"I have been thinking," said "Selfless," "that Christmas will soon be
here, and how nice it would be if we could help the children at the
Kindergarten to think of Davie, and make ready a Christmas present for
him."
"A lovely idea," said "Thoughtful"; "we will go to-morrow, for it wants
only a month to Christmas."
Next morning the two fairy sisters came to the Kindergarten, and floated
about unseen, as fairies always do. First they rested on the teacher,
who was very fond of these unseen fairies, and she began to think of
Davie. "Children," said she, "Christmas will be here in a month; shall
we make a present for little Davie?"
(Do you know, I believe that doing kind things is like going to parties;
when you have been to =one= party, you like it so much that you are glad
to go to =another=, and when you have done =one= kind thing, it makes
you so happy you want to do =another=.)
Bessie was the first to answer, and she said, "Oh, yes, it would be
lovely to make a Christmas present for Davie; do let us try". And all
the children said, "Yes, do let us try".
"It must be something made by your own little hands," said the teacher.
"Think now, what could you do?"
"We could make some little 'boats'[12] in paperfolding," said one child.
Teacher said that would do nicely, and she wrote it down.
Another child said, "I could sew a 'cat' in the embroidery lesson," and
Bessie exclaimed, "Please let me sew a 'kitten' to go with it," and the
teacher wrote that down, and remarked that some one else might make the
"saucer" for pussy's milk, in pricking. Then others might make a
"nest"[1] in clay with eggs in it, and a little "bird" sitting on the
eggs, suggested the teacher; and as the "babies" begged to be allowed to
help also, it was decided that they should thread pretty coloured beads
on sticks, and make a nice large "basket".[13]
"Now," said teacher, "I have quite a long list, and we must begin at
once." So they all set to work, and when breaking-up day came, Davie's
present was ready. There was a whole fleet of "ships," white inside and
crimson outside. The pictures of "pussy" and her "kitten" were neatly
sewn, and the "saucer" was white and clean, and evenly pricked, while
the "bird" on its "nest" looked as pretty as could be, and the "bead
basket" was the best of all--at least the =babies= thought so.
I have no words to tell of the joy that the children's present brought
to little Davie, his face flushed with pleasure as the "boats" and other
gifts were spread out before him; it was so delightful to think that the
children had remembered =him= and =worked= for him.
"Selfless" and "Thoughtful" sat once more on the mossy bank, and
rejoiced that the plan had worked so well.
If these little fairies and their sister "Kindness" should ever suggest
thoughts to =you=, dear boys and girls, do not send them away. They will
speak to you through the Good Voice, and the happiest people in the
world are the people who listen to the Good Voice.