COPPERTOP KISSES THE BLARNEY STONE
Upon arriving at Blarney Castle, Biddy-be-sure tried her wiles upon the
Keeper most successfully, and they were given full permission to enter
the Castle.
Up a dark winding staircase they went, and then round the gallery of
the old banqueting hall, and so out on to the parapet under which the
Blarney Stone lies.
Pimby, the Flying Pig, got stuck in the staircase once or twice on the
way up, but otherwise the party reached the top without mishap.
Upon arriving at the spot, there was some argument as to which of them
should kiss the stone, but Coppertop reminded her brothers that the
North Wind had distinctly told her to do so; and besides, Tibbs, being
so strong and manly, was just the one to hold her legs and prevent her
from falling.
For, in order to kiss the stone properly, she had to be lowered over
the edge of the parapet, head foremost.
It was a very dangerous thing to do, for, if she fell, she would be
dashed to pieces at the foot of the Castle.
The sword of the Samurai lay upon the parapet and kept guard, and
Coppertop kissed Smiler, hugged and kissed Tibbs and Kiddiwee,
and prepared to be lowered over the parapet. Of course, she was
nervous--“terrifikly”--but she just grit her teeth, and determined to
do this last thing to gain her precious December day, and thus to be
able to greet her Mummie and Daddy with sunshine and beauty.
Kiddiwee grew so white and nervous that it was decided he should watch
from one of the windows of the tower.
“’Es, but I do wish I could do it instead of Cece,” were his last words
as he went below.
Biddy-be-sure mounted her broomstick, and, flying over the parapet, she
hovered under the Blarney Stone with her apron spread out, to catch
Coppertop if she fell.
White and anxious, Tibbs helped Coppertop over the side of the Castle,
holding tightly to her legs until she was able to grasp the iron rail,
which has been put there for the purpose. She was now hanging over the
side of the Castle, upside-down! The blood rushed to her head, and she
felt terribly giddy, but with great courage she held on, and lowered
herself, inch by inch, whilst Tibbs held her legs in a tight grip,
until her head was on a level with the Blarney Stone.
To make things safer, Pimby, the Flying Pig, flew over also, and
insisted on catching hold of the coat of Coppertop’s pyjamas, which he
held tightly between his teeth.
Tibbs’ face was perspiring with anxiety and fatigue, but he would
rather have fallen to the bottom himself, than have let go of those
precious little ankles.
There was a distant rumble of thunder, and a few drops of rain fell
upon them.
Coppertop’s heart beat faster at the sound, and she felt as though she
must choke, for she hated a thunderstorm. Besides, it sounded ominously
like the Clerk of the Weather, up to his mischief again, in spite of
his promise. It would be too terrible if he interfered now--just at the
critical moment.
She must hasten to kiss the stone without delay. She was surprised to
find that it had a face, and that it pouted its lips to be kissed, in
a most amusing way. Coppertop wanted to laugh, and then to cry. And
as she looked down she saw that Biddy-be-sure, with her white apron
outstretched, had grown to look strangely like her big four-posted Bed!
She suddenly felt very limp and nerveless, but she thought of the
December day, so nearly hers; and, with a mighty effort, she raised her
head forward, and--KISSED THE BLARNEY STONE!
* * * * *
There was a blinding flash of lightning! A roar of thunder! And, to her
amazement, Coppertop felt herself FALLING!
Tibbs still held her ankles, but he was falling too! The Castle was
falling! EVERYTHING was FALLING!
Down, down like a stone she fell, through Biddy’s apron, pulling the
Flying Pig with her!
Oh! what would happen when she reached the ground? But there was no
ground, for that was falling, too!
Whirling! Swirling! Down! DOWN! WALLOP!
* * * * *
BANG!!
Coppertop opened her eyes, and sat bolt upright in bed!
“It was a REAL Bang! Of course it was! It’s Jane, banging on the door,”
exclaimed Coppertop, rubbing her eyes and yawning. “Goodness me!
however did I get back here? And I never said good-bye to Tibbs and
Kiddiwee!
“Gracious!” she exclaimed, as she recalled the events of the previous
evening, “why, it’s the First of December! Mummie and Daddy are coming
home to-day! It’s simply too glorious for words!” she cried, as she
sprang out of her bed. “I’m so happy I--I shall positively explode!”
As she jumped up, Coppertop felt something dangling round her neck, she
put up her hand, and grasped--Smiler!
“There now, I knew it was all real!” she cried, her eyes growing dark
with wonder, “and the December day? I must rush and see!”
And so she did. Up shot the blind, and in shone the most heavenly
December day! It flooded the room with warmth, and the glory of
sunbeams, which made a halo of light and beauty round Celia’s happy
little “Coppertop.”
As she stood, breathless with wonderment and rapture, the door behind
her was gently opened, and Captain and Mrs. Sinclair stole softly into
the room--so softly that Celia heard no sound.
The tall, soldierly man, bronzed by the hot sun of the East, smiled as
his glance fell tenderly upon the quaint figure of Coppertop, standing
there in her pyjamas, her hands clasped in ecstacy over the tiny bronze
camel, and seeming to be part of the glowing sunshine which filled the
room.
“What IS she looking for?” he whispered to his wife.
“Hush, dear!” warned Mrs. Sinclair, with finger on lip. But it was too
late.
Coppertop had heard the whispering voices!
She turned, and stood for one moment too overjoyed to move. Then,
uttering the very highest little scream of delight she had ever
uttered, she bounded towards them.
Trembling with excitement, she flung a freckled arm round each dear
neck, and, pulling their laughing faces down to hers, she covered them
with kisses.
“What a perfect December day to welcome us on!” said Captain Sinclair,
as soon as he had sufficiently recovered from Coppertop’s embrace to
speak.
“Perfect!” echoed his wife, smiling down at their little daughter.
And Coppertop’s cup of happiness was full.
THE END.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
Archaic spelling that may have been in use at the time of
publication has been retained.