Choosing A Birthday Present

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 5 (Supplement)

Choosing A Birthday Present

—PRIZE-

Dorothy, John and David were on the way to choose a birthday present for mother. When they arrived in tow?., they went straight to one of the large shops, one that sold all kinds of things. “I think we should get something for mother to wear,” said Dorothy, who always liked to look pretty herself. “I think we should get something nice for her to eat,” said John, who was always feeling hungry. “Well, I think we should get something mother could keep,” said little David, “because mother likes to keep her presents.” They told the shop assistant they were each wanting a birthday present for mother, and that they had ninepence each to spend. The shop girl was very kind and showed them several things. At last they bought their gifts. Dorothy bought a dainty brooch, John bought a fine cake of chocolate, and David bought a pretty picture to hang on the wall. With their presents clasped tightly in their hands they made their way home, quite pleased with their choice. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Wallace. Baillie (9), 216 Nelson street. —PRIZE— It was a glorious day when Billy Brooks, aged six, sat on the bank of a sparkling stream, and pondered deeply upon the problem of his mother’s birthday gift. “What shall I give her?” wondered Billy. To Billy, living as he did so far from even a small township, the bush and the paddocks offered many beautiful things, and Billy’s problem was, which to give her. His mother loved flowers, he knew, and there were plenty of them. Daisies and wild hyacinths strewed the paddocks, and in the bush, the mistletoe was like a crimson flame leaping through the birches. But he had given her flowers last year. There were trout in the stream which rippled at his feet, but those, too, had been given before. What should it be, he wondered. The shadows were lengthening, and he heard the sheep bleating as they do in the evening. He must hurry and decide or he would be late for tea. Rising,/ he wandered slowly along the grassy bank, but inspiration refused to come. He waded into the stream. Its gravel bed was cool, and soothed his tired feet, as he sought to catch the little fish which darted past. Then again he thought of his mother’s birthday, as, through the clear water he saw a glimmer of yellow. It was quite a large yellowish stone, and very heavy. Billy’s mother often picked up queer and pretty stones for the pool in her rock garden, and he knew that she had none like this. This would be his present. Next morning Billy was up early to wish his mother a happy birthday and present her with the precious stone. He was utterly unprepared for what happened, for, with a cry of amazement, she turned to her husband. “Look!” she cried, “It’s gold, and we won’t need to go away after all.” “Billy, where did you get it?” asked his father’s equally excited voice. “Oh!” exclaimed Billy’s mother, hugging him when he had told them all about it. “The seasons have been so bad and we have been losing so much money, that daddy thought we would have to leave the run. Now we won’t, because that stone is very valuable. So you see, sonny, you have given me a wonderful birthday present.” —Prize of 1/- to Cousin IsSbel McKenzie, M.A.C. (16), Dipton.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED— It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I was lying in the warm sunshine when I remembered that it would be Margaret’s birthday on Monday. What was Ito give her? Oh, this problem of choosing a birthday present. Suddenly I felt myself being carried away by a fairy to Fairyland. We flew a long way, and ever so high. At last she said, “Can you see those silver gates between the high rocky mountains?”

I ing to make the big cake for the party. The flowers and trees in the garden were wonderful. I saw a fairy plant a little forget-me-not plant and the next minute she waved her wand and it began to flower. The time came for the party, and we were all taken to the big hall. It was decorated and everything seemed to sparkle. When we were all seated at the table, the Fairy Queen came in, arrayed in her sparkling robes and flowers. She made a speech and all the fairies stood and spoke in their own fairy language. The tea began and there were many delicious things to eat. After the tea we played games on the lawn and fairy dancing was held. We were all shown through Fairyland.

“Yes,” I said. “That is Fairyland. Tonight it is the birthday of the Fairy Queen and I thought I would like to take you to the celebration as every Fairy must bring someone from your earth below.” “Oh,” I said, “thank you very much. It was ever so good of you to think of me.” The next minute we arrived at the gates where some fairies were on guard, dressed in their silver sparkling frocks. Inside, there was a beautiful green lawn and many children were there. All the fairies were either dancing around or help-

At last we returned to the hall where we sang a fairy goodnight song, and, as we were going out of the hall, the Fairy Queen presented us all with a lovely gift. To my great surprise I received a beautiful crystal scent sprxy and perfume. Oh, how delighted I was.

Suddenly, I opened my eyes and

found myself lying on the lawn. Then I thought for a moment. Yes! I had solved the problem. I was to give Margaret a crystal scent spray with perfume, just like the one the Fairy Queen had given to me in my dream. —3 marks to Cousin Helen Dalgarno A.C., (15), 71 Grey street, Gladstone.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED— Little Fairy Silverstar was very downhearted for it was her birthday next day, and she had no one to give her a present. She thought of what she would like.

“Wouldn’t it be lovely if I could have a new ball dress of Christmas rose petals, sewn with gossamer, and with a necklace of dew-drops? Of course I would need shoes and stockings to match!” she murmured to herself.

“I know how you can get them” replied a little voice by her side, and she looked down to see her friend, Peter the Pixie. “Listen,” he went on, “When I was walking in the forest today I heard the witch and the wizard planning to steal our princess, and. shut her up in the under-ground caverns to work for the gnomes, so I have thought of a plan. You know that the princess always takes a walk in the forest, and that is when the witch plans to seize her. Tomorrow you will take the place of the princess, and the queen will make the guards invisible, so that when the witch attempts to seize you, they will catch her and put her in the dungeons!”

“But she will know I am not the princess!”

“No, you can wear a veil over your face. The princess often does.”

“All right, let’s go and tell the queen.” The next day everything happened as planned, and the witch was captured. The queen found that it was Silverstar’s birthday, and was so grateful to her that she offered her whatever present she would like. “Oh please may I have a new balldress and everything to match?” “Of course you may, and would you like to live at the palace with me?”

“Oh, how lucky I am,” cried Sil ■ verstar,” and what a lovely birthday I am having!” —3 marks to Cousin Betty Grace A.C., (12), 233' Spey street.

-VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED— Everyone was busy in Elftown, preparing for the morrow, which was to be a day of rejoicing because it was the Fairy Queen’s birthday. All the little elves were competing with one another, trying to find a really nice present for the Queen. After much anxious thought one little elf decided to make a necklace. He went among the hedges seeking all the cobwebs he could find. These he twined into a strong string. He made up his mind to be first up on the birthday morning, to gather some dewdrops to thread for a necklace. Although the Queen had many other presents, she liked this one most of all. —3 marks to Cousin Richard Goodson A.C., (10), 64 Robertson street.