Children's Column.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 8, 7 May 1920, Page 12

Children's Column.

WHAT HAPPEHED NEXT. Of course you've -lieard of Goldilocks, and of the dreadful fright she had. fehe lost horself in a deep wood, and just when she was nearly mad with fear and torror at cach sound, a darling little house she found. "Oh, 1*11 run in!" said Goldilocks. "I'm sure nice people must live there, who'll let me rest after my fright. I'm nearly drooping with despair. ' ' Rat-tat ! — she tappetl upon the door. Rat-tat-tat-tat .— she tapped once more. "This is most strange," thought Goldilocks. "There can't be anyone inside." She pulled the latch, and at her touch the cottage-door fiew wide open, and there she saw a tabie spread. "Hurrah! I'm hungry!" Goldie said. I'm not quite sure that Goldilocks was real!y very good, for oh, she tasted all the porridgcs, and she finished one plate up you know ! Then tried the .cottage chairs, did she, and broke the smallest, 'twas so wee ! And then, little Miss Goldilocks, she hurried to the bedroom fast, and lay on the three beds in turn, until she went to sleep at last, upon the smallest of the three ; and how she slept and slept did she ' She dreamed so deep, did Goldilocks, that when the Three Bears came home, she never moved nor woke ; she never even , knew they'd come, until she woke wii- a loud cry, and saw the Three Bears standing by ! "Oh, dearie me!" shrieked Goldilocks. "These Bears will eat me, I'm quite .sure!" she didn't listen when they spoke, but screamed and screamed and screamed once more. And through the windowpane she leapt, and through the woods she ra r and wept ! "Well, really, ff Miss Goldilocks had listened!" said the Father Bear. "She doesn't know," the mother said. "It can't be that she doesn't care !" "Will she come baek V ' the Small Bear cried. And then Three Bears stood still and sighed. But what became of Goldilocks? She wandered, wandered all the. night. But when at last the morning came, she had recovered from her fright. "I really was nofc quite polite," said Goldie; " and that was not right!" , "It was not right!" said Goldilocks, to eat their food and run away ! I shoula have thanlced the Three Bears first. i waj most silly yesterday ! I'll go straight back, and I won't mind, for somehow I think they looked so kind!" Alas, alas, for Goldilocks ! The way was very hard to seek. The tree-roots bruised and scratched her legs, the bushes brushel against her cheek. "But I must find the way," she said; "I'm sure they II be expecting me! "Well help you, darling Goldilocks," the Bees and Butterflies all cried. "We'U guide your steps, dear Goldilocks, and take you through the forest wide. We'll takr you safe there, never fear. We're glad you're going, Goldie dear!" So on and on went Goldilocks, until at last her frock all torn, her hair all tangled and her hands both scratched, and f ealing so forlorn, she came upon the Three eBars' House, and felt as frightened as a "But I'll go in!" said Goldilocks, "and tell them that I'm sorry for——" She couldn't say another word, for all the 'Three Bears from the door came smiling out and called "She's here! She's come again, has Goldie dear ! ' ' "I'm much ashamed," said Goldilocks, "for I was really very rtide. I ran away, and never stayed .to thank you for your lo-vely food. And I'm afraid I broke your cbair!" she said and kissed the little bear. Oh, what a shock for Goldilocks! She gave a cry of wild surprise. The Bears were changed at her soft kiss, and there she saw before her eyes a handsome Prince, a King, a Queen, a Castle where tbe house had been! "Com© with me, Princess Goldilocks!" the Prince exclaimed, and took her hand. He led her through the Castle-gate. "You are Princess of Fairyland. We were bewitched my love," said he, "But your swect kiss has set us freei"