A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 666, 18 May 1929, Page 29

A Little World for Little People

FRIENDSHIP IS A STEADY LIGHT SHINING IN DARK. PLACES

A LATE ENTRY

‘•IRE .you very busy just i'or a moment, Dawn Lady?” asked A the Little Thought, urgently. “I am sorry to say that something rather tragic is happening in Tiptoe Street. The smallest Pixie Postman is sitting on his doorstep crying bitterly and making little rivulets of tears between all the cobblestones. A Sunbeam has jnst offered him a fruit drop, but he won’t take any notice.” ‘‘But what is the matter?” asked the Dawn Lady, “Has someone been teasing him ?” “Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s the limerick competition. He’s been very busy all the week delivering entries, and it was not until a few minutes ago that he found time to write out his own. No sooner had he finished it than a mischievous puff of wind blew it away, and he can’t find it anywhere. He says that this is the closing date and that he hasn’t time to write it out again.” “Poor little fellow. . . . What a disappointment. . . . Please tell him to dry his eyes and come at once to me. We can’t have crying in Tiptoe Street. That will never do.” “Here he is,” said the Little Thought, a few moments later, “smiling through his tears and trying to look happy.” “Now, then,” said the Dawn Lady, “if you will repeat your conclusion to the limerick I shall write it down. Can you remember it?” “Yes,” answered the smallest Pixie Postman, proudly. “This is it: — “He said to his horses, Bob down where the gorsc is; We're spotted by Florrie and Fan” “But,” said the Dawn Lady, “ ‘spotted’ is slang. Where did you pick that up?” “I have often heard of spotted things,” declared the smallest Pixie Postman, stoutly. “Orchids are spotted, so are leopards, and so are print dresses.” “I shall enter it in the competition,” answered the Dawn Lady, faintly. “Thank you,” murmured the smallest Pixie Postman. “And now, after all, I believe I could manage that fruit drop.” “What a curious picture,” said the Doorkeeper. “Those little fat raindrop fairies will be interesting to paint. Some of them are trying to get back to their home in the rainbow. I think they must be afraid of the Sunbeams’ paint brushes. . . By the way, little Mister Pixie Postman, I have written a much better limerick than yours.” “And did you enter it?” . I “No, Round-eyes, I didn’t. j (TN f . . . Come here, I want to ■ L* whisper. . . . Just at the last —- moment a puff of wind blew l it away!”

SUNBEAMS The Sunbeams live in Happy Town (New Zealand ones, I mean); They love to see the clear blue sky; And feel a bit of green; They look out for new members, And beckon as they pass. And put up shining notices: “Come! Join our happy class!” The Sunbeams live in Tlappy Town Because they love to play; They tell the roar of Auckland streets To keep itself away, For there are all the furry folk, The birds, the little lambs, And tiny new-born Pixie folk Asleep inside their prams. —Adapted by Joan Forbes (aged 11). THE SEASONS I always think of the seasons in different ways: Spring is a flaxenliaircd maiden, sweet and fresh from a long sleep; Summer is gay and fond of fun, with hair of a rich gold; . Winter is a bluff, hale old man, laughing heartily, and with silver, flowing liair. . . . But Autumn —Autumn is a creature of passion, scattering her vivid colours and decking the trees in brilliant garb. To the flowers, too, she gives glowing tints, and her gardens ar© always a wonderful picture, —Eileen Gracie (aged 13). ON TIPTOE The other day, while walking home from school, I saw the most beautiful dragon-fly poised on a branch. Its long, quivering body and delicate, transparent wings shimmered and glittered like a rainbow in the sun. I stepped nearer, the better to examine itu but the lovely creature flitted off like a living jewel before I could gain more than a glimpse. —Becky Pelham (aged 15). PUZZLERS Word square; 1— An animal. 2 -A river. 3 Capable. 4 A rustic pipe BURIED TREES In this sentence the names of five trees are buried. What are they? Taking his helmet, and a shield, together with a map or plan, Edward set out, as pensive as though he were a poet; strange behaviour, I am sure you will own. Answers to last week’s puzzlers: Word square: Pine, Idea, Near, Ears. Hidden Sunbeam; Kathleen Ricketts.

