A Little World for Little People

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 840, 7 December 1929, Page 35

A Little World for Little People

friendship is a steady light shining in dare places

TRUANTS

"All, dear me," said the Woodpecker, with a gusty sigh, “what U a busy time we’re having! I couldn’t sleep last night for thinking of competitions. Paintings, drawings, stories and poems are streaming in, and I don’t know why, but I feel responsible for everything.” “Oh, you shouldn’t feel like that about it,” answered the Little Thought, looking down from a branch of the Hollow- Tree, where for the last ten minutes he had been sitting blissfully swinging his legs. “Now, I never let things like that worry me. [ just look at everything and admire and applaud, but I don’t feel responsible for anything.” “Well, you’re very lucky,” said the Woodpecker, “but just think of me. Supposing I mixed up the answers in the Hollow Tree.’ I have to take such care of them because the Sunbeams would blame me if there were any mistakes.” “Forget your troubles,” laughed the Little Thought, “and come for a fly. It will do you good and take your attention off your work for the time being. It is a long time since you have had a bird's-eye view of Happy Town. I’ll race you across to the Happiness Tree, but you must he very careful where you alight. The Love Flowers are easily crushed. . . . There you are now, I said I could race you. Isn’t it beautiful up here in the top branches? 1 can see right over Happy Town into the Outside World. There’s a tram; people ride in them And that white object like a bird’s w-ing is the sail of a yacht.” “And what is all that smoke over there”” asked the Woodpecker. curiously. “Oh, that is from a factory chimney. We don’t have anything like that in Happy Town. What do you think oE my pressed flower garden? Doesn’t it look pretty viewed from above ? I can see something strange resting against the chimney of the Place-of-You-Never-Can-Tell. It looks like a notice board. Shall we investigate? Yes, it is. Why, the Doorkeeper is already preparing for the arrival of Father Christmas. We’ve just caught him nicely. ‘Oh, kind old man with hair like snow, the Doorkeeper sleeps down below.’ ” “Who could pass that ?” chuckled the Woodpecker. “I feel much better for having stretched my wings. Little Thought, but now I think I should return to my duties. Somehow-, you know-, T never feel really at home anywhere hut in the Hollow Tree.”

“I’ll race you across,” v said the Little Thought, spreading his wings. “One, two, three. ... A false start! Come back!”