THE OAT CALLED NIGHTMARE.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 29, 11 December 1930, Page 21

THE OAT CALLED NIGHTMARE.

One day when the. Sleepy-JJust-xaan. Dreams, arid I&ght-Light tlie Qwl ■ were having tea, a large grey cat jumped ou to the window ,lfctige and peered into the Odd lilttle Bouse^ . "Whal is your name, and what do you.want?" asked the SleepDusim<i'»

"My rianie is Nightmare," said the Cat, "'and I want some of your Sleepy Dust." . "You are'the wickedr creature who would like to give children tad dreams," cried the SleepyDustman, jumping. to his feet. *'You shall newer have any of my Sleepy-Dust."

The Cat called Nightmare disappeared from the window, and D/iamsj-'aced.barking to.the door. ''Let"me out," he cried, "and > 1 will chase the dreadful creature > into the middle of next week.' * • "No, let her be," said the Sleepy-Dustman, "she cannot give the children bad dreams unless she has the Sleepy-Dust to sprinkle in their eyes first.'' When it was time for the Sleepy Dustman ,and Dreams to, set out for Nursery Land, jthe SleepyDustman called to Nightlight the Owl, and told him he was on no account to open the door of' the -Odd Little House to anyone while they were away. ..' t ' ' • - Because,"he said, "the Cat called Nightmare might slip in unseen, and take some of the -Sleepy-Dust put of the cupboard.' "I will take good care of it, .you may be sure," said Jtfight- • light the Owl •importantly. The others had not been gone long when something tn-ight hit -against the window-pane arid fell in the garden path. , ■ t . Night-Light the Owl peered out -curiously and saw it was a little red and yellow ball. Now, Night-Light the Owl lov--ed toys, and red was his, favourite colour, so he opened the window -and fluttered out on to the path. He picked up the little ball, and was about to fly in again when he .[ heard the window shut with a •click. Nigfot-Light flew on to the • ledge, and| saw with;horror that the Cat called Nightmare was in d/ -the Odd Little House: ■■W^ He couldn't see the cupboard where the Sleepy-Dust was kept irom the window, but he knew the Cat had found it, for in a very . .-short time the dor flew open, and she raced down the path, and out ««ver the Common.

"Oh dear, oh dear/; wailed jtfight-Light the Owl, "she will : -give the children bad dreams, and ,i* will be all my fault.'' The Bright Little Star looked •down at him.

"Can I help you,' Night Light V sshe asked.

"Oh yes, yes/ cried Night Xdght the Owl, "please find the Sleepy-Dustman, and tell him that the Cat called Nightmare has ;stolen some of ■■Ids Sleepy Dust, and is hastening to Nursery Land to give the children bad dreams." 1' Don't worry,'' said the Bright Xdttle Star; "I'll tell the SleepyThistman at once," and she disappeared. Night-Light the Owl, left alone, looked at the little red and yellow ball. It was very pretty. "I must hide it," he thought i^s he fluttered in by the door which the Cat had left. open. "The <questipn is where? I know: inside the dock." f

He flew tip on to the chimney piece, pecked open the back of the Clock, and popped in the litHle ball.

"Tiek-tock, tiek-toek," shouted the Clock indignantly, and round and round twisted its hands at a "■cry axeat pace.

"Oh clear," sighed Night-Light the Owl. "I can't hide the ball there,. tiU Clock doesn't like it." lie-locked round the room and his eye fell on the Canary in his cri^e • "I a*ill hide the ball under the seeds in the Canary's food pan.'' This was soon done, but directly tne little red and yellow ball was hidden, the- Canary dashed

itself against the bars of the cage its feathers flying out in clouds.

'"Oh dear," sighed Night Light the Owl, "I can't hide the ball there, the Canary doesn't likeit."

He looked round again and seeing the Pink Geranium standing in its pot on the window-sill he dug a little hole in the mould and hid the ball. Hardly had he done so when the Geranium began to lade, its pink petals dropping off one by one. ~.."

'^Ohdear^' sighed Night Light the Owl,"l cant hide it there, the Geraninin doesn't like it. I think I will leave it on the.table, ,and tell the Sleepy-Dustman all about it."

When the Sleepy-Dustman and Dreams came home, Night Light the Owl was waiting for them at the door.

•'lt's all right, Night Light," cried the Sleepy-Dustman. "The Bright Little Star told me that the Cat called Nightmare had stolen some of my Sleepy-Dust, and Dreams and I was able to way-lay her before she could'do any harm."

"Yes," cried Dreams, wagging his tail at a very great rate. "It was great fun. I chased her right out of Nursery Land, and I don't think she'll come back in a hurry."; , •■■ ;•>; . : ; : :; .':

When'they were all.in the Odd Little House, Night-Light the Owl showed theni the little reel and yellow ball, and told them what had happened;. ,/'?:' y

•'I know how you like toysj Night," said the Sleepy-DustVan "but I am going to put this little ball in the fire, because I feel sure it is a wicked little ball."

He picked it up and dropped it into the blaze. As he did so the Clock, chimed, the Canary began to singi and the sweet scQlit of tlie Pink GeraniumJ'filled th£ Odd Little. House. /• / J, i