THE WILD FLOWERS CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 212, 6 September 1924, Page 22

THE WILD FLOWERS CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

The wild flowers growing" on the other side of the garden wall peeked through with envy at the beautiful flowers growing in the garden. When the weather was dry the gardener gave the flowers in the garden plenty of water and when the wind ■blew "its rough breath upon them and bent tbem they were carefully tied up and cared for until they were strong again. "It isn't fair," said a pretty wild rose. "I am as pink as the roses on the other side of .the wall and no one does a thing for mc."

Tiger Lily answered her: "We are much braver and stronger tlian those car'ed-for garden flowers. What happened after the big storm when the rain beat down all of the flowers in the garden last year? Why, they all lay on the ground and never raised their heads, afterwards," she said. "When the wind is a little rough with those flowers they may get well if the gardener doctors jthem, but not after such a storm aa that one. Now look around at us wild flowers. Here we are again just aa ■beautiful as ever and so we were after that big storm. We all raised ourselves from the ground and lived the rest of the summer. You sec, my friends, it is the garden flowers that should envy us our strength and bravery, and we should be thankful we- are not shut up in a garden, but live out here where we can grow -wild and strong." "I never thought about that," said Laurel Bush. "I guess I would not like having to grow inside four walls." All the wild flowers began to toss their heads and shake out their gowns. They were no longer envious of the garden flowers. Instead they began tofeel sorry for the poor shut-ins on the other side of the wall for Tiger Lily. had made them see things in a, different way, which is all that is needed sometimes to make any of us happy: DISCOITJrENTEB MOPSY. Whenever Billy and Maisie had new things Mopsy Golliwog 1 wanted them too. When summer came -Nurse made Billy a cool suit and Maisie a frock, and IMopsy sulked because he thought hie blue coat and red trousers were both hot and uncomfortable. "Well, well! He's a had boy, but we ' can't have sulks in the nursery," said ; Nurse, and she made 'Mopsy. white trousers and a lovely striped coat. "Xow you are nice and cool you must be a good boy," said Maisie. But Mopsy wasn't good. He fixed bis goggly eyes on Maisie's new paper nail, -which -was almost like the one Billy was fluttering while he danced in the sunshine, and then Maisie knew that Mopsy thought he ought to have a paper ball. When they were called in for lessons they left the balls on the grass, and -when they came out again they found nothing but'tiny pieces of paper—just like a' snowstorm in June—all that was left of their 'balls. . . .■[■•*.■■..;.-.. ,2s T urse said the little dog from next door did it, but Maisie feels sure that, discontented Mopsy tore them up because lie hadn't one too. SHOES TO MEND. Rat-tat-too, the cobbler fairy, Sits on a toadstool, tall and airy, Mending brogue and mouse-skin shoe To shield small feet from meadow-dew. Elfin urchins and their nurses Fay him gold from shepherd's purse*. THE GARDEN KINGDOM:. At the bottom of the garden there's a lovely' little pool, Where grass Is always fresh and green, the water always cool; And when lesson times are over I run off there all alone.! For my Daddy gave it to mc as a kingdom of my own. In my tiny" garden kingdom where the blackbirds sing all day, The Sowers by the waterside form carpets bright and gay, , While the snnbeams and the shadows'draw eoft patterns on the ground, And the stream flows splashing past mc with its laughing, tinkly sound. In my tiny little kingdom I'm as happy as can be. For the birds and plants all know mc, and each solemn, nodding tree Bows Its head politely to mc when' the summer breezes blow. And the bees soft bom their grivilne 'as i from rose to rose they go.