MOTHER HUBBARD'S CUPBORD

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 20

MOTHER HUBBARD'S CUPBORD

I'm glad I'M not goal- if that's what it mean. '-SMILER (the Chintz dog)

RAIN. "Oh, ihother the rain!" sighed May, as she stood in the nursery window and watched the steady downpour. "I'm sure it's no use." "No use?" queried a sweet voice. "Come and ace." Before -lay could answer she found herself seated on a heavy cloud, which was travelling slowly over the land, and dropping moisture as it went, Looking down, May saw a garden of flowers, drooping; with the heat, but us the moisture-shedding cloud passed over them, they lifted their drooping heads as if thanking the cloud for the refreshing rain. Slowly they travelled onwards, over fields of drooping corn. (lowers and grass, over hot and dusty roads, and heavy stifling air, leaving "behind them refreshed flowers, corn and grass, roads free from dust and cool fresh air. Dried up river hasins and lakes were filled with fresh, pure water. Drooping leaves were lifted and the whole land looked fresh and happy. "Xo." said May to herself. "I'll never grumble any more, for without rain we should have no lovely flowers and trees, and above all no food, for rain helps to grow it." While meditating thus May forgot to keen her balance on the cloud, with the result that she felt herself flying through the air and landed on the ground outside the window.

THE TALE OF A KITTSK.

To-day 1 am in disgrace. I don't know why; because I didn't know I was doing anything wrong. Til tell you about It, and let you judge for yourselves. There is a little bird in this house; they keep it in a cage, and it sings very sweetly. I have often thought 1 would like to play with it, and pull feathers out of its tail: and I felt sure it would like to play with mo, if it could get out of the cage. As it could not out of the cage 1 tried to climb up to it: but it didn't feen'. at all pleased to see mc coining. It fluttered about tbe cage as thousli it was frightened. 1 climbed up the curtains, and reached out my paw for the cage; hut somehow my claw caught in the cage door and opened it; and the bird (lew out and across the room. I chased after it, thinking what a good game were were having. I slid down the curtains, and jumped on to the piano, and then on to a little table; then on to the mantelpiece. I know T knocked a few things; bnt I did not think they would matter. Just as the bird grew very tired, and seemed as if it were going to perch somewhere. Violet's mother opened the parlour door and gasped. " You naughty cat," she cried. ''You have broken my favourite vases—and the n-oor canary! It is almost dead through fright." She put the bird into its cage and then she chased mc. She didn't c '"h mc, though, and I nm keeping ont c, he house for a while—but I'm- afraid 1 .-nail have to go in aud face it soon, because I'm getting frightfully hungry.'*

FOR THE CHILDREN.

1. —IT.irry did upset Bunny when he pushed him off the seat: he also upset a bottle of gum over the seat.

3.—Meanwhile ran off and told the Teddies, who came along at the "double" and rumed Harry over, so the seat was on his ba-'k.

Who does not love those verse 6, probably by Charles Dihdin, in which the poet makes a sailor at sea in a storm. pity those who live on land? One night came on a hurricane. The sea was mountain» roiling. When Harney Buntline slewed his quid, And said to Eilly Bowline: "A strong nor'-wester's blowing. Bill. Hark! don't ye bear it roar now? n l.ord help 'em, how I pities them Unhappy folks on shore now! "Foolhardy chaps as live in towns. What danger they are all in! And now lay quaking In their beds For fear the roof should fall in! .*" Poor creatures, how they envies us. And wishes, I've a notion. For onr (rood luck in such a storm To be upon the ocean!"

BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Let mc live in a house by the side of the road Where the race of men go by; They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong, ■Wise, foolish; so am I. Why, then, should I sit in the scorner's 6eat. Or hurl a cynic's ban? Let mc live in a house by the side of the road And he a friend to man.

2.—But he didn't notice that; at least, not until be stretched himself on it at tail length—then he found be was stucK.

4.—Then they jumped on top and had such a ripping ride: it was as good as being on the Zoo elephant, and Harry couldn't shake 'em off!

QUEEK KA3. A Little Fairy comes at night Her eyes are blue, her hair is brown. With silver spots upon her wings. And from the moon she flutters down. She has a little silver wand: And, when a good child goes to bed. She waves her wand from right to left, And makes a circle round its head.

And then it dreams of pleasant things— Of fountains tilled with fairy fish," And trees that bear delicious fruits And bow their branches at a wish.

Of arbors filled with dainty scents From lovely flowers that never fade. Bright flies that glitter in the sun. And glow worms shining in the shade.

And tal_Uvc; birds with gifted tongues For singing \gongs and telling tales, And pretty dwarfs to show the way Through fairyShills and fairy dales. —Thomas Hood,

3_Y SUNBEAM.

My doll is the prettiest doll in the world. Her eyes are so bine and her hair is so curled. SVhen the days are cold. 1 dress ni?r in sold. She looks like a Sunbeam, so I am. told.