Story for Tiny Tots.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 515, 30 March 1933, Page 3

Story for Tiny Tots.

OLE LUCKOIE: OR THE DUSTMAN. Thursday’s Tale. “ I’ll tell you what!” said the Dustman; “ do not be afraid, and you shall see a little mouse!” And he held out his hand with the pretty little animal in it. “ She has come to invite you to a wedding. There are two little mice here who intend to enter into matrimony. They live under the floor of the dining-room; theirs must be such a pretty house!” “ But how can I get through the little hole?” asked Hialmar. “ Let me take ca.re of that,” said the Dustman. “ I will make you very little!” And he touched Hialmar with his magic wand, and he became smaller and smaller until he was no longer than his own fingers. “ Now you can borrow the tin soldiers clothes; I think that they will just fit you; and it looks grand to wear uniform when you are in company.’ “ Ah, yes!’ said Mialmar, and in another moment he was dressed like the prettiest little tin-soldier. “ Will you have the goodness to '-it down in your mother’s thimble now?” said the Mouse. “In that case I shall feel honoured by drawing you.”

“ What! Will you really take so much trouble?” said Hialmar; and away they went to the Mouse’s wedding. They first came to a long passage , under the floor, which was high enough for the thimble to be drawn along through it, and was illuminated with lighted tinder throughout. “Is there not a pleasant smell here?” said the Mouse who was drawing the thimble. “ The whole passage is covered with a rind of bacon, and there is nothing more delightful.” They now entered the bridal apartment; the lady mice stood on the right hand, whispering together, seeming very merry; on the left side stood the gentlemen mice, who were all stroking their whiskers with their paws. In the middle of the room the bride and bridegroom were seen, standing in the scooped-out rind of a cheese, and kissing each other incessantly, before the eyes of all present. They were already betrothed, and were to be married immediately. Strangers were arriving every moment; the mice almost trod each other to death; and the bridal pair had placed themselves just in the centre of the doorway, so that no one could go either in nor out. The whole room, like the passage, covered with the rind of bacon. This was all the entertainment given. For dessert, however, a pea was exhibited, in which a little mouse belonging to the family had bitten the initials of the married couple. Was not this an exquisite idea? All the mice agreed that the wedding had been extremely genteel, and the conversation delightful.

So now Hialmar returned home; he had certainly been in distinguished company; but still he felt that he had rather lowered himself by becoming so small, and wearing the uniform of one of his own tin-soloiers. (Friday’s tale next week.) THE MERMAID QUEEN. The Mermaid Queen, Queen Fairiel, lived in a beautiful palace in the deep ocean. Littlest and Baby Helen, her two baby daughters, were crying like anything and Margery Daw, her small pet daughter, was trying to stop them. Her Majesty had lots of small children, but hardly any big ones. There were Tadpole and Margery Daw and Rosie Bluebell and Sunkist and Littlest and Baby Helen. One day Queen Fairiel called to see Lady Golden Gorse. “My dear,” said she, “ would you care to come to tea to-night?”

“ Very much,” answered Golden Gorse. “ I shall bring my daughter, Tiggywinkle,” said she as she went inside to choose what clothes she was going to wear.

When Fairiel arrived home she found all her little children crying, and the older ones looking very sad. She asked them what was the matter, and they said that Tiny Tad, the pet canary, was dead. After being sorry with everyone Fairiel began to prepare for the wonderful tea. When she was dressed she drove along in a carriage of coral and green seaweed to visit Princess Moonshine, who lived in another part of the ocean altogether. She asked the Princess to come to tea, too.

“ I shall be delighted to come,” was the answer she received.

When she arrived home she found them all there except Margery Daw, who had quite disappeared.

The reason was that Margery, Daw, seeing a funny-looking man, had wandered off to see what he was really like. As soon as she came up to him he grabbed her, and she knew then who he was—one of the bad sea wizards. He took her to his home and made her do all the work in his seaweed and coral home, although she was only four. He was rather deaf as well as short sighted, and one day after he had gone outside Margery Daw ran away. She soon knew where her home was, and off she ran. When she arrived home ah! they were pleased to see her. They hugged her and kissed her such a lot. Queen Fairiel doesn’t go visiting far away now, and looks after her little family.

BROWNIE BUTCHER. On Pixie Hill old Mr. Elf Has got a butcher’s shop, Where Brownies can buy earwig steaks, And finest glow-worm chops. His legs of caterpillars Are the nicest to be found; And his dragon flies for boiling Have won fame for miles around.