Lost in the Wood

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 29

Lost in the Wood

A Story of a Wandering Elf

"I don’t believe,” said Kit. the Sweet- f briar Elf, wearily, “that I shall ever find my way out of this wood. I seem to have been wandering about for hours.” He had been to the Earwig’s house to tea and coming back it oc- : curred to him it. would really be much j quicker to go through the wood than round by the Silent Stream. But the ! wood was so very thick and the paths j were so very twisty and didn’t seem to 1 lead anywhere. Kit, hot and tired, i leant against a buttercup for it minute I to rest, and then trudged manfully on. "I must get home before dark,” he said, “and there’s no sort of sense in just standing still. That won’t take me anywhere.” Just then he turned a corner of the path, and came upon a funny little three-cornered house standing‘in the midst of some tall foxgloves. The front door was shut tight, but some smoke was coming out of one of the curly chimneys. “They’re exactly like corkscrews,” remarked Kit, gazing up at the roof, “but someone must live here, I should think, or there wouldn’t be any fire.” and he knocked at the door. “There was no answer, so he knocked again harder Still there was no answer, and Kit was just going away in despair, when a window upstairs opened violently, and a worm poked his head out. “What do you want?” he demanded, peering down at Kit. “To get out of this wood,” replied Kit. Can you tell me the way? I’ve been wandering about for ever such a long time, and I’m so tired of the place.” “It’s a perfectly good wood,” retorted the Worm indignantly, “and I’m sure you couldn’t find a nicer house than this.’ “But it's not my house,” argued Kit. You may be very fond of it, but I’d rather have my own little cottage, and I do so wish I could get back to it.” “You shouldn’t have left it, then,” said the Worm sulkily, “and anyhow, it’s no good asking me the way out of the wood because I don’t know it. I’m perfectly content to stay here all my life, and I’ve never bothered to try and go anywhere else.” And he shut the window'. Kit wandered on until he came to a tiny stream. By the stream an aged caterpillar was busily planting cabbages. The caterpillar took not the slightest notice of him till at last Kit said

rather timidly. “Please could you show uio the way out of the wood.” The caterpillar turned round and gazed at him for a minute. Then he said slowly, “Why do you want to gi\ out of it?” “I want to go home.” explained Kit “I’m sure it must L>o getting late. I’v. been such a long time in this horrid Place.” “It’s a \ cry good wood.” exclaimed the caterpillar angrily, exactly as the worm had done. lvii swallowed a lump in his throat “It might bo a perfectly lovely wood.” he said desperately, “but 1 don’t live in it and I want to go home.” “If you're so fond of your home.” remarked the caterpillar. “yoti shouldn’t have left it.” and he began digging again. “I wonder if all the creatures in this wood think alike,” said Kit to himself “They’re not a bit helpful.” ►Suddenly the caterpillar turned round and. leaning on his spade, surveyed Kit curiously. “I suppose you think this is an ordinary sort of wood?” he asked. Kit nodded miserably. “Then why don’t you try and get out of it in an ordinary way?” “I don’t know what you mean.” said Kit. The caterpillar laughed contemptuously. “Why,” he said, “the ordinary way to get out of an ordinary wood is to follow your nose.” Kit got up, walked a little way and then looked round. It seemed such silly advice. He half hoped the caterpillar would say something else, but by this time lie was invisible behind a clod of earth and showed no sign of even being aware of Kit’s existence. So with a little sigh Kit started off straight ahead of him down a pathway lined on either side with waving meadowsweet. “I believe the caterpillar was only making fun of me,” he began, when he had walked for a few minutes without anything happening. Just as he spoke the lane and the wood vanished altogether, and he found himself standing outside his cottage. Kit rubbed his eyes in bewilderment and looked round. “How queer,” he said. “Well, that's the funniest way of getting out of a wood that I’ve ever heard of. Never mind,” he added, as he made haste to open his door, “I’ll never try to take a short cut again, however much of a hurry I may bo in.”