A SCHOOLGIRL'S WEEK-END AT HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 16 (Supplement)

A SCHOOLGIRL'S WEEK-END AT HOME.

(By Margaret McLachlan, N.Z. Institute for the Blind; age 13.) Isabel and her friend Elsie sat table, both writing. "I have finished ray letter," said Elsie as she folded her letter and put it in the envelope. ''How much, longer are von going to be, Isabel?" "I won't be very long, but I have to write to mother and tell her that I can come home for the week-end." The girls of Diocesan School were to have a holiday and Isabel, who wanted to go home for it, wished to write and tell her mother. She lived about fiftv miles south of Whangarei. She intended to catch the train on Friday morning, and arrive at school again on Tuesday afternoon. She would have three whole days at home if she did this. The girls were all looking forward to the holiday, but they had a busy fortnight before it arrived. It was not a very long holiday, and therefore not many of the girls were going away. It "was a rather long train journey, and July is not the most pleasant time of the year to be travelling. The air

: was moist and damp, but Isabel had j often travelled this journev before and . « lle knew what to expect." She had a book and some knitting, but she was ' glad when, after two weary hours, she? arrived at the little station "a quarter of ' an hour's walk from which would brin--1 her to her own home. As she stepped on to the platform she was surprised to find that no die was there to meet her. She glanced at her watch to see if the train was late, but it was just on time. Perhaps tlicv had not expected her so early for the*train was often a little late in the winter. She picked up her case and walked the little street, but thinking that she would get home more quickly if she took a short cut across a paddock, she did not meet anyone. She had not had a letter from her mother since she had posted her own. Perhaps it had gone astray and her mother was not expecting her. How nice it was to be home again and to be able to run through the c grass, but although she wa-lked very quickly it seemed a very long time before she reached the little gate and ran down the path to the door. She °- 0 t no answer to her very eager "Mother where are you?" Finding the front door locked, she ran round to the back door, but it also was locked. How strange. Hei mother surely could not bo expecting her. She sat down on the doorstep and wondered what she should do. Perhaps her mother had only gone out for the afternoon, but then she would not have taken Isabel's sisters and brothers with her. They would be home from school now. It was four o'clock, mat would she do ? It was not verv pleasant to come home and find the house locked up. She was suddenly aroused from her reverie by a few drops of rain, and springing under the shelter of the verandah she decided to go to Mrs. Caroll, the nearest neighbour, to ask where her mother was and when she would be home. It had been showery all dav, and this was only a light shower, so'when it ceased Isabel was going down the path when she heard the click of the sate and , 011 031110 walking up the path. Goodness Isabel where have von sprung from? Have you come home for the week-end?" I coming to look for vou," Isabel said in relief. "Where is mother?" mother said she expected yon home next week-end but she hadn't heard from you for three weeks. She has a sister from Hamilton staying with her and they went to stav with vour grandmother for the week. ' Your father is coming home to-morrow mornin"- as he has some business to do but I do not think your mother will be coming home till next Tuesdav. I was iust

] coming over to open the windows and i gn e the house an airing as it has been 1 s " u t up all the week. You had better £ ome andjstay with me for the mailt. . Isabel. Ton must be very tired after j. your journey." , Isabel went with Mrs. Carol! to her house and was soon by a blazing fire. She had not realised how cold and hungry she was. Mrs. Carol! soon had a 1 hot dinner for her after which Isabel was glad to go to bed although it was • very early. 1 She awoke early next morning. Her i father was not expected back till evening. When Mrs. Caroll had finished her t work they went and opened the house ' for her father. Mrs. Caroll had the 1 keys for Isabel's mother had asked her r to open the house. Isabel had a busy [ morning but as the clock hands neared , 11 o'clock she went with Mrs. Caroll to - the station to welcome her father home. • A s the train drew into the station and stopped, Isabel's father stepped on to the platform followed by her mother and her sister and her two brothers. I here were a few moments of excitement for none of them had dreamt that Isabel would be on the platform to meet them. When they all got home it was explained how the aunt had wanted to stay with the grandmother for another fortnight and so they had all come homo with their father. Isabel's mother said that she had not received her letter and they all thought it must have gona astray.- Isabel returned to school on I Tuesday after a very enjoyable weekend, and without any more mishaps.