TWINKLETOE AND FEATHERFOOT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 394, 30 June 1928, Page 27

TWINKLETOE AND FEATHERFOOT

Twinkletoe and Featherfoot lived in the lap of the sky. In the beginning they were sky flowers, but, soon after they were gathered, a change came over them. Twinkletoe turned into a sky baby with laughing eyes and dancing feet, and Featherfoot became a dainty creature with little silver wings attached to her heels. “I have plucked you for a purpose,” said Mother Sky, “for all the flowers in my garden must be used as hours. Far away in that busy place called the world hours are always needed for time passes very quickly there. Ah, the clock is striking! It is time to speed another hour on its way.” “Not us! Not us!” cried Twinkletoe and Featherfoot. “We are too happy here.” “It is not yet your turn,” said Mother Sky. “See, this little hour is not afraid to go!” And she lifted a dark-eyecl star-crowned baby from her lap. “Away you go, little night child,” she whispered. “What will happen to us when we have left your lap?” asked Twinkletoe and Featherfoot. “You will belong to the world,” said Mother Sky, “and if you make people happy you will never be forgotten.” “I should like to go at dawn,” said Twinkletoe, bravely. “And I should like to follow,” added Featherfoot, “for then we shall not be parted.” “You could only be together for a fraction of time on the earth, my children,” said gentle Mother Sky, “for when Twinkletoe’s work is over Featherfoot’s will be just beginning. Ah, there is a glimmer of light in the east! Twinkletoe, are you ready?” Over the lap of the sky went Twinkletoe, down, down through the mild air, her heart fluttering with excitement. Just as her feet touched solid ground, a clock struck and a cock crew. “This is a beautiful place,” said Twinkletoe. “And now I shall awaken the world.” Hither and thither she flew, lightly touching the eyelids of sleeping children and rousing the flowers that were nodding on their stems. Brighter and brighter grew the eastern heavens and the trees and hills stood out clearly against the sky. Suddenly Twinkletoe felt very faint and thirsty, and she bent to drink at a poppy that offered its glistening cup of dew. The earth was melting away under her feet and she found that she was slowly rising. Then, all at once, Featherfoot touched her heel. “YVait for me,” said the familiar voice of her playmate. So Twinkletoe rested on a little white cloud that was drifting above the hills, and watched Featherfoot rouse the farmyards and all the towns. Smoke was ascending from the chimneys, and the world had begun another working day before Featherfoot was ready to join her friend. Then, all at once, Twinkletoe found her at her side on the little white cloud. “Soon the cloud will vanish,” they said, “and there is no longer room for us in the lap of Mother Sky. That is needed for the little new hours. Let us seek our father, the sun.” This they did, and he took Twinkle* toe and Featherfoot into his golden castle and changed them into sunbeams. If you look up some fine day, perhaps you will see them. —W.S.T.