Results of Our Fortnightly Short Story Competition

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 44 (Supplement)

Results of Our Fortnightly Short Story Competition

Flfteen.year.old Mavis Collim, of Hawera, it the lucky winner of thit week i short «tory competition. "The Garden of Happiness" showed quite a different train of thought, although in places there was a tendency to over-describe. This is inclined to be rather a common failing, and many •tone, would be considerably improved if their meaning was leu obscure. We would like to remind readers that all stories must be written on mc' Side of the paper only, and to put their full name and address on each entry.

GARDEN OF HAPPINESS. Entrj by Mavis Collins, Tauwmtl Ronri, Hawera,) Once Hpon a tlmo there stood a little village on a eloping hillside that belonged to the richest man in the ▼alley. One day when he was sitting reading in tho warm sunshine he tow in liia book a beautiful picture and the name cl it wu "The Garden of Ilappiness." "That is indeed beautiful," aaid the man who had to many riches, and he looked ail about him, but he couldn't sec any g.irdon thai compared with the pisturo in his book. "How pretty my village would be if everyone had gardens liko this one," ho said, and that was how the idea first occurred to him. One day it was announced that the richest man would give a token of gold to the person who could grow a true garden of happiness. At first nobody eonld think what a garden of happiness might bo, but everybody decided to grow one, especially for the sako of the gold. The richest man in the village chose a goldon summer's day on which to judgo the gardens. The whole village was out and everyone so proud of their work. The first one was that of the wisest man, who was the richest man's neighbour. His garden was very carefully laid out. "These flowers love moisture," said tlio wisest man, pointiii" to a cluster of tall white lilies. "Therefore I dug tluit little pond you see, Thoso littlo blue flowers are sheltered by the low hedge and that tall fence will help the sweet peas to grow, strong." Oh, he was a very wiso "man indeed. "-And why do you call your garden a garden of happiness?" asked the richest man. "Ahl" said the wise man quickly. (Ho was so wise that he didn't have to think a minnto for tlio answer.) "My gardon is truly one of happiness to the flowers. How happy they must be to tlunk that somcono takes such thoughtful care of them as I do. Thev must bo very happy here, the flower®. 5 ' But tho richest man didn't think that tho wisest man was so very; wise after The jiext garden belonged to tho "man who worked in tho fields." His garden was beautiful in a different way. There were rows of green cabbages, climbin" beans and feathery topped carrots. "And why do you call youra a garden of 3, P T S? nflkc<l tho ricl.cst man. Why, answered tho man in tho fields, my garden will bring much happiness to my wife and myself. We will sell the vegetables at the market and then my wife will buy herself a' new frock and I will buy a new saddle and harness. Wo shall be very happy then."

"Oli," said the richest man, and was silent again. The "woman who lived alone" had th third garden. It was just a little ont outside her door. "Mine is a garden o happy memories," she said. "Thes hollyhocks, so tall and straight, wer planted by my mother before she diec This little bush of rosemary grows i remembrance of a dear one no longe with me. And see—here are tin; forget-me-nots which my neplie\ planted. He, too, is gone, but I have nr littlo garden of memories, and it is vel - ; dear to me." But the richest man felt a little sad a | lie passed out of her garden. "Now have seen them all," said he. "No," said a strange voice, and every one turned to look. It was a boy "Come! Sec my garden," he said. "Surely," said the richest man. "Do not go," cried the villagers. "It i only Guilliaume, the mad shepherd boj who loves to preach. He knows nothing. Hut tho shepherd boy only looked a them sadly and said to the richest man "Follow me." They all went along, too He led them to the top of tho hillside and they saw the sunset and the din valley below them. "Where is your garden?" asked thi richest man. "I have none," he said, and the peopli murmured angrily. "But this"—and In Hung wide his arms—"is God's garden o happiness—the world, so beautiful whei first created, the (lowers, the trees, tin green valleys—lint you are trying t( change it to a. garden of sorrow." Tltci the people began to scoff and sneer, bir he raised his hand for silence. "Listen!' lie said, "the first garden you saw w a garden of pride, ambition, and foolish ncss, yet you called the gardener wise,' and the wisest man turned silently ani strode down the hillside, ashamed "There was a garden of greed an< selfishness," said the shepherd. "He wh< tilled ft—but the "man who worked ir tho fields" had disappeared into the din twilight. "Then you saw a garden ol sorrow, of wasted dreo-ms, yet the) called her faithful who tended it," anc the "woman who lived alone we®l silently away, with bowed head." The shepherd and tho richest m«i stood together on the hilltop. "The toker is yours," said the man who had manj riches. But the shepherd shook his head, and smiled, such a sad, rweet smile. Then too, he disappeared silently into the night. The richest man stood clone and tho moon came up in her shimmering glory and watched him as he prayed All this happened many years ago, but although dead, he is not forgotten. Where once his homestead used to stand, there flourishes a beautiful parden which he gave to the villagers and their children. They call their gift, "The Garden of Happiness."