I WISH

Southland Times, Issue 23954, 21 October 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

I WISH

—PRIZE—

A little boy was fishing in a pond when he looked at his watch and found it was a quarter past twelve, so he stopped fishing and had his lunch.

When his lunch was finished, he lay down in the sun and was soon fast asleep. Suddenly he was awakened by a touch on his arm, and there beside him was a little gnome who said, “Would you like to have a wish at the wishing well?” “Oh, yes!” exclaimed the little boy, “but I do not know the way.” “Don’t worry about that,” said the gnome, “just climb on to this broom and shut your eyes.” The little boy obeyed the gnome and up into the air they went. Suddenly, without warning, there,was a bump which made the little boy open his eyes, and there in front of him was the well. He went up to the well and looked into it. It was moss-grown, and it was about half full cf water in which he could plainly see the reflection of himself. As he looked he heard a voice which, came from within the well. It said: “What do you wish for?” “I wish for an aeroplane,” said the little boy, “a four-engined one.” As he spoke he heard a buzzing sound, and before he had time to look round, an aeroplane taxied across the ground and out from it came a man carrying a pilot’s uniform. He said, “I am to be your mechanic while you pilot the plane.” “Oh thank you ever so much,” said the boy, and he jumped for •inv '

I also wish for an aeroplane. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin George Mitchell (11), Gladfield R.D.

—PRIZE—

One hot summer day, Molly Brown lay under a big oak tree reading a fairy story. “Oh I wish I could see a real fairy,” said Molly. All at once the oak tree turned into a beautiful fairy palace, and Molly was sitting inside watching the fairies dancing. To Molly’s surprise she had grown very small herself, and was wearing a beautiful pink satin dress. “Welcome to our party,” said the fairy queen, “you are a good little mortal and, because you always believe in fairies, you have been granted your wish.” Molly thanked the queen for her kindness and said she would always believe in fairies. The fairies then gave Molly a drink of magic dew in a flower cup, and the next thing Molly knew, she was lying once again under the oak tree. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Heather Baillie (7), 216 Nelson street. —PRIZE— If wishes are always granted, one of my greatest wishes to be gratified will be for a trip around the world. I will sail in a large vessel named Aorangi. There will be a great bustle catching the ship, and I will have many friends to see me away. At first I will feel sorry to be leaving, but that feeling will soon vanish as I know I will be back in several months. Soon the ship will be off, and I will have started my long journey. After travelling a few days I will arrive at Melbourne, and then I will pass Adelaide and Fremantle. These are ports in Australia. This country belongs to Great Britain. My next port of call will be Colombo in Ceylon, which also belongs to Britain, and produces most of New Zealand’s tea. It is a small island south of India. I will next travel to Aden. This is a British port at the opening of the Red Sea. After going through the Red Sea I will pass through the Suez Canal, which joins the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. It also shortens the route from New Zealand to England. Then, for many days I will be travelling on a large expanse of water, but will soon be at the Strait of Gibraltar. This strait belongs to Britain. Then, to my joy, I will soon be at Southampton. I shall spend a week there seeing wonderful sights, then I shall board my ship for Montreal. I can go by the Panama Canal, but by going across Canada by the Canadian Pacific Railway, I will see more scenery. It is a long railway, stretching from Montreal to Vancouver. At Van couver my boat will be waiting to take me back to New Zealand. On arriving at Auckland I will see my friends again. I will have had a very enjoyable trip and will have a good deal of news to tell. If ever any of my wishes are gratified, I hope this will be my first one.

—Prize of 1/- to Cousin Alison Dickie (11), East Chatton-Gore R.D.

—PRIZE—

I wish I were a bird, then I would not have to go to school. With no more spelling and tables to learn, I would be free to go wherever I wished, get up each morning when I felt like it, and go to bed when I pleased. Then when I was hungry I would find some grubs or grain. There would be no need to wait till meal time.

How lovely it would be to fly high up in the sky or perch on the top of a tree.

—Prize of 1/- to Cousin lan McEwen (9), 87 Morton street.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—

“Oh, I do wish I could go to the show,” said Michael, with a wistful sigh. “Billy and John are going, so I don’t see why I can’t.” He thought he was alone and so he gave a little jump when he heard a tiny voice speaking to him. “Hold my hand, shut your eyes, and I will take you there,” said a dainty little fairy sitting in a daffodil.

