WILLING HELPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 238, 7 October 1936, Page 22

WILLING HELPERS.

(•By DOREEN LOVIE.)

"Betty, Mabel, Jean,- Avril, Barbara!" called Clara as she ran along the trade to the spot where tiie girls were sitting by the stream at the foot of Jackson's property. "Look at Wendy's letter, girls," as she held up a bright coloured paper,. "Here you are. Read before [ tell you anything about my plan. Hurry, I simply must fell you soon." "Have you finished? Good. Now, first of all let's start knitting right away and —" "I say, let us get a word or two in, Clara. You babble like the brook," interrupted Jean Desmond, laughing merrily at Clara's excitement. "All right, but let me tell you my idea and then you can say what you like about it." ' Hurriedly she explained her plan, "and we'll meet here next Saturday," she concluded. "What a grand idea," said Avril, as they rose and commenced to walk towards the house where M(ibel lived. "I tell you what," suggested Mabel, "see who gets the most patches done by Saturday, and the one who does can come to our place for tea on Sunday. We're having a. grand treat, as it is Norman's birthday, and I am sure mum will say 'the more the merrier,' and I'll ask her if we can have it like that everv week-end." "Ooh, goody-good!" exclaimed Clara, clapping her hands in delight, for Jackson's always seemed to have something extra scrumptious for Sunday's tea. "Well, here we are. You take the high road and I'll take low," chanted Betty as they reached the farm-house. "Wait a tick," said Mabel, and she dashed inside, emerging with a jug of cordial and some tumblers. "Here's pood luck and success to Wendy's campaign," she cried as she potired it out. - "Here, here," returned the girls. "Twenty-seven, -twenty-eight—why, goodness, thirty-one patches in a week," said Clara, as she counted the brightcoloured patches which the girls had handed, her on their arrival at the appointed spot the next Saturday, and Betty wins with seven patches. "Hurrah," cheered the girls as they turned to a blushing Batty. , Before she could reply they heard a voice say, "Very good, my child." And, turning, they saw a well-known old lady standing behind them. | "Why Grannie Martin! How did you Tpt here?" exclaimed Barbara. C "Oil Shanks' pony my dear," smiled the old lady. "I heard you planning last week, and thought this might help you." She produced a parcel from under her arm and handed it to Clara. Quickly Clara counted them. "Fourteen. How ever did you do it, Mrs., Martin?" she exclaimed. „ "With two needles and some wool, said Grannie Martin shrewdly, "but call me 'Grannie.' It sounds more chummy than 'Mrs. Martin,' girls." "May I join in with you? Now, you can come to my cottage for tea. Also come 011 any wet Saturdays. "What a topping idea," cried the girls together. ,*-

X e xt week Wendy received a quilt that was simply bubbling over with sunshine. Little did she guess that "Grannie's Willing Helpers," as Grannie and the g\rls called themselves, would make five more Ancklanders' cosy and warm at night before the campaign closed.