A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 25

A Little World for Little People

friendship is a steady light shining in dark; places

FIVE DAYS OLD

“AH. joy,;* squealed the Little Thought. “The little New Year V has big blue e> es and golden curls, and he says his first name is January. He has numbers of other names, too, such as February, March and April and his surname is Nineteen-hundred-and-twenty-nine, all hyphenated. He says we can call him January for thirty-one days and then we must use his second name. Ido hope we don’t forget. To-day he found he could walk quite w ell and soon he will be able to play some games with me. I pick him a fresh rose every morning.” “He looks a jolly little person to me,” remarked the Dawn Lady, and I am sure he is planning plenty of happy times for the Sunbeams. AYe shall have to take good care of him until he is big enough to run about by himself, because a New Year that receives careful treatment at first is usually a lucky one.” “He says he has a surprise for you, Dawn Lady, hut its a secret until next week. All the rest of us know, hut we are not allowed to tell.” “This is all very puzzling,” answered the Dawn Lady. “I hope you are not going to play a trick on me.” “Oh, no. its nothing like that. Its quite a pleasant surprise, or we hope it will be, hut, if you ask questions, someone might tell and then we would all be in disgrace.” “I promise to possess myself in patience, then, Little Thought, but oh, it is tantalising to be standing on the threshold of a mystery.” Lirds are in it and green trees and—Oh, dear me, I’m almost telling.” “Hush! said the Doorkeeper. “Let us change the subject. . . . These are spade-and-bucket days for the Sunbeams. You can even hear the cheerful clank, clank in Tiptoe Street. I do wish they would ask me to some of the beaches. I can make splendid sand castles, with the windows and roof picked out in shells. T hen you know that seaweed that goes pop when you tread on it. I use that for creepers on the castle walls and for planting in the garden. It s good fun making a moat, too, and a channel running down to the-sea. Sometimes little crabs swim in by mistake, but the next wave washes them out again.” “I like watching children paddling,” said the Joyshop man. "They go into the water on tiptoe, saying. ‘Ugh, ugh,’ as if they don’t like it, but, when their mothers call, they never want to come out.” “When 1 was a little girl, a wave once tipped me over,” said the Dawn Lady. “It came sideways and quite spoilt my outing.” “And did you cry ?” asked , the Doorkeeper. . / f _ j , “Oh, that’s a secret,” Kj laughed the Dawn Lady. “Do *• you mind if I have one, too?” V

WHY JANUARY CRIED “Lin© up,” said Father Time. “August, September, Oct —why, there’s one missing! Who is it?” “It’s little January,” June volunteered, blushingly. “So it is,” said Father Time. “Where is January?” “She’s hiding behind me,” old December said grumpily, and pushed the little thing forward. “Crying! ” exclaimed the months. “Whatever’s the matter, January?” “It’s Little Wind,” wailed January. “He’s been frightening me. He says the World’s a dreadful place. Please, can’t February go first?” Father Time shook his head. “February is getting her sunshine ready,” he said, “and Little Wind’s only teasing you. The World is awaiting to welcome you, little one. See, I’ve got a lovely ornament for your hair.” And he fastened upon her head a diamond band upon which sparkled “1929.” "It is pretty.” smiled January. “I’d better be off now.” She began fastening her white coat. “.Not till 12 o’clock,” muttered Old December. “I leave then.” Somewhere a clock began to strike. “Hurry, hurry!” said Father Time. “You’ll just do it. Little Wind, as a punishment for frightening January, you shall go with her.” "Hurrah” shouted Little Wind. Just what I wanted. Come along, littlo Jan, the World loves to see us together.” Off they went, and just reached the World as the last stroke sounded. “A Happy New Year,” everybody was saying. “Why, it’s a perfect lovely place.” cried January happily.