A LITTLE STORY WITH VARIOUS MORALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17783, 1 March 1926, Page 9

A LITTLE STORY WITH VARIOUS MORALS.

(By

STELLA HARLEY.)

Miriam rvas clever. She was also kind. The two are by no means inseparable. So that even when she was working hardest on the magnum opus with which she meant to challenge elusive Fame, she always found time to " oblige " the innumerable chums who begged her to put something in their autograph albums. She wrote scores of simple but sincere little verses, whimsical, fantastic, tender, funny, that were greatly cherished. One dav the Big Work was finished. Miriam felt that it was good; and, armed with an introduction, approached a publisher. His confidential short-hand-tvpist was one of the girls in whose 'autograph book Miriam had left the imprint of her personality, and who had effected this rapprochement between her chief and her friend. So that it was a real shock to her when the chief dictated a letter that was to blast poor Miriam's hopes. '' Too highbrow . . . too obscure . . . not a big enough general appeal,'' Such were the phrases that the tender-heart-ed chum transcribed from her shorthand notes with the hot tears of lovalty in her eyes. Then, out of the blue, came an inspiration. From her leather satchel she took the autograph book she al ways carried with her " just in case.” So many famous people drifted into that publishing olftce. and there tvere many covetable signatures between those violet leather covers.

But for these the little shorthandtypist had no use at the moment. She found Miriam’s verse, and laid the book on the chief s desk with a brief note clipped to the open page. “Do vou think this is lacking in broad humanity and ‘ general appeal ’ ? She's done heaps as good as this, and better ” Then she slipped away, praying that her ardent wish might be the father to the event. Yes; you've guessed right. All the little poems in all the nice little friends' books were collected, and the collection was one of the popular poetry successes of the year. Isn’t, it nice to be able to tell a cheerful story sometimes in this heartaching world I