An Open Air Page For Big Girls and Boys

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 6

An Open Air Page For Big Girls and Boys

THE WIDE BLUE SKY AND THE KINGDOM OF THE UNDERGROUND PEOPLE A STORY, Children? What shall I tell you then? The tale the leaves told me as I passed through the forest this morning looking for dry twigs for the fire? It is the story of the Wide Blue Sky and the Kingdom of the Underground People, and concerns a little brown bird and a furry grey rabbit. Now, the furry grey rabbit often looked into the Wide Blue Sky and dreamed himself a winged creature spurning the earth and flying with the wind. Every bird that mounted into that trackless territory filled him with hopeless longing and envy. He grew discontented with his drooping ears and his foolish tuft of tail. The little brown bird, swaying on a twig in the sunshine, looked down at the grey rabbit and wondered why some creatures have fur instead of feathers. Rabbits had carefree dispositions, he decided, and everything on earth to make them contented — luscious green vegetation in all weathers and warm burrows when the days were chill. Presently he flew down and made the acquaintance of the furry grey habbit. Now, creatures of the wild have contrary natures when faced with a crisis. Instead of sighing for the Wide Blue Sky the furry grey rabbit began a long account of the advantages of belonging to the Kingdom of the Underground People. And no sooner had Ire finished than the little brown bird began lauding the freedom of the Wide Blue Sky. Unknown to either the Spirit of the Forest had drawn near to listen. . . . There was a sudden blinding flash and the rabbit was a winged creature, while the little brown bird was gazing in astonishment at his absurd tuft of tail. In the twinkling of an eye they had changed places. Now each had an opportunity of testing the advantages of the other, but, strangely enough, neither found true content. A tree-top nest is a poor habitation when one has lived in the Kingdom of tißiUnderground People, and a burrow shuts out the song of the leaves and the voice of the sky. . . . A bird, swaying on a twig, looked down on a rabbit gazing into the spaces of the Wide Blue Sky. Then he flew down. What they said to each other I do not know, but the leaves declare that they made a true statement of fact. Certain it is that the Spirit of the Forest again overheard, for there was a sound of mountains falling and a little brown bird soared blissfully into the Wide Blue Sky just as a furry grey rabbit disappeared down the doorway of a loved and remembered home. The leaves assured me that there is a hidden meaning in this story. Perhaps you have already found it? REDFEATHER.