Her Wish

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

Her Wish

The ladies' committee was in session, regarding the Christmas treat for the local Sunday school. "Xo, thank you," Mrs. Martin said, when Miss Vincent offered her a suitable fir- '"I his is to be a colossal Christmas tree, one that the (children will talk about for months afterwards." '•Shall I supply the candles as usual?" Miss Evans inquired. "Mr. Johnson has such nice ones in his window." '"You are very kind," she was told, '"but George is lighting the tree electrically.'' "I've" always given a dozen presents before," Miss Marsden began. "I suppose you would like—" "I require nothing, really, thank you; everythii ordered from Smith's," Mrs. Mal i c plied. "I'm much obliged to you lor offering, of course, but I should rather work independently. Still you might, perhaps, help to decorate the room on Christmas Eve, if you like.' : Members of the committee left with mixed sensations. "Wet fern is abominable to touch!'' Madge Evans announced. She was perched on a step-ladder, festooning the church hall when she spoke. "Oh, it's not so bad," Olive Marsden replied cheerily; but after Madge had dropped a piece on Olive's head she endorsed her opinion. Just then a sound resembling wind was audible, and the next moment Mrs. Martin burst in upon them, carrying Madge and the step-ladder before her. There waß a lull while Olive restored them all to a vertical position, and then the storm broke. "It's perfectly scandalous!" Mrs. Martin declared. "1 ordered a Christmas tree from the nursery gardens a fortnight ago, and now they tell me it's been struck by lightning, and they haven't another left. I don't know what to do, unless you can lend me your spruce lir, Miss Vincent." She was forced to pause for breath; so Joyce Vincent chipped in hastily, "I'm very sorry, but I've lent it to my cousin now.'' "Dear, dear, how trying. But I understand you kept it specially for these occasions. What shall I do?" continued Mrs. Martin. "Buy one of those collapsible trees in the village, mother," euggested a masculine voice and George Martin entered, carrying a small dynamo. "Now that'n a good idea, George; will you go and get one straight away? Oh, and you might call at the station and tell them to send the crate of toys here instead of to the house."

AND HOW IT WAS GRANTED (Molly Curtln. C 2. Clarence St.. Poasonby W. 1.)

TTer son disappeared, and Mrs. Martin turned her attention to the girls. "I don't like those fern branches over the clock, .\li-s she said, critically. "I think I could arrange them better." She olimlied up tlir. ladder and the girls breathlessly waited tor the first crack. I nfortunately it did not come until all Madge's decorations lay on the floor. Then there was a sound of splitting wood and Mrs. Martin descended with almost unbelievable swiftness, exclaiming: "I'm afraid T haven't much time to put them up again. Miss Marsden. but perhaps you can arrange them differently." ' The girls had "processed" in this fashion for about half an hour, when George returned, carrying the imitation tree. "I've been to the station, and the toys haven't come."' he announced: "but another train is due shortly, so I'll go down a;rain." "Xot come!" gasped his mother.) "\\ hy. they were ordered a fortnight ago!' Io fill in time George experimented with the lights, and the girls sot up the Christmas tree. Certainly it was well named collapsible. Out of every three branches they spread out two fell down, until at last they petitioned Georire for some string to tie them in place. After fumbling in four pockets he presented them with a piece of pink tape, half a violin string and an old bootlace. After investigating pocket numW five, he produced a length of electric bell wire and a letter. When he discovered the latter George's face assumed the colour of a freshly-washed radi-Oi. and he would have returned it surreptitious!*- to its receptacle had not Mrs. Martin's ea<rle eye espied it. "George!" she cried. "That is my letter to Smith s, and vou've never posted it." "I'm awfully sorry, mater." George apologised. "T forgot, all about it. I— I don t use this pocket very often." Ha\ ing regaled themselves on tepid tea and elderly bread and cheese, the party set off for the shops, resolved to repair as far as possible George's lamentable otnis«ion. When the girle regained the hall they were only the richer by a few coloured pencil*. Christmas cards and some bags of sweets. Mrs. Martin appeared. Jaden with oranges, and the girls were just in time to pick up fifty oranges when the bag burst. Mrs. Martin, once indoors, collapsed with a sigh. Time now l>eing short, the girls feverishly set to work to dress the tree. I have a few tinsel ornaments at home." suggested Joyce Vincent, "would you like them?" Mrs. Martin almost embraced her. i With that- Joyce was off. and on opening the door a puff of wind caught the tree and the next moment it lay on the floor. When Joyce returned, she found the workers on hands and knees picking up the fallen presents. "What's the queer smell?" asked Joyce. "It's onlv George's engine," Sirs. Martin replied easily. "It does smell a bit, mater." said George. "Shall I open the window?*' He did; and when the draught had blown over the Christmas tree for the second time, and produced volumes of smoke, George shut it again, and he was forced to switch off the offensive petrol engine. "\ou'll have to have candles now, mother." he announced. "I can't manage the electric light." "Oh. George," said Mrs. Martin, sitting down heavily on a box of ornaments. How dreadful! The children will be here in half an hour. Oh, will somebody get some candles?" "I'll bring some from Johnson's," Madge volunteered, and off she ran. She returned with a varied assortment of sizes and colours (the last of Johnson's stock), and the tree was illuminated as the children entered. "I'm afraid Mrs. Martin won't have her wish." whispered Joyce. "What do you mean?" asked Olive. "She wanted a tree that would be talked about for months afterwards," said Joyce. "Well." said Madge, sagely, "I think she's undoubtedly got it!"