LITTLE BOY BLUE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 35, 30 August 1890, Page 19

LITTLE BOY BLUE.

He was such a dear little boy, and his mother always dressed him in a pretty suit of blue. So every one who saw him said, ’Oh, little Boy Blue, Is it really you ?’ if ever he happened to put on his brother's grey coat to see if people only knew him by his clothes. One day little Boy Blue went off for a walk by himself. He had often been told by his mother, ‘ Now, Boy Blue, remember you must not go out of the garden without my leave.’ But Boy Blue had a very bad habit of forgetting

what was said to him. He did not mean to be disobedient, oh, no ; he would not be so naughty as that, but still he forgot. 1 am afraid he did not try to remember, and when once he was outside the large garden and orchard, and found himself running along a Tittle track into the bush, he remembered nothing at all about his mother’s words. It was all so strange and nice. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the Maori pigeons were having a meeting. Little Boy Blue, whose father was in Parliament, thought it must be the pigeons who made the laws for the other pigeons, l>ecause they seemed to do nothing but talk. Then there were rabbits now and again. But as he went farther into the bush the trees grew closer together, anil the sun seemed to be going to sleep. But little Boy Blue did not

think of turning back. On, <>n he went, until at length he grew so tired he could walk no farther. So down on a -oft cushion of moss the little boy dropped, and presently fell asleep. A little rabbit crept cautiously along the path. ‘ What a funny thing that is,’she said. Then she ran off in a great fright because Boy Blue put his hand up to his face to drive away a very troublesome tly. Presently a little bird hopped down from a tree. ‘Dear me,’ he said, ‘ what a queer-looking thing that is. It's got two legs, the same as I have, but its wings have no feathers on them. Ido not suppose it could possibly lly.’ Then he hopped up very quickly and peeped at Boy Blue's shut eyes. They looked so funny that he hop|>e<l on to his forehead and pecked at the eyelids. Boy Blue was too sound asleep to wake : he only said, ‘ Don’t.’ But when the bird saw his mouth open to speak he was so frightened he Hew away. Then the Fairy Woodleaf came softly along the path. She was walkin'' on her own two pretty little feet, and in her white dress looked exactly like a real fairy, as she was. She sat down and watched the little boy until lie woke up. ‘ Little boy.' she said, softly, 1 what is your name ?’ ‘ Boy Blue,’ he said. ‘Well, Boy Blue,’ said Woodleaf, ‘do you want anything ‘ Yes,' said Boy Blue. ‘ Well, come with me,' ami she took his hand and helped him on to his feet, and led him off to a dear little house. It was partly made of trees, and was partly a cave. Here she gave him a glass of sweet milk and some cake, and then asked him if he wanted anything more.’ ‘ Oh, yes,’ he said. ‘ I want a horn, please. A nice loud horn, so as when I’m lost again they can hear me call out at home.’ So the fairy gave him a beautiful horn, and he blew so loudly on it, that the father and mother, who were looking for him, soon found him. But when he wanted to show them the fairy she had quite gone. So now yon know how Boy Blue got his horn. But he had to give his horn up for a week to his mother, and spend the rest of the day in bed to make him remember his disobedience.

Jack Frost.