A Kind Act

Southland Times, Issue 21581, 19 December 1931, Page 19

A Kind Act

One cold bitter day, in a lonely suburban street a little girl about twelve, judging by her size, was seen hunched up under a tree in an unkempt garden, crying violently. Her clothes were coarse and showed signs of much use, while long golden curb hung carelessly round her face and shoulders. She looked a picture of abject misery, and her tear-stained face looked piteously at the few pedestrians, who happened that way. At last a merry faced High School girl came dancing along and, seeing the miserable little figure under the tree, she asked what was the matter. Winnie, the little girl in trouble, seemed drawn to this girl who was so sympathetic and anxious to help, found herself telling the whole sad tale.

Her mother had that morning been taken away to the hospital where she was seriously ill, while her father had gone some miles from the town in search of employment. A very stern house-keeper had been called in and had just given Winnie a severe strapping and sent her out of the house, ordering her not to return until tea-time.

Mary, the other girl, was very kind and sympathetic, as most Little Southlanders are for she was a L.S. Stic seemed to be thinking of something to help one in distress. Suddenly her face brightened and she said.

“I’ll tell you, Winnie, you run along and tidy youself and I’ll take you to Cousin Betty, who is a friend to anyone in trouble. Come with me and we’ll enlist you in our big roll of Little Southlanders.” Soon this girl who had been so miserable, became happy once more and she was an enthusiastic Little Southlander. Her mother recovered her health and it became a happy family again; all because of the kind act of a Little Southlander.

—Cousin Peggy Sim (12), Pukemaori, R.D., Tuatapere.