"IN THE FRAGRANT AIR OF SPRING"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 22

"IN THE FRAGRANT AIR OF SPRING"

(By Saucy. Sally.)

It was 7 a.m., and the sun was peeping 6ver°tfie lulU,Sending its" warm rays streaming through the tiny lattice window, of the little white cottage, which was wide open to welcome.them as they darted through the' sash on to a pale but smiling face. The face belonged to a thin, weak body, owned by..a girl of twelve years, who was sleeping at this particular minute, A The girl's name was Tnxie Nicols, who had not moved from that little window for seven years^ When she was five year^ old she had fallen frorh theold beech tree, which; stood out in the garden budding fresh greeri/leaves for the beauty of spring, while Trixie was lying in bed day after day,'never being able to move from her bed, because her spine would not get well again. Theser were her thoughts as she lay each; day, they never vanished until the door was pushed gently ajar and a fait, curlyJiead peeped round. Iwo large, blue, inquiring eyes rested on the pinched face, and then a sturdy little figure of four years,. dressed in a pale blue romped softly, approached the bed. A tiny, grubby, but vvarm.hand was placed on chilled white one, then the lad slowlyJowerea^iliead to kiss the pahd cheek of his sister. Not a word did he say until this was done, but suddenly a small voice broke the silence. ' . " "Trixie, what is de matter? Is dat naughty bacjfhurting again? I is going to tell Mower." Then stealing silently fronr.the room he closed the- door behind him. Trixie turned her' head ana- watched him depart: What a dear boy Binkie is, how he understands,? she murmured as the door closed and a pair of pattering feet echoed'back to her ears. It was quite ten minutes before footsteps were heard1 again, arid the door was thrown open to behold Binkie clasping tightly at his mother's hand, while the other held a brown paper-patcel fastened securely with string With one bound he was beside the bjecl waving the parcel aloft in mid air until his mother rushed and saved/it from falling on Trixic's head. Oh! Bink," she gasped, "do be careful!". ". \ However, Binks did not hear. He was ?splaining: to Tix how the poslic had corned and given him this s'prise'parcel, and it was all for lix, even the stwing and paper, 'cos it said so.: Mover had read him lmes name on the front. In spite of her pain Trixie cut the stringan4 breathlessly unfolded ■the paper wrappings. Inside was a wonderful .cardboard box covered with gold tinselled paper. The lid was tied down with a rainbow ribbon. T,. • Oh-_, Tix' what a luMy.box, but let me see what is inside," exploded binkie. Trixie feverishly untied the bow and lifted.the. lid. Instantly there was a chorus of "Oh's", Binks being the loudest of all. Underneath the soft tissue paper, carefully packed in straw, lay the quaintest little work box you have ever seen, while in the middlcof it stood a delightful box of chocolates, but tucked in a fold of the box.lay a wee blue note. During Trixie's convalescence her mother had patiently taught her to read and write, so the blue note was soon unfolded and read. Mrs. Nicols watched the child's face light up a* sheread fhewonderful words on the paper. Her heart leapt to think that plain words in black ink ■could make that sad face smile. What exciting-words could they be? She was feeling inquisitive herself, Mrs. Nicols,had.lived in the "Little White Cottage" ever since her husband had died'three years ago, leavin" her with Trixie and David (nicknamed Binkie,by;.hjs father). For a long time after Mr. Nicol's death, Mrs. Nicols had been in financial difficulty, which had made her lookstrained, and' tired', but;nOw. every thin <*■ was cleared up, except Trixie's illness. 'Her r.mother felt sure that she would get well some day if she looked afler; her properly and kept to the doctor's orders. -.. V'.i.','.'■'-. "■■'■ / " , Trixie lay in. bed, her heart beating so. wildly .that the bed clothes were rising and falling every two seconds. The colbur .was flowing into her checks as she clasped the blue scrap of paper and read the enchanting words. At length Binkie burst, for he could hot wait any longer. "Oh! TZs, why don't you tell Mower what, is aa that paper? Is a.' big wolf going to come and eat you all up and put on your nighty, and when I come in to see Tix, say 'I like little boys ; wive turls,' and gobble me up too? Tix, why do you look so red and funny?" '■Binkie, dear," said his mother, laughingly, "if you wait,. Trixie will tell you what is in the note. You mustn't be. so stupid, talking about wolves and goodness knows what." ; ';; .•• • , . These were the words Mrs. Nicols read:—" ~ -'--■■• My Dear Little Trixie: .-. -,:~': Here I am jumping through the earth'to cotae and see you, and I am going to stay as long as Mummy will let me. , You see, dear, I've been a lonely old man all these years until this' fresh spring air has woken me up to the fact-that I have a niece andnephew and sister.in-law living miles away,, so I packed1 up my clothes: and I'm on my way. to come and live with you.. .F am coming of my own freewill, so I hope mother won't be angry.. sTelLheJc I am writing to her by the next post. Love to David and mother,Your old Uncle Jim. As Mrs. Nicols read the last words the tears, welled up in her eyes, and as she stared out of the window she could see why Trixie's face had flooded with colour. She knew that Jim would be like a father to her children. Instantly she decided to let him stay as long "as he wished if he could brighten Trixie's life. " (To be continued.)