Two Little Waifs

Two sprightly little figures, Gladys and Roger, dart hand‑in‑hand through the nursery, turning everyday objects into a grand ship bound for distant horizons. Their favourite game is “going over the sea to Papa,” a fantasy that transforms chairs, hoop‑sticks and an umbrella into a mast and hull, while a soft song drifts from Gladys’s thin voice. The children’s imagination paints the ordinary world with bright colours, turning a quiet afternoon into a voyage of wonder and anticipation.

When Aunt Mrs. Lacy, the kindly but slightly deaf visitor, steps into the room she discovers the pair’s elaborate play. With gentle encouragement, she helps them name the parts of their make‑believe vessel and watches their eyes light up at each new discovery. The story captures the tender bond between the two waifs, their longing for a far‑away father, and the simple joy that blossoms when imagination meets a caring adult.