Daddy's Evening Fairy Tale

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 242, 21 June 1928, Page 3

Daddy's Evening Fairy Tale

By

MARY GRAHAM BONNER

MEAN IVY AGAIN

“Ton have never been able to do anything to ns,” said Peter Gnome. to a member of the Poison Ivy family, “because we belong to the Fairyland people. “But we don’t like you because you’re mean to people, and we don’t like things which are mean even if they aren’t mean to us.” “That seems strange,” said the Poison Ivy. “Of course it does to you,” said Peter Gnome, “for you are too mean to understand the reason why. “Because we like people and children and because we like nice plants and leaves which are pretty and which don’t do anything that is unkind. “So, in plenty of time before the season begins we want to ask every one we can to go to the big books and see fiom pictures just what the three leaves of the Poison Ivy family look like, so they will not suffer be cause of you.” “You’re an enemy,” said the. Poison Ivy. “Yes,” agreed Peter Gnome, "an en emy of the Poison Ivy family, but a frjend to others!” “It seems strange,” the Poison Ivy said, again. “It seems very strange. Why be so nice to people? People aren’t always so nice. “They grumble and complain and often do mean things themselves.’.’ “That’s no excuse,” said i’etei Gnome. “Have you ever heard of tin old saying that two wrongs nevei made a right?”

“Never," said Poison Ivy, “If I had I heard it I wouldn’t pay any attention | to it.” < i i “Besides,” said Peter Gnome, “lots I of the people who are hart by you are | nice, gentle, kind people who never did any wrong at Jail, people who never did anything mean. “Bast year I saw you give poison to one of the nicest little girls I ever saw. They had only done kind things to others all their lives. “And you made them suffer a great deal.” But the poison ivy didn’t pay any attention at all to that. He didn't care if he was mean to the nicest people. In fact he liked to be mean. It was one of his pleasures in life as it was of the rest of the members of his samily. So Teter Gnome went around warning every one of the ways of the poison ivy family, telling them what the family looked like, how to recognize the family and stay away from them And, if you have not received Peter Gnome’s message, he has psked me. through the Breeze Brother messengers, to tell you this.

The Laziest Man. ' Many years ago there was held In Algiers a competition as to who was the laziest man. The prize was a rich one, and practically all the pop illation entered, for they were experts at doing nothing. So, from the first.

it was hard to judge between one competitor and another. But by many ingenious tests the field was finally narrowed down to Henri and Jean, than whom two lazier men had never been known before. But how to choose between them? Bong and anxiously did the judges consult together, and at last hit upon a plan. After starving the candidates for some days, they led them beneath the branches of a grove of fig trees, pendant with luscious fruit. The rivals, though ravenously liuu gry, yawned languidly and stretched themselves on the ground to rest. But when a few hours had elapsed. Henri could withstand the temptation no longer, and, reaching out his hand, gathered and ate one of the fruits fallen near him. “That settles it, whispered one judge. “Bet us give the prize to the other.” “Bet us rather wait awhile,” replied his colleague. “The other competitor may have the energy to eat two figs.” Just then a ripe fruit fell plump on Jean’s cheek and remained there. For half an hour he took no notice of it Then, lazily turning liis eyes toward the judges, he said: “This fig makes me tired. Have the goodness to put it in my mouth.” He won the prize.

Jarring the Editor c Dear Sir —1 am inclosing 25 cents. Please send jne a jar of traffic jam.—■ Boys’ Life. ...... •