WILLIE'S WISH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XIX, 4 November 1899, Page 847

WILLIE'S WISH.

A STORY ABOUT A LITTLE BOY WHO LONGED TO BE A MAN. “Willie, I will not allow you to climb that wall; you will break your neck,” said Mrs Walters to her little seven-year-old son. Willie came down, looking very disgusted. “It is a shame,” he muttered to himself. “I can’t do anything — I can’t throw stones, I can’t swim my boat in the cistern, I can’t paint the old cat white, ’cos she’s so dirty! It’s all horrid, and I wish—l wish I was a man!” And Willie sat down on the garden-seat and sulked.

Presently he felt a soft touch on his arm, and, starting up, he saw the funniest little creature possible. He was only about a foot high, and had a long white beard reaching to his knees, and he wore a curious little coat of green, and had a hood of red. His feet were clad in sandals, and he carried a long staff in his hand. “So you want to be a man, do you?” he asked Willie, in a deep voice.

Willie felt rather afraid, but he answered: “Yes, I should like to be one; it's so horrid and dull and stupid at home.”

“Well, you shall be a man, and see what it’s like.” And he waved his wand over Willie, who immediately began to feel himself growing, like 'he had read of Alice in Wonderland.

When he had grown quite a big fellow, the gnome told him to follow, and 'he led the way from the garden •out into the street.

People stared to see such a big man as Willie walking along with the gnome, and presently a poor woman came up to Millie and begged a penny of him; but he had no money, and so had to refuse her.

"That was not manly of you!” said the gnome; and he opened a little pocket-book he was carrying and wrote something in it. Then they went into a large office, where there were a great many clerks writing. Willie and the gnome passed by the clerks, and went into a smaller room, where a gentleman was sitting, who looked up as the two entered, and Willie at once recognised his father. “Oh, daddy!” he exclaimed. But Mr Walters stared in blank astonishment. “Are you the new clerk?” he asked him. “Say Wes,’ ” prompted the gnome. And Willie obeyed him. “Then go and join the clerks, and start entering these accounts in a book, and see they are all correct.” And 'he thrust a pile of dreadfullooking bills in Willie’s hands, and opened the door and called out: “Here is the new book-keeping clerk, Mr Brown. _ See that he has a new book.” Willie next found himself sitting among the clerks, looking vacantly at the pile of bills and at the new account-book which 'had been given him. “What am I to do with these?” he asked Mr Brown. “Why, enter them, to be sure! Don't you know?” replied that gentleman. “Go on; do as you are told,” whispered the gnome. “You are a man. Y'ou surely know 'how to enter a few bills?” But Willie did not. All the clerks looked at him in astonishment, and when he began to cry they all burst into a roar of laughter. Billy could stand it no longer, so, seizing his hat, he fled out of the door, down the stairs and into fhe street.

“A nice sort of man you are,” said the gnome. “I am quite ashamed of you. Here, take this, perhaps it will do you good; it does most men.” And he thrust a large cigar into Willie’s hand. The boy was delighted, for it was his ambition to smoke, like father did; so he lighted it up, and they walked along the street. “Now you are a man, you will have to provide for yourself,” said the gnome. “But I 'have no money,” answered Willie. “That doesn’t matter; you must make some; men always do.” Willie looked rather disconsolate. Presently he began to feel rather ill, and the ground seemed to be jumping about. “What’s the matter?” asked the gnome. “I—l—l don’t know, sir, but I feel a little sick.” “Oh, how silly! Fancy a man of your size not being able to smoke!” Willie couldn’t stand this rebuff, so went on puffing away at the cigar; but it was too much for him, so, throwing it down, he came to a standstill.

“Look here,” 'he said, “I’m tired of being a man, please turn me into a little boy again.” But the gnome was nowhere to be seen: he had disappeared, and Willie was alone in a strange street. And oh. how ill he felt! “Oh, I do want to be at home!” he sobbed. And people stared at him, and many laughed. Then he began to feel worse than ever, and felt himself sinking down on the ground—down, down, down. “Oh, what’s that!” he. cried. And, opening his eyes, he saw his mother bending over him. “What are you doing, Willie?” she asked. “Here you were nearly upside down on the seat and screaming as if someone was killing you.” Willie rubbed his eyes, then jumped up and began to feel himself all over. “Am I Willie, or am I a man?” he asked his mother. “Why, .Willie, of course!” she answered. “You’ve been dreaming, my darling”—and she put her arm round him and led him in. When they were having tea, Willie told his mother the whole story. “It was awful, mother,” he said; “and now I see that men are not so happy as little boys after all.” Mrs Walters smiled, and she always says nothing did Willie so much good as his strange dream. THE END.