THE SAND CHILD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 35

THE SAND CHILD

Jean and John were American twins, and they were staying at a little seaside village in Scotland. Ever since tlieir arrival they had heard curious stories about the Sand Child. It was old Ben, the fisherman, who first told them the story. “Ah,” said he, “a little lass once lived here —a sweet bairn she was, always kind an’ gentle, an’ she belonged to an old man who had no other child ” “Well,” asked Jean, after a moment’s silence, “what happened?” “The lass was as dark as a gipsy, an’ fond of birds an’ flowers an’ animals. In the street she’d walk along wi’ five dogs at her heels, an’ all o’ them guarding her and keeping her safe. The little lass loved being on her lonesome, an’ she’d go for long walks on the sandhills, stai'ting at six hours after midnight, an’ not returning till five hours after noon. Well, we day she started her roaming just uui, an’ the old man waited for her all day, an,’ when five o'clock came round he walked to meet her, but she didn’t come, an’ he waited an’ waited, an’ still she didn’t come, till at last he had to go home. Well, the lassie’s never been heard o’ since, though some folks say that, whenever there’s a clear day her spirit comes and haunts the sandhills; an* because o’ that folks never go near them.” “Oh,” said Jean. “Didn’t she ever come back, Ben ?” “No, but there’s folks as have said they’ve seen her.” Two or three days later Jean and John decided to go cind spend the day on the sandhills. It was a lovely morning and as clear as any one coflld wish, and Jean and John ran over the hills delightedly laughing and talking. At lunch they sat down in a little corner sheltered from the wind, and the sun shone down on them brightly. “Jean,” said John suddenly, “do you believe in that story Ben told us?” “Yes,” replied Jean, “most of it, but not the part about her spirit haunting these hills.” As Jean and John made their way home that afternoon they suddenly heard a voice calling them. They turned, and were just in time to see the figure of a child standing on top of a hill. She waved both hands and then disappeared. “Jean,” exclaimed John, “what was that ?”

“I know,” said Jean, calmly, “The Sand Child.” —Lorna Finlayson, aged 10.