Children's Column.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 31, 15 October 1920, Page 12

Children's Column.

(By Alice Rhodes).

:.I ATER'S LETTER BOX. Mater invites children to send in stories for this column, or correspondence which will be replied to thi'ough these columns. All matter to be clearly written in ink. and oue one side of tbe paper only. Naine, age, and address, must.be always given, and correspondence directed to "Mater,"' care of Editor, "The Digger," "^ox 310, Invercargill. THE GIPSY GIRL. (Gontinued).

"I am just going for a walk witli Helen before it is time for the evening performance," Dorothy said quietly. "\ou are going to do nothing of the kind," said Mrs Crewe. "You are going to coine home witli me, and I will find something better for you to do." "Won't you excuse Dorothy this once, Mrs Crewe?" pleadgd Helen. "Could she not come and have tea with aunty and me? I should love her to come." "No( I will not allow her to go to anybody's house to tea," Mrs Crewe said, then turning to Dorothy ghe added, "Come along and help me with the work in the caravan." So Dorothy had to leave her friend and return to her home with her stepmother. Mrs Crewe set her to work at once to wash the floor of the caravan. Unfortunately Dorothy upset the bucket of water all over the floor, and was made to mop it up while her stepmother stood over with a stick in her hand. When ..ve o'clock came round Dorothy felt very t-ired for her stepmother had made her work hard all th.e afternoon. She could not appeal to her father, for he was afraid of his wife, and Dorothy felt very loneiy and sad. When everybody was asleep that night Dorothy dressed herself quietly. She wrote a little note to her father telling him how sad she was at leaving him, but that she could bear this life no longer. Sh,e then undid the latcli of the door and crept softly down the steps of the caravan. Once outside she slipped 011 her shoes and ran as fast as she could go. She stoppecT at an old elm tree, and drppped a note in for Helen. This tree was a secret hiding place between Dorothy and Helen,. and they often put letters there for each other. The next 9day when Dorothy's disappearance was discovered a search party was sent out, but they could not find her. When at last Helen found the note' Dorothy had left she wept over it, for she had learned to love; Dorothy dearly. Many years later when Helen was about twenty years of age a lady called to see her, who would not give her name. She was shown into the drawing-room, where she waited for Helen to come. "Don't you know me, clear?" said Dorothy, as Helen entered the room. She had called to see her friend^ for she had not forgotten her, although it was such a long time since she went away. "Is it really you, Dorothy? I thought I should never see you again," exclaimed Helen. "I was very sad when you had gone. Oh, it is good to see you, and now tell me what you have been doing all this time, I am so eager to know." Dorothy told her that she had become a professional singer. After she had left the old elm tree she, had wana,ered on and on until at last she had fainted with fatigue and liunger. A kindly old man who happened to be passing saw her and carried her to his home, where his wife took care of her, and finally adopted her. One day .she was playing over the music of one ?f her favourite songs on the piano, when sh.e bega-n to sing. Her foster father was delighted with her beautiful deep voice. and said she must certainly have it trained. Dorothy worked hard, and became an enthusiastic student. She passed many examinations, and at last was allowed to sing in public. When the people heard her, her success Was established, and she soon became a gr.eat public favourite.