BESIDE THE LAKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 June 1927, Page 26

BESIDE THE LAKE

As I lay in my cosy bed I dreamily gazed through the open window at the thousands of bright twinkling stars. On the morrow, my sister Bettie and 1, accompanied by our father and mother, were going camping by the side of a huge lake in the forest known by us as Wymering Lake. 1 found it almost impossible to close my eyes for I could hardly wait till daybreak. Next morning we were all up early as we had a long journey before us. Father had packed all our necessities in the car the night before and we set off in high glee. It was a beautiful drive, the flowers were blooming along the roadside perfuming the air with their fragrance, the birds were singing their sweetest songs, and all nature seemed to be welcoming summer with open arms. We arrived at our camping site late in the afternoon, tents were erected, and everything was made comfortable for the night. After we had our evening meal we set off to the lake which was a short distance from where we had pitched our camp. Dusk quickly settled and the stars soon appeared like thousands of fairy lamps hanging from the sky. Presently Queen Moon in all her splendour set her course among them and cast her warm silver glow over the lake makingit appear like a silver pathway. On the other side of the lake grew a tangled screen of yellow and green raupo shoots, beginning at the very edge of the water, and turning inward in the shape of a half moon. The solitude of the bush, broken only by the occasional hoot of an owl and the peaceful heavens above will always linger in my memory like a beautiful dream. —Nola Craig, Auckland (aged 11).