HOW FOUR CHILDREN WENT TO THE EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 10, 7 March 1891, Page 19

HOW FOUR CHILDREN WENT TO THE EXHIBITION.

Tom and Helen and Kate and Jack all went to the same school, and were great friends. When they were at home from school, they kept hearing their mammas and papas and older brothers and sisters talk about the exhibition that was being held in the great new hall, built for the purpose, in the city where they lived. They heard of the wonderful machines, of the beautiful dresses and dress fabrics, of the elegant furniture and the splendid toys, of the lovely jewelry and the fancy pickle department, and of the man who painted a landscape in oil for you, free, in three minutes. They heard of the phonograph exhibit where a lady sang out of a machine, and the sewing machine exhibit and the piano and organ exhibit. They heard about the line band that played, and about the apple and cake stands, until they were wild to go and see all these things for themselves, and I do not wonder that they were. So they talked about it after school one day. ‘ It costs sixpence apiece to get in,’ said Jack. * Who is ever going to give us two shillings ?’ said Helen, in despair. ‘ Let’s each earn our own,’said hopeful Tom, ‘and then we’ll all go together.’ ‘ That’s easier said than done,’ answered Kate. But they all agreed to try, and on Friday to compare notes. Then if they had the money, they would go to the exhibition on Saturday. When Friday came each one had a sixpence.’ * I got mine for pulling all the bastings out of two of mamma’s new dresses,’ said Kate. ‘ Pooh ! That isn’t worth sixpence,’ said Tom. ‘Just try it and see,’ replied Kate. ‘ How’d you make yours ?’ ‘ Cutting the lawn for my father,’ said Tom, with an air of pride. ‘ There’s some work in that.’ ‘ And I made mine rocking the baby to sleep for mamma evenings,’ said Helen. ‘ And I found mine in the alley,’ said Jack. ‘ O-o-oh !’ said all the children at once. On Saturday they went to the great building. They paid their money to the man at the little window, ami then went eagerly through the big turnstile in the doorway. There they were in the great main room. They caught a glimpse of rows and rows of wonderful things, like a whole city-full of shop-windows all together, and then Master Tom said : ‘ This isn’t the room to look at first. I know the way. We must go through that big door over there that says “Exhibit” over it, —that’s where to begin, and then we come back here.’ So they followed Tom straight across the big room, and never stopped to look at anything, not even the card over the door. They opened it wide ami through they went—the door slamming behind them. Then they stopped short and stared at one another. Where do you suppose they were? Why,—the card over the door said ‘ Exit,’ not ‘ Exhibit,’ and there they were outside again, in another entrance-hall, and right alongside of a big, burly policeman, who wouldn’t let them go back ! Poor little children ! Their money was all gone, there stood that dreadful policeman, and, worst of all, it was the very last day of the exhibition. The girls sat right down on the steps and cried, and the boys came as near it as they could and not let the girls see ; while Kate sobbed out: ‘ I could ’a’ read better than that if I can't mow a lawn I’ But it was of no use. Tears would not avail. So they got up and walked home, and that was the way they saw the exhibition. Before it opensagain I think Tom had better learn to read more carefully, don’t you’

Winifred Ballard Blake.