'ALL'S WELL

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 308, 29 December 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

'ALL'S WELL

(By Sadie Palmer, 70. Wniroa Road, DcYonpu.rt, age 17. Old .Mick had sailed the Seven Sens for nigh on live and sixty years and was a never-ending source of delight to sad-eyed Hiss Elizabeth's small nephews and nieces. _\u uuu.in the neignbouvliood knew much of .Miss Elizabeth, who had lived there for three years. She rarely went out, spoke seldom, idolized the imps (as Old .Mick called them), was very pretty in a quiet way and owned a three-acre section and a wellturnislied bungalow. "That," as Mrs. Condrid said, "was all that was known of .Miss Elizabeth," and it' it wus all that Mrs. Condrid knew, you may rest assured that no one else knew any more. J\ T o one that is except Old Mick.

Then one day tlicrc came to the town a young stranger with black hair and deep blue eyes who dragged one foot and was accompanied by a host of admiring youngsters who ingenuously acclaimed him a literary genius second only to Old .Miek. The Imps were among his escort, and when ho stopped before their own gate, their delight knew no bounds. Small Peter opened the gate for the visitor and passed his rival Jimmy Condrid "with all sail set" as Miek "would have said. Jimmy, for- once, felt decidcdlv rcbull'ed. The visitor requested to see Hiss Elizabeth, and Patricia, the prettiest and naughtiest of Mi*s Elizabeth's nieces, led him round the house and through the shrubbery to the small orchard. .Miss Elizabeth was picking peaches, and when she saw the stranger she started, dropped the peaches and then sprang forward with a cry of ecstasy. " 'Twas a long time ago when I was mate o' the 'Judy French.' as it came about," said Old Mick, and the Imps nestled closer to his shiny sea-boots. "Your aunt was as pretty a little maid as ever I see an' I've seen some gals here'n about. She had a handsome brother, a year older '11 her, and they two allays nl a yed with little Pntrinili Dearinjr, the vicar's daughter and Patriot'g cousins. Hoy and Peter Dearin<*. Well, they all "rowed, as young nippers will, and Miss Elizabeth's brother was allays u-needin of Pat ter keep "ini head on ter the wind so they two was married. Then the war cum an' the three

young boys went ter the front. Roy an' I'ctcr was killed immediate but Frank, L'nt'a husband, went through fer three years and Pat, with Lizboth's liolp, brought up Roy, Frank and l'at minors. Then news came as Frank was dead. Pat died of grief soon after small Beth was born. An , Jjpw, nippers, buck comes Frank, your daddy, after losin' 'is mciii'rv and gettin' better in a London hospiltle. 'Sail rather like a fairy tale, an' here's where we all live happy. As 1 allays used ter tell the capting of die 'Judy French.' 'All's well as emls good!' Want a sea-song, youngsters:' . The Imps app'.aiu'.od vehemently by way of acquiescence.