Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. július-december (26. évfolyam, 26-53. szám)
1943-12-30 / 53. szám
Page 8 _________________________________________Verhovay Journal ____________________________________December 30,1943 Children’s 1 i he _ L «life Conducted by AMELIA NYERS ELIZABETH Snow Drop Fairy gently shook the snow-clouds that hung in the sky above the Lady’s garden. Glistening, star-shaped flakes left their sky abode, and came dancing through the air, then dropped to earth in a graceful curtsey. Soon the garden lay deep in snow. Zephyr came into the garden, his dancing a series of sharp and impetuous movements, for he had taken on the characteristics of the cold North Wind. The trees stood tall and still, their bare branches covered with thin ice, white as crystal. When Zephyr touched them, they made a tinkling, musical sound. Jack Frost blew his cold breath upon the windows of the Lady’s house, and made lovely patterns on them. Hungry snow-birds gathered at the frozen pond, mak;ng a feast of the seeds the man had placed there for them. The sun moved slowly across the winter sky; its brilliant hues streaked the soft, blue heaven. The garden gleamed in the morning light; the atmosphere was snow-flaked. The earth seemed to be wrapped in white ermine. Sun-Beam fairies danced on the bright sun rays, but they seemed misty and far away. Their movements were somewhat stiff, for they were numb from contact with the cold air. Winter Fairy walked through the woods; her trailing white gown brushed the earth with a soft, swishing sound. Her icy fingers caressed the sleeping forest ladies, their shadow upon the snow-covered ground. “Welcome!” Tree Spirit exclaimed to the Winter Fairy as she walked through the woods. A soft smile touched the corners of the Fairy’s lips, while her cold eyes shone with a pale blue light. Air Spirit re-arranged the snow-clouds in the sky; then followed Tree Spirit and Winter Fairy into the Lady’s garden. Zephyr grew mischievous and shook the snow off the tall, sleeping hollyhocks. Earth Spirit laughed at his vain attempts to rouse the flowers. “It will be some time before they come to life again,” Winter Fairy said. “Perhaps the Wood Nymphs will return, and then you can dance with them,” Air Spirit said. A ray of light brought the Sun-Beam Fairy to Earth. “Let’s decide what color Elizabeth’s hair will be,” suggested Tree Spirit. “We have been trying to agree on that for months,” Earth Spirit remarked. “A soft, gleaming white,” began Winter Fairy. “No!” interrupted Eros, coming forward. “We can’t express a harmony of opinion, so it’s best we do not discuss it. Come, let us look into the Lady’s house and see what is taking place there.” Sun-Beam Fairy peeped through the window and the frost-patterns vanished. The others moved close and looked into the kitchen, where the Lady was occupied mixing a cake. The man was close by, shelling the black walnuts which he had picked in the woods during the autumn. These would be baked in the cake. When he finished his task, he went down into the basement and returned with a lovely evergreen tree. He placed it in a stand and set it in the room; for it was the day before Christmas. This was Elizabeth’s first Christmas; and at sight of the fragrant pine, she clasped her hands in glee. The man placed her on the floor and she crept up to the tree. The day soon passed. Twilight set in and gradually blended into night. The sky gleamed with a million glowing stars; the moon came out and threw its silver light upon the snow-covered, hushed earth. The trees in the garden cast a long blue shadow upon the white snow, glistening bright as jewels. The world was a winter wonderland of enchantment. Zephyr lingered in the garden, catching glimpses of Elizabeth through the window, as she lay sleeping in her crib. It was nearly midnight when the sound of sleigh bells pierced the air. Santa Claus came dashing over the snow with his toy-laden sleigh and reindeer, and drew up on the roof of the Lady’s house. In the twinkling of an eye, he was down the chimney, with a large pack of toys on his shoulders. He entered the room where the tree stood, and slaced the bag on the floor, le whistled merrily "While he worked, his fingers nimble, as they trimmed the evergreen with beautiful gold and silver tinsel. Then he placed brilliant red and blue globe-shaped ornaments on the branches; after which he added glass icicles. When his work was finished, he viewed the tree with satisfaction; for it was a beautiful pine, now adorned with glittering decorations. Moon-Beam Fairy entered the room and helped Santa Claus arrange the toys under the tree. There were three little wooden ducks all dressed up; one proudly carried a drum and