LITTLE LOVING HEART

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1944, Page 3

LITTLE LOVING HEART

By KATHLEEN O'SHEA (1C) In the poor quarter of a big city there lived a little girl called Norah. Norali was not pretty, but she was always clean and scrupulously neat. She Jived in a tenement house with her mother, who worked hard laundering to earn enough to keep herself and her daughter. Norah s father had died before she was born. Altogether, there was not much pleasure in her life, but, still, she was happy. _ For there was Nina. Nina lived in a big house on the outskirts of the slum area. She was plump and golden-haired and her parents were rich and inclined to spoil her. And Nina was lonely. For a little girl of 10 must sometimes tire of her own company. So the ill-assorted pair, rich and poor, played together, for Nina's mother was too pleased to see her daughter happy and occupied to object to her friend. And Nina liked Norah who, because she adored Nina, always let her go "first" in their games and was glad to hold the rope when she skipped and never objected to being "bossed." Thus things went on until December, when the spirit of Christmas was in the air. But Norah was troubled. For, above all things, she wanted to give Nina a present to show her love. And how could she? For Norah's mother could not afford to throw money away on presents. Whenever she passed the little toyshop in the square she pressed her nose against the glass, tried to keep back disappointed tears. For Norah knew just what she wanted for Nina. Only one thing was worthy of her idol. The little teaset with bright pink roses on it. One day Norah went into the shop and asked how much it was. "Two and sixpence," she was told. Pier heart sank. Two and sixpence! It might as well be two pounds six! The lady, seeing the wistful look, said helpfully: "I have another which got damaged in packing. The teapot spout is cracked and one of the cups is broken, but you may have it for half-price." Dismally Norah shook her head. Nothing but the best was good enough for Nina. Touched by Norah's woebegone look, the lady said suddenly: "Look, child, wby aon't you get to work and earn the money doing errands and things? I'll keep the teaset for you until you have enough." Norah's eyes shone. "I will," she said. So all the time until Christmas she worked hard, running errands and minding babies until, at last, the box, wrapped in brown paper, with Nina's name, and "With love from Norah" on it in Norah's best block capitals, was placed in Norah's reverent hands.

Nina stood sulkily amid a litter of paper and string of toys. Her Christmas presents had already lost their novelty. But suddenly she brightened. Her mother was hurrying over with another parcel. Nina ripped off the paper, threw It In the fire and opened the box. Then her brows rushed into a frown and her mouth resumed Its sulky lines. "Oh!" she pouted. "Another teaset!" And she threw it, in a petulant rage, to the ground. For Nina had already been given a teaset with dainty blue and gold butteries on it, greatly surpassing Norah's sprawly pink roses. Nina's mother frowned. "Dear, you shouldn't have done that! It might have been from one of the aunts. You should have looked at the .paper to see." Then she said suddenly: "Nina, why not give it to your little friend Norah? She won't be getting many presents." So Nina picked it up. The teapot spout and one of the cups were broken. "But good enough for her!" sniffed Nina. When Norah found the box on her doorstep, opened it and saw the teaset, her eyes sparkled. "Oh!" she said. "It just shows what good friends we are for us both to think of the same thing." Then she added softly: "But I'm so glad I went first and got the best one!"