THE RESCUE OF TEDDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19502, 4 December 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE RESCUE OF TEDDY.

; BY RACHEL BAKEE.

Lily had lived all of the seven veare of her life in a big city, and had never been to the country, even for a day, because mother and father were so (poor. So when, one day, her mumxnie told her that they were going to the ecustry to live, you can imagine how excited Lily was, and what a Lot of questions she asked! So, for the next week or two they were / all very busy, until at last everyiimig was ready, and they started c2 in the train for their new homo. It was a long journey, and Lily was very tired by the time they arrived, so mummie made her a comfy bed on the door, and she soon fell fast asleep. Lily's daddy could only afford a little hut, and a few pieces of furniture, but ho was going to work hard and they would soon save enough money for a bigger housei. Lily was rather frightened this first morning she started off for school She took her teddy bear with her to keep her company, and mummie gave her buttered scones and sandwiches £or her lunch, to help cheer her up. Lily was very awed to see the boys and girls galloping along the road on'great,' big horses. But the other children ifida't take much notice of heir, excopt to laugh' at her for carrying a teddy bear, which wasn't at ail nice of them. Coming home, Lily walked behind three bigger girls, too timid to join in their play. "Oh, I say," said one of the girls, Eileen Davis by name, "we've got some little pigs. Anyone like to some and see them?" "Oh, yes," said the other two, arid they turned in at Eileen's gate. "ifou come, too, baby," said Eilesu to Lily, "I suppose you've never seen p;igg before, have you?" "Not real live ones," answered Lily. "Well, come along with us now," said Eileen, "only look out the old sow doesn't eat up your teddy." "Oh, will it eat Teddy!" cried Lily drawing back, "oh, I'd rather not come. 1 ''Don't be silly," said May, one of the « other girls. "Eileen was only joking. And the sow's not loose. It's in a sty." So Lily followed thorn to the sty, but she hugged Teddy tight. The others climbed on the gate and watched the mother pig and her six little babies, but Lily stood a little way off, and looked at them through the gate, She was a large sow, and rather iiercalookmg, and evidently did not like small girls. . "Wbat, Lily, are yoa frightened," laughed Eileien from the gate," come on uj> hero with us and don't be a babv." No, no! cried Lily," I don't want to, and besides Teddy might fall inside." " "The sow wouldn't hurt him if he'did," replied Eileen, "look hero!" And, jumpmg from the gate, she snatched Teddv from Lily's arms. "Oh, don'lt, don't!" screamed Lily, and dashed to the gate. t( " Tt 's all right, silly/' said Eileen, watch. And she tossed poor teddv into the centre of the sty. " Lily watched 'with white, tearful face, while mother pig investigated the stranger / : ! M She gruntsd a bit, and turned Teddy over several times with her nose, and then—oh, horror of horrors! She seized Teddy by one leg, and began to scrunch! The girls shouted, but mother pig took no notice. But the minute aho began munching Teddy, Lily scrambled over the gate, in spite of Eileen's calk to her to come back, and waving her arms and "shooing," she advanced on the old sow. The little pigs raD squeaking to onfl , corner, and the mother, furious at bar babies be.ng startled'so, dropped Toddy, an'd rushing at Lily, made a savacra bite * at her leg. The little girl screamed with pain and fright, and ran toward the gate, but she tripped up and fell face downward in the mud. By this time the three girls had -dished up, May, with a big stick, and had driven the sow into a corner. Then Lily < jumped up, and snatching up Teddy, climbed over the gato as quickly as she cbuld, followed by the others, "Oh, my leg, my leg!" sobbed Lily, trying to sta,unch the flow of blood with her hanky. "Come in, and mum will tie it up for you," Eileen, and they all helped her to hobble along to the house. "It's a nasty bite," said Mrs. Davis, as she bandaged up the leg. "You'd better drive her home in the buggy, Tom," to her husband, who was standing by. "I'm awfully sorry," whispered Eileen, as Lily was about to climb , into thci cart. "I didn't think the old sow would hurt your teddy bear. I hops your leg will soon be better." "She bit Teddy in just the same place. See," and Lily showed Eileen where the stuffing was coming out of Teddy's leg"He'll have to have a bandage, too,' said Eileen "Does your leg hurt very much, Lily?". '"A bit," said Lily, "hut it will toon be better I expect," and she smiled bravely as they drove off. $ Lily was able to go to school the next day, but Teddy couldn't, because ho had to wait until his mistress had time, to sew his leg up.