the pictures you send to me in my brain do nothing for my well being. So why do you call me? I see in my pictures that you are trapped in some kind of tree but where is the tree? You give no hints as to how I can find you. I do not know even where to start looking for you.

I have written what is happening to me by day and by night. I get these strange calls for help. A being is trapped in a tree, that much I can tell but who or where, is a puzzle. Is it a Fairy? A Leprechaun? Or even maybe a troll or pixie? I would love to help but how? On the morrow I will ask Her Majesty Queen Feeana to help me. The Queen may with the help of her magic mirror be able to tell me what tree and more important where to find such a tree.

Another night of calls for help I am exhausted and cannot find the energy to get out of bed and make myself a cup of tea. A cup of sweet tea often helps me to solve a puzzle or some problem that is worrying me. I turn over and fall into a deep sleep only to be awakened again by the call for help. This time I got up and dressed myself and went out into the garden and on to the woods. I thought that in the open air I could clear my brain.

As the calls for help came, I tried to determine from which direction they were coming from. The night animals and birds seemed to be hearing the same calls for help as they performed some strange things as the help calls came. An owl stopped swinging its wings in flight and if it had not gone straight into a gliding position it would have surely crashed to the ground. Some deer all stopped grazing as the call came and seemed to be very nervous. I carried on walking and the light of day slowly crept into the night skies. This brought the Fairies out of their homes and they too heard the calls for help.

A bright blue flash of light and Her Majesty appeared in the woods. She too had heard the cries for help. The person trapped is not too far away she told me after we had exchanged greetings. Following the path that led through the woods we saw, dumped in the middle of the woods was a very, very old oak tree. It had been pulled out of the ground by its roots and a once proud tree lay on the ground. Her Majesties magic wand came once more into play and from its tip a stream of bright blue sparks caught the tree splitting it right up the middle.

From out of the tree slowly came a flower with a very pretty head as it saw us it changed from a flower into a Fairy. This is the story she told the Queen and Myself. A wizard had tried to get her to give him the secret language so that he too could perform feats of magic. The Fairy whose name was Conniefee he tried to turn into an animal, which he banned into the old oak tree. Conniefee had just enough time to turn herself into a flower. She knew as a flower she could survive in the middle of the tree by drinking the sap that rises each springtime. This kept the Fairy Conniefee alive she had been calling for year after year for help. Men had placed the tree with Conniefee on the back of a Lorry and it had travelled far before there was an accident and the tree rolled into our part of the woods. Her Majesty waved her magic wand once more and the old oak tree now stood as if it had been here for hundreds of years there was new growth and leaves were all over its many new branches.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana the took out her magic mirror and pointing it at Conniefee she saw the wizard as he tried to get the secret language from the young Fairy the wizard was now old and bent he still performed some evil tricks of his magic and Her Majesty decided to punish him by sending him the illness of rheumatism a terrible illnesses for an old man but it was decided by Her Majesty that he should be punished. We watched him hobbling around for while and her majesty waved her wand once more at Conniefee who became even more pretty as she got over the experience of being a flower in a tree trunk.

Windy Night.

Rain being blown against my bedroom window awoke me. Turning on the light I looked at my alarm clock, five in the morning. I was going to turn over and try to go back to sleep when I heard the voices. The voices were quite loud as whoever it was speaking was shouting above the noise of the wind. "This is the house, I tell you this is the house." Now I was very curious, who on earth was standing in my garden shouting, that this is the house? Getting out of my bed I went to the window, looking out I saw three strangers standing looking up at my house. My alarm clock is of the electric kind and the numbers on the clock light up in a red light, just enough to tell the time by. Standing by the bedroom window I kept an eye on the three figures, I could not tell whether they were men or women. A burst of thunder and a stroke of lightning lit up the garden and then I saw that the three figures were men.

Opening the window I called down and asked what they were doing so early in the morning making such a noise. " Are you the man that writes the stories about the fairies?" Yes I called back and asked them what they wanted at such an hour. We are from a firm of publishers and our car broke down some miles up the road and we decided to walk to your house. On the way we could find no hotel to sleep in so we carried on walking. I called down and asked them if they knew that my house and all that is in it is protected by some very potent magic. "Yes we know all about the house and garden and that you are under the Fairy Queen's own personal protection." I called back, "Give me a few minutes to dress and I will come down and let you in."

I got dressed and taking my magic wand the one given to me by Queen Feeana I went down the stairs and taking a pocket full of magic dust I went to the front door. Opening the door I let the men into the house where I threw a handful of magic dust over them. I led them into the kitchen and told them to take off their wet overcoats and hats. I placed the kettle on the fire and after placing some firewood on top of the still glowing embers I put cups and saucers on the table and asked them to seat themselves. The kettle boiled and I quickly made a large pot of tea. Placing a bowl of sugar and a jug of milk onto the table I poured each one a strong cup of tea. Taking a packet of ginger snap biscuits from my larder I placed them in easy reach of the three men.

