JUDY ANN'S GIFT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 55, 2 September 1933, Page 7

JUDY ANN'S GIFT

(A Talo for Small Ones, by "Wild Rose," aged 15.). JUDY Anne would be, six, years, old tomorrow, and she was the most excited girl in the village. Well, so would you be, if you were going to have a. party, and a'lovely big cako with piuk-and-white icing, and six big candles. As mother was tucking Judy Ann up in bed that night she told her-to hurry and go to sleep, because if she was to have a party on the morrow she wouldn't need to wake up tired. So Judy Anne gave her a, sleepy little promise. . ■ . , 7 ■ ■ . • ■ Judy Ann hadn't been to sleep very long before she was awakened by*» small sing-song voice. • "Wake up, Judy Ann! Wake-up!" it said. . ',■," Judy Ann sat up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. s "Who is it?" she cried. "It is Willy Wagtail," said the small voice. "Here ■' I am, perched o« your bedrail." "Oh, I set you!"-cried Judy Ann excitedly. , - . "Hurry up and jump out of bed. We will just be in time.for. Sammy birthday-ball." ' . ■ ' . ' "O!" gasped Judy Ann, as she was whisked out of the window On Willy's | back. .'■..:■' "Here we are at last," he said. As Judy alighted Bhe gave a gasp of 1 mingled surprise and delight., She was standing.in a wood-where there were 1 hundreds of bird of all description. Judy Ann didn't think there could be bo ' many birds in the whole world. . ■ ■ ' '.'.'. ! ■." i They certainly had decorated very prettily the small clearing in which ', the ball was being held. All the trees were hung with pretty coloured lant terns and tinsel. . . . . ...,.-• In the midst of the happy-throng, there stood a magnificent swallow in a ' robe of purple velvet, draped-with diamonds, pearls, and rubies. -V i Judy Ann gazed in awe,, as all the birds ceased singing, and flew up to 1 the trees and perched near the lanterns as soon as their leader appeared. "My visitor and friends! As you are all aware, I have promised a surprise item in honour of our visitor. Well, I have great pleasure in announcing it now; it.is in the-form of a'Treasure Hunt.'" ' A great babble of excitement' and joy broke out among the birds at this. "Now, are you all ready!" shouted Thelma Thrush. "All you have to do is to find the hidden clues, and each one will lead to another, and «o on till you find the treasure. Go!" ; Judy Ann took, the path behind the big oak, and she seemed to be alone, for all the other birds bad taken'the path between the Silver Birches and Pines. ',"'.-.. . . .-■-.; !" At first her search was fruitless; but presently something white caught her eye. It was buried in the ihoss at tho foot of a poplar. Judy Ann picked it up; it was a clue. "Look amongst of Big' Pine!"' \ Judy Ann ran along the. moss path till she reached Big Pine, and there amongst the branches she.spied, another clue. This one read: "Look in hollow, below Bed-fern bank." 'Judy Ann raced across.the clearing till she reached Red-fern Bank,-add there amongst the fern and the moss she found a small package. She gave a cry of delight to think that she was first to get there. ; All at once Judy Ann heard a queer sort of wsirbling, and, turning round, i she saw Billy Blackbird and Wally Warbler, busily scanning a piece of paper. "I've found itl I've found it!" she cried s "Oh!" gasped Billy and Wally in one voice. "We thought we were first." But by this time Judy Ann had opened the package, and was gazing with delight at what she saw. , "Isn't it wonderful?" she breathed. For on opening, it revealed, a small gold ring inside. .-''.'. "Thank you so much,-Willie," said Judy Ann, when Khe was tucked, i* '' bed again. She was too sleepy to notice that Willie had gone. ■'••■' ■ Next morning when Judy Ann woke up, she ran downstairs to tell 1 Mummy about the wonderful happenings. But mother laughed and shook her head, and said it-was all a pleasant S dream. But Judy Ann knew better, because she had the wee ring to prove it.