THE ROLLER MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE ROLLER MAN.

(HAROLD \V. BLACK., Ronald w< eight years old, sod his homo was a farmhouse in the far bade country. where all the land was hills and valleys. One day. uhen 3iis daddy vn out mattering «beep to bring' them in off the hilli for shearing, and his mother was working mjod» her flower?. Ronald thought that it would be very pleasant to go for a walk down the road, even if he only went as far at the swing bridge. Dad had often told hhn of wonderful adventures in far away wastries, and Ronald really cat out to see if wonderful things would happen to him. He reached the awing bridge, then turned hack. ''Nothing teems to be happening," he said. "Perhaps things only happen to grown-up people, like dad> "Oh, no, I don't think so," said a quiet voice, and Ronald, looking at the hillside, saw a very ia.l3, very thin nan, who was resting on what looked to be a garden roller. Ronald wondered who it was, for be knew all the farming people round about, yet this man was a stranger. < Oh, n said Ronald, "you made me jump.™ "Did I," said the tall tihin man, "did I make you jump! Well, I made all these hills and valleys that you sec around here, even those in the far distance, that look to have a veil of fog and mist over their faces." "You did," said Ronald, in surprsir. "You must be a really clever man. May 1 ask your same}" 1 have no name; I am just the Roller Man. Ever since this world was made I have been pushing mis roller of mine over it, crushing the ground until it sinks into deep valleys and runs ap into high hills." "You have been doing that for nidi a long time," said Ronald, "thai surely you must be nearly finished." "I will finish to-night at twelve of the moon," said the roller man. "And whet win you do thesf said Ronald. "Well, I think 1 will faavc a few hous* sleep." Then Ronald thougibt of home, anfl •aid: "I really must be going, Mr. Roller Mu. Do you like apples, for you nay have one 1 have in my pocket." "Thank you, you are a very kind boy. It it seventeen thousand years since I had an apple, and men a little Maori girl gave me one when I was and pushing ap those mountains where the sun is now sinking." Ronald gave him the apple and Mid: "Good-bye, Mr. Roller Man, 1 hope X shall see you again some day," then ran along the road to his hocck That night, when Ronald was hi bed, rain began to falL The river, already, vaa almost in flood, for in the distant mountains, heavy rain had fallen for seven days, and turned small creeks Into rushing waterways. His father eaid, the river will come over to-night, and my big paddock of maise and potatoes will be flooded, sod the crops will be ruined. If I lose them 1 ehalt not kaow what to do, for 1 am in great seed of the money tfcey would bring roe." Soon the rain easne down mtsrm heavily, and the Roller Man said to himself: "That little boy was very kind to me, giving mc the only apple be had. aad now, I am afraid, the river will break its banks to-night and sweep his father*!crops away. Perhaps I should go and help."

At midnight the river had risen until its angry water was up to the top of its bank*, and in an hour or two would break over them in a wild rath that would sweep off the land everything it met, and carry it, broken sad bent, to the far distant sea."

Then there came to the river tank * man, * tall and thin man, who pushed in front of him a roller. The rain did not trouble him, as it ran in .-".roams through his hair, and poured Through lua clothing and into his boot». lie had been in every rain storm ever »ince the world was made, and his roller had been with him. There was no roller like it anywhere else, for when he pushed it the earth ro« up into hills, the hills would stand for rrcr as a mark of his work.

Ha looked at the water that wa« running with the miftneas of a minted animal, and aa be watched it sweeping dead branches and trees away a* jf they were chips, he aaid:

"It will be over the bank in half an boor, and the crop* thai l«loog to the father of the boy who gave mc the apple will be washed oat of the groand and swept away to aea."

Qnirkly bo ran up and down the river hank, pushing Uw roller u bo had never pushed it below, The earth beneath ii shook and l trembfod. it if vita fear, then moved upwdi into a Hank a* M the *and ca&tlca children make on lie seashore. No one oonld have men the Roller Man, for he was wrapped up in the mist and the apray of the peJting rain, and be and lua roller were covcred by a blanket of aplaahing water.

Aa he sped along the river aide where be knew the swirling waiters would come over, the bank that his roller was pushing np grew slowly bigger, until it waa a long low hill, but high enouga to keep out the angriest water that had ever rushed to the sea. Then the Roller Man said:

"My work i» door, »ad Ilio ls.pt hour °f any tboßtisd year* *ts tie bert |*rt of it tIL I will bow go tad atap Mfflevbera, and, I bojv. iar« happy dreams of tbi little iboy vbo girt him apple."