HEARTSEASE Long, long ago there lived in Elfland an ugly little elf. He was quite the ugliest of fairies, but, as is so often the way, he had a very kind heart. lie would often find lost pennies for little children, or help baby birds on their first flight, and he just laved to soothe sick people to sleep in a wonderful way of his own. The King and Queen of Elfland called him Little Elf Kind Heart, but the other elves, who, alas! were too lazy and thoughtless to help other people, jeered at little Kind Heart for his goodness to the world and mocked at his ugliness. Perhaps they were jealous of his ability to help others-. One day Kind Heart came upon a. little girl who had broken her doll and was weeping bitterly. So he liew down to her, and in a few minutes his clever fingers had repaired the broken doll, and the little girl thought she had dreamt the whole incident. Kind Heart flew back to Elfland feeling very happy, but the other elves had seen his kind act, and the sight of the little girl’s happy face had made them more jealous than ever of Kind Heart, and they mocked and taunted him until at last he flew sorrowfully away—away out of Elfland to a littlo green island in the blue sea. Afterwards he found he liked this island so much that he lived there always, but at first he felt too unhappy to do anything more than lie on the soft grass and sob his heart out! But presently the sea came rippling up on to the sands with a sound like the softest music in the world: the wind came sighing through the grasses, murmuring a lullaby cf peace. And the trees bent closer over little Kind Heart, and they, too, were whispering a song of' content. Even the birds seemed to be singing that song, and, as he listened, all the sorrow went from the heart of the little elf and peace crept in. For a long time Kind Heart lay thinking; then an idea came to him. He flew up and took a little of that peace-giving song from the music of the birds; and he took, too, a little of it from the melodies of the sea and the wind and the trees, and he also took a little colour from the sun and the sky. Then he flew back to the island and very carefully mixed all these things together. As they blended, a beautiful little flower took shape—a velvety flower full of soft colours, and with a sweet little face. Kind Heart was delighted. “I shall call it ‘Heartsease/ ” he cried. “And I shall give it to the world, for there are many people to whom its loveliness can bring joy.” tie laughed happily, and as he did so, a fragrance arose from the petals of the flower, and the tiny face seemed to smile up at him. Perhaps you have some flowers of Heartsease in your garden? Mortals call them pansies. —Jean Mclndoe (aged 14).

ODD STOCKINGS Unique in her way Was small Annabel Hookings, Who always persisted In odd stockings; She is seen in one here With a shamrock design: While the other has stripes, Very gorgeous and fine.

She would strut down the playground And give herself airs, Immune to the gossip, And blind to the stares, While the class in amazed Little whispers would tell All the latest exploits Of the strange Annabel . . . But a girl called Fay Andrews Soon thought of a cure: “Let us copy the fashion, For I feel quite sure . If we all wear odd stockings, With such ridicule, She will alter her tactics When dressing for school.” Sure enough, in the morning, When Annabel came Like a queen down the playground, Her friends looked the same. And when into class All the little ones filed, The young teachers tittered, The elder ones smiled, And the headmaster after Ono horrified look. Began searching for sums In a history book! So now Annabel • Never gives herself airs, But chooses her stockings Correctly in pairs. —W.S.T.

PRINCESS GOSSAMER (Written for Sunbeams by Rena Shenkin, aged 16.) There lived, long-, long ago. a princess named Gossamer, renowned the world over for her astounding beauty. Many were the gallant knights and princes who came seeking her hand, but Gossamer was proud as well as beautiful. At last the King, her father, became alarmed at the manner in which she was acting and besought her to explain herself. “I am waiting.” said the princess, ‘‘for a knight who doesn't believe in fairies.” The King was horrified, for what good knight does not believe in fairies? But. determined to see this last beautiful daughter of six married, he turned his mind to the strange problem. Calling his wise men he set the matter before them. All night they sat in conference, when, suddenly, the wisest of the wise men said, “I have it, your Majesty.” “What? What?” asked the impatient King. ‘‘Well, it is this: You must have three men, the first to drop a spoon, the second to place a tooth under a mat, and the third to fall upstairs.” “But what has that to do with the question?” asked the King. “Patience, patience, your Majesty. Everyone knows that to pick up a dropped spoon means a pleasant surprise—the fairies’ work. Everyone knows that to lift a mat where a tooth has been put means money for the tinder —the fairies’ prank. Everyone knows that to whistle when a person falls upstairs dispells the bad luck that would otherwise fall on those witnessing it —the fairies’ work again. Now, a person who does the customary things must believe in fairies, and the man who doesn’t do them, doesn’t believe in fairies.” “I see,” said the King, perfectly satisfied. Then they announced the news, stating that to try and fail would mean imprisonment, but that to try and win would mean the hand of the beautiful Gossamer and half the kingdom. From all over the world they came, one after another failing, until the King’s dungeons were overflowing. Still no one came who did not believe in fairies. At last a young prince came to the door. He was poorly dressed and rough-looking from travel, but his letters told that he was a famous prince. The spoon was dropped, but there was no move from the prince; the tooth was hidden —still no move; and, after a man’s falling upstairs had no effect on him, he was proclaimed the winner. . Gossamer took an instant liking to the prince, and loud were the celebrations when they were married. A LITTLE OLD MAN Today I looked out of the window and saw a little old man sitting on a furniture van! His vap.. was loaded with tables, chairs, glassware and crockery, and as he rode he sang a whimsical song to his horses. From what I gathered, 1 think he was on his way to a house in the city with his load, and he wanted his horses to hurry. Then I heard some magic music, and I knew! It was a competition! —Joy Hill (aged 14).