A Little World for Little People j

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 804, 26 October 1929, Page 31

A Little World for Little People j

FRIENDSHIP IS A STEADY LIGHT SHINING IN DARK PLACES j

A WEEPING BIRD, A SUN BONNET AND A RIDDLE

Oil, dear me,’ said tlie Little Thought, rather anxiously. “Something’s wrong here. Why is this poor bird crying, and who is the little person drying its eyes?” “Someone has robbed its nest, and that baby in the sunbonnet is called -Japonica,” answered the Woodpecker, wisely. t M hy ‘Japonica’?” asked the Doorkeeper, curiously. t Because one name is as good as another,” answered tlie Woodpecker, “and, anyway, it exactly suits that sunbonnet. If the bird had made its nest in a hollow tree it would have been spared all this trouble. I suppose that beetle has just broken the sad news.” I ve thought of a riddle,” said the Joy shop man, bustling up with an important air. “When is a nasturtium not a nasturtium ?” 'When the colours have run,” said the Doorkeeper, promptly. "When it feels seedy,” contributed the Woodpecker, brightly. “When it is looking blue,” suggested the Little Thought. “Now those are very good answers,” laughed the Joyshop man, “because in some of those paintings the colours have run and made the flowers feel seedy, and some of the nasturtiums have been coloured blue. Perhaps that is why the bird is crying.” “We all know why the bird is crying,” said the Doorkeeper, “but that is not the answer to the riddle. And, anyway, nearly all the nasturtiums are the right colour. I used to grow some in a window-box, so I ought to know. Here comes the Dawn Lady with a beautiful deep red rose that someone has sent her. lam sure she is going to give it to me for a buttonhole. . . . No, I am <iuite wrong. She is going to wear it herself, but at least I can share its perfume. Why not ask her that riddle?’ She ought to know.” “Dawn Lady,” said the Joyshop man, meekly. “When is a nasturtium not a nasturtium?” “I give it up,” pleaded the Dawn Lady after a moment’s profound thought. “AVliat is the » S “I don’t know,” chuckled the Joyshop man, skipping Y blithely away. V