THE OLD STUMP

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12477, 19 June 1926, Page 16

THE OLD STUMP

Morris and June ran round the garden looking for the Babies. “Because,” June said, “we really haven’t played with them foi ages, and we were rather cross when they wanted to go blackberrying with us.” Morris nodded. He knew that June was right; they had not been too nice to the little brother and sister who had been left alone. But Morris was ten and June was nine, and there was so little that the babies could do. He watched June run to the sandpit where they were playing and sit down with them. Then he stood for a long time thinking deeply. After a while he disappeared, and June heard the gate clang. Presently she looked up and saw him coming toward them. "Why don’t the Babies go and play in the held?” he asked. “You know, June, fairies dance round the old stump at night when the moon shines.” The little ones looked at him, big-eyed. “Or, they do,” he went on. “They might have dances there and midnight feasts . . . and if Babs and Bunty went they might see them ... or something that had been left behind from their parties.” “I’m going,” said Babs. And Bunty joined in. “Me, too,” and they toddled off. They crept through the hole in the hedge and rein over to the tree stump. Then they stood with smiles all over their little faces. The Fairies had been there when the Moon was shining! Some dinky little paper dishes with chocolates in them and some tiny sweets that looked like silk cushions! They gathered them and ran back to the garden. “I told you so!” Morris laughed. “That’s nicer even than blackberrying!”., LUCY DE LA COUR Martinborough. (Aged io).