Children's Column.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 11, 28 May 1920, Page 12

Children's Column.

THE ROSE GARDEN. CHARMING STORY FOR CHILDREN. Rosalie was a very lonely litle girl. She had not#got even any school-fellows to ! play with, and how she longed for a little j brother or sister. "If .you try to he a j good girl, Miss Rosalie," her nurse would say. "then perhaps the fairies will send you one." At la t something wonderfull really did hnppen. She awoke, one beautiful moonlight night, to hear a little voice calling her name. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes. Then, perched on the ber-rail at the foot of the bed, she saw a tiny little man ; he was not more than a foot higli, and was clotlied from head to foot in shimmering green, while from his shoulders grew a pair of dainty gauzy., win.gs. "Come along," he said, "I am sent to take you to the Eairy Rose Garden. You must be quick," he added, as the little givi jumped out of bed, and began putting on her dressing-gown. He led her to the corner of the room, where, in the wainscoting, Rosalie saw a tiny door she had never seen before. "But I eaivt get through there," she' objected, hardly knowing whether she Avas awake or dreamiiig. The fairy laughed and said something — what it was she 'did not hea.r, but the next minute she found she was no liigher than the little fairy, who opened the door, and led her down a long passage and through another door. Now Rosalie foimd herself in the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. Here there grew nothing but roses, of every colour and description, but much larger than ordinary roses. "Now," said the little fairy, "be quick and choose your baby, because it is nearlv morning." Rosal;e was just wondering what he meant when she happened to look more elosely at one of tlie roses. No wonder they were large, for in the heart of every oue there lay a dear little baby! "Oh !" ci'ied Rosalie, "Am I reaily to choose one to keep!" She began running from rose to rose, and peeping inside. It was very diflicult to choose. Eaeh baby seemed prettier i and more lovable than the last. At length, she found a large creamv rose ' in which lay a lovelv baby boy fast asleep. J As Rosalie looked at him he opened his eyes, and held liis arms to her with a little gurgles of deliglit. "I'll have you, you darling" exc'aimed Rosalie, but as sbe bent over him sho heard a well-known voice saying "come, wake up Aliss Rosalie!" To her surprise, Rosalie found herself back m her own little bed at home. Nurse j looking very pleascd and excited, was | trying to wake her up. "Miss Rosalie," she said, "be quick and ! dress. There is something for you to see in your mother's room." "I know," said Rosalie, as she jumpcd out of bed, and began to dress as fast as she could. As she did so, she poured forth the story of her wonderful adventure. "Well, that, was a strange dream," said nurse at last. Rosalie shook her head ; she was certain it was not a dream. When she crept iato i ;

her mother's room, she was more certain than ever, for there in the bed beside her motherlay the very saxne baby brother that she had cbosen in the Eairy Rose Garden. j So Rosalio WM a lonely little guT no j longer.