The Silver Ring.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Silver Ring.

By BATIIIA n. R. LUTTRELL, Waimnnn (n«o 14). Original.

Hilda ran excitedly to her mother, a letter in ono hand and in the other a littlo square parcel. " Look, mother, look," sho cried. " A letter for me, do open it quickly and do read it, please." " Why, it's from Aunt lielen," said mother, as she unfolded the letter.

" Dear Hilda," tho letter ran, "on Saturday will bo your birthday. You will be 10 and a great help to mother, 1 feel sure, so 1 am sending you a little silver ring which 1 know you will like and as 1 am coming to see you soon you will bo able to tell me, won t you ! But mother had to stop; her Words were drowned in Hilda's excited cries, ior she had opened the littlo brown paper parcel. "Oh. mother, isn't it lovely! Just what 1 wanted most," and Hilda held out her finger admiringly. " But go on reading, mother. What a long letter it is?" and mother picked up the threads where they had so suddenly been snapped asunder.

"There is a little story to this ring and 1 supposo you will hardly believo that 1 once wore it on my finger when 1 was a little girl of 10, and, strange to say, my auntie gave it to nie. But for the story One day 1 left it lying on my dressing table while I was out tor a minute and when 1 returned the ring had vanished. I was in a great state and tverybody began a search for it, although they never succeeded in finding it. A week passed, and ono day a neighboiu was cleaning her pet magpie's, cage when something bright caught her eve, and 10, it was the lost ring! She brought it to 1110 and imagine my joy! As there are few magpies in New Zealand, I think you will have no trouble in keeping your little silver ring for ever. Birthday wishes, from Auntie Helen." "Just fancy that!" said Hilda, and sho and her mother examined the ring closely.

Hilda had had the ring for some time now and looked after it attentively. Every morning when she washed she placed it on the window sill. One day she forgot about it. and went to play Indians with her brother in a swamp noar by. Merrily they played until Douglas cried out, 14 Look Hilda, look, ; i weka!" There, sure enough, was a little grev speckly bird flitting in the air and as it flew something brilliant fell from its beak. . There was a flash of silver and it fell into the raupa. Pushing away the reeds they revealed a cosy nest and in the middle of it the silver ring. Besides this, there was a broken cup handle and an imitation silver brooch. "Oh how glad I am!" said Hilda. "It would have been dreadful to have lost it." That evening father told her all about wekas and their liking for bright, attractive things. " Now," said mother, "you will be able to write and tell Aunt Helen that we certainly haven t got magpies/ but. we have got wekas. Hilda slipped the ring fondly back and forth on her finger. " Rpmantic little ring, she said musingly. I wonder if some day I shall be able to give vou to my ten-year-old niece." And long, long afterwards she did !