The children's secret [short story]

Title

Creator

Aunt Julia

Language

English

Year

1936

Subject

Short stories, Philippine (English)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[Ernie, Irma, and Frida prepared a surprise birthday gift for their mother. They are very happy that mother appreciated their effort.]

Fulltext

THE YOUNG CITIZEN LITTLE STORIES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE The Children's Secret e, AU.'i r JULIA HREE young heads T were huddled together over a shining coconut shell bank. "Ernie, break it open with this bolo," Irma whispered. "Spread out, I might hit you," Ernie warned in low excited tones. "Do not hit very hard You might awaken Mother." This from Frida. Ernie raised the bolo and brought it down with all his strength. Centavos black with age and green with mold rolled in all directions. "Let us see how much we have," Irma suggested. Each got a handful and counted. With a fine stick Irma wrote the numbers on the ground and added them up. "Two pesos and sixty-six centavos," Irma announced. Frida, the youngest of the three, rushed upstairs and into Mother's room. ''Mother, Mother! We have a secret." "A secret? Then I suppose I should not ask what it is about." "I shall not tell you about it. Sister and ~ Brother will scold me if I do." Frida t backed out of the room repeating, "It i.s a secret." A few minutes later, the three children entered Mother's room. Finding Mother occupied, Irma suggested, "Mother, it is dark here. How would you like to do your ~ darning out on the porch?" ~ "Let me carry your sewing basket for you," offered Ernie. ~ Mother got up and allowed herself to be dragged out by Frida. Irma opened the wardrobe. The other two looked on. "Mother has many ternos. She will not need any. Besides, our money will not be enough," Irma said. They looked the dressing . table over. Nothing was lacking there. "Let us give her a birthday cake," Ernie suggested. "Or some fruit," Frida put in. Irma was silent. Being the oldest, she must decide for the other two. "We must find out what Mother wants for a birthday gift," she finally said. The children went out. They sat around Mother. She did not seem to notice · them. They looked at one another. Ernie nudged at Irma and whispered, "Go ahead, Sister, ask her what she would like to have." "Yes, Ate, go ahead," Frida urged. "Mother," Irma began, "if . . . if a friend were to give you a gift, what would you rather have?" "I should be thankful ·for anything," Mother answered. "Of course, I would rather get something useful and lasting. Why do you ask? I wonder if anybody would remember my birthday." "Why . . . " the impulsive Frida blurted oc1t, but she stopped when her brother poked (Please t111"1t to page 68) 68 TV BREAD AND CHEESE Bq Doris and George Hauman Here is a jolly fairy tale for even the smallest children. It tells in a gay, sprightly manner the story of Buttercup, a yellow cow, and Dai~y. a little white lamb, who lived in a big blue barn under a smooth green hill. Life was very serene for them. They munched grass on the green hillside, lay under the·crooked apple tree, and produced milk for Two Happy Children. But Buttercup, being as near a fairy cow as any cow Could be, ha<l to obey thE' wishes of a Little Oki Woman who ,lived on the other sid~ of the hill. This Little Old Worn-. an loved bread and cheese. Once Buttercup forgot, and a dreadful thing happened! Thr book is attractively illustra,;fd. The Haumans, pJrents as weiJ <1S ar.tists, seem to know just how lo catch that irresistible humor which belongs in books of this happy age of childhood. THE CHILDREN'S SECRET (Continued from page 47) her on the side. -Irma got up and went in. The other two followed. A long conference was held. Then they went to th1>ir aunt. "Tia lbano. here is the money. Two-fifty in alt." Irma olaced th<! nile of c-entavos on the table. ••Hav.z ft n1ac1>d in a beautiful box." On Sunday the children s;i:ot un V<'rv f'arlv. Thev entered their rnothrr' s room on tiotoe. Thev ~wooned upon her on the bed and kissed her on the face and on the h:iir. After o1acins;i: a box on Mothn'" hn. they sang, "Happy birthday to you! THE YOUNG CITIZEN THE LOST MERRY-GOROUND Bl/ Dorothy Lathrop All children who love merry-gorounds and the other fun-machines of childhood will find "The Lost Merry-Go-Round" a new ~nd fas- . cinJting adventure into the world of imagination. The book con· tains a delightful collection of animal adventures which centers around the discovery of a grass-grown, rnsty merry-go-round in FJittermouse Wood by children who were looking for a lost ball. While the children were playing with it, faint music was heard, and the merrygo-round began to· move.' And J.s each child clings to his chosen animal, the adventure stories are told-1 of Denny on the big dog; of Jim on the dragon which flies over the sea to Cockle Shell Island; of Peter en the bear; Rosemary Qn the Deerl which go deeper into the woods, and so on. · The book has many interesting illustrations by the author. Pictures 1 in color and in black and white will,! delight the children. !, L V. R:' Happy birthday .to you. Happy birthday. dear Mother. Happy birthday to you." "That is our secret, Mother." Frida declared proudly. "We got all the money in our bank," Ernie explained. "Thank you, my darlings. This is a very pleasant surprise." She drew them a11 to her breast. "Open the box now, Mother. and see if you like our gift." Irma 1;uggested. ....., Mother carefully untied the goldrn ribbon and removed the pretty wrapper. Pressing the cardboard box. she asked. "Is it a little book?" "No!" shouted Frida. "Ts it a birthday cake?" March, 1936 - LEGEND OF THE ROSAL (Continued from p<;r,ge 50) close to Mother Nature. She formed them into pretty sets of petals and laid them upon the bowers of gfeen which she had prepared. The Wind gathered the fragrances o( the nigh{ and breathed them upon the newly-formed flowers which shone like soft stars in the evening darkness. The next morning, the sun, peep· ing out of its mountain bed, spied the starry flowers. Touching them with his rays. he gave them lovely hearts of gold....:...._his gift to Mother Nature's new creation. The bees and the butterflies hovered around the flowers, humming and buzzing with joy at the pretty sight. This happened a long time ago. Today, when you go into your garderl., do · you ever notice the Iov:ely flowers that glow so white and sweet among their leaves of datk green? Perhaps you caII them the Rosal. but once upon a time. the velvet white petals that you touch and admire were the silv·:?r tips of stars. "Oh, No. A cake is soon finished," Irma reminded her. "Is it a box of powder?" "Powder is soon used up." Ernie said. "Well. dears, yours is a real se· cret and I am a poor guesser." Lifting the lid. Mother saw a pretty, brown handbag. She op.ened _ it and found sixteen· centavos in a t~nv purse inside. "This is what I call useful and lastine." she Cfec1ared. holdin'2; un the handbaS!:. "But what does the monev mean?" "SixtPPn stands for the date of vour birth." Irma ('Xolained. "The monev calso serves as a bait to attrcact more monev. It means vou ·will never find vour bag empty." "I see! Mv children know somethin<;? their mother does not know. I like the gift and I love the givers." The children were happy. They wHe also very proud because thev could keep a secret.

pages

47, 68

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