BELINDA'S FROCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 154, 2 July 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

BELINDA'S FROCK.

OR THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BROWN MOUSE.

Betty was making a frock for Belinda before she went to bed. And she laid it down on the table, and left it there. Just about midnight, when the clock had finished striking and everyone was asleep upstairs, and the dolls were in the cupboard, the Fairies came along. "Oh!" they said suddenly, standing quite still in a ring round the frock. "Oh! Do you think we might try it on? It may be for us! It may be left as a present. If it should fit, of course, it must be for us!" And it did. It fitted every one or them. Any one of them could wear it. They looked sweet in it. "It must be for us. It must be!" sang they, running off. Pitter-patter came the sound of tiny feet racing and chasing after them. It was the little Brown Mouse who knows everybody's secrets, and never, never tells. But fairies are different. He had tq tell the fairies. "Wait. Wait. Please wait," called , the little Brown Mouse. So, of course, the fairies waited. "You mustn't take it. Oh, you mustn't, please . . ." said the mouse. "You see, it was made for Belinda. Any of the other! dolls could have done without it. But, truly, she can't. It takes Betty so long to make a frock, and it's to be ready for Belinda to-morrow." "Oh!'* cried the fairies, kissing him, each in turn. "We are so glad you told us. Come along! Come along!" And back they went to the table where the needle still lay, and back again they put the frock beside it. And then "a kiss for Belinda," they each of them whispered in turn. And then they went dancing away. Betty finished the frock next morning, and Belinda went to the party next day. "Oh, Belinda, how pretty you look when you're dressed in that frock!" said Betty, at she fitted it on. But neither of them guessed. To this day they don't know about the fairy kisses. Nobody knows but the little Brown Mouse.