A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 31

A Little World for Little People

FRIENDSHIP IS A STEADY LIGHT SHINING IN DARK PLACES — *- * THOUGHTS OF CHRISTMAS “PLEASE," said the Doorkeeper, ‘'could anyone tell me how to l knit a pink tie with yellow stripes and a design of green and purple dots? I want to make one for the Joyshop man, and I don’t quite know how to begin. See, I have the needles arid all the silks, but I am afraid someone will have to give me a lesson.” “Well,” said the Dawn Lady, “if you will sit down here and watch very carefully, I shall cast the first stitches on to the needles for you. Are you going to try purl or plain, or a mixture of both?” “I have not quite decided yet,” answered the Doorkeeper, meekly. “It’s for a Christmas present. I notice that all the Sunbeams are making things for their friends.” “Yes, of course they are. Now watch closely. see, I have begun with the pink silk, and when you have knitted about an inch you can begin on the yellow silk to make the stripe.” “And what about the green and purple dots?” “They can be considered later. Now, here you are. Y'ou will find plenty of stitches to make the right width, but you must be careful not to drop any.” “I have a confession to make,” said the Doorkeeper, very humbly. “I can’t knit a stitch. Do you think he would mind if I gave him a pocket knife instead ?” “Oh, dear,” said the Dawn Lady, rolling up all the silk. “That ends it, because I could not possibly knit a tie like that either. As a matter of fact, I usually give pin-cushions.” “I know,” chuckled the Doorkeeper. “You gave me three last Christmas. Couldn’t you possibly vary your gifts this time ?” “But why do you object to pin-cushions?” asked the Dawn Lady, greatly surprised. “They are so very useful.” “But three .. .” murmured the Doorkeeper, faintly. “And I so seldom use pins.” “Well, I shall certainly have to think of something else,” sighed the Dawn Lady. “Would a pen-wiper do?” “Perhaps in your spare time you could make me a new velvet jacket,” suggested the Doorkeeper. “I have spilt so much paint on this one. ... I see your little flower men have been filling your vases again this week. And those beautiful pansies are from a Happy Town artist’s garden. I heard a Sunbeam say once that some pansies have very cross faces, but all of these have learned how to smile.” “I consider,” said Summer Time, M.D., leaning an elbow against the trunk of the Happiness Tree, “that flowers have thoughts and feelings similar to our own. That is why I never like to see a flower trodden underfoot. With its still, small voice it seems to be pleading for mercy. You see them on the footpaths in the Outside World, powerless to help themselves or each other. .. . Oh, do look at the Little Thought playing at twos and threes with the new Sunbeams. He seems to be here, there and everywhere. And how they are all laughing. And here comes the smallest Pixie Postman, struggling under a big scroll of stamps. They are for * the Fresh Air Fund from two «/ j . J. small Sunbeams at Pukemiro. I wonder if our other little people are saving up their pennies ?” 1 -