sticks, that he played when a button was pressed in his back; the second duck carried a red and yellow balloon; while the third one held a horn near his beak, ready to blow when wound up. Santa Claus placed three small bears in a row on the floor. He pushed a button in their back and they turned a somersault into the air, then they sat down beneath the tree. Moon-Beam Fairy took a white toy elephant and a red-spotted, yellow giraffe from Santa’s bag and put them near the other toys. Santa Claus chuckled merrily when he reached into his sack and drew forth a pretty boy and girl doll. These he placed on a low branch of the tree for Elizabeth to take when she would see them on the evergreen in the morning. Zephyr came down the chimney with a loud “Whee!” He, too, wanted to help; so he took three little white rag kittens from the toy-sack and placed them beneath the tree. One kitten wore a red jacket and blue cap, the second animal had on a blue jacket with a red cap, while the third one was dressed in a brown jacket with an orange cap. They stood in a straight row and wiggled their ears. Moon-Beam Fairy arranged three gaily-painted wooden wise-eyed owls on a branch of the tree; then pressed a button in their back, cáusing their eyes to wink. She was delighted with the blinking owls. Santa Claus drew forth a wooden rooster and hen, marked with bright and varied colors, and placed them under the sweet-smelling tree. Thesaurus came into the' room, carrying a large book, with the name, ELIZABETH, printed in gold letters on the cover. The child would use this book often, for it comprised nature’s secrets. Later, when she learned to read, she would learn the lessons the book contained, and master her problems. Thesaurus placed the book on a table. His attention wandered to the small aquarium, where the gold and silver fish were sleeping in their water-world. He watched them a moment; then drew forth a package of food and placed it near the fish-bowl. Delicious odors came out of the kitchen, where Candy Fairy was busy making sweets for the holiday festival. She boiled sugar into syrup; then made variations of it by adding walnuts to one portion; fruit to the second batch; and chocolate and flavoring to the third part of the candy. Thesaurus shaped the confections into bon-bons and dipped them into chocolate. Candy Fairy made more sweet syrup and divided it into two portions; to one part she added red coloring, to. the other green. When the candy was cool enough to handle, she shaped the red batch into stars and birds, and placed them among the branches of the Christmas tree. Moon-Beam Fairy formed bells and small trees of the green candy; then tied them to the tree with yellow ribbon. It was almost dawn when their work was finished. Santa Claus left hurriedly, for he still had to make a visit to many homes, where children were fast asleep, dreaming of his coming. Reluctantly, Moon-Beam Fairy left, just before the break of day; Thesaurus and Candy Fairy left soon after. Sun-Beam Fairy wakened when the sun rose slowly out of the east and sent its rays to earth. She entered the Lady’s garden, where snow.-birds were gathered round the food-tray, feasting. When they had eaten their fill, their chattering grew noisy. Elizabeth heard their chirping within the warm, cozy house, and awakened. It was then the Lady picked her up out of the crib, and took her into the room where the Christmas tree stood in all its glory. The child clapped her hands in delight. Winter Fairy peeped through the window and was pleased with the sight within. “She is a happy child today!” she said to Air Spirit, who also drew near to the window. “Merry Christmas!” sang Zephyr, dancing capriciously about the house. “Merry Christmas!” the others answered, cheerfully. They listened close, while the man related to Elizabeth the story of the beautiful Child who was born so long ago in a lowly manger. Afterward, the Lady placed her on the floor, near the tree. She crept up close to it and stretched forth her hands. She couldn’t quite reach the boy and girl doll. The man took them off the tree and put them on the floor beside her. She picked up the boy doll and hugged it; then laid it aside, while she held close the girl doll. She gazed up at the shining tree and smiled. Her eyes were filled with love as she looked at the Lady and the man, and uttered a few baby words, which they knew meant: “M erry Christmas!” A BIRTHDAY My heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a water’s shoot; My heart is like an apple-tree Whose boughs art bent with thick-set fruit; My heart is like a rainbow shell That paddles in a halcyon sea; My heart is gladder than all these, Because my love is come to me. —CHRISTINA G. ROSSÉTTI
