DEAREST LITTLE PEOPLE,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

DEAREST LITTLE PEOPLE,

not help me grow.” “Never mind, Sonia,” I said, “you are the only sunflower I have, and therefore very special. And if you have been starved for sunshine, of course you cannot look your best.” “Do look down for a change,” said a small gruff voice, and I looked down and saw a strange, gnome-like mannikin sitting on Sonia’s lowest leaf. “Go on, ask me who I am!” he said; “that is what all mortals do When they see me.” “Who are you?” I asked politely. “Timothy Know-All. —Spelt with a hyphen,” he added importantly. “Oh, really,” I murmured. “Yes,” he continued, “I am Timothy Know-All, the famous fairy inventor. And this is my latest invention;” and putting his hand into a little bag hanging from his shoulder, he drew it out again and held it up in front of me. “But I don’t see anything.” I said “What is your invention?” “Oh, I forgot; it is invisible to mortals, though no less potent because of that,” he explained proudly. "What is invisible?” I asked patiently. “Why, my Thinking Cap!” he

This morning I visited Sonia Sunflower. She is the only sunflower in my garden, and therefore is so important that she must have a name. “You are Very tall, Sonia,” I said, gazing up at her, “but your face is small and pale. I thought it would be big and golden, and so round and bright that it would light up all my garden. Sonia’s long green stalk wilted a little beneath my disappointed gaze, and her big leaves rustled softly as she sighed, “I am a child of the sun. Unless he smiles upon me I can never be bright and beautiful. Beneath the carress of the rain my stalk and leaves grew and grew till I was so tired of growing I scarce had strength enough to make my flower. I knew you were waiting to see my face, and tried my best to please you; but I am small and pale, I know, for the Sun God would

exclaimed. “I have invented a new Thinking Cap which, if worn correctly, tells the wearer the answer-to-everything! I know the answer-to-everything, and that is why I am called Know-All.” "Oh,” I murmured again. “Why are you showing me your invention?" “Well,” said Timothy, "I thought you might buy my Caps for your Clrclians. They have had such long holidays that their minds may be just a trifle rusty now they have opened lesson-books again. My Thinking Caps would brighten them immediately. They are very becoming, too, when you can see them.” “Are they?” I laughed, and the quaint, bright-eyed mannikin laughed with me. “What do you want for them?” I asked. “All Sonia Sunflower’s seeds,” he replied. “The Fairy Queen wants to plant them in her garden.” “I shall buy your magic Caps,” I said, “if you will go and place one upon the head of each Circlian.” “Certainly,” replied Timothy. "I shall come for Sonia’s seeds before the second new moon.” —And when I looked again at Sonia’s lowest leaf my little visitor had disappeared. “Sonia,” I said, “grow your little seed-children as quickly as you can. They will be planted in such a magic spot that their faces should be as big and bright as the sun himselt.” Sonia nodded importantly, and her pale face shone with delight. —So, little people, if, all of a sudden, you find you know the answer to the hardest question, it will probably be because Timothy Know-All has crept up behind you and placed one of his magic Thinking Caps upon your head. —But I cannot explain how you wear it correctly, for that, unfortunately, I do not know. LOVE, /Y /WTsk