Read Online Adventures of the Wishing-Chair by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online

again and up rose five black cats, each with a violin except the last one, and he had a drum. After the cats came six plump rabbits, who danced to the tunes that the cats played. One rabbit turned upside down and danced on his ears, and that made Peter laugh so much that he had to get out his handkerchief to wipe his tears of laughter away.
    Then an even stranger thing happened next. The magician tapped the floor once more, and up came a great flower of yellow. It opened, and in the middle of it the guests could see five red eggs. The eggs broke and out came tiny chicks. They grew—and grew—and grew— and became great brilliant birds with long drooping tails. Then they opened their beaks and sang so sweetly that not a sound could be heard in the great hall but their voices.

    The birds flew away. The flower faded. The magician tapped the floor for the last time. A gnome appeared, whose long beard floated round him like a mist. He handed Greatheart a big dish with a lid. The magician took off the lid and lifted out a silver spoon. He stirred in the air and a bubbling sound came. Round the spoon grew a glass bowl. The children could see the spoon shining in it. But suddenly the spoon turned to gold and swam about—a live goldfish.
    Greatheart took the goldfish neatly into his hand and threw it into the air. It disappeared.
    “Who has it?” asked Greatheart. Every one looked about—but no one had the fish. Greatheart laughed and went over to Mollie. He put his hand into her right ear and pulled out the goldfish! Then he took up Peter’s hand and opened it—and will you believe it, Peter had a little yellow chick there, cheeping away merrily!
    Oh, the tricks that the magician did! No one would ever believe them! Peter and Mollie rubbed their eyes several times and wondered if they were dreaming.
    Best of all came the last trick. The magician as he said good-night to his guests, gave each a tiny egg.
    “It will hatch tomorrow,” he said. “Keep it safely!” The children thanked him very much for a marvellous evening, and then got sleepily into the wishing-chair with Chinky and the elves. How they got home they never knew—for there must have been magic about that took them home, undressed them, and popped them into bed without their knowing. Anyway, they found themselves there the next morning when they awoke, although they did not remember at all how they got there!
    “I believe it was all a beautiful dream,” said Mollie.
    “It wasn’t!” said Peter, putting his hand under his pillow. He brought out his little egg. As he looked at it, it broke—and there, in his hand, was a tiny silver watch, ticking away merrily!
    Mollie gave a scream of delight and put her hand under her pillow to get her egg too. It broke in her hand —and out of it came a necklace of beads that looked exactly like bubbles! It was the loveliest one Mollie had ever seen!
    “Hurry up and dress and we’ll see what Chinky got,” said Mollie. They hurried—and when they saw Chinky, he showed them his present—golden buckles for his shoes. Didn’t they look grand!
    “That was the loveliest party I’ve ever been to!” said Mollie happily. “I wish all our wishing-chair adventures were like that!”

The Wishing-Chair is Foolish
    ONCE the Wishing-chair was very foolish, and nearly landed the children and Chinky in a dreadful fix!
    It grew its wings one morning when the children were playing snakes and ladders. Chinky saw the red wings flapping and jumped up in excitement.
    “Come on!” he cried. “I’m longing for another adventure!”
    They all jumped on to the chair. It flew out of the door in a great hurry, and then up into the air. It was a beautiful day and the children and Chinky could see for miles. The chair seemed in a rather silly mood. It swung to and fro as it flew, and even jiggled about once or twice.
    “I say!” said Chinky. “I don’t like this! Hold on tightly, children, in case the chair turns head-over-heels,