FOR THE CHILDREN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1931, Page 8

FOR THE CHILDREN

BY AUNT EDITH THE OWL AND THE HEDGEHOGS Margery, aged eight, went to school every morning. “It- will.soon be the end of the term,” she told her mother one day at breakfast. “We break up in two weeks’ time.-. Isn’t it jolly? We are very busy getting ready for our school concert; then there is the prize-giving, the fancy dress dance, and, last of . all, breaking-up day ■ —and then it’s Christmas ! Hurrah!” “That willmean I shall have to think about your dress for the dance,” said her mother. “Let me see didn’t we say you were going as an old lady, and as I was lending you my grey skirt, we must ask Granny for the rest; she.will lend you a'shawl and cap arid, glasses, and anything else we/want. But we mustn’t think about it any more now. It is after nine o’clock, and you must go off to school.”

Margery did not think about it any more that day; "there were plenty of other things to do, but when she was tucked up in bed at night, then was the time to think.

“I wonder what I shall look like,” she said to herself ; “I wonder what .Toy (that was her friend) will say. I wish I could try it all on. I know where mummy keeps her grey skirt. I am sure the wouldn’t mind. There will be no harm in it.” '

So softly she crept out of bed, ran and switched on the light so that she could find the skirt in the wardrobe. There it was, just’ inside. Margery soon had it down from the peg. Over her head it went, and in a moment she was fastening it round her waist.-

“Oh !”'laughed Margery, as she saw herself in the mirror “Don’t- I look funny? I do look grown up.” Then an awful moment came. With one step back—the skirt was torn. “Whatever shall I do.” saicl Margery with a gasp !

“Tuwliit tuwboo !” Margery looked round quickly to whore her old friend, the old fiwl looked out on tile world from his perch on the calendar. He always sat there, and many and many a. time had Margery asked his advice. For the wise old owl know everything. “Tutvliit, tuwboo,” he whistled, “now you’ve done it!” v “Oh, what shall I do now?” asked Margery. ‘Whatever will Mummy say?” “I will think of something,” lie said. “I know what we’ll do. We will get my tailors to mend it. I’ll see to that. My advice to you, Miss Margery, is to slip it off and hop back to bed again.” Like an obedient child Margery did as she was told.

“Now go to sleep,” whispered the old owl, “don’t think about the skirt. (Jo to sleep until I call you, I hen we'll see what can be done.” So Margery hopped into bed and tried to go to sleet, but she could think of nothing but' the hole in her skirt “Whatever should I do if T didn’t have the wise old owl to help me out,” she sighed. "I shouldn’t know what to do.”

On the stroke of twelve Margery heard a soft whistle.

“Tuwliit, tuwboo! Are you ready?” “I am ready for anything,” answered Margery. “Come over here.” said the owl, ( “and listen to my directions. I have arranged

everythin". Take the skirt with you, and go io the front door. There yon will find a coach awaitingjyom Jump in, and leave the rest to the driver. Do as I tell you, and everything will be all right.” “Oil, thank you,” said Margery; “you are kind, and I’ll do what you tell me.” She tucked the skirt under her arms. Gently she crept out of the room, down the stairs, and out through the door. Outside stood a little coach drawn by two white mice, and another one sat on the box.

“It is just like Cinderella,” thought Margery, as she jumped in. Away they went through, the gate dowa the lane. To the right and to the left they turned till Margery had quite lost her way. At last they came to a standstill. Of course it was dark, hut Margery could just see that they were outside a little brown house in a wood. Hie door of the carriage swung open. “Jump out, please, Miss,” said the little coachman. “Here we are.”

The next moment the door of the house was swung open as Margery rapped the knocker. “I know what you want,” said the hedgehog, who answered it. “We had a telephone message just now from our friend the owl, and he told us that you wanted an urgent repair. Will you come this way?” Margery followed him into a room, in the centre of which was a table surrounded by hedgehogs. “Please show us the hole,” said the hedgehog who was nearest Margery. So Margery unrolled the skirt and showed him the liqle. < “Oh, that wouldn’t take long, he said. “'Please be seated.” Margery sat down while she watched him thread a needle and start to darn. “You’ll see how busy we are,” be said to Margery. “All .winter long, when the hedgehogs are supposed to ba asleep underground, we are busy doing repairs. W e mend fairy wings, spiders legs, birds’ feathers, and all sorts of tilings like that. Of course, we would do anything for our old friend the owl. “I don’t know what I should do without him,” answered Margery. , “I want that skirt you see, and I can’t wear it like that.” . , . “No. indeed,” replied the hedgehog, “but you can wear it like this.” lie said. As he held the skirt up in front of her Mar eery could hardly sec darn. “Oh. thank vou so much,” she said. “Is there anything to pay?” “No, none whatever,” lie said. Wo are pleased to do it, if you want anythimr done again, just bring it along. “Thank you,” said Margery again. I must, hurry hack now.” She went back the way she came, and in a few moments she was in her bedroom once more. She switched on the liulit. , “Look Mr Owl.” she said as she spread out the skirt. “Isn’t it splen*'“Splendid !” said I lie owl “I should have In wear six pairs of glasses to sec (hat darn. Now you hop into bed, or I won’t 101 l you one more of my sorrels. “You know you are linmilitv,” said Margery, “but I love you. You are so kind.” , Next morning at breakfast Margery s mother said (o her. “T was talking lo Granny last evennnr. and she said she would lend you a black velvet dress instead of mv grev skirl. It will look lots Tiirer, won’t il “Oil, that will he lovely,” said gpi'yAt the first opportunity Margery van and fold the owl all about it, just as she I old him everything. “Never mind.” lie said, as lie gave a

great wink. “A stitch in time saves nine my mother used to say. Tuwliit, lowhoo 1 Tinvhit. tiiwlmo ARE YOU CALLED LESLIE? Leslie is an old Gaelic name, meaning “loyal lo one’s promise.’ Those who bore it were believed to be true in word and deed. A boy called f.eslie was supposed to glow up faithful to bis ideals, find prepared to make big sacrifices. It is a favourite name in Scotland, and lias been for hundreds of years.