GRETA'S LESSON

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1076, 13 September 1930, Page 31

GRETA'S LESSON

Greta was only seven, but she was very vain and bad-tempered. IC she was refused anything she asked for she would get into an awful temper, stamping and screaming, till her mother gave her her desire. Now, near to where Greta lived there was a big dark wood, but Greta had never been in it. One day, however, while she was playing with her doll in the garden she suddenly thought how shady the wood looked. ran into her mother and said, “May I go into the wood to play?” “No,” said mother. “But I want to go into the wood!” “No, you will get lost. Stay at home in the garden.” “No,” said Greta, and she started to scream in a most distressing manner. Then she ran out of the house and down the lane till she came to the wood, i She ran right into it. Then she real- ! ised how dark and creepy it was. Afraid to go any farther Greta turned i back, but she had only walked a few \ paces when she stopped and gasped in amazement. There, in front of her, ; was a huge tree. In the trunk was a j funny little door. Greta tried to open j it. but could not because there was no handle. She started to cry; then, as if j by magic, the door swung open. Greta i cheered up and peeped into the trunk. I The inside seemed to be illuminated with a hundred different colours. Greta saw a little passage sloping downward, but where it led to she could not tell. At last she stepped into the trunk and walked down the passage. Soon she came to another door. This one ' opened quite easily. Greta stepped through to the other side and banged the door behind her. “Oh,” she said. She was in a beautiful garden. A fairy flew toward her and took her hand. She led Greta to the queen. “What shall w r e do with her?” said the fairy. “She is a disobedient child.” “She must be punished then,” said the queen, who knew of Greta’s temper. “Follow me.” The fairies followed with Greta. As they passed the fairy bee-hives, Greta asked if she might see in one. “No,” said the queen. At this Greta flew Into a rage. “Well,” said the queen, “have It your own way!” Greta ran to the hives and lifted the top off one. Out flew the bees at Greta, and they started to sting her. She cried out, and ran up the passage, the bees following. She ran on and on, till she reached the* first door. On she rushed, then up and out of the tree trunk. Then suddenly the bees vanished, and Greta found herself rubbing her eyes under a huge tree. “Have I been dreaming?” she said to herself; but whether it was a dream or not she never forgot it, and she never new into any more of her nastv tempers. Jean Hill, aged 16.