A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 31

A Little World for Little People

friendship is a steady light shining in dark places

CHAUCERS

■‘I'VE written a limerick about the little old man who drove a I large furniture van,” announced the Joyshop man, importantly. “Of course, you know, lam not really given to boasting, but it concludes like this: "He said to his horses, ‘I don't know what Morse is, Or if it is known in Japan.’ ” “Well, I have tried several,” murmured the Doorkeeper, “but the one I like best ends thus: — "He said to his horses, ‘We are really not Chaucers, For the lines we compose seldom scan.’ ” “I am afraid 1 must query that rhyme for ‘horses,’ ” said the Dawn Lady, “although they are both very good efforts. Over at the Hollow Tree this morning I heard the Woodpecker talking to himself, and it sounded like this: “He said to his horses, at all water courses. •Shall I take home some worms in a can!”’ “I couldn’t think of any proper conclusion,” said the Little Thought, plaintively, “so I called on the smallest Pixie Postman and challenged him to a game of dominoes. He had never played before and neither had I, so we both won. The Woodpecker gave us a feather each for a prize. It was really very good of him because, you know, he gives so many away. This week a Sunbeam drew a fine picture of Doctor Spring Sunshine attending to a row of daffodils, and, when I paid my next visit to the outside world, I said to myself, ‘O Wind, if Winter comes, can Doctor Spring Sunshine be very far away?’ Did Mr. Chaucer write that?” “No, Little Thought, and I am afraid Mr. Shelley didn’t either.” the Dawn Lady answered, gently. “How glad our little people will be to see their old friend again. The flowers seem to spring up under his very feet. . . . And, by the way, did you see those wonderful water-lilies? An astonishing thing about that competition was that some of the neatest entries came from boys. Somehow it is hard to imagine boys doing needlework, especially in the football season.” “I hope you didn’t tell them about my length of thread that you all mistook for a lasso,” remarked the Doorkeeper, blushing deeply.

“There is just a chance that the secret may have escaped in a ‘square story,’ ” suggested the Little Thought, with a mischievous smile.