Page 27 - 1926 Gleaner

TRE GLEANER
The Snow Fairies' Revel
Slowly, daintily, airily, down through the naked branches of the tall elms, fluttering abmt the thick boughs of the pines, glistening in the pale light of the rising moon, appear a few fluffy snow-flakes,.forerunners of the host of the Queen of the Snows. Dancing here and there, searching for a throne for her majesty, at length they settle upon yon fir tree, just where a wide branch has allowed a miniature drift to lodge, and where myriads of tiny icicles form a glittering, tinkling canopy. As the couriers settle, a moonbeam, shining on their tinsel armour, points the way to the royal guards.
In a moment the guards appear, thousands and thousands, hard and brittle, driving out all intruders with their stinging blows, as they rush from the f"ky on their swift steed, the North Wind. Quickly they form about the throne.
Slowly the moon rises high, shedding a clear white light. Couriers and guards stand rigidly at attention, silent and mo- tionless. From far up in the frosty vault of the blue-black sky with its million twinkling lights, a moon-beam points its crystal ray towards that tiny throne in the fir-tree. Then, from the Milky Way, advancing along that glittering path, comes the fairy throng. There are multitudes of tiny white-clad snow- sprites dancing to the music of the breeze in the tree-tops, while in their midst, with snowy gossamer gown on which a million tiny dialflonds sparkle, ·and wearing a crown that reflects the moon beams' dancing light in innumerable shining points of brightness, glides gracefully a tiny majestic figure. Hail! the Snow Queen! As she alights before her throne, with a graceful motion she raises a[oft her star-tipped wand. At once a sound like the tinkling of silver hells is heard, as the snow-fairies ac- claim their beautiful queen.
Then her courtiers close about her, the merry breezes pipe louder, and as the dainty fairy steps from her throne, all join their hands and dance about her. Fr·Jm all the sky, in troops of thousands come her subjects, quickly whirling, lightly leaping, gracefully bowing, advancing and retreating in their·mad night revel, until the woods is filled with tiny fairy figures. And al- ways through their midst glides their queen, a brilliant per- sonage, the daintiest, merriest of them all.
The joyous dance continues until the moon sinks from view and the watchful sentry espies the first finger of the rosy dawn. Then, immediately, the tiny trumpeter blows a warning note and the hosts of the Snow Queen form in line and upon a friendly blast of the North Wind, flee hastily back to their fairy haunts before the coming of their enemy, the Sun.
DOROTHY LUNAN
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