MY FRIEND—OLD DICK

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 61, 13 March 1929, Page 18

MY FRIEND—OLD DICK

irany years ago, when I was a little girl, I used to go every summer to stay with my uncle. I looked forward to this holiday very much because I had a,; lovely time, and I loved my uncle dearly, fee wae rather a lonely man, so I suppose he was pleased to* see me, and he let me do what I liked.

I .used to be very excited when my mother had packed 'my box and everything wag and finally I<was- taken to the station in a cab and then placed in charge of the guard. Of course, I was always sorry to leave my mother, and it was really rather a long journey, but if you live in a town, like I did, you will know how nice it is when you sit in the train and watch the fields with cows in them fly past the window, and lovely woods and very steep hills go quickly by. I always knew exactly how many miles I waa from my uncle when \ passed a little village with its church tower covered in Ivy and its crooked spire. I used to put on my gloves then, and clutch hold of my bag and sit right up against the window eo that I could look out for my uncle, who always met me at the station. My lu>art went pittcr-pat when the train drew into the etation and I saw him standing there. I remember now so clearly that drive back to the old house, and how we both talked at once— we had so much to tell each other. How the old pony Nellie used to trot along, as if it knew I had come- again!! From the day my woriderful holiday started, and for four short weeks I tad the time of my life.

My uncle lived in a very, ; very old house—l remember he said it" was haunted. Of course, that made it all the more exciting, because I was always trying to see the ghost, but I never did! I can't tell you half the things I did roaming about the old house and garden

and in the farmyard too, for my uncle had a small farm near by. I spent hours in the cool dairy making butter to send home to my mother, and eating ae much cream as 1 liked—it's a wonder I didn't make myself ill. The long rides I had on Nellie across the common and on to the hills, the long talks I had with my uncle, and of all the treasures he showed me that he had brought home from far-off lands., {I have a string of corals on now- that he gave me many years ago.) \ Then there were walks with Rover, the dear old sheep dog, and games of hide and seek I had with him in the barn. Then there was Old Dick! I shall never forget Old Dick, and I want to tell you about him now. My bedroom .window looked out ' over the garden aria to the field beyond, where my friend Old Dick lived. I had better tell you now, Old Dick was a scarecrow—but not an ordinary scarecrow. Oh, dear, no! He was a friend of my uncle's too, but I knew more about Old Dick than ever he'knew. To look, at he was a very tall gentleman, dressed in a long black coat and a pair of black and white trousers, and on his head he wore a bowler hat and round his neck was tied a red scarf. He really was a handsome man! My uncle told me his face was made of a turnip, but I never believed him, it was far too handsome for that. Well, this is how I first knew him.

One summer evening after I had gone to bed and fallen fast asleep, I lay dreaming for some time. All of a sudden I woke up and I sat up in bed wondering what had awakened me. AH was' still, and I knew that it must be quite late, because the moon was up and tfte house was quiet. I listened veryhard and from far away I heard a soiiu'd of music. I got out of bed and pushed my head out of the window, and then I cduld hear from far away a tiny sound. I looked this way and that, and there in the field I could see, by the light of the moon, a long, dark line from the hedge to where Old Dick stood. It was a long time before I found out what it was. But after I was accustomed to the light I saw the long, dark line was made by rabbits walking two by two across the fields! When they reached Old Dick they formed a circle round him, then they all joined hands arid started to dance round and round. They hopped and jumped this way and that, with their little tails bobbing up and down, , and Old Dick's arms and legs bobbing about too. The sound of music came from the hedge near by. I must tell you now I never found* out who made the music, but it cam* from some bush in the hedge I am certain.

The dancing went on for tome minutes, and then stopped as suddenly as it had begun, ana the rabbit 9 went back as they had come, two by two, and when I looked again Old Dick was standing alone, just as he always Aid. I stayed at the window for some time but when I saw nothing was happening I climbed back into bed to thitikjib&ut wb,at I had eeen. Next morning 1 said nothing about it to my uncle, as I Jcnew he would not believe me if I'd tprdjiim. He would have said I was dreaming I went down to the field and made"inr way to Old pick. * "Good niomiT,", , * 1 said. '*Diil von enjoy your dance last night?" But Old Dick said never a word, onlv his right arm moved a little as if he wanted to shake hands. For a long time I tried to get him to talk, but it was no good—he only shook his head.

The next night I lay awake, for 1 wanted to see if the same thins happened again, and jt did, and again the next day I ran down to the field to see Old Dick, but I could not get him to ■speak, he only moved hie head this way and that.

The next day my holiday was coming to an end, so that Sight, when twelve o'clock came, I was at the window watching the rabbits dance. You see, it was the last time I should see them. I wish you could have seen them bobbing about, they looked so pretty. When I Went down to breakfast next*inornin<» I made up my mind I was going to tell my uncle. How could I be dreaming when I had seen them for three nightel So I told my uncle all about it, and, do you know, he didn't laugh a bit, but promised me that that night he would watch himself and see if anything happened, and find out from Old Dick himself all about it. Wasn't that nice of him? But something else happened. When Nellie was taking me to the station we met a builder's cart full of bricks and poles. "0h. , " my uncle said, "see, they are going to start building in my 'field. Next time you come you will eee some cottagee there." "Oh, what will happen to Old Dick!" I asked. "I'll look after him, you may be sure," my uncle answered. To my sorrow my uncle died soon after, and I never went there for my holiday again; but not long aero I had a longing to go and see the old place, and I went there last year. In the field stood a row of cottages, and Old Dick had gone. I went to the place where he had stood, but there was not -a sign of him left. But somehow I felt 'quite happy about him, for I am certain that as eoon as the builder* appeared the rabbits took him off to another field, where they carry on their midnight dance with no one to disturb them, and where they can be happy as the day is long.