Our Boys and Girls.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 6

Our Boys and Girls.

KITTY’S VICTORY. * Mother, may I have my new story book to read now ?’ . ‘No, Kitty, not until, you have knitted seven rows ott ; yolir stocking. I see the heedlh3 are getting rusty and you must knit some every day, until it is finished.’ Saying this, Mrs Parton took a small roll from her work basket and handed it to Kitty, who sat down in her rooking chair by the window, sighing heavily. The book referred to was one containing fairy stories, profusely illustrated, which Kitty had recently bought with the contents —representing three month’s saving—of her little bank. Idleness was Kitty’s besetting sin, and though she made many brave effortß to overcome it, she did nbt succeed. Every now ahd the'tt she cast longing glahces at a high shelf, over the edge of which one corner of the book protruded. The stocking on which she was knitting did riot grow much under her little irresolute fingers. She had pulled the yarn so tightly that it was very difficult to move the noodles, and there wore one or two drooped stitohea which required picking up. ‘I will take the book and read awhile, then perhaps I shall feel more like working. Mamma will never find out,’ she said to herBelt-’ So Kitty placed a chair in front of the hook-case, stood upon it, and, by dint of much stretching of her arms, succeeded in obtaining the book. Taking it and her knitting, the naughty little girl ran down the garden path and Bat under a tree, where she could not be seen from the house. She read all about the * Fairies’ Ball ’ and looked at the pictures several times, then leaned back against the trunk of the tree and closed the book, thinking she would save * Orson’s Feast’ and ‘Jack and the Bean Stalk* for some other time.

* How I should like to be a fairy,* she sighed, ‘lt must be lovely to have tiny gauae wings and to sleep in a flower-cup, as the book says they do. Then, I don’t suppose they ever knit or do work of any kind. Why should they, when they have only to wave their wands, to get anything they want.

Just then Kitty heard a noise like leaves rustling in a quiet breeze, and looking up she saw a great many strange wee people flying towards her. The wings were of some light gauzy material, and made the noise she heard by their vibration. At length, they alighted in front of her and formed a half circle around one, who was evidently their queen. Over her dress, to distinguish her from the others, she Wore a long mantle of some velvety material, the end of which was upheld by two tiuy fairy pages. She had beautiful golden hair, which hung in waves over her shoulders, and on her small head was a golden crown with a diamond star in front, which sparkled brilliantly. * Oh, you lazy little girl,’ she said, addressing Kitty. ‘So you think we don’t work. Look at my mantle, made of innumerable moths’ wings sewn together. Don’t you think that required some labour ? Come to my palace and see if there is no work done there.’

• I don’t want to go to your palace,’ said Kitty crossly, thinking that fairies were not such lovely things after all. 4 That will make no difference,’ replied the Queen as she spread her beautiful wings and rising in the air, waved her wand above tho little girl’s head, ‘l’ve enchanted yon and you’ll be obliged to go. Child of the earth, follow me.’ Kitty gave a great start and opened her eyes. She had been asleep and dreamed all this. She looked at the sun, which was far over in the west, caught up her book and knitting and ran iuto the house, thinking she might jyet ba able to finish her task before tea time. Again she placed a chair in front of the bookcase, mounted it and was reaching up to put the book on the same shelf from which she had taken it, when she heard her mother crossing the hall and coming towards the room she was in. She gave a last hasty pash, when the book fell with a crash, knooking down a little china vase which was on the ledge below, and breaking it to piece 3. Just then Kitty’s mother came in. • Kittv, Kitty, you have broken my beanful little* vase,’ she said. * Why did you not ask me for the ..book, if you have finished your task 2’ • Go and get the broom and dust-pan and sweep up those pieoes. I will not let you have the book to-day, for punishment-’ When Kitty returned from carrying out the fragments of the vase, she saw her mother standing by the window, examining her knitting. ‘Kitty, come here.’ she said severely. ‘What have you been doing all the afternoon? I see by the mark that yon have not done one round on your stocking. Where have you been, child ?’ • Out in the garden,’ said Kitty slowly. ‘ What were you doing in the garden ?’ • I was reading my story book and then I fell asleep,’ confessed Kitty, who, though an idle, was a very truthful child. Mrs Parton sat down and her eyes filled with tears. She was grieved at Kitty’s disobedience, yet, at the same time, nho felt a glow of pride at her sincerity. Kitty saw the tears and her tender little heart melted at once. ‘ Oh, mamma, don’t orv,’ she said, putting her arms around her mother’s neck. * I will be good, indeed I will. I will save my money to buy you another vase, instead of spending it on myself.’ ‘lt is not the vase I care about so much, Kitty. It is the thought that you will not try to overcome your idleness.’ Kitty promised faithfully to try and she succeeded beyond her mother’s hopes. It was with a proud heart that she carried home at Christmas a prize for being the moat studious girl in her class—a book purposely chosen by the teacher as an encouragement to whichever pupil should win it, and which was entitled ♦ Youthful Diligence and Future Greatness.’