Michael excitedly did as the fairy bade him, and in a few minutes he felt his feet touch the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw crowds of people swarming into the field. How thrilling it would have been to go for a ride on that merry-go-round. Such a lot of boys and girls were enjoying themselves there, and who was that whizzing round on that white horse? Why it was John, with Billy just behind him. ' “Please, could I have a ride on the merry-go-round?” asked Michael, looking round to where he supposed his tiny friend was standing. “Oh” he exclaimed, “the fairy has gone, and left me all alone.” Sure enough, that busy little person, thinking Michael would be safe with his friends, had gone her way, seeking to do good. Seeing some money which the fairy had dropped into his pocket, Michael raced to the merry-go-round and, having paid his fare, was conducted to a pony on the opposite side to that occupied by his two friends.

He had no opportunity to speak to them then, but when he had finished his ride, he ran round to where he had seen his friends, but to his dismay, he realized that they must have gone away without noticing him. As he could not see them anywhere, he went and purchased sweets then visited numerous sideshows, until, feeling in his pocket, Michael discovered that he had spent all his money, with the exception of a halfpenny, which he knew would not be sufficient to pay for some dinner. He . wandered about, lonely and deserted as the crowds had left the field for dinner. His stomach felt very empty, and hunger was hurting him terribly. Unable to keep his courage any longer, Michael sat down and cried. Feeling a light touch on his elbow, he hastily, wiped away his tears, and, looking round, he saw his friend the fairy. “Time to go home,” said the fairy, and closing his eyes again, Michael felt himself land on the soft green lawn at his own home. Thanking the fairy, he ran inside just in time for dinner, but never again would he be so foolish, for he had learnt his lesson. He had learnt that what he wished for was not always good for him.

—3 marks to Cousin Alan Gordon Clark (10), Gladfield R.D., Wright’s Bush.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—

It was a lovely summer’s day, and we were having a very happy time at the sea-side. We had bathed, gathered shells, and had a lovely lunch, and now we were resting. I had a very cosy spot, and soon Mr Sand-man came, and sprinkled sand in my eyes. In a twinkling I was changed from a little boy to a full grown man, who was very, very rich, like Lord Nuffield; and like him, I made

up my mind, that I would give my money away to help those in need, the blind, the cripples, and to the many hospitals and institutions there are. Oh, what a lot there were who needed help, and I was delighted I could help. Now I was travelling on a big ocean liner, and after many days, arrived at my destination. It was a very big city and . I was taken to such a beautiful place to stay. Here I met the Mayor of the city, and I began asking him v about the cripples, the poor and the needy in his city. For answer he took me to the hospital and different places where my heart was saddened as I looked upon so much suffering, One little girl he showed me was only four years old, and would not be able to walk until she had an operation; but it would cost such a lot of money, and her mother and father were very, very poor. Here was my chance. I told the mayor, what/was in my mind, and asked him to accept a cheque for £lO,OOO to assist the poor and needy sick, and cripples of his city. He was very grateful, and said that he would do as I wished, and that he knew many would benefit by the gift. Time passed, and when next time I visited there, I was taken by the mayor to the same hospital, you can imagine my joy, when the little girl who was unable to walk before, had now had her operation, and it had been successful. I saw her playing and my heart was cheered, as I thought of the good I could do. By-and-by I awakened, for it had been a dream, but I wish my dream will come true some day, so that I shall be able to make many people happy.

—3 marks to Cousin Victor George C. Jones, M.A.C. (9), 71 Conon street. (

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED—“Oh dear,” sighed Jean Harlow one hot sunny day after school, “I do wish I had a pony, because it is so tiring walking back and forwards to school on that hard, dusty road.” “Well,” replied her mother, “if you keep on wishing you may yet receive one.” She was suddenly interrupted by the shrill sound of the postman’s whistle. Quickly Jean ran to the letterbox where she found two letters. Her mother’s was only an account, but Jean’s was a letter from her Uncle Jim. It said that Uncle was coming in the Western train that very night. “Oh how wonderful, mother, we must go at once to the station.”

Very soon the trap pulled by a beautiful chestnut horse was galloping swiftly towards the station. When they arrived they found the train was not yet in, but it soon was, for with much grinding of brakes and screeching of wheels the great Western Express pulled up with a jerk in front of the platform.

In a few moments Uncle Jim was on the station and said to Jean. “If you look in the horsevan you will find something.” Jean at once ran to the van, and when she opened the door a lovely white pony jumped out. After giving her uncle a hug, she said, “At last my wish has come true.”

—3 marks to Cousin June Harpur (11), Drill Hall.