WINTER AND THE WATER CHILD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1931, Page 18

WINTER AND THE WATER CHILD

THE Water Child sat silently on hor little cloud, and looked about her. , Far away she could see her eld friend tho Sun blinking to keep his weary eyed open. "Oh, dear,"' she sighed, ",how tired tho poor dear looks! I'd lovo to go and soothe him, only I know father will only get angry. It's so nice to perch on his shoulder and pat his fiery head. He says it's a tonic, too. O, why shouldn't I go? After all fathor may not find out, unless that horrid old South Wind sees me." Jumping up, she gathered hor misty skirts around her and ran with flying strides to the side of her friend. "Hello, old dear," she cried. "How tired and worn you look." "Yes," sighed the Sun,, as ho mopped his steaming forehead with a lacy, cloud, "I do feel rather tired, but you know your father said I must keep shining till he tells me to retire, otherwise his presence won't be noticed down on earth. . . O dear!" "Father's a beaßt," retorted the .Water Child hotly, "but you_ know I just can't make him see things tho right way. You should have been put to bed long ago." Tho Water Child and the Sun were great pals, a fact to which her father strongly objected, because when they were together, rainbows flashed across the sky, and you know that spoils all Winter's gloom. , After the Water Child had sat and thought for some time, she said to tho Sun, '"'I know! Let me put you to bed, and see what happens!" "No, no," said tho old Sun, slowly shaking his head. "You know your father would only whip you." "I don't care," laughed tho Water ' Child lightly, "you must go to bed. Why, you might eclipse if you stay awake any longer." "So I might! I never thought of that," he gasped. "Good-night and good-bye, little friend. I hope you don't get whipped." "Good night," said the Water Child, kissing him softly, and she gently pulled a thick grey cloud blanket over his wrinkled face.. Then she crept quietly Jback to her cloud. Nothing happened that day, so the next morning the Water Child thought she would go and see Jack Frost. He always had something interesting to Bhow her,; although ho was no great friend of hers. When she had slid over seventeen' stars, she saw Jack sitting under a frozen palm, busy at work. t* Hello, "she called, "what mischief are you weaving now?" He looked up and grinned; then he motioned hor to peepinto a frozen ice box. The Water Child shivered. "Ooooo!" she cried, "what ever aro those awful looking things?" " - ; ~ "Those 'awful looking things," said Jack, "are chilblains." "Chilblains?" echoed tho Water Child, "whatever are they for?" "Well," ho-answered, "they're \aiiew invention of mine and they work fine. Would you like to try one? Just let me place one on your finger and then, you will know what they feel like?" . ' _ "Very well," answered the Water Child. "If the mortals have to put up

with your inventions, it won't hurt mo to sample, them." He placed one on her finger. She shivered, and rubbed her hand as it began to itch. "Oh,'* she cried, "take it off, you mean horrid thing! Quick, when I tell you!" "Sorry," ho grinned, "but I can't perform operations. You'll have to wait for Spring to do that," and he went about, his work again. "You wicked, horrid, cruel, torturing thing," exploded the Water Child again. "I hate you. I ... " "Oh, do you!" broko in a shrill voice. "Just you come along with me, you little huzzy. My word, let me toll you you're going to get tho soundest whipping you ever had. . . yaur father's torn'half of his beautiful beard out in his anger, because you put the Sun to bed!" The South Wind grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and. dragged her home. Back in his gloomy cavern Winter was waiting for her. TJp and down he strode, flashing his long whip, and each time it flashed the World whispered, "Lightning!" As he strode, he became hotter and hotter, and great beads of perspiration dropped oft' Ms brow, and as they, dropped Jack Frost dabbed them with his freezing brush, and the World whispered, "Hail!" Then the South Wind brought the Water Child in and Winter glared at her. "How dare you,", he thundered, "put the Sub to bed without my personal permission! What have you to say for yourself?" "Father," she began, "haven't you any mercy at all? You know the Sun was ill, and as_ for whipping me, why tho World is tired of seeing my tears, you have whipped me so often lately, and what's more, my tears are nearly all exhausted." "Oh —ah —well," said Winter, and ho thought, "What a horrid old man I am, and how beastly it would be if my daughter loved the Sun better than she loves me!" Ho fingered his beard and gazed down at ler, and the Water Child said eagerly, "I don't believe you want to whip me at all! I believe you're only trying tj show tho mortals what a great man you.can bo!" Winter threw back his head and roared with laughter. ("Thunder!" whispered the World below.) "You're a clever child, a clever child," he said. "But," he frowned, "what will we do for raindrops if you won't cry?" "I'l tell you tales that will make you laugh till you cry," said the Water Child promptly, and she straight way began with the story of Jack Frost, and what a silly • she had been about the chilblain. Winter cracked his whip in appreciation, he strode to and fro and asked for more, and they both laughed, at the tales and .each other until the tears ran down-their cheeks. A.nd the Water Child discovered for the first time how really much- sho loved this "old daddy of hers. ' But "down .below on the Earth, the mortals. frowned and shook out their coats. "Baining again!" said they. "Thunder, lightning, arid hail as well! What a horrid .Winter!" , Which.: only goes to show how very little they:knew. . ;. * - . ■ "SAUCY SALLY." (16) Wadestown. •; . ,