For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2080, 4 January 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

For the Children.

WHEN TEDDY AWOKE. Toddy Bear lay under a hush in the woods where (Margaret hud dropped him that morning. It was nearly night, and Teddy was dreadfully frightened. Suppose Margarot should never find him again ! The woods creatures gathered around him curiously. “What is he?” said an Ant. “I don’t know. I never saw anything like him!” whispered a timid Mouse. A Rabbit hopped as close as he dared. “He looks a bit like me, doesn’t lie?” said the Rabbit. “A little hit, not a Rab-hil,” cawed a. joking Crow. ‘“Haw! Haw!” “iSh I -He is asleep!” said tlie Rabbit. Teddy wanted to tell them who ho was, and that he was not asleep. And ho wanted to ask someone to take him home. But he could not say a word for himself. “Let's wake him up,” said the Squirrel. “Let’s!" said they all. So the Ant tickled him. and tho Mouse nibbled his toes gently, and the Squirrell chattered. But nothing seemed to waken the stranger who lay so st ill ! “Let me try!" buzzed the Mosquito. “Oh. no! You are so rough!" said the others. “He seems a nice little fellow. Well, then. But bite very gently." The Mosquito cried “Zee! Zee!” close to Teddy’s ear, and then hit-hit-bit him, harder and harder. Still Teddy did not move. “Well, he i.s a sound sleeper! cried the creatures. “What’s all this?” said a sharp voice. Every one trembled. It. was old Mrs Fox, who had crept noiselessly up to them. “It is a strange little creature, said the Squirrel timidly. “We cannot waken him.” “Ho! I’ll waken him fast enough, snarled Mrs Fox. “Just let mo get my tooth into him!” “Oh, please don’t!” pleaded tinRabbit. T,n “Ho is nice and plump. I shall take him homo for dinner," si id Mrs Fox, licking her chops. Imagine poor Teddy’s feelings! But he could not speak a word. Tlio wicked Fox seized leddy roughly in her mouth and then"(squeak I Squeak!” cried Teddy. "HolplHol.pl” . l'h© Fox had squeezed him and made him talk at last. Mrs Fox jumped right up in tho air and dropped Tcddv, sho was so surprised. For Toddy had a. very loud voice for so .sipall *\ Bear. It wacs so loud that Margaret herself heard bine Sho was in the woods hunting for Teddy, but she was going in tho very wrongest i liroction, and probably sho never would have found him if ho had not squeaked just then. “Oh, Teddy!” she cried, scampering toward the .spot where sho heard his voice. Tlie old Fox slunk hurriedly away, and tho other timid creature.; hid themselves. -But Teddy waited eagerly. Soon Margaret clasped him in her arms. “You dear, old Toddy! she cried. “Who hurt you and made you squeak?” Teddy eoukl not tell her about the wicked Fox. But he was so happy that ho did not care. The little kind creatures came out of their hiding-places and looked after him wistfully. “He had too loud a voice, but lie would have becon a jolly playmate, sighed the Rabbit. They all sighed and went- sadly ah nit their business. —Ah bio Harwell Brown.