FIREWORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 67, 19 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIREWORKS.

A CHILDREN'S STORY. (By E. MARY GURNEY.) "And you children," said mother, "had better keep out of the way until its over." The terrible trio stared at one another in dismay. A really, truly garden party! And they were to keep out of the way! There'd be sandwiches, and sugary cakes, and fizzy lemonade, and — "Ice cream ?" suggested Leslie, wistfully.^ "With strawberries," agreed Chester, rubbing it in. Chester didn't have to "keep out of the way!" "There'll be some for you afterwards —if you're"very good," promised mum, a trifle anxiously. Years' experience of the terrible trio had convinced her that it was practically impossible for them to be good. Their intentions might be blameless—but the result was invariably disconcerting. After dinner they set out with the terrier Goblin, in search of adventure; and their minds were certainly guileless; or would have, been if Chester hadn't taken it upon himself to harry them with a parting admonition. "Now —any nonsense —no ice cream!" The crudeness of Roy's retort did not detract in any way from its sting. "Pooh! What's the matter with your legs'.'" Chester was arrayed in all the glory of Jiis first "bags. ' For a while they were happy enough tracking Maoris in the little clump of bush in the gully behind the house; but as the afternoon waned they grew tired, even of bombing their foes from stronghold to stronghold with the penny crackers with which they were plentifully supplied. They were thirsty, too, and the thought of the fizzy lemonade and ices that were being dispensed not so far away, drew them homeward. Unfortunately scouting through the shrubbery towards the rose garden they encountered Chester, who ordered them off with more sharpness than taet. The fact that he was escorting a very pretty girl, some years his senior, tied their tongues, and they beat a hasty retreat; but not so far, nor so hasty that they could not overhear Chester say, "We have to be firm, with them, or goodness knows what they'd be up to!" "We!" gasped Roy. "Of all the cheek!" "No kid brother of mine could say that of me, and get away with it!" challenged Dicky. Just then Goblin broke from the bushes in hot pursuit of an immtmse old rat. Ensued a wild scramble, which ended in Roy's emerging triumphantly, with the rat held by the tail, at arm's length. "Down, Goblin! Down! Grab 'im—you cha ps!" Leslie flung himself 011 the terrier, and they stood, panting and speculating. It was Dicky who broke the silence. "If we was to chuck it out into the middle of the lawn. . They gazed at each other, their eyes sparkling. "And let Goblin go after it," suggested' Roy. "Coo!" Leslie capered with delight, rammed his hands into his pockets, and pulled out half a dozen 'bangers. "Suppose we tied these to 'is tail, and lighted 'em V" "Coo!" said Dicky, admiringly. "What a brain-wave." Even Roy paid tribute. Leslie hung on to Goblin, while they tied the squibs to tne unfortunate rat's tail. Bot'hj of them got bitten in the process, but what did they care V When everything was in order, they made their way to the,side entrance, and peered cautiously through the bushes. As luck would have it, Chester and his charming companion were crossing the lawy. Dicky applied the match, and when the fuse was well alight, Roy tossed his captive out 011 to the lawn. Goblin gave a wild yip, and tore after it, upsetting two chairs and a table as he went. Pandemonium Reigned. The rat lit on its feet, and hesitated, bewildered by the crowd. Then the first squib went off, and with it the rat, .with Goblin in mad pursuit. Royally the squibs went off, and the wretched creature tore blindly hither and thither, with Goblin turning and twisting 011 its jieels. Women screamed, men shouted, tables and chairs upset in (ill directions. Fat old Mm. Corbet s Perk wound its lead round her legs, and capsized her into a. rose bush. Mr. Corbet fell over the colonel's excited Pom, into the colonel's waistcoat, and the Perk and the Pom engaged in deadly combat, while the former's owner sat ill the rosebush and screamed, and tlie latter confounded the air with man-sized oatlis. And then the ice cream table went — all over Chester's grand pants. Through the mess streaked the singed and terrified rat. After him, Goblin. They went through .the gate into the shrubbery. Weak with laughter, the terrible trio staggered after. 1 It was some time before they sobered sufficiently to realise that payment would be exacted from them. Regrettably, though apprehensive, they were not repentant. Not for nothing were they called "The Terrrible."