The Children's Corner

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1927, Page 14

The Children's Corner

A TREASURE CHEST.

By Norah Sheppard in the "Christinas Science Monitor.")

"What about that little store? I might get the feather there." ■ "At Miss Perkins? Oh, no, she never has anything."^ ' "We can try. Come along." Olive led the way across the street and her cousin followed.

As the two girls entered the shop a slight figure in black came toward them.

"What can I do for you this rooming?" '•"■■'■ -■' "We would like a feather—a coloured quill." '■' ■ . ', "I scarcely think—but I will see— I may have—in. one of -these boxes."

Miss Perkins went- through her scanty stock, opening drawers and taking down cardboard boxes from thp shelves and peering into them. Betty began to grow impatient; "Never mind, we shall have to without it."

"But perhaps I c»n find one." You needed it for— V

°,Olive explained. "Just to stick in a cap-^-a masquerade costume, you know."

"Yes, indeed; I thought I might have one —I am sorry—"

The two girls were already on the doorstep when Miss Perkins hurried after them. ' ■ ■ . '

"One moment. I know where I can find just what you require. If you will come with, rue."

Prompted by curiosity, the cousins turned and followed her down the storo and through, a curtained door

into a small living room. After the drabness of the shop, tho room struck a warm note of colour. Flowers, blossomed in the window framed in frilled white curtains, an inviting-looking chintz-covered armchair stood beside the stove, and a small cabinet displayed a tempting array of delicately tinted old china. .

"Why, what a delightful room you -have here!" exclaimed Olive.

"You .liko it? Now to find the quill.'.' Jiiss Perkins opened the lid of a chest standing under the window and displayed to the wondering ■ eyes of the two girls an amazing collection of clothes; not ordinary -clothes, but masquerade costumes of every description. She dipped' into it and held up a small hat with a green feather. "Rosalind's hat—'As You Like It,' you know." "How did you guess? That is the very thing. I am going to the party as Rosalind. My cousin will be Celia. And you will let me borrow, the feather?"

"Why not the hat complete, if your suit is russet or green?"

"It is green. You really mean you wijl lend mo this cap just for to-night? I have one, but not like this. I made it myself, and my costume. "That was indeed clever of you." Miss Perkins was busy once more burrowing down into her box. This time Bho brought to light jerkin and hose of russet' brown with green leather trimmings and then added a pair of high soft doeskin boots. She looked up at Olive and smiled.

"Like Rosalind, you are.'more than common tall.'; These should fit you. Would you like to try them oh?" , "I—I —" Olive stamaiered. "It is very nice of you, but I'liaye my own costume, you know." . 'fTes —of- course —you told me." There was almost a note of disappointment in the soft voice. "I thought per* haps you might like to wear these instead."

..."I would, but—" Olive looked longingly «jt the high boots, "I wonder if these would fit me."

"Try them on." Much to her delight Olive found she could pull on the boots easily. She looked down a* ncr e Ss with/ satisfaction. "It-is ever so good of you to O fj er __» She", and Betty exchanged glances. "May I talk to my aunt and then come ■'• baisE after lupch to see ■you?"---'- '■-"■'■■:-. '■ "Of course. You would like to take .the.hat many 1 event?"

' "If I may.- Thank you very much." Mrs. Burton was very interested in •the 1 girls' account of their visit to Miss Perkins's ; shop, but could throw no light on the -subject. "But from what you have told me," she. said, "I believe it would give her pleasure if you" accepted her offer." So the matter was settled. Olive not only borrowed the costume, but let Miss Perkins dress her. In her delight 3he impetuously flung both arms round' Misa- Perkins and kissed her.

.''You are a dear! I can nover thanl: you enough." ■

The old lady's eyes were shining aa she replied: "It has given mo more pleasure than you can imagine."

That night at the party Olive was easily one of the outstanding figures, and when the prizes for the best costumes were awarded, she was called to the platform 'to receive the second prize, a big box of chccolates. Her friends all crowded round her.

"How gorgeous! What .a wonderful box!"

