THE Children's Page.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 5 September 1891, Page 355

THE Children 's Page.

LITTLE PEOPLE’S LETTERS. PUZZLE STORY. Dear Cousin Kate, —It was a beautiful winter’s day, the earth one vast sheet of snow from six to eight inches deep, and the shrubs, hedge-rows, and trees were gleaming with their snowy coverings. After breakfast Ernest and I, with mamma’s permission, went for a ramble through the snow. After an hour's walk we came to the foot of Barker’s Hill, where we enjoyed snow balling each other for some time, when Ernest commenced to climb the hill. I called to him to stop, and warned him of the hidden snow-drifts, but all in vain. Away he went, running gaily up the hill. After watching him for some time running, slipping, and tumbling about, he reached the top, and standing near a fence with his hands in his pockets, he looked disdainfully down on me. Alas ! poor boy, he little thought the fate that was in store for him ! His feet slipped, as he looked over the steepest side, from under him, and he fell full length upon the snow, and began rapidly to roll down the hill. I watched him with surprise, for he began to move swifter and swifter, and seemed to grow larger. I stood nearly dead with fright until Ernest seemed to gradually disappear, and in his place a huge ball bounded rapidly down the hill. Not for one moment understanding what had happened, but seeing he was gone, I turned and ran for home. The now rolling mass seemed determined to overtake and crush me. I frequently stumbled, and fell every now and then, raced past familiar cottages, got chased by dogs and snow-balled by boys. I reached home half dead with fright, worn out in a terrible fright. I fainted right away. It was some time before I recovered sufficiently to give any account of what had occurred. I stated to the following effect: that Ernest had climbed the hill, and falling down the steepest place, he had rolled a part way down the hill, then must have fallen into some cavity, and in doing so had broken off a large fragment, which had come down the hill at lightning speed, which 1 only just escaped. Our family now thoroughly alarmed, made for Barker's Hill. What they found is better described in your picture No. 4. Ernest will forward you the history of his awful journey, his sensations and release, in a letter on another occasion.— Lillie Scholfild, age 10. Caledonian Road, Christchurch. [Shall be glad to hear from Ernest. Your story is a little long, Lillie.—Cousin Kate.]