A LITTLE WORLD FOR LITTLE PEOPLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 98, 16 July 1927, Page 21

A LITTLE WORLD FOR LITTLE PEOPLE

THE WISHING WELL friendship is a steady light shining in dark places TWELVE ounces of joy to one large cupful of pure delight. . . Add three pinches of powdered laughter. ..” The man who keeps the Joy Shop was standing over his scales making potted sunshine to store on his shelves, when the Little Thought came running in all in a fluster. “Come cpiickly!” he cried. “The Doorkeeper has thrown his hat up and it has gone down the Wishing Well!’’ “Oh dear, oh dear,” murmured the man who keeps the Joy Shop, “and it might rain at any moment. I particularly wanted to get this potted sunshine made to-day.” “But the Doorkeeper’s hat is in the Wishing Well.” “And who could possibly wish for a hat like that? What is the matter with him ?” “ Oh, he found so many pictures of himself in the Competition mail that he suddenly became very excited . . . After it happened he sent me running to find you.” “ Come along then and we shall see what we can do.” “Most vexing! ’ said the Doorkeeper, peering down into the Wishing Well and shaking his keys impatiently. “I have always had that hat and I never did fancy myself in any other. .Little Thought, I have an idea. You could go down for it. You’re the only one who possibly could, because were both far too big to fit in the bucket.” “It looks rather dark down there,” said the Little Thought very solemnly. “Wait a moment then until I bring my weather lantern . . . There you are now. The man who keeps the Joy Shop and I will turn the windlass .. . Ready ? One, two, three .. .” Down, down, down, went the Little Thought until presently the bucket came to a stop. “What a wonderful place,” he murmured.” It’s full of unclaimed wishes. I think I shall have this one. Its a little baby one that other people mightn’t notice and it fits quite snugly into my pocket. While I have it no power on earth will ever harm my shining wings. And here’s the Doorkeeper’s hat on a peg. How convenient. Ahoy there! Haul on the rope, my two good mariners . . .” Up, up, up, into the sunshine went the Little Thought and the Dawn Lady who had heard all about it lifted him out of the bucket and perched him on her shoulder. The Doorkeeper stretched an eager hand for his hat and the man who keeps the Joy Shop went back to finish making his potted sunshine. Then the Little Thought whispered something in the Dawn Lady’s ear. “I wished that the very first day we found Happy Town,” she said, “and carried it very, very carefullv to the Wishing Well.”

The Dawn Lady