TIP-TOE GOES SAILING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 19

TIP-TOE GOES SAILING

One autumn morning a fairy named Tip-Toe was loosening the leaves of a weeping willow overhanging a stream, when she decided to have a sail. Seating herself on a yellow leaf she fluttaed to the water. How lovely it was bobbing among the little stones. Suddenly the boat overturned and sank, leaving Tip-Toe struggling in the water. It was icy cold, but at last she managed to clamber on to a rock in a sorry plight, her wing broken and her body sore and bruised. She crouched trembling in a tiny crevasse, wondering when someone would rescue her. All at once a roaring noise came to her ears. Glancing upstream, she saw a high bank of water quickly coming toward her. “Help! Help!” she screamed, but no one seemed to have heard. She was about to cast herself into the raging torrent when she noticed two bright eyes and a furry head and body. It was the Water Rat.

“Jump on my back; there’s no time to lose,” he shouted. Tip-toe jumped and he headed for a dark hole in the bank. Just in time he reached it, and after pushing Tip-Toe in, he clambered up. “Just in time. This is my house. Change into this,” he panted. After Tip-Toe was once more warm and dry she decided not to go sailing again. —Original by Maid Mignonette (11), Putara.

SPECIAL! Please will “Geisha Girl,” “Ratty. ’ and “Little Pal” send their names and addresses to Kiwi as soon as possible, as their parcels are waiting to be posted!