THE MAGIC BALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 March 1926, Page 18

THE MAGIC BALL.

It was u lovely ball!’ Beryl flattened her nose against the shop window, and clenched tightly in her 'hot little hand wits the bright new sixpence Uncle Tom had given her. She had looked at the ball every day for a week, and could scarcely believe it was going to be liers at last. She gazed at it tor quite half a minute before she went inside. “Please, I want the red, blue, and yellow bali,” she said. “Here you are, Missie,” said the shopman, fishing it out from among the toys and giving it to her. “It’s a good bouncer. You try it.” Beryl looked at it, felt it all over, and bounced it on the shop floor.

Then a strange tiling happened, it bounced right out ot the door into the street 1

Beryl gave a little cry and mil after it, and there in front of her was that aggravating little ball” bouncing along merrily. The harder Beryl ran the faster it bounced, and it was-always just out of reach. At the end of the village street there was a meadow surrounded by a high hedge, and with despair Beryi saw the ball bounce right over. She ran up the bank and tried to scramble through the hedge, but it was full of blackberry birshes, and the thorns scratched her badly. Poor Beryl flopped down to the grass by the road and cried bitterly. Suddenly there was a plop beside her and an indiarubbefy voice said: “Crying’s a great waste of _ time. Much -better try bouncing. There’s nothing like a bit of bounce for getting you on in the world and keeping you merry and bright.” Beryl looked at the ball in astonishment." • It had grown little arms and a. funny little head. It looked just like a tiny cottage loaf. It continued to jig up and down; it wasn’t still for a second.

“You’re a magic'ball!” she cried. “’Course I’m magic,” he said between bounces. “So are you. Life’s full of magic, only most people are too stupid to see it.' Come along. Now I’ve got out of that stuffy shop I want to enjoy myself. Bounce, for goodness sake!”

“But I can't,” objected Beryl “People don't bounce.” “Don’t they!” explained the hall “Some of 'em do precious little else Give me vour hand.”

Beryl gave him a finger, which was as much as he could grasp. “Now, away we go.” he cried. Immediately Beryl felt herself bouncing along. The bumps were terrible. “Stop!” she .shrieked “1 can’t go any further. 1 shall be black and blue all over.”

“Very good colours, too.” said the ball, going faster than ever. “Bouncers should be bright. Hold tight, we’re going over that tree.” i Beryl held her breath —what little she • had left—as lie gave a terrific bounce. Up, up they went, but instead of bouncing over the tree they landed on a . branch near the top. and. to her amazement. Beryl saw that it was the tree outside her nursery window.

“But —how did we get here?” she gasped. “And how are you going to get down ” “AA T e’re not going to get down, we’re going to get in. .silly/’ cried the ball. He gave another little bounce, and they both whizzed through the open window and landed on the nursery floor with a thud.

“Thei’e!” he said proudly. “You can’t say I haven’t brought you home a much nicer way than you usually come.”

“Y-e-s,” replied Beryl, doubtfully. “But I hope you won’t make me bounce every time I play with you!” “Indeed, T shall,” lie said, looking so angry that Beryl was afraid he would burst, with rage. “It’s no soldi of fun bouncing alone. Shush!_ there’s someone coming. Remember. I’m your secret. ”

Before she- >»nld reply the dtoor opened, and mother came in. Beryl gave a* quick glance at the ball. But head and arms were tucked in, and it looked quite ordinary. '•“Why, Beryl, I didn’t hear you come iii,” exclaimed mother. “I was just thinking you had been a long time buying ,tliat ball.” When mother had kisesd her goodnight and gone downstairs. Beryl looked sleepily at her new hall liefore going off into the land of dreams. But its head and legs were still tucked a wav.