THE SHOP FOR LOST THINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18450, 28 April 1928, Page 18 (Supplement)

THE SHOP FOR LOST THINGS.

YOU'LL FIND IT IF YOU GO TO FAIRYLAND.

Molly was going to school through the wood the other day when she suddenly discovered she'd lost her hand kerchief.

“Oh dear, oh dear!” she said, out loud. *“ I’ve lost my handkerchief Whatever shall I do?” To her great surprise a bird flew out of a tree close by, swooped down quite close to her ear and whispered in it as he passed:— “Go first to the left, then to the right, across the field, turn left again, then right, take two steps backwards, three forwards and go straight on until you come to the shop- THE shop, you know. You’ll surely find it there.” “ What shop?” cried Molly in astonishmeot; “and do please say all those directions over again.” But by this time the bird had disappeared. so Molly had to try to remember as best she could. But after she’d turned left and right and gone across the field she couldn’t think what she had to do next, and she said:— “ Oh, bother. Now, I’ve lost my way.” “Of course you’ve lost your way,” said the bird, flying past her ear again. “ What do you expect, when you’re oil your way to the shop for lost things? You’d better follow me.” Feeling very astonished, Molly followed him until at last she came to the dearest little shop you ever saw. It had a funny bow window and a little door painted bright green. Molly opened the door and went in. There was no one there, but she didn't mind that, for she was too busy looking at all the queer things in the shop. She jumped as a voice behind the counter said, “Hullo, what are vou doing here?” Molly saw a funnv 'old lady, and explained to her: “I’ve come for my lost hankie.” “ Take it, then,” said the old lady. Molly put out her hand, but the hankie jumped down from a peg and ran out of the shop, with Mol lie after it. Suddenly she tripped and fell on top of it—and in one minute she’d forgotten all about the Lost Shop.

THE LOST SPARROW. Great, consternation reigned in the forest one afternoon, for little Perky Sparrow was lost. All the friends of Mr and Mrs Sparrow had joined in the search, but, alas! it was no good, the little sparrow was as completely out of sight as if he had flown to another world. Dh, dear,” sobbed Mrs Sparrow, “ if ", e ( - an t find him I don’t know what I shall do. Whoever iinds him,” she said to her friends. “ will be rewarded with a dozen large worms.” The birds’ eyes sparkled at this news, for everv little boy and girl knows that birds iike worms as much as they like ice creams. Instantly on hearing this news the iorest was alive with bright flashes cf gaily coloured birds eager to find the lost bird, and so get the reward. Even in the midst of her woe Mrs Sparrow wished she was as beautiful as some cf her friends, like Mrs Parakeet, 'or instance. The sun went down, and still Mrs bparrow waited for the triumphant return of her kind friends, but one 1 y one they returned without the rnissi- s sparrow. As the birds gathered round her trying to comfort her, they were startled y seeing a queer thing bobbing up and down, and coming towards them. As it came closer, they could make out that it was an empty tin. But who ever heard of a walking tin? They gazed with beaks open wide, and wonder on if 6 " , At Mr Magpie could stand it no longer, so he flew down tj sat,sty Ins curiosity. As he walked up close to the tin he was startled to bear a feeble tweet, tweet,” come from the elf '• said to himself that sounds like Perky's voice.'' las . he tipped it over, and there under it lay a very tired-looking IjrtV soar row. lie afterwards toh, 8 his moThe how, in trvmg to get a i cm of the tin® it h ß ad tJ e TZ ’top of

The JOV on Mrs Sparrow's face was very great to see, but the joy on Mr Magpie s face was even greater, as he was given lus reward.