JEAN AND THE BLUE BIRD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 August 1926, Page 18

JEAN AND THE BLUE BIRD.

One hot afternoon last summer, Jean lay under the old apple-tree wondering want sue could do next. She had played every game she knew ol', and all games are rather dull, as you know, when vou have to play by yourself, as Jean nad to. Presently nor mother would come and call her to tea, but what should she do till then, thought Jean. ‘How would you like me to take you to nave a peep in a happy land?” said a voice above her. J can looked up, and there on a branch of the Ripple-tree sat a pretty little Blue Bird.

“How could you tell what I was thinking about?” said Jean, “because x wasn't talking to anyone.” “Ah! 1 can uo all sorts of wonderful things, because .1 am not an ordinary' bird, as you see by my pretty blue feathers,” said the shrill little voice. * ‘ Then I suppose you are one of those little Blue Birds who always bring happiness—the little Blue Birds that Mammy often tells me about?” said Jean. “"Weil, it you want to come you must be quick about it, so close your eyes and count twenty quickly.” When Jean opened her eyes she found she was so small that the blades of grass reached to her shoulders! “Get on my back, for we must be off,” said the little Blue Bird. •We are nearly there,” said the Blue Bird, as he alighted on a branch. Jean soon scrambled down the tree, and there at the bottom was a little door. Jean undid the door with a golden key which the Blue Bird had given her, and when she stepped inside she saw a long, long passage in front of her with a bright light at the end. "‘Catch hold of iny tail,” said the Blue Bird, “anil 1 will show you the way. ’ ’

Jean walked and walked, and gradually the light got brighter and brighter, as she drew nearer the light she could hear music and siiiging and laughter. ‘Why are they' all so happy'?” asked Jean. “Are they always like this?” The Blue Bird did not answer, but hurried her along the passage, and when she got to the end, what do you think she saw? Before her stretched a long garden, which seemed to go on and on for miles. It was a lovely- garden tilled with flowers—here there was a fountain playing, and there a running stream. Among tlie flowers and on the grass sat lots and lots of babies. Borne were fair, with eyes as blue as the sky above them. Others had dark curly hair, and all of them were dressed in white. “Wliat do you think of this?” said the Blue Bird, turning to Jean. “I told you T would bring y-ou to a land of happiness.” “But why are there only babies here? And do they stay- in this garden for over?” exclaimed Jean.

‘ ‘This is the happy land where babies live before they arc born on earth,” said the Blue Bird. “They are always happy here, where everything is beautiful, and they- can play- as long as theylike. They stay- here until one day their mother and father on earth want them, and then they- sail away on the path of a sunbeam. ■ See how happythey are with such lovely toy-s to play with.” As he was speaking the Blue Bird guided Jean to a baby who w’as playing on the grass with a ball all the colours of the rainbow. ‘Here y-ou would be able to make daisy chains for ever,” said the Blue Bird, as he and Jean walked over the grass, sprinkled with pink-tipped daisies'. “And there they make puddings and sand castles and lots of other things I could show you, but we must be getting back again.” Jean could hardly- say a word, because she was so surprised at all she saw. She wanted to stay- and playgames with some of the babies and pick some of the flowers.

'Toll me one thing before I leave/' said Jean. "Where does all-this lovely music come from?"

‘Why, don’t you see all the little Blue Birds up in the trees?" said Jean’s companion. "They always sing like this because they arc so happy." "I feel happy here, too," said Jean. ‘‘ I should like to stay here for ever, but I expect my Mummy and Daddy would miss me, so I must go back." Back they went along the passage, leaving the sunlight and flowers behind them. The Blue Bird locked the door with the golden key, and away he flew with Jean on his back. In a few minutes Joan was in her own garden under the old apple-tree once more.

‘Close your eyes and count twenty again," said the Blue Bird.

Whcu Jean opened her eyes she had grown to her usual size. The Blue Bird on the branch above was ready to flv a wav.

"If you look for me, I will come for you another day and take you to the happy land again," he said as he flew away.

What was that that Jean heard? Why, it was her mother calling her to tea. What a lovely afternoon she had had? She must toll her mother about it. Away she ran across the grass.