The men took milk and sugar and thanked me for being so hospitable and letting them in out of the rain. We did not speak until the men had drunken their tea and eaten some of the ginger snaps. This is what the men told me. The speaker looked as if he were the older of the men. We own a printing works called Bonadit it lays in Newcastle. We came across your Fairy-Tales in the Internet. One of my sons told me about the stories that you write and we decided to read the tales that had so interested my son. That is why we are here to see whether you would consider our printing your stories in book form. We thought one hundred little tales to a book that would be six books at least.

I considered their offer and than said, "No thank you as my stories are now, every child in the world has the opportunity to read them." " If I have them printed only certain children whose parents can afford them would be able to read or have the stories read to them." The men then smiled and said, " Her Majesty has certainly picked the right man to tell the stories of the little people. "He will not have them printed he will leave them on the Internet for all to read." "That is what Her Majesty said at our last meeting." The three men then underwent a change not three elderly men looking for a book or books to publish. Three Leprechauns were sitting at my kitchen table drinking my tea and eating my ginger snaps my old friend Shamus and two of his friends. It seems that they had been talking to her Majesty Queen Feeana and they said that I would jump at the first publisher to come along and make me an offer. Her Majesty told them that I would not take them off of the Internet. I am so pleased that Her Majesty had summed me up all right and my Fairy-Tales are on the Internet to stay.

Winter Quarters.

Autumn is now with us and most of the fairies are looking forward to the winter quarters under the Himalayan Mountains. The winter quarters are a series of huge caves. An artificial sun that one of the first fairies to come to this earth had by means of magic placed in the caves kept the caves warm and well lit. The caves are filled with growing trees and plants one may find everything that grows in the wild nature. Mushrooms abound, as do all of the wild berries plus many different fruit trees. Each night there falls a soft refreshing rain from the clouds that magically appear, as it gets dark. The fruit trees and the other plants are not only for the fairies use but also the millions of butterflies and moths that the fairies take with them to the caves so that they may over live the hard winter months. No one was forgotten, all were taken by magic to the winter quarters. The pixies and the imps, the gnomes as well as all of the little people that lived in Fairyland.

Excitement was rising higher and higher as they all waited for the Fairy Queens signal. A long drawn out tone that could not be overheard and two minutes later all were transferred by magic to the caves. There was no haphazard hurry all were transferred each to his or her home in the huge caves. All the little people from each country in the world were now united. Friends that had not seen each other during spring and summer got together and soon dancing and singing with different games were taking place. The fairies from America were mixing with the Chinese fairies and the African fairies were playing with all of the other fairies. The Europeans and the Australians were mingling with all and it was very difficult to tell which fairy was from where.

Each fairy home was open to all and many new friendships sprung up, only the pixies were keeping to themselves all of the other little people from Fairyland were joining in the fun. This annoyed the pixies so that they decided that they must do something that had never been done before. Walking around the huge caves they noticed that here and there, were fig trees with figs ripening on the trees. One pixie said to the other lets us collect all of the figs in the caves and if a fairy wants a fig they must give us something for our picking the figs. Going back to the other pixies they all set out and collected figs from the trees. Soon there was not a fig to be seen on all of the fig trees. The pixies had plucked all of the figs and taken them home with them. Soon the figs that were ripe or overripe started to rot and smell. The smell was terrible and soon Queen Feeana heard about the smells that were coming from the homes of the pixies. Her Majesty looked once in her magic mirror and saw what the pixies had done. Her Majesty then told the pixies that all of the figs were to be taken and buried in the ground among the other fruit trees. It was strange to see all of the pixies digging holes in the ground and burying the figs. A few weeks later all over the caves there appeared young fig trees from where the pixies had buried all of the rotting figs. Her Majesty then said, "These new fig trees shall remain in the ground to remind the pixies that they are only guests in the caves and if they misbehave again they would be banned from ever entering the caves again."

The pixies knew that Her Majesty never made a rule that she would not keep if they misbehaved again it would mean spending the long winter months with the snow and ice on the ground. There would be very little to eat and they would be worse off than the birds that have a very hard time during the long winter months. Now the pixies are mixing with the other little folk from Fairyland and all is well. The fig trees after a week or two had fresh figs on them and soon ripened in the warmth of the caves. No fairy ever had to go without fresh figs and the pixies have learned a very valuable lesson. To share with one another is one of the first things that the young fairies learn and there is no such thing as this is mine.

Wintertime.

The Fairies are all excited; it is time for them to go to the Fairy Winter Quarters in the big caves under the Himalayan Mountains. Many have said their farewells to the Leprechauns and to the deer and birds that they have befriended. All are looking forward to the lush fruits that await them. Many are looking forward to the flowers that grow so plentiful in the caves. Others want the peace and quietness of the caves where the weather is the same all of the year round. No rain falling during the day the rain comes only at night when all are safely tucked up in their small four-poster beds.

Today is the big day and I went to the woods to see them off. It is a most splendid spectacle Her Majesty, Fairy Queen, Feeana will wave her magic wand and say the words in the old language and there will be a blue flash a puff of smoke and all of the Fairies will disappear. The woods will be for me a lonely place without the cries of delight when a fairy finds an extra especially large blackberry or strawberry. I will make my way back home and get my garden ready for the long winter months.

