A Little World for Little People

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

A Little World for Little People

friendship is a steady light shining in dark places

A RUNAWAY PIG, A SKIPPING ROPE AND SOME FAIRIES

I HAVE something to report,” said the Doorkeeper, ‘‘so please listen, everyone. Just after the Printer Man had called to interview tin' Woodpecker last week there was a great commotion in Tiptoe Street. A Sunbeam was bringing a big chocolate Easter Egg, all dressed in rose and silver, to present to the Dawn Lady, when a runaway pig with a startled chicken astride him came charging down Tiptoe Street. Tie knocked over the smallest Pixie Postman, ran between the legs of the middle-sized one, slithered over the magic threshold and upset lii.s rider. The Little Thought caught him over by the Hollow Tree and he turned back into a picture again. He said he was no relation to Timothy Pig, but that he had come to this country on an Easter Egg a little boy bought.” “I missed all that,” sighed the Joysliop man. “I was just planning some pranks to play on April Fool’s Day, such as telling the Place-of-You-Never-Can-Tell that we know all its secrets, and dropping a hint instead of a pebble down the Wishing Well. lam not very good at playing tricks. I must have a serious mind.” “But you must not be too serious,” cautioned the Dawn Lady,” or you will grow old before your time. What would ive do if your hair turned white and you had to hobble round with a stick? Here, take this skipping rope and skip the whole length of Tiptoe Street without stopping.” “Oh, skipping?” laughed the Joyshop man. “You should just watch me skip ‘pepper.’ Even the Little Thought cannot keep up with me. White hair and a stick indeed! The Sunbeams may be as young as they look, but a Joyshop man is exactly as old as he feels.” “That’s a misquotation,” murmured the Little Thought. “I must take a note of it.” “I wonder if any of you tried that drawing lesson last week?” asked the Doorkeeper. “I drew the big round ring, the sugar bowl and then the Chinaman, but I had a worrying morning because the Chinaman declared he was hungry and I couldn’t find any rice in Happy Town. He said his name was Sing To Chang, so I sang him all the latest songs and at last he fell asleep in the Place-of-You-Never-Can-Tell. When I went back he had disappeared.” * “And small wonder,” observed the joyshop man, skipping briskly. “Without a doubt he lias returned to China.” “If you please, Dawn Lady,” said the Little Thought, hastily joining the group, “the Woodpecker says that a little girl has been abducted by two fairies. He thinks that she does not really mind, but says I would be wise to ask you about it. Please could you give me full particulars?” “Why, yes, Little Thought,” answered the Dawn Lady. “Just come with me and look .—. J) at this combined story and . TQ | _iocxUq painting picture. I consider it one of the prettiest we have ’ ever had in Happy Town.” V -