THE FOUR LITTLE GNOMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 520, 24 November 1928, Page 29

THE FOUR LITTLE GNOMES

Bimbo, Bombo, Binderly and Bandigo loved “hide-and-seek.” Only it was not till dusk that their games were played, or by the light of the moon, which, of course, made hiding much more thrilling, and seeking much more difficult. Gnomes, like the fairies, however, are not afraid of the dark, so Bimbo, Bombq, Binderly and Bandigo used to play their games far into the riignt, and, indeed, it was not, as a rule, until the sun popped his rosy face above the horizon that these little people reluctantly tumbled into bed. One night Bandigo, who had exhausted all the best hiding-places in the wood, crept for a change through a hole in the big fence* Now the big fence enclosed the big garden of a big house, and there was someone else there besides the little gnome! After a time Bimbo, Bombo and Binderly, who were all three seekers, squeezed through the hole, too. Bandigo was crouching behind a heap of stones, trembling with fright. Behind a nearby tree someone else was hiding. “Don’t be afraid, little people,” said a gentle voice. “Not for a moment would I harm you.” “Where have you come from?” asked the four astonished gnomes, all at once. “I live in the big house,” said the little girl, “and I came out to for fairies. I should love to play seek with you.” “Very well,” said Bandigo, bravely, “you can be ‘he.’ Close your eyes and count ten.” The little girl closed her eyes and counted ten, but, when she opened them, not a sound disturbed the mild night air, and though she searched in every possible place there was not a sign of Bimbo, Bombo. Binderly or f Bandigo anywhere in the garden. PUZZLERS Riddle-me-ree: My first is in mud, but not in clay; My second is in Arthur, and also in May; My third is in rose, and also in red: My fourth is in Molly, but not in Ted My whole is the name of a girl. —Gloria Rawlinson. * H s * Word square:— 1 — The music of bells. 2 A girl’s name. 3 Mountains. 4 Used by a shoemaker. * * * Answers to last week’s puzzlers: Riddle-me-ree: Sunshine. N Beheaded word: Snail-nail,ail. FLOWER RIDDLES What flower reminds you of a lot of sheep?—Bhlox (flocks). Why did the daffodils dance?—To keep warm, as they saw the snowdrop. Which flower is like a well dressed aninial?—The dandelion (dandy lion). What flower gives good advice to a poor girl?—Marigold (marry gold).