New Arrivals in Toyland

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 October 1930, Page 15

New Arrivals in Toyland

(By “D.M.N.”) Much to the surprise of Carol Ann and all the toys, a parcel was put carefully into the corner of the toy-room one, bright afternoon. Although they straight, away commenced to guess what would he in it, it could not be opened until darkness fell and the candles lit. That, afternoon seemed to pass very slowly for the toys. Once when a lady picked up their Queen, Carol, and nearly bought her they almost cried out with disappointment, because it was planned to present the strange parcel to their Queen to lie opened. They all knew that some day they had to part, especially as Christmas was drawing near. Yet it was a great relief when the lady said she would think about buying at Christmas.

Teddy jigged merrily along to light the candles and was finished in half the usual time. Then the dolls, soldiers, clowns, and elephants gathered round the parcel to find all hands were needed for carrying it to the house. Carol was •as excited as the rest and. her eyes /shone and opened even wider, as The string was cut, and out stepped .12 black fluffy cats. “Oh!” shouted Golliwog, “black cats for luck! What, fun!” For answer the twelve gave a hungry cry and put their backs up at seeing so many strange faces. Yet, at the sound of Carol’s voice they ran up to her ami purred with happiness, because they knew it was a cheery welcome to Toylaml. .Still the ways of the toy-world were quite different from Pussyland and when supper commenced the Toys' were horrified to see the newcomers lapping up the cocoa with their little pink tongues, instead of drinking properly. Still, Carol very sweetly showed them the right way and they soon learned because they were eager to please her. Then dancing commenced and the fun was at its brightest when shy little Maisic Mousie and her three brothers crept from their home to watch. It, was their usual custom to appear there, and were alwaya weleen*-

—Ngaire. ed by the Toys. To-niglit it was a terrible surprise to see the new arrivals, who, of course, were bitter enemies of the Mousie family, and; although Maisic and her brothers slipped quickly down, the cats were following in an instant. In their fright, the mice missed the door of their home and sought shelter liehind a large rocking horse, only to be pawed out and chased into a doll’s pram. From there they rushed madly into Carol’s house and dashed under the piano with a frightened squeel. There they found their enemies could not follow, so they sat. shivering with fright until the shouting of the toys could lie heard getting nearer and nearer. At last they all burst into the room and screamed angrily at the cats for their wrong doing. “Oli!” said Smut, “that, is the first thing we are taught in Pussyland, and it is always fun chasing the mice.”

“Never here then,” shouted all the : Toys indignantly. “No, No! dears,” said Carol, as she; appeared and told the others to keep hack. “Please come here and I will explain,” she said with a smile of; encouragement. I Then the twelve left their guard look-1 ing very ashamed and crestfallen. • “I see you arc not acquainted with the rules yet, but, a very easy way to learn is to remember that in Toylaml| everybody has to be kind and loving,j and if you all wish to bo happy just, forget your old cunning ways and treat every creature with friendliness.” j “Now,” continued Carol, turning to the piano, “come out Maisie and intro-1 dime your brothers, as I know they are] willing to do friends.” After the in- 1 traductions the rest joined in a loud) hurrah! because their Queen’s sweet nature and winning smile had enchanted the cats and filled them with' toy-room magic. Z