THE FIRST DIMPLE

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

THE FIRST DIMPLE

First-prize Story ’'Goodnight,” said Mummie, as she \ tucked the twins up in bed, and turned J out the light. “Goodnight,” they echoed, and “Goo-night.” Paulino drowsily, as she hugged her little white toy elephant. The silver crescent moon came round to peep at the three children through the open casement window, and made little patches of silver light on the shadowy floor. . . . Presently Little White Elephant wriggled cautiously out of Baby Pauline's arms, and trotted silently across to the window. A tiny fairy stood there, which was just what Little White Elephant had expected. “Is everything ready?” he asked the fairy, in a gruff voice. The twins and Pauline might have thought it surprising that Little White Elephant could walk and talk, but they would never know. Every month when the new moon came, Little White Elephant was allowed the supreme privilege of toys—a visit to Fairy la'-id. But to earn this privilege he must every year invent something to benefit mortals or fairies. That was the decree of the Fairy Queen, and, unless it was carried out Little White Elephant would be deprived for ever of his privilege. One year lie had invented a strange new tint for Lady Autumn, and another year he had given a little new wild flower to earth. Tonight he must again invent something, but he was determined to enjoy the Fairy Queen's party before he thought of that. Away he sailed in a little white cloud-coach, which the fairy messenger had brought for him. He was greeted at the Fairy Queen's sky palace by many little cherubs who ushered him to the presence of the Queen. Oh, how Little White Elephant enjoyed that party! The bright lights of the moon and stars, the gaily-dressed little fairies and gallant little elves all made a beautiful picture. Presently Little White Elephant happened to glance through the palace casement. Strangely enough, ho gazed straight down through Baby Pauline’s window, and Pauline was at that moment laughing in her sleep. Perhaps she, too, was gazing straight up into the Fairy Queen’s palace. “How beaiitiful is her smile,” thought Little White Elephant. “But there is something else needed to make it just right.” Ho was still pondering this when the party had ended and he was descending again to the nursery. Just as he reached it, he had a sudden idea. “Look,” lie said to his fairy escort, and gently pressed Pauline’s rosy cheek with the end of his trunk. A moment later the baby chuckled merrily, and even the waiting fairy clapped her hands with delight, for now little Pauline’s smile was a roguish, beautiful thing, merry and sweet. The Little White Elephant had invented the first dimple! * * * “Oh, do look!” said Mummie to Daddy, next morning. “Baby lias developed such a lovely smile. I wonder how it happened?” “Perhaps the fairies caused It,” said Tony, the twin, wisely, and had anyone glanced at Little White Elephant, then, they might have seen his glass eyes twinkle! —Jean Mclndoe, aged 14.