A Trip to Moonland

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 2

A Trip to Moonland

—PRIZE—

Molly was in the land of Nod. Suddenly she woke with a start, what was that funny noise? Molly rubbed her eyes dreamily. There, sitting at the end of the bed was a tiny little man. “Where did you come from? asked M “l ls came from Moonland,” said the funny little man, “Would you like to come?” j “Oh yes,” cried Molly. Then she suddenly felt herself growing smaller and smaller until she was small enough to climb on the back of a small yellow butterfly. “Is this the way we go to Moonland?” she asked in a very small voice. She was really feeling very frightened at the idea of flying on a 'little yellow butterfly, but she was too proud to tell the little man. “Yes, here we go,” cried the little man, jumping on the back of a second butterfly. , Up, up they went. Were they really going up to where the big yellow moon nestled among the fleecy clouds? At last they arrived. What a welcome

there was. All the little stars twinkled and danced around Molly, who hit herself hard to make sure she was really awake. “And now you must come and see the man in the moon. The man in the moon was in a very jolly mood that evening. The stars went on ahead of Molly and the little m al \. to light the way. “Why is it, asked Molly, “that sometimes the earth is light and other times gloomy and dark?” . . “Because when the man in the moon laughs, he sends bright beams down to the earth, but when he is cross and sad it is then the earth is dark, explained the little man. The earth was bright and shiny that night, so Molly guessed the man in the moon was m a very jolly mood. ( “Hallo,” called the moon man, T am glad you came tonight to visit me, as I am especially jolly. When I am cross I do not like visitors.” “Who are those funny little creatures floating around the moon?” asked Molly. . . „ ~ “Those are the moon fairies, said the man, “but I am afriad you will have to go now, because in an houi s time the moon and the sun change plsces. “You must conic again,’’ said the man in the moon. He gave her a ring in remembrance of her visit. And then, down, down, down she went, until bump—! Molly sat up with a jerk. She expected to find herself sitting in the garden but no, she was sitting on the floor in her own bedroom. She looked at her finger, yes. the ring was still there. “Mother.” she called out “I’ve just been to Moonland.” “You’ve been dreaming dear,” called back her mother. But Molly knew better.

—Prize of 1/- to Cousin Beth Stobo (12), 20 Wellington street.

—PRIZE—

When I went lor a trip to Moonland I went on the back of an eagle. On my way there I saw thousands of stars which grew bigger and brighter as I got closer to them. I also passed through dense clouds which made me quite wet. When I got there the eagle sat me clown on the sickle of the moon and soon the Man-in-the-Moon came to the

door and said, “So it's you, is it, Sonny?” He invited me in where I stayed all night. Next morning I floated through the air and home again. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Albert Seaton (8), 45 Bourke street. —PRIZE— Toby was a little boy of nine, and very fond of robbing the birds’ nests. At last they decided among themselves to complain to their king, the eagle, about the naughty boy robbing their nests. So they did complain, and King Eagle said that one dark night he would go and take Toby to bis palace in Moonland. One night when Toby was tucked up in bed. fast asleep, in flew King Eagle and picked Toby up in his strong bill. Toby awoke, and finding where he was, called for his mother. But it was too late, for he was now on his way to Moonland to appear before the birds. When he arrived at Moonland he was taken before the birds whose nests he had robbed and he immediately started to cry. Each bird made him promise not to steal nests again, and it was not until he had promised truthfully to all of them that King Eagle took him back again to his own little bed. Although Toby had a trip to Moonland he could not see all the wonders there, and I hope his next visit will be a more pleasant one. I think you will agree that Toby, after this adventure, will not rob the birds’ nests again.

—Prize of 1/- to Cousin Joan Paddon (11), Crawfords Road, Mataura.