A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 29

A Little World for Little People

friendship is a steady light shining in dark places

PLAYING AT SCHOOL

“MOW you sit here, Mister Doorkeeper,” said the Little Thought, II pointing to the very end of the bottom step of the Plaee-of-You-Xever-Can-Tell. “You’re at the foot of the class, because yon don’t understand much about figures. The Jdjrshop man comes next because he knows how to measure things, and the Dawn Lady is at the top, because it wouldn’t be polite to put her anywhere else. The Sunbeams are busy with examinations and some of them are very clever, so I thought it wise to find out how much we know in Happy Town. Now, Joyshop man, can you spell ‘cat’ ?” “A black cat or a white one?” asked the Joyshop man, faintly. “Why, just any sort of cat.” “I know.” broke in the Doorkeeper, holding up an eager hand, “It’s B-U-Z. That’s the name of a cat belonging to a Sunbeam and I have often noticed him mentioned in the Hollow Tree.” “But,” protested the Little Thought, “that’s one eat, not just any sort of cat. I might just as well spell dog, ‘T-O-W-S-E-R’ or T-I-D-O.’ I’m afraid you are not very clever at all. Well, that will have to finish the spelling lesson. Now, we shall have some dates.” “Oh, I just love those,” whispered the Joyshop man. “And nuts and raisins, too,” added the Doorkeeper. “Hush!” breathed the Dawn Lady. “You’re thinking of the wrong kind of dates. They never have those in school.” “When was the Crimean war?” asked the Little Thought, consulting a slip of paper tucked away in his pocket. “We don’t know anything about it,” protested the Doorkeeper, earnestly, “but, if you were to ask us when Doctor Spring Sunshine will return to Happy Town, we could all give the answer. It’s in the spring.” “Class, dismiss,” said the Little Thought. “Your ignorance of school life is appalling, but perhaps it is just as well that it is always playtime in Happy Town. . . . Why, what is that picture. Dawn Lady? It has some trees and footprints, but only half an animal in it.” “Yes, Little Thought. The artist man caught this one just in time. He is the last Incredible Creature and they are all going back to the Land of Lost Ideas. Some of the Sunbeams made books of them, so they will never be quite forgotten.” “Ah, well,” sighed the Doorkeeper, “everything J) . comes to an end sometime, .7 J OuftAj even Snoops and Sweedles, Mj-t ■■ ± Pnnkerdabs, Hoobooloos, Nabbles, and our schooldays.” v ’