A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 762, 7 September 1929, Page 31

A Little World for Little People

FRIENDSHIP IS A STEADY LIGHT SHINING IN DARK PLACES TWO APPLES “J VE played a great prank on the Little Thought,” chuckled 1 the Doorkeeper, strolling in at the Joyshop and admiring his reflection in the counter that the Joyshop man had just polished. ‘Tie came into the PI a ce-01-Y ou-Ne ver-Can-Tell at three minutes to sir by my best gunmetal watch and chain and began making up dozens of entirely new riddles. All the dignified old riddles that have been asked and answered since the beginning of time were hopelessly offended, so T took the Little Thought over to the \\ ishing Well and gave him an arithmetic lesson that will keep him occupied all the morning. He is sitting there staring at two apples on a plate and trying to discover a way to make them into three.’ 1 ’ ‘‘You have certainly set him a task,” laughed the Joyshop man, “but he wouldn’t be the Little Thought if he didn’t find some solution. Let us stroll across and take a peep at him. No doubt he is still deep in his studies. “Xo,” said the Doorkeeper with a crestfallen air, a moment later, “he has completely vanished, but he has done his best to solve the problem. Dear me, the answer is in rhyme. Listen to this: ‘Arithmetic that children do takes one and one and makes them two, but there’s no way that I can see to change two apples into three. I add, divide and then subtract, and treat them with the greatest tact ... I may be wrong, but this is plain, two apples on the plate remain.’ ” “And there he is ringing the Competition Bell,” mused the Joyshop man. “But how coidd the Little Thought devote a whole morning to working out an impossible sum? Did you see those violets and primroses and freesias that have arrived for the Dawn' Lady’s vases? Do come and look at them,” “Well, I’m sorry about the Little Thought,” sighed the Doorkeeper. “He has certainly had the laugh on me. .. . Yes, these flowers are beautiful. I wonder which Sunbeams sent them? Perhaps Doctor Spring Sunshine would know. . . . Why, here is the smallest Pixie Postman with a note from the Little Thought. It’s about that problem I set him. Just listen: ‘The Doorkeeper is old and wise. To puzzle me lie often tries, and yet he should not set at * naught the wisdom of the / U\\ f n L, Little Thought. A Sunbeam J., K j (Xaa>w has presented me with one ~ more apple ... That makes 1 -—■ — three!’ ”