SCARLET BERRIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 25

SCARLET BERRIES

SECOND-PRIZE STORY The little earth children were contented. They had no red berri* ~ for Christmas, and they were *a when they thought of the Christmspudding without a spray of red holl> berries. Then one day a stroke of good luc % happened. A sun fairy had fallen from her beautiful home into a mortals garden. When she tried to t!\ back she found she could not. because her wings were not big or stronenough for her to do so. How s ><i she was when she thought of her hom< and sisters, and that she would neu see them again. The little fairy sat down under :i rose bush, and cried bitterly. It was there that the fairy queen found hei *‘Oh, you poor little thing.** she said her sweet voice full of pity and tenderness. “Would you like some littl task to do?” ‘Dli, yes. please: I will try to do it well, even if it is hard,” the little fair> cried. “Well,” said the queen, “the fairy in that Christmas tree there is lazy, ami we cannot make her work. Do you think you can look after the tree, and try and have berries on it on Christ mas Day?” “Oh, yes. I think so.” cried the little fairy, happily. She worked very, very hard all th time, and, when Christmas Day dawned bright, sunny, and clear, her tree wa covered with beautiful scarlet berries “Well done!” said the fairy queen kindly. So, you see, even though the fair' was so small and weak, she gave th earth children their red berries, and they were happy on Christmas Day. * —Gay du Faur (aged 10). GOSSIPS I have two wild pets. They are i young blackbird and a thrush I watch them from my window-. After they have had a hop about the they meet under an old rose bush, and gossip to each other about the doingof the neighbourhood. Sometimes tne argue and chirp at each other angrily That soon passes, however, and thee gossip freely again. Sometmes an inquisitive cock sparrow puts his head on one side and listens as though h is very wise. Our friends stop their chat until he is gone, and then on they go again. I watch them every night now'. Gay du Faur (aged 10). THE BUTTERFLY’S ADVICE

“Oh. dear,” sighed Claire. “Whatever shall Ido with myself? There is nobody to play with, and mother and cook axe too busy making Christmas puddings and pies even to talk to me.” Saying this, Claire wandered out into the beautiful garden, and flopped down on the grass. Idly, she pick.* A one of the scented pinks growing neat , and when a gorgeous butterfly settled on a swaying lilv-bud, she flicked at it thoughtlessly with the bloom in her hand. “Don’t do that.” the butterfly said crosslv, making Claire jump, for she had never heard a butterfly talk before. “Don’t do it, I say, you thoughtless little girl! Do you not know that if you brush the fairy dust off my wings, I will not be able to return to my home?” Claire was so surprised that she began to apologise, but the butterfly cut her short. “Why do you not try to do something useful?” he said. “Your rabbits are not fed, your canary is uncared for. Over the road from your house lives a poor woman who takes in washing to eke out a living, and to-night her six little children will be hanging up their stockings. I fear they will be disappointed in the morning, unless." he added meaningly, “fomeone too many toys takes pity on them." He flew off, and Chill think of her cupboard full of playthings. After asking permission from her mother, she put aside all the onf"-' she did not want for the children of the washerwoman. Then she fed the canary and cleaned the rabbit hutch. And because she had been happy and busv, the hours simply flew away. —LESLIE O’CALLAGHAN (aged 11).

’Tis Christmas Eve! ’Tis Christmas Eve! I hear the sleigh bells, I believe; I hear the tramping of the deer! The sleighs are here! The sleighs are here! Let the bright red berries glow Everywhere in goodly show : Christian men, rejoice and sir.g—■ 'Tis the birthday of a King.