A Strike in Toyland.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Strike in Toyland.

(lion's Consolation Prize.) 4 By ERIC DRIVER, CLEVEDON. Age 12. (Original.) " Will you please como to a meeting to bo held in S. C. Hall at nine o'clock tonight ?—Santa Claus." Invitations of this kind wero written and sent out by various messengers to Santa Claus' fairy workers in Toyland^ All tho fairies camo and arrived punctually at nine o'clock at tho hall. Santa Claus opened tho meeting by a speech. " I am very pleased to seo you all here," ho said, " I suppose you will all bo anxious to know tho reason for this meeting. Firstly, to pick fairies to go to the earth and see what is wrong. Secondly, to find out if conditions can be altered there. Thirdly, to decide if wo aro going to make, any longer, toys for children who will not play with them, children who illtreat them, and children who do not want them. Fourthly, to arrange for an extra supply of oldfashioned toys for children, who look after them, nnd play with them." Then ho added, " Who will volunteer to go?" "I! I!" said all the fairies. "Thank you!" answered Santa Claus. "We cannot let you all go, though. Fairy Mayflower, wo will put you in charge of the party. Who will go with Fairy Mayflower ? I want twenty of the best of you," ho added. The twenty were picked and were soon on their way to tho earth. Fairy Mayflower was a born leader. She handled her charges so well, that she had gathered all necessary information in two days. During another meeting held a few days later, Santa Claus read her report, which was as follows: I havo found out, through my charges, that wo have great competition on the earth. Human beings havo copied, and successfully made toys originally made by us. I havo heard that boys are making models of tho great engineering devices on tho earth. I have seen toys that have not got our mark on them, and so they must havo been made by human beings. I can see only ono thing to do, and that is, to put in the stockings of tho offending boys and girls on Christmas Eve, slips of paper announcing the fact that we are not going to make toys for them until they givo up tho artificial toys they are using and keep to ours." Here tho report ended, and Santa Claus thanked Fairy Mayflower and her faithful followers for their good work. After this meeting, fairy clerks wrote out tho letters that were to cause so much unhappiness. Each letter read : " I hear that you have been playing with toys manufactured by men and women, and that you have despised those of my manufacture. This must stop or lam going to make no more toys for you and so your Christmas will be more a day of misery than of happiness. I may also add, that I have power to destroy your

artificial toys (for artificial they are) — Santa Claus." The boys and girls who had not made use of Santa's gifts, felt very sorry for themselves when they found that their stockings contained, instead of toys a rather rebuking letter from Santa. '.Next Christmas Santa Claus found letters, pinned 011 stockings, to say that his one tinio offenders had promised to use his toys in preference to their others. The strike in Toyland had been a success!

(Girl's Consolation Prize.) By PRUDENCE MUNRO, Princes Street, Waihi, (aged 12). Rosemary Ann, tho prettiest doll in Toyland, walked primly down the street and entered tho largo building situated on tho corner. Her devoted suitor, tho Tin Soldier, had informed her earlier that thero was an important meeting being held by Mr. Teddy Bear that afternoon, and that her presence was required. When all tho toys had arrived, Mr. Teddy Bear, who was presiding, mounted tho platform. " People of Toyland," ho commenced, " this meeting has been called this afternoon so that you will all become awaro of the unjust treatment that we shall bo forced to labour under. This evening, as you know, Santa Claus will make a visit to every house in Toyland, to take ono person from each house to a new home in the world. No doubt, many of you are willing to go, but some of you may change your minds. Tin Soldier, step forward and tell the assembly your story." Indignantly the Tin Soldier began : " I heard that last year my brother was given to a little boy, who scraped all the bright red paint off his coat and dented him terribly. It was awful!" Many other toys related the sad adventures experienced by their relations or friends. Rosemary Ann tearfully described how her cousin, Dolly Dimple, had been presented to a little girl called Joan, who had ill-used the poor dolly. All her clothes had been torn, her arm had been broken, and her soft, yellow curls had been pulled off by the time she had been in her new homo a month. After many other complaints rendered by the indignant toys, Mr. Teddy Bear remounted tho platform. " Do you still think wo should meekly submit to go with Santa Claus to-night?" he asked. "No!" camo tho angry response. "In other words, we'll go on strike, eh ?" demanded Mr. Teddy Bear, and all tho toys agreed. #«#•#*.* Down the main street of Toyland rode Santa in his sleigh. The reindeers pranced merrily, while the little silver bells attached to their harness jingled with fairy music. On Santa's jolly face was his usual cheery smile. At the corner ho drew up, picked up his large sack, and, approaching the building on the corner, he entered it. What a surprise Santa Claus received! Instead of rushing as usual to greet him, the toys silently ranged themselves behind Mr. Teddy Bear, who calmly announced : " We're not coming with you, Santa Claus. We're on strike." "Oh, we'll see about that!" laughed Santa," and bundled them into his sack. Ten minutes later, Santa, with his bag of toys, alighted at the first- house. The Teddy Bear saw his chance. Having brought a knife, ho made a slit in the sack, and all those naughty toys tumbled out, and ran round tho corner as fast as they could. Alas! it was raining heavily, and soon they were all wet and cold. Right till morning they lay there, rniserabiy repenting their foolish strike.

Now for the happy ending. The next morning a poor little boy found the toys, which ho shared with his friends, who had never had such nice Christmas presents before. They treated them much more kindly than tho toys had supposed. After sending a message to Santa, telling him they were sorry, they settled down happily in their new home, and never again do I think will there be" a strike in Toyland.