For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2074, 28 December 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

For the Children.

AN AMERICAN INDIAN FAIRY TALE. THE AVAR PARTY. One day the Turtle niado ready to go upon the warpath. His comrades who wished to go with him were Livo Coals, Ashes, the Bulrush, tho Grasshopper, the Dragon-fly ancl the Pickerel, each declaring himself eager to fight- . . . All seven warriors went on in good spirits to the first camp. There u wind arose in the early morning ,anct blew the Ashes away. “lho!” exclaimed tho others, ‘'t is plain that this one was no warrior!” The six kept on their way, and the second day they came to a deep and wide river. There Livo Coals perished at the crossing. “S-s,” ho said, and was gone. “All,” declared the five, “it is easy to see that lie could not fight!” . On the farther srido of the crossing it was seen that the Bulrush liad stay od behind. He stood still and waved liis hand to the others, who grumbled among-themselves, saying: “Ho was no brave —that one!” The lour who were loft went on till they came to a swampy place, anti there the Grasshopper stuck fast. He tried so hard to pull himself put of tho mud that lie pulled both legs off at last, and now there- were only three to go upon the warpath. Then the Dragon-fly mourned for liis friend Grasshopper. He cried bitterly, and afterward blew his nose so hard that his slondor neck broke in two and bis head oame off. “Iho!” said tho other two. “It is as we thought. Those feeble ones could not light 1” Tho Pickorel and tho Turtlo, being left alone, advanced bravely int-o the enemy’s country. At the head of « lake they were met by tho enemy and surrounded. Tho pickerel saved himself by swimming, but the Turtle, that slow one, was caught. They took him to tho village, and there the chief men held a council to decide wliat should bo done with him. “AVe will build a great fire, and roast him alive in the midst of it, ’ one proposed. “Hi-i-i I” shrilled tho Turtle, uttering liis war-cry. “Tha-t is the brave death I would chooso. I shall trample tho fire and scatter live coals among the people!” “No,” said another; “let us boil water and throw him into the pot!” “Hi-i-i!” again cried tho Turtle. “I shall rejoice to blind the eyes of tho people with the boiling water and steam which I will spatter into their faces.”

The councillor, looked at one another, and at fast an old man said : “AVliy not carry him out to tlio middlo of the lake and drown him?” Then the Turtlo drew in his head and boasted -no more. “Alas,” lie groaned, “what shall I do? That is the only death I fear!” So the people took him in a canoe, and rowed linn out to the middle of the lake. There they dropped lum in and lie sank tike a stone. But in a minute ho rose to frho top. and again sounded his war-cry. “Aha!” he shouted. “Now I am at home!” And ho dived and swam wherever he would. This story teaches us that quick wit is better than speed.

THE LOST DOLL I once had a sweet little doll, dears, The prettiest doll in tho world; Her cheeks were -so red and white, dears, And her hair was so charmingly curled. But I lost my dear little doll, dears, As f played on the heath one dav; And I cried for her more than a week, dears, But I never could find where she lay.

I found my poor little doll, dears, As I played on the heath one day; Folks say she is terribly changed, clears, For her paint is all washed away, And her arms trodden off by-tile cows, dears. And her hair not tho least bit curlYet for old salve’s sake, she is still, dears, Tho prettiest doll in the world. -Charles Kingsley.