TUMBLE-UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 590, 16 February 1929, Page 29

TUMBLE-UP

WHO TUMBLED INTO A SMALL GIRL’S POCKET

Tumble-up was a wee elf who was a born acrobat. Instead of tumbling down off anything he had learned how to tumble up. It was rather an odd habit, but it made him famous in a way, and saved him many bruises. One day he tumbled up from the stone where he had been sitting right into a little girl's pocket. The little girl’s name was Meg, and she was going to school. In the pocket were many strange things, a long: red stick with a point and some hard black material at the end of it, and a little blunt rod that looked like slate and felt cold when he touched it. There was also a note that Tumble-up could read quite plainly. It said, “Please excuse Meg if she is late. She had to go a message.”

But w’hat appealed to Tumble-up most of all was a white paper bag full of mysterious bulges. He explored it gingerly and found that one end was open. The bulges were big white icebergs, with pieces of nut showing through, for Meg, as a reward for running the message, had been given sixpence to spend and had bought some Bulgarian rock. In a moment Tumble-up had tumbled into the bag. The white icebergs were a little sticky owing to the warmth of Meg’s pocket, and he found them sweet to the taste, but the nuts were securely embedded. He tried very hard to dislodge one, lost his foothold and slipped back into a deep crevasse. Just then Meg’s pocket suffered a violent earthquake. A pink finger and thumb came prying into the bag and bodily removed the very iceberg that Tumble-up had been exploring. Then everything was silent, but a few minutes later the pocket again became in a state of terrible commotion. Tumble-up shrank further back into his hiding place; his little heart cold with fear, but soon, by listening for the sound of Meg’s crunching, he knew just when her finger and thumb would come delving into the bag. Meg was nearly at school. You know the rules about not eating in school, don’t you? Well, she was just going through the big iron gates when she thought of the last sweetmeat in her pocket. She drew it out and crumpled up the bag. “Oh, oh,” she squealed. “There’s a beetle on this piece!” And she threw it hastily from her. Tumble-up sprang into space and came to earth fifteen feet away, perfectly satisfied with his adventurous morning. W.S.T.

swim, I think. It is such splendid exercise. You managed to solve that enigma. My best love to this good scribe. David Smith, Moawhango: David is one of my favourite names. It must be that soft V, I think. If I had twenty ™t tle -, boys 1 would call them all David. I he Woodpecker sends you some lucky taps and hopes there will be plenty of messages for you in the Hollow Tree. Leo. Ronayne, St. Heliers: I passed that camp the other evening, Leo. I wonder which little grey house is the home of my new Sunbeam? I shall always be glad to hear from Master Leo. Trelawney Richards, Papatoetoe: What a long letter, Trelawney! And it was full of interest, too. It is very sweet of you to want to send me some flowers, and I think I could revive them after their journey. Yes, I shall write something in your autograph book if you can trust it to the post. You are lucky having a sleeping porch and being able to have meals on the verandah. Rice pudding always tastes like Spanish cream out of doors and bread and butter like birthday cake. Perhaps you would like to write to Eileen Gracie, Waima Road, Glen Eden, or Norma Waller, Wood’s Road, Penrose. Their letters are always interesting. My best love to Trelawney. Molly Clark, Waihi: Yes. Happy Town stretches from North Cape to the Bluff and we have even rainbow bridges that span the sea to London and America,. This goes to prove that nothing is more far-reaching than the printed word. Perhaps you _would like to correspond with Nancy Waller, Wood’s Road, Penrose, or Gwen Hill, Box 105, Rotorua. I like your story very much, Molly. Jean Mclndoe, Hamilton: Your poem is splendid, Jean, and I consider it quite the best you have written. It will be widely read in the Happy Town Page, and I shall not be surprised if the Sunbeams add it to their treasure boxes. Thank you also for the photographs of you and brother Pat. You look a wee mite beside that young giant with the tennis racket. He could almost pick you up with one hand. If those two beautiful white pigeons were mine I would call them Faith and Charity. Mollj' Clark and Nola Craig will be glad to have your love thoughts and the Dawn Lady sends a big armful of Happy Town sunshine to Jean. Gay du Faur, Howick: Yes, the country has greater charms than any town, Gay. Don’t you like looking at the sky through the green leaves of a tree instead of through a haze of smoke? When I am in town I often wish I could carry a little tree fern for a sunshade. Would it look odd, do you think? All the Happy Town people thank you for your greetings and send their best love. Sylvia Tapp, Te Aroha: Sylvia has come safely down Tiptoe Street and the Woodpecker sends some good wishes to our new Sunbeam. I wonder if you are fond of competitions, Sylvia? Some Happy Town love for this little girl. Jean Farquhar, Mount Eden: Jean never forgets the way down Tiptoe Street, even though she is busy with lessons. Yes, that puzzle competition was very popular. I wonder if the Sunbeams will like the jig-saw to-day. That was a happy birthday party. The Little Thought sends his greetings to Vera and his regards to the new grey kitten who has made his home with you. Lily Grasori. Morrinsville: No, we do not have badges in Happy Town, Lily, just membership cards. I am glad your j card reached you safely. You are going to be one of my good scribes. Your letter is very neat. Dulcie Craig, Wellington: And you think I was very brave to visit that haunted house? The Little Thought came with me, so there was reallv nothing to fear. No, I do not think you will be spoilt in Wellington, because vou know the true value of kindness. Perhaps some day your little invalid cousin will find her way down Tiptoe Street. What is the matter with her, Dulcie? I have left your love messages for Jean Mclndoe, Nola Craig, Mary Potts and Nancy Waller with the faithful old Woodpecker. Ailsa Stuart, Cambridge: The Happy Town people have not forgotten Ailsa and the Pixie Postmen know your writing very well now. Are you still keeping up your painting? Chris Knight, St. Heliers Bay: I was glad to hear again from Master Chris. Are you going to try your hand at the jig-saw puzzle this week? Mary Grattan. Mount Eden: It seemed a long time since I heard from this little girl, so you can imagine how glad I was when a Pixie Postman delivered that letter. Has the school bell rung again for you, Mary? Irene Retter, Auckland: Just in time for the Little Thought’s yellow and green wheelbarrow with the squeaky wheel, Irene. I shall look forward to reading your story about the pink and white baby that was found under the Happi-

ness Tree. He is siill capering about in Happy Town. The Woodpecker i.s looking after your love messages for all your Sunbeam sisters. Valmai Over. Mangers: Your membership card will look very prettv framed, Yalmai, and I am sure you will always treasure it. I am glad that little brother likes the pictures in Happy Town. Soon I think he will be coming down Tiptoe Street, too. You will find plenty of paintings to keep you occupied, little lady.