"I would like to open it hero and share it with you all," Olive explained, "but I feel it really belongs to the friend who lent me my costume."

"Who was it?" cams a chorus of

inquiry. >"

Olive hesitated a monient before replying, "Miss Perkins."

"Miss Perkins? What Miss Per kins?" '

"You know. She keeps the little store on Elm street."

The girls were incredulous at first, but when Olive went on to tell them of the wonderful clothes hidden away in the chest, they became more and more interested.

"If only we had known before the party," exclaimed Helen Graham, "perhaps she would have been willing to rent some of the dresses to us. 1'

Helen's remark gave Olive an idea, which, upon returning home, she lost no time in discussing with her aunt. Mrs. Burton agreed that many people would be only too glad to hire costumes for masquerading and theatricals if they knew where they could be obtained.

"May I suggest it to Miss Perkins, Auntie, when, I take her the box of chocolates?"

"Of course, dear. She would probably be very pleased to consider the plan." . So the following afternoon Olive went to call on Miss Perkins, carrying in addition to the chocolates a. fow choice roses, which she had bought with her own money. The little woman gave her the warmest pi welcomes, showing unfeigned delight at the gift of. roses. The chocolates, however, she refused to accept. ' ' '•'■

"No, no, my dear. They are yours. You nni&t keep them. But the roses! They are so beautiful, and my favourite flower!" • :

Bather hesitantly at first Olive pro

ceeded to outline her idea,

"Of course, it is only a suggestion, but there is no one in this town who has masquerade costumes for hire and if you would bo willing to rent those you'have, I know a great many people who would .b,e only too glad to come to you."

Miss Perkins 'was silent for a moment or so and Olive hoped she had said nothing to displease hex-. _ On this point she was quickly . '■■■ "I will confess the idea has occurred to me from time to time, but I did not feel I knew the right people here—thoso who would be interested in such things. But you, dear child, have paved the way. You see, I should n6t care to have anybody and everybody wearing these costumes. They -(vere given me by someone whom I loved very dearly, when she left the atage to marry. I had.been, her maid since she was just a young girl like yourself."

"Auntie thought," Olive continued, "that : you might like to make other costumes, modelled on these,' but of course in quite inexpensive materials, which would be good enough for', less important occasions." •;■.:■

Miss Perkins nodded and smiled. "An excellent idea.' I. hayo f a great deal of spare time which I could use to good advantage in this way."

So it was that about a week later a neat sign appeared in Miss Perkins's shop window. . ..

Masquerade costumes for hire. Inquire within.

A COTTON-REEL CATAPULT.

You can make this amusing little toy in a few minutes. Tho picture shows just how it is made. Get a cot-ton-reel,- as large a one as possible, and across the hole at one end tie

with strong thread a s";io!-f jiiojio oi' Hat elastic. . ' ' . . . . Ifrop a short piece of a niatchstick down the other hole until its end rests upon the elastic. Now take the elas-

tics and match-stick Between, finger and thumb, pullit back a littlo'and release your hold, and the piece of matchstick will' fly out from the" feel like a shot from a gun.

ESCAPE AT BEDTIME;:;

The Hglits. from the kitchen and.parV^ ■■. lour shone out ; ' Through the blinds and the, windows and bars; . . And high overhead and , all ..rnQving . about . ..'.-■■ There were thousands of millions of - .stars.' ■ . .;,'■..- There ne'er- v.-ere such . thousands of leaves on a tree, Nor of people in...chUreh or the park, As the ei-owds of the'stars that looked '•■'db^ii upon me, ■--'- -..•■•. And that glittered and winked in the dark. The Dog, and the Plough,- and the Hunter, and all, _ ' And the star of the sailor, and Mars, These shone in the sky, and tho pail by the' wall - . . Would be half full of water and stars. . ' They saw me at last, and tlicy chased mis with erics, And they soon- had mo pt;eked "into ' bed; . .. . .-'. -.. ..'■ .-. But tho glory kept shining and bright in my eyes, And the stars going round in my head. ■ ' —-Roberi; Louis Stevenson.