TOLD BY READERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOLD BY READERS.

Every forteifht someone must win the 5/ prise for our Short Story Competition. Below appear soma of the highly cow—dad work, aad neat week the work of tbe winner off oar last competition will be published. Caa 70a write stories from 250 to 500 words in leagth? Send year effort, to Peter Pan, "Star" Office, AacUaad. BUNNY BOBTAIL. By Veronica Orebich, Victoria Road, Dargaville. age S. I will tell von a story about a little bunny rabbit. One day he was sitting on a bank near his home., combing his ears to pall out the burrs. Then he wobbled his nose like he had seen his mother do so he could smell. He could face his mother eating some green lea-res, so he took some out of her mouth and tasted them, so that he would know what to eat. He learnt to drink the d<twdrops on the grass. Bunny's home was male of fur picked from his mother's breast. Bobtail was told that the prickly plants were his best friends. He went for a walk one day with his mother and all at one© she stopped still and he did the same. It was a man walking past that frightened them. His mother's name was Molly, and she said, "that is the way we cheat our foes. Bobtail." * Bobtail then lost his mother, but he soon found her again by smelling Uie grass with hii nose. Just then a dog barked, and the two bunnies popped into their hole. Bobtail's fun was over for that day, so he tells little boys and girls that it is not all fun to be a rabbit. H H H sfini RRR A DREAM OF THE STAR FAIRIES. By Nancy Dando, 75, Arney Road, Remucra, age 12. Could there have been a more wonderful sight! Far \p above the sky were peeping hundreds of little stars, locking as though they were guarding the bright, round moo:i ( whose reflection could be seen in the river nearby. So still was the air that suddenly from a oist*n<~e could be heard the tinkling of tiny bells,'and coming toward, me were a nember of little fairies dancing in a ring. On reaching the edge of the river a startling light flashed out. and, stepping gracefully amongst the ravs. approached a dazzling fairy—her long silver hair hanging over her shoulders—and like star-lit clouds were her robe*. "What was that!** Something attracted mr attention. Oh, it was a tiny fairy whispering in mv ear* "Take mhand and I shall lead you to a land of loveliness." Quickly I jumped up and by the aid of this star-fain-it was not long before I found myself at Fairvland. Louder and loader rang tbe music, quicker and quicker dancer] the fames, till at last nothing could have thrilled a pers-on so much as this beautiful music. '•Nancy!" Who was that. I looked upwards, but alas! The vision had faded all too soon and there I remains.], lying on the ground, having fallen to sleep after rtadir.;: an attractive story in the "Star." aHHHHHHHHt- " NEWPORT NEWS." By Marion St John-Biggs, Weston Av., ML Albert, ape 17. Chesapeake Bay, Newport News, Virginia! What picture* these magic words conjured before my minds eve'. But. surely this city, shrouded in early morning mists', the sun just peeping above the horison, and flooding them with pink as they furled lazily round the ships crowding the harbour, surely this was not mv dream citv! Nevertheless Newport News "lay before us as we stearacl into the harbour and dropped anchor. As the sun dispersed tbe clinging whiteness, crowded buildings and tall chimneys were disclosed, while the inhabitants were bestirring themselves to begin tbe work of the lonjr summer's dar. Two exciting, thrilling daya we were destined to spend here, but I will not tell you of the time spent ashore, onlv what passed aboard. About ten, the doctor and customs authorities came aboard, and we and our passports were examined, while *• J**"* gradually into the wharf. Here thev "have an elaborate coaling plant, but unfortunately our ship did not ptf»o in the afternoon we again anchored* in mid-stream and began coaling from lighters. Anybodv who has experienced this proceeding knows what it means. The coal is lowered into the bunkers through holes in the promenade deck, making the decks in a horrible "muss." The following day coaling continued till about 4 p.m.. when the lighters drew away and the decks were hosed Then we weighed anchor, and steamed out of the harbour on to the broad expanse of Chesapeake Bav, leaving Newport »aws bathed in the glorious light of the setting s^n.