The long cold winter days will make me think of spring and summer when the Fairies are all back in Fairyland in the woods at the back of my garden on Dartford Heath. Then the odd adventure will come my way and I will have a new story to write about. The knock on my front door rather startled me. I wondered who it was that wanted to visit me on this day of October. I went to the door and opened it and much to my surprise there was my Leprechaun friend Shamus with a few of his friends.

I invited them in and we went into the kitchen where I quickly made some hot sweet tea for Shamus and his four friends. While we were drinking the tea Shamus told me why they had come. It seems that in our part of Fairyland nothing had been repaired for a very long time and Shamus with his friends were going to put right all of the Fairy swings and roundabouts the slides were also in need of repair and it meant that they would have much work to do.

We drank our sweet tea and plans were made to see what things needed repairing first. Leaving the Leprechauns drinking their tea I went into town and bought some large tins of paint. It was agreed that while the Fairies were away the Leprechauns would not only repair but also paint all the playthings. I arrived back home laden with pots of different coloured paints and some paintbrushes.

I then prepared the guest rooms for Shamus and his friends to sleep and I ordered food with plenty of packets of ginger biscuits. All Fairies and Leprechauns love ginger biscuits and I always made sure that there were plenty in stock in my pantry. We spent the rest of the day talking and Shamus told me of his adventures since we had last met. The Leprechauns set off quite early the next morning to start work in Fairyland.

I made four thermos bottles of hot sweet tea and went to join them. Leprechauns do not need a dinner break they work on till they are finished. New seats and ropes for the swings, the roundabout came next and there was a hammering of nails and a sawing of wood, all worked well. As each plaything was finished I painted it the swings a light green and for the roundabout I used a bright red and blue. I passed the bottles of hot tea around and all had a little rest.

Shamus helped me to paint the last slide and we all hurried back home to my back kitchen. The Leprechauns washed and changed their working clothes and I prepared a hot meal. We were not ready or expecting what happened next. The room seemed to be filled with electricity and suddenly the tabletop was covered with all kinds of good things to eat and many bottles of elderberry wine.

Her Majesty knew all about our working in the woods for the Fairies and this was her way of saying thank you. We ate many a fairy cake and drank the delicious elderberry wine. There were enough Fairy cakes left over so that we had them for breakfast. Now Shamus and his four friends have left me to go back to Ireland. I am reading many books and am waiting patiently for the Fairies to come back in the spring. They will be delighted I know that all of the playthings have been mended and painted all will be fresh again for them.

Wizards At The Royal Albert Hall.

Frying eggs and bacon with some mushrooms for my breakfast, I suddenly felt the presence of some one in my kitchen. Turning from the stove, Shamus my Leprechaun friend smiled a big smile and greeted me with the words, "We have work to do." I returned Shamus's greeting and place some more rashers of bacon and a couple of eggs in the frying pan. "Knowing you Shamus, you have not eaten this morning, spread few more slices of bread with butter and we will have breakfast together. The tea is made, as you know I like plenty of sugar in my tea, get yourself a cup and saucer and pour the tea. The eggs, bacon, and mushrooms are ready and we can eat. Shamus badly wanted to tell me something but I would not hear of it until we had both eaten our breakfast.

We washed and dried the breakfast dishes and sat ourselves down in the easy armchairs. Shamus asked me whether I had heard of the meeting of the Witches and the Wizards that was to take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I had not heard of any such meeting and asked him to tell me about it. Shamus had heard of letters of invitation that had been sent to specially chosen Witches and Wizards. The Witches and Wizards were to meet on the third Sunday in July. "They are up to no good," I heard Shamus saying. " I would love to attend the meeting but as soon as they were to see me they would know that I am a Leprechaun and would not let me into the building." "You could smuggle yourself in and listen to what they plan on doing, it is surely something bad." "How would I be able to get in? I have no invitation and can not perform any magic in front of the Witches and Wizards." Shamus smiled his huge smile once again. "You will have an invitation and a perfect disguise, no one will be able to know that you are you."

Two days later Shamus visited me again, I was working in my garden, and it was his whistling of an Irish melody that caught my attention. "Wash your hands and then take a look at your personal invitation to the Royal Albert Hall." Shamus after I had cleaned myself up took an envelope from his large pocket and gave it to me. In bold copperplate writing my name and address had been written on the envelope. Opening the envelope I took out a card also written in the same copperplate handwriting inviting His Excellency the mighty Wizard Bernard Shaw to the Royal Albert Hall. Under the invitation were the words (six in the evening on the third Sunday in July,) The invitation was signed by Magicorius, Wizard extraordinary Sussex England. "Where on earth did you manage to get this at such short notice"? I asked Shamus, I managed to get hold of an invitation from a Wizard that is rather old and thinks that I am his apprentice. The invitation is exactly like the one he had it took me over an hour to copy it, No one will know it is a fake.

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Bern's Fairy Tales.

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