THE GREAT RINK CARNIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1926, Page 26

THE GREAT RINK CARNIVAL.

It was the Giraffe's idea that every, body should take to Rinking, because as he very wisely said, "Rinking was'so good for the young." After the Kink had been open for a month, and had become so fashionable that even old Lady Leopard of Leopardstown allowed her four daughters to I learn, the Giraffe arranged for a great I Carnival, in which dances and races of ' all sorts were to take place. And theli everybody began practising like mad. Day and night the Rinkeries wer e never shut. Of course, at first there was a good deal of falling down and breaking collar, bones and ankles, and trifles of that sort. Lord Lionel Gorger, the famous lion) was very proud of himself as he rolled splendidly round the Rink. And everyone said he would be sure to get First j Prize on the night of the great Carnival, And people said it so often, and he at last was so sure about it, that he gave up practising, and used to sit and laugh at the others who were trying so hard.' But the person who kept on day after' day, in spite of the most terrible turnj bles, was Bertie Beechnut, the Squirrel, I Everybody used to laugh at him, because he used to look so very comical going along at a great rate with his little bushy tail waving in the air, till all of a sudden lie would come tlie most I terrible flop on the Rink. And the people I used to say it was stupid of him to go lon practising when he tumbled about : like that. But he took no notice of theni, and still Went on and practised and ■ practised. ! At last the great day came. By eight I o'clock the Carnival was in full swing, ' and everybody was there. And they lifld ( sorts of racps. i At first Lord Lionel did the most 'wonderful things; but just when the final race was being run two of the Penguins got right in front of him, and over he went the most terrible bang. And the Polar Bear fell on top of him, and the Ostrich on top of the Polar Bear. And there was the most awful noise and commotion you've ever heard. And Lord Lionel was so furious with the Penguins that he just went and ate them ; up. so that they would be able to j trin up anybody else. ' And who do you think won the great I race, after all? Why, little Bertie Beechnut! And all because he had practised so hard even when people laughed at him.