CHILDREN'S STORIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2420, 14 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHILDREN'S STORIES.

(In Words of Not More Than Four Letters. ) GLEN: A TALE OF A DOG. The Land of N . OiSX'E upon a time I knew a boy, who had the nice name of Jack; but for all that he was not a nicc boy. His home was in a cot by a wood. All day long he used to play in the wood; and, by and by, he got to know the very bush, or tree, which held a nest, Then he used to go and pull out the nest, and dash tho eggs upon the path. When ho got a moth too, too, he put a pin in its body, and then left it to die in pain. One very hot day he sat down by the bank of a poud to eat a cake. He soon ate it nil up; and then he cast his eyes on the side of the pond. On the top of a big lily he saw an elf, who had a most ugly face. His eyes were pink, his nose dark blue, his hair as red as fire. " Oho!" says this ugly elf, "I have got you now, Jack, my boy, and I mean to pay you or,for your evil ways. " Now the elf was not as big as a man's hand; so Jack did not fear him at all. Ho just made a face at the ugly chap, and said, "Go home and wash your nose," Now this was very rude of Jack. But I told j'ou he was not a nice boy, The elf said no more, but at once grew into abig one. He took Jack up in his hand and Jack know no more till he was in a cave. On each side weremany boy's just big as he. Each had an iron bar, like a very big pin, in his body; and this held him fast wall. Jack now knew what his fate was. So he fell on his face, and said. " Pray sir, let me go home ; and I will not be bad to any bird or moth any more. The ogre said not a word, but "Look up now." Jack did look up; and what had been a dark cave was now a fine park. Many boys were at play. And what a game they had, to be sure ! Jack had no more fear. "Oh, sir, may I go and play ?" he said. "No," said the ogre ; "you have not been kind to any bird. All the boys you see have a card with "jßird Band" on it. You have none. Come back with me." All at once it was dark ; and they were in the cave. The ogre took up an iron bar ; and Jack felt half dead with fear. Just then a nice girl ran in, and said, " Pray let Jack go, Sir Ogre. He will join our Bird Band, and be bad no more, I feel sure." Then she gave Jack a kiss;, "and the ogre grew less, and less, till he was of no size at all ; and Jack felt the ~dark melt away ; and he knew he sat on the bank. And the pond and the big lily were all he saw. Jack does not harm any bird now, his papa says. Can any boy or girl tell me in what land Jack saw all this ?