AMO'S HAPPY DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 106, 7 May 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

AMO'S HAPPY DAY

darker skins than we have. Would you believe that, Amo?" "E tama!" said Amo, "is that true?" "Ae! The lesson I liked though, \va«s about a big mea (thins) that flies like a bird up in the sky. I can't remember its name, but it ie not a live mea, Amo.'' '"He rukahu!" said Amo, "You're making that up anyway, Tahu!" "Kahore!" said Tahu, "you come to school and listen for yourself. Amo, come down to the river to-morrow morning and I'll come over for vou."

Till", river flowed swiftly by the Maori pa where Amo lived. It was beautiful when the summer sun ;!i.me on it. hut during the winter fhuxli it wa< dark and dangerous. Amo did nut love the river. But she I loved the beautiful bush whivh grew nn tlie hilUide-i and right down to the water'i* edge. Hira. her grandfather, had warned her not to <xo into •he bush alone, for the Palupaiarehe lived away up there. Often .n- tin? family sat around the fire at night in the where. Him would !.!! them tab'-s of the little fairy j.eojile and Amu listened witli delight. Her fa\uiirite wa« "Te Kanawa and the Fairies.' , When she heard the bird c-hi>rn< at dawn she wondered if ir could lie tile sons of the Patupaiarehe. Hira told her not to be too curious or they might spirit her away. Am.i had been into the buj-h with Milii. her mother, and Mihi had taught her little daughter the names of the tree? and ferns and the wild rlowers. Sometimes they eat verv still and listened to the little people of the bush talking- very far away Perhaps they would pome nearer il uiily Mihi would stay longer, thought Amo. One day they went to gather puha and watercress on the edi:e of tht bush, but it was not of the Patupaia rehe that Amo was thinking. "I Mihi," she as they reeted on th« river bank. '"I long to go to school like Tahu. Ls there no chance foi Tiie to learn the wise ways of th< pakeha." "E bine (girlie), thinl* nf the distance! Four miles fron the school Ts our pa. and yoi: know how Hira is against the new ways taught there." Amo was silent but she continued to dream of th< joys of school life. Tahu often cam< 'up to Hira's pa on his pony and toh: her of the kind pakeha teaohers anc of all that went on at the school Tahu brought a message for Hirs that evening and as he wae leaving the whare he saw Amo waiting foi him near the big totara tree. "I Tahu." she said, "do tell me aboui school. What did you learn to-day V "Oh," said Tahu. "we looked at pic tures and told our teacher what w< saw and she talked about the people in the pictures. Some of them have

Amo lay awake for some time after she went to bed. She was so excited at the thought of running away to eehool. Would her mother he very angry? No! Amo was sure Mihi would not mind and Hira was going away for the day as soon as the eun rose. But she thought it best not to say anything to her mother. As breakfast was always early and most of the men and women went out to hoe potatoes eoon after, the coast was clear for little Amo to slip away. There was Tahu. true to his promise, and Amo was up behind him on the pony's back In no time. When they turned in at the school gate Amo half wished she had not ventured; she felt so shv.'

As Miss Grey came out to the door to ring the school bell she noticed the little girl standing near the playshed, hanging her head and peeping shyly through her dark curls. "Who is that sweet little child?" she said to Miss Bond as ehe passed by. Just then Tahu came running up and said. "Good morning, teacher. Amo here this day." "Arao!" eaid Miss Bond, •'whose child is she. Tahu?" "Te mokopuna o Hira,"' said Tahu. lapsing into his native tongue in his ; excitement. "Now, Tahu. you know the rule, say that in English. i please." Tahu grinned. "Yes. teacher. Anio is the . . . the . . . Oh. what do you say?" "Granddaughter." prompted Mies Bond. "Ae," eaid Tahu, "the granddaughter of Hira." Miss Bond and Miss Grey looked at each other; they knew all about old Hira! "How angry he will be! i Should we allow her to stay, I wonder," said Miss Bond. "Oh. yee, let ] the poor child have her day," said

THE STORY OF A LITTLE MAORI MAID

Mies Grey, and she went over to Amo and took her by the hand saying, "Haeremai, e hine" (''Come along, girlie") and led her into the primers' room. Amo was placed between two little girls who befriended her at once and eoon she was quite at her ease. What a won- '■ derful time she had! She found that all Tabu had told her waa perfectly true. At playtime ehe looked on at the games that were new to her and at lunchtime the teacher gave her some kai (food). All too eoon came the hour to return home! "Let us hurry," said Tahu. "We must get back before Hira. -, But Hira had returned! He saw Amo and Tahu riding into the pa, and he said not a word! "I thought you had gone to the whare-kura (school), little one," said Mihi, "and I did not worry, but your grandfather is angry, I'm afraid. Do not fear, I will speak for you if need be. - ' The bell tolled early that evening to call the Maori family into the wharepuni and when their worship was ended, Hira signed for them all to stay. Little Amo shivered and hid behind her mother for ehe knew what was coming. Hira rose and all eyes were on him as he spoke of what Amo had done that day in defying him. At last he sat down again and several others gave their views on the matter, eiding with their chief.

Then Mihi rose and pleaded most earnestly for Amo and the other little one* of the pa. "Were they to remain in ignorance," she said, "while other Maori children learnt the ways of the world?" Hira's anger died down as lie listened. Mihi wae his much loved daughter and her words were words of wisdom. When Mihi had finished. Hira rase and in his reply he promised to think about the mutter, but in the meantime Amo was to stay at home and learn the ways of the pa. When they went to lied that niirlit Mihi comforted her little jrirl and paid, "Have patience, my Amo. 1 can see that Hira will yet give in. You must not displease him ajrain." Amo hliffiTPd her mother and was content. She knew that Mihi usually £ot her way. She had that wonderful day to think ithout nnd went to eleej* and dreamed that the children at the school were bush fairies.

Tlip day came when Hira cave Amo leave to go to .school and she was very happy indeed. Old Hira sometimes slips into the school himself and sits awhile to lUten and wonder.