GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 128, 2 June 1927, Page 14

GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

PEGGY MEETS THE FIELD CRICKET FAMILY. i..1,i i,> 81-A.vrHE sii.vki; f.-r I'KTEB PAN • ■WAI. well. Little Cricket." la.i-u-I IVggy. when she epied the ;> r.■>ll> lit:!e brown cricket trying to nide u;-der a leaf, 'don't run away. I wouldn't barir you for the world. TV.i me where are you going? l'\ e neve; you so near" the house before You don't ii\t in my hou*e. do you*" ""Sot me." laughed the Cheery Cricket. "But my Cousin, Mrs House Crieket doos. and I ju*t ran over to tell her «ho and family h<*d better come on back in tne n>lds to live. No. I wouldn't live in a hou*<? like your* tor anything. Now, you c-ouldn't make ray cousin st'e things in tiie way I do. She likes the chink« in the fireplace. But when one lives with other folks, one always ha* to be careful not to >ing at tne wrong time." "'Siug at the wrong time!" asked Peggy, sitting down on the steps beside the little dark cricket. "Why, what do von mean l>v singing at the wrong time. Mr. Cricket?" "Well, you *ee. out in the meadows tncre isn't anyone to disturb with our chirping ft) we just sing when we feel like it. all day if we wish. But when you live in a house with other folks, you can't do that. In the first place, same folk? don't like their houses witn the crickets, and if they happen to forget and sing in the day-time, they are chased out or killed. While ou: in the open tield-i. ue can sing any time we wish. That reminds me I must be getting back honu. Come along, Peggy, and meet the faroilv."

This ple.iset Peggy very much, end away she ran down tne path after Mr FieW Cricket to the little cricket home, a hole in the ground about twelve inehes deep. Mrs. Crickci and her babies came tumbling out to greet Peggy and Peggy watched them running around over thf ground at her fiet. ''What'* the idee of those lons thing* sticking out of your head, Mr. Cricket?" Peggy asked. "I see all the youngster* havo them, too."

I ''Why. tnose are our feeler*." UufrheO | Mrs. Cricket. "If you'll notice wo have sonic slicking on the back end of our bodies, too. That helps u. keep out of ' ! trouble. The long feelers :n front keep

us from running into dinger. Couldn't get along without them. Xow I Oon't sing myself, bnt Daddy "Prirkp - . doc.-. If you'll notice, he has three s , .ronjr veins under his left wing-cover. Orne her?. Daddy, and hold up your « ings mi Peggy can see vour music box."

I3addy Crickei laughs merrily and he!d up his wings so Peggy could *cc the heavy \eins on his left wing. The largest vein was quite rough and with this vein he rubbed his right wing-cover and it made the queer cricke' music Peg'yy lo\ed to hear Hi* little wing* quivered a* the sound increased and Peggy laughed as sli ■ watched. "Oh. you dear Little linger!" the criexi. "Yoi might bother some folks witn your uusic, but I find it very cheery and lovely. I'd lo\e to go down into your little house." This pleased Mrs. Cricket and they were about to entci the wei? little cricket home when P»-gvy heard her Mamma calling her. Bid.ling her new friends good-bye and promising to con.e again 'oiiic day. t.ic liurrle-l hori.e.