TWINKLE-TOE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 822, 16 November 1929, Page 31

TWINKLE-TOE

Twinkletoe. the little Wood Pixie, : bad been very busy that morning. Tie j had swept all the dead leaves off the woodland path, polished the leaves on • 'ho tall gum tree, and bathed the wild lowers in dew. He felt tired as he tramped back through the bush, but he capered along and sang a gay little song, for he did not wish the Bush Creatures to think their little friend was tired! Suddenly he saw Mrs. Beetle scuttling toward him. and when sho came nearer Twinkle-toe could hear her calling, “Follow me! Follow j me!” So Twinkle-toe followed Airs. Beetle I back again to a little grassy bank, t j Here was a sparrow, with tears rolling i down his face. Twink (for short) ; dried the little bird’s eyes with a gossa- ! over handkerchief, and asked what was j the matter. “Lack-aday!” said Air. Sparrow. “I cannot find a nice place fqr a home for by little wife! We had such a lovely place chosen, too, and another bird i settled there!” Twink felt very sorry for the poor little bird, but. after a moment's thought, he said brightly, “I know’ just i the place! Follow me, Mr. Sparrow.” So the little sparrow, and Mrs. Beetle, followed the Pixie through the woods till lie stopped in the most beautiful place you could imagine, where there wore tall, leafy trees, wild flowers of i exquisite perfume, and a little silver 1 stream. But the bird shook his head | dolefully and said, “These trees are too high! There are no forked branches, atid I have searched everywhere. Oh. | ! dear!” But Twinkle-toe laughed and skipped ! . across to the tallest tree, where cle- j j mat is hung in long festoons from the i lower branches. Carefully he pulled i ! the trails of flowers apart, and there j was the cosiest nook you ever saw. . Mr. Sparrow chirped with delight, ; thanked Twink, and flew off to tell j his little wife, and Mrs. Beetle hurried home to tell her family. Later in the spring, while Twink ! was going through the bush, he heard low chirps behind the curtain of clematis. He drew it aside, and there was Mr. Sparrow standing on the edge ! of a beautiful little nest, feeding four hungry baby birds. —Joy Hill, aged 15.