A TALE FOR THE TINIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20504, 21 May 1938, Page 21 (Supplement)

A TALE FOR THE TINIES.

Long ago—the legend says—there lived two children, brother and sister, who loved one another dearly. The girl had beautiful golden hair and was called Sun. The boy was pale and very fair, and he was called Moon. At this time there was neither sun nor moon in the sky which was lighted only by stars. Sun and Moon had many friends, and their favourite game was hide-and-seek. In summer Sun loved the game, but In winter she dreaded It because they played in the dark house. •‘Oh, dear, soon It will be winter,” thought Sun, when autumn came, “I shall be silly and feel afraid when we play hide-and-seek. I wish it would be light at night.” The days became shorter and shorter. When her friends wanted to play hide-and-seek in the dark. Sun was too proud to refuse, but the boys guessed she was afraid and teased tier. They made noises to startle her, or pinched her when she did not expect- it. and when she screamed they laughed at her. • Why do you eel so startled in the dark. Sun?” asked her brother Moon. You know there's nobody there but us. yet you jump in a very silly way when we play hide-and-seek ••I will break myself of such a silly habit." replied Sun. To-night I will be very brave when we play." She made up her mind that whatever happened she would not scream,

THE STORY Of THE SUN AND MOON

and then she thought of a little plan by which she could discover the boy who teased her. In the kitchen there was an old lamp, and Sun turned the wick up so high that it smoked and blackened the chimney. She wiped all the black soot off the chimney on to her hands, and went to play hide-and-seek. She hid under the stairs and waited. Suddenly somebody roared like & lion in her ear, but. Instead of screaming. Sun darted out, clutched a boy, and blackened his face with her sooty hands. When they returned to ths kitchen and she saw that her own brother had smuts all over his face, she was so afraid he would be angry with her that she ran away. “Sun!” he cried, running after her. *‘Sun! I’m sorry I frightened you. Dear little golden sister —come back!” But Sun was running so quickly In the dark that 6he could not hear what Moon was saying. Still thinking he was angry with her, she ran on and on, and by daylight she reached the edge of the world. Then she jumped, but the wind picked her up and she was changed into the sun. Her brother followed, sprang off the earth, and was changed into the moon. Sun is still running with her golden turned towards the world, and Moon is still trying to her up. On a clear night, when he lights up the earth, you can still se the smuts on his face I So the story goes!