FOR THE CHILDREN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16330, 20 January 1921, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

SOMETHING EXCITING It was a hot, hot day, and Tony, Teddy and Tina, had all bathed, and tberi as there whs nothing else to do lay down on the sands to sleep. “ Nothing exciting ever happens here,” grumbled Tony. ” Even the circus doesn't start till to-morrow.” You never cun tell,” said Tina; something might. “ Rubbish!” cried Teddy, and then they all fell asleep. Presently Tina woke up with a start, and sitting tip, she saw in the distance something very big and black coming towards her. To her horror she realised it was a huge bear, aud slm guessed at once* that it must have escaped from the circus. She jumped to her feet with a cry, and called to Tony and Teddy, hut they never stirred, aud then she noticed that the bear was going straigl.it towards a strange little girl who was also lying asleep close by. Without waiting to wake her brothers, or to think of what she could do, she rushed forward, picked up a stone, and threw it hard at- the bear. The bear turned round angrily and came shambling after her as fast as it could go. Tina, ran as fast as sbe could away from tlie three sleepers. On and on she ran over the empty beach, the great bear gutting nearer and nearer to her ■■sveiy minute, till she could almost feel its hot breath. Just as she felt she could run no longer, and she had' absolutely no breath left to call for help, she sawsome men coming to words her. They w ere from the, circus, and they soon caught, the hear again. Then Tina went back to Tony and Teddy and woke them up, and told them of her adventure. At first they would hardly believe her but she was so breathless and excited that, they knew it must be true, and that, she bad reallv been chased‘ by a bear. <c You’ll never sny nothing exciting over happens now, Wjll you?” said Tina to Tony, as she threw herself down on the beach. “ Yes. rather,” answered Tony disgtistedTiV: “it’s the most unexciting thing T ever heard of for me to have s7ei>t through it nil." And Teddy agreed with him. Still, they never complained again that nothing exciting was likely to barmen, but they spent all their time looking for escaped circus animals. But they never canm across any!