It was midsummer and in the Home Woods all was a hustle and bustle because everyone was getting ready for the midnight party. The Fairies were busy putting the finishing touches to beautiful gossamer dresses, the Elves were putting up de tables, hanging coloured lanterns and decorating the thrones of the Fairy King and Queen.
All through the woods the rabbits, squirrels, dormice, the birds, the beetles and the bees were running and flying to and from filling little baskets with good things to eat. In the Palace, all the elf cooks were busily preparing such dishes as honey-jellies, rose pudding, little cakes glistering with Fairy sugar and crisp brown nut rolls. There were drinks being made of cool honeysuckle and beautiful red berries and everyone was getting more and more excited as the evening drew near.
Only Puff the Pixie was nowhere to be found. Even his best friend Topaz did not know where he was and kept asking everyone if they had seen Puff – but no one could help him and poor Topaz was upset because he was afraid that Puff would be late for the wonderful midsummer night party.
Fern Rabbit saw Topaz sitting miserably on a toadstool and although she still had much to do she couldn’t bear to see a sad face on this special day. “Hello Pixie” she called “what are you looking so glum for – you must be the only one who is not helping to get things ready, shame on you”.
She hopped closer to Topaz and he told her about the missing Puff and Fern Rabbit laughed and said “why you silly old Topaz, you know that it is Puffs turn to bring the Royal Surprise to the party this year”. “Ooooh” said Topaz, “I had forgotten – of course, we won’t be seeing him until just before midnight”. He felt much happier and was so grateful to Fern Rabbit that he offered to help her get all the baby rabbits ready and to amuse them until the feast began. Fern Rabbit was very glad of his help and soon they were both happily busy.
Meanwhile, Puff had had a very exciting day. When he was told that he had been chosen to bring the Royal Surprise he at once decided that it must be the most beautiful surprise their Majesties had ever had. He went out onto the downs to think and think and think. But, oh dear, not one single new idea came to him.
Flower crowns? no, Rainbow Fairy had given those last year. Petal fans? no, that had also been done.
Poor Puff, the harder he tried to think the more empty his head seemed to be. But there must be something. He could not possibly go empty-handed to the party – what would their Majesties think of him? A soft breeze danced by and Puff, spreading his tiny wings let himself be carried along without looking or caring where he was going. Maybe he would think of something while drifting along on the breeze, but the playful breeze, after carrying Puff for a while, suddenly stopped blowing! Before Puff could save himself he tumbled with a soft bump to the ground. He sat there rubbing his head and scolding himself. Ooh, that bump had hurt – there must have been a stone laying there.
He looked around and what he saw took his breath away – not a stone but a big wooden reel full of scarlet silk thread. At first Puff had no idea what could be done with it but the colour was so splendid, so “Royal” shouted Puff gleefully dancing round his new found treasure “A Royal colour”. He went close to it and touched it, one end of the thread was laying in the grass and Puff examined it. It was very strong and there was plenty; the reel was almost full – why one could, could…. Ah yes, what could one do with it?
“How pretty it is” said Puff to himself “one of the humans must have left it behind”. And indeed one could often find strange odds and ends on this slope of the Downs because it was a favourite spot for humans and humans can be very careless with their things. Puff had drifted a long way from the Home Woods – further than wise Pixies went in daylight but Puff, a very kind Pixie though he was, was not always wise!
The breeze came back and played with the loose end of the tread making it flutter like a painted cobweb thought Puff. Cobwebs – spiders – spinning threads, “I have an idea – a big and wonderful idea but first I must get this back to the Home Woods. “Thank you little breeze” he called, “thank you for bringing me here”. And he started pushing and rolling the reel of thread over the grass. Very soon he had to stop. It was hard work and he was very glad to see a large group of ants scurrying along.
Puff called out to them, “ants, I say, ants – please will you help me? I am on a very special mission” he added importantly, “For their Majesties”. I have to roll this up to the Home Woods – can you spare the time to help me? Now ants never waste time talking, they are always much too busy – but not too busy to help Puff. They soon had that cotton-reel rolling along so fast that the little Pixie had to run to keep up with them.
When they reached the Home Woods, Puff took a little bag of honey-crystals from his pocket and scattered it on the ground for the ants. With tiny squeaks of thanks the ants were soon enjoying this unexpected feast. Puff thanked them for their help and left them to enjoy their honey meal.
Once inside the woods, Puff found it much easier to roll the cotton-reel because the little path was mossy and smooth, not like the tuffy grass on the downs. Soon he reached the home of two good friends, Spinder and Supul the Spiders. They were the cleverest weavers in all the Home Woods and made the fines lace curtains and the most beautify materials for the Fairies dainty dresses.
Puff knocked on the door and it was opened by Spinder who was very pleased to have Puff visit them. When they were all sitting in the Spiders parlour Puff told them what he had found and asked his big question. Spinder and Supul listed carefully and then nodded and said they would help him.
They had finished their own preparations for the midnight feast and were just resting until it was time to go to the Dell. But if they began straight away and worked hard they had enough time to weave the Royal Surprise.
“We will enjoy doing it” said Supul “and it is a great honour to make this for the King and Queen”. “Puff” said Spinder, “you go and have a rest now or you will be too tired to enjoy the party. You can sleep on my bed and we will call you when the work is finished”. The little Pixie had a lovely sleep and it was dark when he awoke. He jumped up rubbing his eyes – what was the time – oh dear, the party. Then he heard Spinder and Supul calling, “Puff Pixie, come and see – we have finished the work”.
Puff ran to the Spiders work room and there, spread across the floor was the red carpet, made from the lovely silk thread. Puff went down on his hands and knees to look at it closely. “Spinder and Supul – it is magnificent, you have made it better that I could ever dream. You must both come with me to present it to their Majesties because without your help there would be no carpet”.
The Spiders were very pleased and excited “we would like that very much Puff” said Spinder but we really must be moving now”. The three of them rolled the new carpet up very carefully and put it on the flat truck they used for deliveries and when Supul had closed the door of their house they set off toward the Dell. There was no sound in this part of the woods but of course almost everyone was already at the party. The Fairy King and Queen would arrive at midnight and Puff had to be there to give the Royal Surprise as they stepped out of the Royal Coach.
How beautiful the glade of the Fairy Dell looked in the moonlight. Hundreds of glow worms in hundreds of flower lanterns sparkled and glowed, the Fairies were dressed in their loveliest dresses, the Pixies and Elves in bright green or red jackets. There were guests from every part of the Home Woods, glossy rabbits, excited dormice, chattering squirrels and many, many others.
On a little slope the other side of the Dell stood the decorated thrones of the King and Queen and just as Puff and the Spiders arrived they heard the tinkling bells of the Royal Coach. “Quick” said Puff – and they were exactly on time to roll out the long red carpet for the King and Queen to walk on. Everyone gasped in surprise and clapped in pleasure. The Fairy King and Queen stood still in amazement, “why Puff, this is the most Royal Surprise we have ever had” said the Queen. “Thank you your Majesty, but without my two friends here, Spinder and Supul Spider, it would not have been possible”. “Then we thank you both said the King to the Spiders. “And now – on with the feast”. And as they walked on the new carpet to the two thrones, the grasshopper band began to play some lively music. The party lasted until the stars began to fade and everyone agreed that it was the best Midsummer Night Party they had ever had.
Puff the Pixie smiled as he curled up at last in his own soft bed “Yes”, he murmured, “The best ever”, and went to sleep.
Puff the Pixie stories were written by D.L. Hardy-Jesshope and may not be copied or reproduced in any way as they are under copywrite.