Maria’s companions [short story]

Title

Creator

Canova, B. Hill

Language

English

Year

1939

Subject

Short stories, Philippine (English)

Philippine fiction (English)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

If you have been reading The Young Citizen during the past year (1938) you will remember that they introduced Maria in January, 1938. Each month throughout the year they have told you something about Maria's companions. These companions are the characters in her books. She is so well acquainted with her hooks that the people in them seem like real persons to her.

( Continued from the January number)

Fulltext

Febrwiry, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 57 Maria's Companions By B. HILL CANOVA (Contimt.ed f'rom the January number) WHEN Anita had finished reading the twn. books she brought from Maria's. home, Black Beauty and Heidi, she wanted to return them. One of the neighbors was going to see Maria's father, and Anita asked him to take the books and a letter to Maria. The neighbm· was glad to do this for Anita. This is the letter she wrote to Maria. Dear Maria: Mr. Gomez is going to your house arid is kind enough to take your books to you. Again I want to thank you for loaning them to me. Mother, Pedro, Lolita, and I read Black Beauty together aloud. Pedro told Emilio about it, and Emilio wanted to read the book. I remember-you said that part of the fun in book companions comes in sharing them with friends, so I knew you would be glad for Emilio to read Black Beauty. He asked me to thank you for him. Heidi is "' lovely story. The day I finished reading it Lolita happened to be having a birthday ·party, so I told the children the story of Heidi and Qlarc"'.. They were delighted with it. I want to send you one of my books to read. I. think _ you do not have the Philip'[Jine Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. I believe vou will like it. When . . you have finished reading it, if someone happens along who wants to read it, I'll be glad for you to pass it on. You might be interested in hearing that I have copied several poems in the book we made while I was with you. Here is one you might like for your own bock: LITTLE THINGS By Ebenezer Cobham Brewer I • Little drops of water, Little grains of sand Make a mighty ocean And a pleasant land. Thus the little minutes, (Please turn to pa.ge 75.) . . February, 1939 MARIA'S COMPANIONS (Continued f1·om page 77) Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages Of eternity; Pedro and Lolita each want a loose leaf book for pressed flowers. This afternoon I am going to help Lolita with hers, and tomorrow I'll help Pedro. This vacation got started off so well for me that I think it is going to be best one I have ever had. Can't you come into town and spend a while with me? We would like so much to have you. Your friend, Anita If you have been reading The Young Citizen during the past year you will remember that we introduced Maria in January, 1938. Each month 'throughout the year we have told you something about Maria's companions. These companions are the characters in her books. She is so well acquainted w i t h her hooks that the people in them seem like real persons to her. The first of her companions to be introduced .to you were Kit and Kat in Tke Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Next came the four girls, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott. You read about the birds in the Album of PhWppine Birds by Dr. Canuto S. Manuel. Then there were the poems, and you learned to make a binding for a loose leaf book in which to copy your favorite poems. . Among Maria's companions are plants. Sh~ told THE YOUNG CITIZE.N you how she used the book Philippine Plant Life by John W. Ritchie and Julia P. Echavarria. And you remember Bobby and Sister Sue in Shoes and Skips and' Sealing Wax by Ethel Clere Chamberlin. How would you like a horse like Black Beauty as he was described in Black Beauty by Anna Sewell? Perhaps one of Maria's most interesting companions is Heidi, the Swiss child of the Alps. Anita told the story of Heidi and Clara after reading Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Just now you heard of The Philippine Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins, the same author who wrote The Dutch 7'wins. We hope that we have made these books seem interesting, and that you will want to read each of them. Now we shall give you a list that may help in selecting books for yourself and for your friends. Perhaps you, like Maria, can find real companionship in your reading. There are many, many good books for girls and boys -hundreds of them, but we can give you the titles of only a few. Here they are : Paz and Pablo by Mitchell. Philip-pin,e Folklore Stories by Miller. Little Wooden D o l l by Bianco. Peter Pan by Barrie. Juan and Juanita. Pinocchio by Collodi. Jack O' HealJth and Peg O' Joy. Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. Story a Day Book by Holt. 75 Jack· and Susan Stories by Darby. Climbing Twins by C)ark. In Animal Land by LaRue. Nixie Bunny ~n Far-away Land. Fil and Filippa by Thompson. Adventures of Sonny Bear oy Fox. Favorite M o t h e r Goose Rhymes. Grimm's Fairy Tales by Grimm Brothers.·Hans Brinker by Dodge. The Hiawatha Alphabet by Holbrook. Kipling's Boy Stories by Kipling. Little Brother to the Scouts by Watson. The Little Lame Prince by Craik. Kittens and Cats. Robinson Crusoe by Defoe. Swiss · Fa1nily Robinson by Wyss. Treasure Island by Stevenson. Dolly and Molly on Christmas Day by Gordon. Mother Cary by Lamont. Tommy Tad and· Polly Wog by Trick. Tiny Cottontail by _ Hinkle. Little Men by Alc'ott. When I Was a Girl in Mex~ ico. Piang, the Moro Jungl6 Boy. Philippine Insect Stories by Buii.ag and Belting. Our Wide, Wide World by Craig and Baldwin. Now we have ended our story about Maria's companions. You have the list. Make them yowr companions. (The End)

Media