FOR THE CHILDREN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 22 November 1928, Page 8

FOR THE CHILDREN

BY AUNT EDITH

THE EXCHANTED BRAMBLE BUSH

Peter and .loan lived in a big white cot Inge at the edge of a common, which they had lo cross every day on their way lo and from school. On the' common vyns a pool, and around the pool were lols of bramble bushes on which, in aiiliunn, there grew lovely big blackberries. The pool was some distance from the road thai crossed I lie common, and their mother did mil like them to go there by Ihetnselves. as the water in the pool was very deep. "Alot her." said I'eler one day, "can't We come home by the pool I his afternoon? There will be heaps of lime before tea. and we will not go near the water." "Netty picked three pounds of blackberries 't here yesterday," added .loan pleadingly. "Kelly is three years older than von." answered her mother, '•and I 'would much rather that yon did nor jv ( , there by yourselves. I'll (ell yon what we'll do. If it is line on Saturday we will have a picnic. We will go to the pool in the morning, take our lunch, and have tea at the woodman's cottage in tin- pine wood. How would von like (hat 1"

••(hugeous!" said Peter. '"You are a darling. Mummy," cried loan.

Saturday morning arrived. It was beautifully fine and warm, and as soon as the lunch had been packed, Peter and .loan and their mother, carrying slicks and baskets, and accompanied by Ijoli. Ihe sheep dog, set out (o walk across the common to the pool. They Mere able to pick lots of blackberries before lunch, which they ate seated on rugs in a sunny soot by the edge of the pool. Afterward/Peter, with Bob lieside him. went into the pine wood to see what he could find there, his mother lay down to have a little nap, and .loan wandered oil' by herself to pick blackberries on (lie other side of the pool. Here she found some particularly large and juicy berries, and she picked and picked until her basket was full and heavy. Then she sat down to rest a little before returning to her mother. Suddenly she saw the bush in front of her begin to move. Presently the brambles parted, and there, standing before her. was a little gnome, .loan knew him to be a gnome as soon a", she saw him, for he looked exactly like the pictures you have seen of gnomes. He was dressed in a, suit of dark red—almost black it looked—and his [minted cap was green. He made a deep bow. •'•Good afternoon, Joan."

"Good afternoon," answered Joan very surprised. "How did you know my name?'"

"OR! T know lots of things. I have been .watching you a long time. Would you like me to show you my homo?" "Oh! yes, please," and Joan jumped nn so qiiiekly that she nearly upset her basket.

The gnome held back the brambles for her to enter, and there, underneath, was. a door. It was open, and Joan and the gnome passed through and down a lot of steps and along a narrow passage which, although it was underground, was not darlc, for it was lit by hundreds of tiny lights the shape and size of blackberries. At last they arrived at an open space where there were dozens of gnomes, like Joan's friend, seated on toadstools and eating blackberry tart.

"Take a toadstool," said the first gnome; "and would you like some, blackberry tart —it is jolly good!"

"Yes, please," replied Joan. "'And will von tell me where I am?"

"Here's Hie chief gnome coming. He will tell you all about it."

Joan saw before lier it bigger gnome dressed in a black suit with a scarlet hat. He bowed before Iter. '"This is the Hall of Enchantment," be explained. "You happened to be sitting before, the Enchanted Bramble Rush on the common, on the twelfth of tlie month at two hours and twelve minutes after noon, when the sun was bright and the wind in the south, and then, and then only, is it ever visible 1o humans. On the bush grow the finest blackberries in the. world, and when once yon have eaten them you will never grow old. You may look old, of course, but your heart will lie young. Because you seemed a, nice little child we invited you to sec our home, and now vou are. eating enchanted berries."

: .loan looked at her pin to in awe. The berries were certainly larger and more juicy than ordinary ones, but they did not look so vcrv different.

"We live here all the day, and only go out at night," continued the gnome. "We have lots to do: lost children and dogs to find, naughty children to punish. We help to make the nuts and blackberries and mushrooms to grow, and many other things. Perhaps some day you may be lucky enough to see lis dancing in the moonlight, but few humans do that. Xow, have you finished your tart If If so, you had better go, for your mother vt now awake and looking for you, and Peter and Bob have gone in search for you." "How do you know that?" asked Joan.

"I can sec and hear things that are impossible to human beings," replied the gnome. "That is why you were allowed to come here to-day. I knew you were worthy of it. It is a vcrv wonderful gift that you have been given, as you will realise one dav, little girl."

.Joan, feeling rather overcome, thanked the gnome chief, and followed her first friend back to the common again. The bright light as she came out of the bush dazzled her eyes, and she could not sec for a moment. When she turned to thank her friend, both he and the bush had vanished. Then she saw Peter and Bob running towards her. and she rushed towards them. "Oh! I'eter." she cried, "did you see 1 he gllOlllC '.'" •"'(iiioiiie! What gnome?" exclaimed Peter. "You have been dreaming." ■■l haven'i !" .loan denied it firmly. "Come and listen while T tell mother ail about the Enchanted Bush." THE l)0<! AM) THE POK'HLAX The old flog lies in the garden A-dozing I lie hours away. Lying in wait for Ihe postman, . Watching from day to day.

He 1 humps his tail like a drum-stick When lie hears his master's call. He barks and bounds like a puppy* When the ebililre.il enter the hall.

V,]\\ he's just a streak of ilog-life Should the postman open the gate; Whatever the secret, between them. The old dog lias determined his fate