POOH CORNER

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6977, 13 October 1948, Page 10

POOH CORNER

Dear Children, I have such a sad story. I couldn’t go to the circus. Several days before I began to feel all snuffly and by the day they arrived I was in bed with a bad cold. Piglet went, of course, and he told me about everything. I was so disappointed to miss seeing the elephants because I like them best of all. The lions are very handsome but I’m always a little frightened of them and afraid they might attack their keeper, but I suppose they are really quite safe. The clowns are such fun too and Piglet was very amused at • them striking matches on the elephant. I do hope there will be another circus soon and that I will be able to go next time. Our love to you all .—AVinnie-tli e-Pooh.

.MERIT CORNER (3rd Series—l3th October) Jean Anderson, Oparau. Dear Winnie-the-Pooh, I have not written for a long time because I could not find the pencil. It is raining here and Daddy is sitting by the sitting-room fire. On Friday, Mummy and Daddy and the three little ones went to town. Mummy bought me three pencils and Graham three reading books. Yesterday and to-day he lias been reading the books nearly all the time. We have three pet lambs. The name of my lamb is Winkle and the name of. Graham’s is Fanny and Lloyd’s is Audrey. I will close now.—Yours, The Nipper. It is* a long time since we last had a letter from you Nipper, but now you have the pencils your Mummy bought we hope to receive lots more from you. Are you going to enter your lamb in the Pets’ Section of the Calf Club at school? I like to sit in front of the fire too when it is raining. It gives you such a cosy feeling.

Dear Winnie-the-Pooh,, How are you and Piglet? You asked me to tell you more about my brother. He is four years of age, has fair hair and complexion. He sings quite a few songs and helps Dad. We play lots of games together. Next year he will go to school with me. I am in a Sunday School concert on October the 15th. ’I am going to say a piece of poetry called Supposing. I’m sorry I have not written for a long time. I hope you are going to the concert at Kihikihi Hall.— Yours sincerely, Pansy. Piglet and I are very well thank you Pansy. The lovely spring weather we have had the last few days seems to agree with us. You are lucky having a little brother. Have you a photo of him. you could send us ? He sounds so attractive. I should like to hear him sing. I am afraid I will not be able to see your concert Pansy, but you must write and tell me all about it. Do not forget to write your name and age on your letters will you.

seem to be anything to be done. We’ll get the boat out, and paddle upstream. The moon will be up in an hour or so, and then we will search as well as we ean—anyhow, it will, be better than going to bed and doing nothing.”

*‘Just what I was thinking myself,” said the Rat. “It’s not the sort of night for bed anyhow; and the daybreak is not so very far off, and then we may pick up some news of him from early risers as we go along.” 'They got the boat out, and the Rat took the sculls, paddling with caution. Out in midstrea,m there was a clear, narrow track that faintly reflected the sky;, but wherever shadows fell on tile water from bank to bank, bush,, or tree, they were as solid to all appearances. as the' banks, themselves,. and the Mole had to steer with judgment accordingly. Dark and deserted as it was, the night was full of small noises, song and chatter and rustling, telling of the busy little population who were up and about, plying their trades and vocations through the night till sunshine should fall on them at last and send them off to their well-earned repose. The water’s own noises, too, were more apparent than by day, its gurglings and “cloops” more unexpected and near at hand; and constantly they started at what seemed a sudden clear call from an actual articulate voice.

The line of the horizon was clear and hard against the sky, and in one particular quarter it showed black against a silvery climbing phosphorescence that grew and grew. At last, over the rim of the waiting earth the moon lifted with slow majesty, till it swung clear of the horizon and rode off, free of moorings; and once more they begin to see surfaces —meadows widespread, and quiet gardens, and the river itself from bank to bank, all softly disclosed, all washed clean of mystery and terror, all radiant again as by day, but with a difference that Was tremendous. Thgir old haunts greeted them again in other raiment, as if they had slipped away and put on this pure hew apparel and come quietly back, smiling- as they shyly waited to see if they would be recognised again under it. Fastening their boat to a willow, the friends landed in this silent, silver kingdom, and patiently explored the hedges, the hollow trees, the runnels and their little culverts, the ditches and dry water-ways. Embarking again and crossing over, they worked their way up the stream in this manlier, while the moon, serene and detached in a cloudless sky, did what she could, though so far off, to help them in their quest; till her hour came and she sank earthwards reluctantly, and left them, and mystery once more held field and river.

Then a change began slowly to declare itself. The horizon became clearer, field and tree came more into sight, and somehow with a different look; the mystery began to drop away from them. A bird piped suddenly, and was still; and a light breeze sprang up and set the reeds and bulrushes rustling. Rat, who was in the stern of the boat, while Mole sculled, sat up suddenly and listened with a passionate intentness. Mole, who with gentle strokes was just keeping- the boat moving- while he scanned the banks with care, looked at him with curiosity.

“It’s gone!” sighed the Rat, sinking back into his seat again. “So beautiful and strange and new! Since it was to end so soon, I almost wish 1 had never heard it. For it has roused a longing in me that is pain, . and nothing- seems worth while but just to hear that sound once more and go on listening td it for ever. No! There it is again!” he cried, alert onee more. Entranced, he was silent for a long space, spellbound. (To be Continued)