Happy little Nena [short story]

Title

Creator

Aunt Julia

Language

English

Year

1936

Subject

Short stories, Philippine (English)

Philippine fiction (English)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[Little Nena was invited by their neighbor to visit his house and play with his daughter named Anita. Nena was overwhelmed with Anita's doll collection. As she returns home, she wishes the same toy to her mother but it can only be granted on the next Christmas. Nena was sad but as she heard her baby brother's voice sounded like a doll, she realized not to need a toy anymore because she adores her sibling so much.]

Fulltext

./an1•(try, 1936 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 3 )i LITTLE STORIES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE ~APPY LITTLE NENA By Aunt Julia LITTLE NENA sang "Good Morning Bright Sunshine" as she stooped to pick little blossoms of touch-me-not on the roadside. "How lovely and soft!" she whispered as she touched her cheeks gently with the bunch of the modest flowers. Behind her a kind voice said, "Good morning, little girl. What makes you so happy?" "The bright sunshine, Sir, and the pretty little "makahiya," and, of course, the breakfast" . . . "What have you for breakfast today?" "Champorado and dried fish. And my mother has a golden papaya for me." Nena's face beamed at the thought of her favorite breakfast awaiting her. "I shall put these flowers in a little bamboo vase. Our table will look like the picture on my hook." "How would you like to play with another little girl? I live in that green house." The man said pointing to the house on tbe hill. "That large house? The one with the beautiful iron fence?" Nena asked with wide-open eyes. "Yes. In that house lives another tlear little girl about your age. Her name is Anita. Would you like to meet her?" "Yes, Sir. But it is time for me to go home. My parents must be waiting for me at the breakfast table." "Run home then. Come back after breakfast. I'll be waiting for you." After breakfast, Nena came up to her mother and said, "Mother, the man who owns the green house with the beautiful iron fence wants me to play with his girl. May I?" "Yes, clear, but don't stay long. Your sister will miss you." The man held Nena by the hand. He took her around the garden. He led her to the green house. There everything wa~ beautiful. There were finely carved chairs. Soft lace curtains hung on the windows. Reel roses were placed in beautiful vase~. They entered a room which was different from the others. It was done in pink like a sweet pink rose. Birds and flowers were painted on the bed and on the chairs. (Please turn to page 356) HAPPY LITTLE NENA (Continued from page 335) Butterflies and flowers were em· broidered on the table runners. chair covers and curtains. Nena felt as if she were in a garden. But che most beautiful thing in the room was a sweet little girl with big curls on her head and a bean· tiful twinkle in her eyes. ''Anita, I have brought you a playmate.'' "Oh, how do you do?" Anita extended her hand to greet Nena. "My name is Nena. I live in tht: small house at the foot of that hill.'· "Would you like to play doU: I have many. many dolls." Anita opened a case. She brought out a Japanese doll in kimono. ShP. put out a Spanish doll in a beautiful lace dress. There was a French doll with white hair and wide skirt. There were dolls· that said. 'Mamma" and dolls that danced. There was a baby doll in a crib. There was a big lady doll in a carriage. Nena looked long at everyone vf them. She touched their rosy cheeks. She stroked their curly hair. Sh~ sajd over and over again. "cute. lovely. beautiful!" She forgot Father. Mother, and Baby at home. She had not seen such beautiful dol!s before. Her dolls wen~ tiny thing:-> without hair and without clothes. On her way home, Nena kept thinking of Anita's dolls. If she could only have one which saic!, "Mamma!" When she was met by her mother on the stairs. she ~ried breathlessly. "O Mother, such a beautiful house!" And the girl is very lovel >'. Her name is Anita. She had dozens of th~ prettiest dolls. Mother, may I have a doll that cries 'Mamma' ?" THE YOUNG CITIZEN LOVE OF COUNTRY (Continut:d from page 336) country so dear as the Philippines, because she is your motherland. Under her skies. you firs<: saw the light of day. Just as you can't help breathing her air. so you can't help admiring her woods, brr rivers, her mountains; her sunshine. her plains and valleys, because they are filled with a singular beauty. You are growing up under thi?ir good and kind influences. Are you not glad that you were born in a country to which our Mother Nature has been most generous? You can show your love of country by serving her with all your soul. True love of country does not mean blind worship of ever.ything that h~s to do with one's country. "My country, right or wrong!" is not a wise prinCiple to ~follow. Truth and justice should guide your conduct. If ,you know something to be wrong and improper, you should not uphold it simply because it happens to be of your native land. The best way to show that you have the welfare of your country at heart. is to work for the happiness and prosperity of its people. You should employ yourself in some profitable occupation so that you may be able to make your own living. You should willingly help those who you see are in need of help. You should love your fel· low country men as· you love your mother murmured very softly. "Ma, ma. ma. Da da da" cam~ the silvery ripple of the baby's voi...:e from the bedroom. Nena tore herself away from Mother's embrace. In a moment she had Baby in her "Perhaps I can buy you one ne>.:~ arms. Christmas if I could begin savin~ "Why· Mother· Baby can sa;: now. I must save at least fifty cen- Mamma like Anita's doll. She can tavos every month and ic will taki? say Dada. Perhaps it means Daddy me a whole year co save enough to She can rry and she can laugh. buy a big doll." Don·c buy me J doll. I love Baby "A whole year. Mother~" Ne- better than all Anita's dolls." ua's eyl'S were very wide with sur- "Tcy. Tcy" crooned che baby. prise. "Mocher, she calJs me 'Siscer. Sis"Yes, dear, and you will have to ter'." And Nena pressed the baby's EO without school dresses." Th.: checks against hers. SAMPAGUIT A GARLANDS (Continued fro,., PQlfe .uo; He shot out of the scrret like .l bullet. He was swallowed in a stream of faccory women picking their way home. He was almost crushed below the wheels of a tn:ic.ab had not the whistle of a tr:'lffic policeman stopped the car. Berto pushed on unmindful of th.: driver's curses. He found them at the corner of Echague and Vilblobos. He was panting and shout1?d: "Ali. Ali is this your purse?" ''Oh yes. that is mine.·: Where dal you find it?" "Near the show house," answered Berto wiping his forehead with the hand. The man brought out a few coins and handed them to Berto. Bert.;> flashed a smile and was gone. By this ti~e fleeting shadows had come. When Berto was gone the wom,1:t opened her purse. Two folded show programs, .i prayer book, and a rosary came out. Berto strode off, whistling a familiar talkie song hit as his fingers caressed the two five-centavo Pieces which the man had given him. own brother. If you truly love your country, you will obey and respect its laws. If the people do not obey their own government, there can be no peacl! and order in the land. Under sucli a condition. the life as well as the property of the peop~e are constanLly in danger of being lost. Ours is a country in which the people rule themselves by electing their own officials. If we want a good, dun government, we must elect only those men whom we believe to be entirely capable to run the government. Once they have been elected. it is our solem.n duty to obey and respect them. What must you do when your country is drawn into war with another? There can be only one an· ~ w;:r- Fight for her! If need be. die for her! As patriO[ic sons of your motherland. you should be willing to shed your last drop of blood for her.

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