APPLE TREE BABIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 780, 28 September 1929, Page 33

APPLE TREE BABIES

Summer was slowly slipping from tLe land and the trees and flowers in the garden were preparing for their long sleep. A dreamy wind murmured through tho trees blowing like tiny winged creatures, their leaves of tinted hue to the earth. One little apple tree which had been robbed of her golden gown, spoke thus to the wind:—“You have now taken all my babies from me 1 should not mind if they were happj where they lie, but they are not, for they will have to lie there Tir.til the rains come, and then they will fade and die.” It so happened that the wind had resolved when commencing her journey that day, that she would do at one good turn before she went to rest On hearing the apple tree’s sad speech she decided to do something that would make her babies happy. “Oh. tree.” she murmured, “you listen to what I have to tell you. 1 ahall ask Mother Xature to make your babies into cloud babies, and. as I go about my travels, they will drift along with me. When spring next comes, you shall have your babies back again.” Tho Ifttie apple tree has been happy ever since, for every autumn hsr loaves go up among the clouds, and drift as cloud babies over the land. Perhaps you may see them sometime if you gaze right into tli3 heart of the fleecy clouds. Connie Peters, aged 14 “CLOUD BOY’ The as ind howled and shrieked round the smallest white cloud in the sky. “Oh,” sighed tho little Cloud Boy within, “I’ve been driven out of my courso with this gale. Now my starf will have to stay out because I can t reach them.” The wind beard his complaint and •whispered, “This is fun! I’ll have u game and blow him about Then the people on earth will wonder what has happened up here.” Cloud Boy peeped out of tho window, clutching his hands in despair. “Obi Mr. Wind! Do stop! You have driven, mo away from my scars, and I cannot light them. Oh-h, what will Mr. Moon say to me?” “Could we help you?” Cloud Boy turned and saw four pretty cloud children similar to himself. lie smiled sadly. “Thank you.” ho replied. “But I*m sorry you can’t do anything. If you could I would be very grateful to you. As you see I am in dire distress.” “Yes. but surely wo can help you What makes you sad, brother?” asked one of the children. “I have not done my duty. I have been driven away from my stars by Mr. Wind. If I do not light tho stars i shall have to go to earth as rain. You see you can’t help me, can you? You for one thing, cannot defy Mr. Wind.’ “Yes, but we can! The moon knew you were in distress, so ho provided us with a magic cloud, which will reach your stars in half an hour.” “Oh, how lovely. How can I repay you? After all, I shall fulfil my duty.” joyfully said Cloud Boy. “Step on our cloud, and we will take you,” replied the cloud babies. “Xow hurry. We must l»e baok by eight.” So they all set off in the cloud. “You seem to feel no wind here at all,” said Cloud Boy. "Xo.” said Baby Dew, the youngest, “it is a magic cloud.’’ “Here we arc,” said Cloud B they stopped where tho stars no light at all. “See how fa from my course.” After lighting the stars they home. When they arrived at tl Boy’s they,would not stay for “Thanks. Good-bye.” they sc shook hands. “Good-bye,” said Cloud Boy. “I hope I shall see you again. Why, the wind has stopped, I do believe!” Meryla Webb, aged 12. AN INFANT ROGUE I am going to tell you about my little baby cousin. One day he went into a room, and, having nothing to do, decided to make holes in the curtain. Just as he had finished, his mother came in. “Richard, who did that?” she asked. “Muffs!” came the immediate replj*. lie bad evidently heard that moths make holes in things, and thought hi* mother would believe him. —From a Sunbeam’s Letter. INATTENTIVE Teacher (.after a long lesson on honesty); “Xow, Tommy, if you found a shilling would you keep it?” Tommy: “Xo, sir.” Teacher: “Good: what would you do ?” Tommy: “Spend it.” TONGUE TWISTERS , Susie sat sunning her slender shins i t»n the shimmering sands. | "Sooth© Ituth’s tooth,” quoth Beth. ; Thus cease this sad suffering.” J Bertie borrowed Billie’s be*»t ball and ! batted it badly. i Blow. big, blustering, boisterous, ©hiring, booming wind, blow. Iletty hid her handkerchief in Hannah’s hanging hammock