THE SECRET OF THE WOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 29

THE SECRET OF THE WOOD

(First-prize Story)

Violet had been forbidden by her mother to go into the wood. One day she asked to be allowed to go there and look lor flowers, but her mother only shook her head sadly. Violet was seven years old, and she and her mother and father lived together in a little white cottage in the country. Now, near the cottage was a big dark wood. Years ago Violet had had* a brother, but one day he went into the wood in quest of a butterfly. He had never come out of the wood, although his parents searched everywhere for him. Several other children of the village had also disappeared in the wood, which thus got the name of “The [Enchanted Wood.”

Violet was very lonely, and often cast longing glances at the wood where she was sure there must be some pretty flowers. As she wandered round the garden she saw a little butterfly caught in a spider web. She was a kindhearted little girl, so she set it free, but, to her surprise, it did not fly away, but remained on her hand. She was even more surprised when it spoke to her and said, “Since you have saved my life I can tell you something of your lost brother. lie is in the wood, but he has been turned into a bluebird. That is all I can tell you. Goodbye.” And she fluttered off before Violet could ask her any questions.

Forgetting everything her mother had told her, Violet ran off into the wood at once. When she reached the middle of it, a great number of creatures crowded round her. To her amazement they all began to cry out, and each one said the same thing. They ail said they were her brother! But the little girl looked only at the bluebirds. There were nine of them, and she did not know which one to pick. Then," all of a sudden, she remembered that her brother had lost his big toe. so she looked, and there, sure enough, was a bluebird with one toe missing.

She snatched it up and ran toward the edge of the wood. To her dismay however, all the other creatures followed her. When they were outside the wood she stopped and put the bird down. All the other creatures stopped too, and all at once became children. Just then Violet’s mother and father came round the corner, followed by all the other villagers. When they saw the children they all cried out with joy and, taking them by their hands, went homo in a very happy state. —Helen Doull, aged 10.