STELLA'S JOKE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

STELLA'S JOKE

Stella was particularly wild about it, because she had been one of the chief advocates in tiie cause of brightening Muriel's bitter lot, and had gone so far a> to give her a great slab of chocolate especially for herself, which she bitterly regretted afterwards, for she is verv fond of chocolate, nnd she felt proud at I lie time at the "good action a day" fcelinc'. whirl, prompted her to make a presentation of what she would have liked -o much h-r^rlf. Muriel's meanness became more and more apparent a= the term went on. She would buy a few sweets and sit and eat iheni ri-ht under everybody's nrw e without. olVciing anybody one; and we all got jolly rnad about the way in which u c had shared out our hampers, especially as Muriel used to keep her pocket money against a rainy day—that i*, when everybody had exhausted their hampers and she knew there was nothiucr more to be got that way. She would then spend tlu» little money thnt she hud on sweets, so that it made it extra galling when we who had been so generous to her had none! Stella thought it over, and then one day she said to me, "I'm going to play a joke on Muriel which will cure her of being greedy, or ought to, for all time." ''Perhaps it is just thoughtlessness," I said, because Muriel wasn't a bad sort of gir! in other ways, and invaluable where hockey was concerned. "Perhape it is," replied Stella grimly. "Perhaps it isn't. Anyway, I've got a. plan." And ehe thereupon showed me a little box of chocolates which «he said she had purchased cheaply as they were a bit faded by the sun. Wβ picked out the least faded and ate them, whilst Stella elaborated her plana. She meant to »coop out carefully the inside of the chocolate* and fill them with a mixture made out of the scooping* and nicely flavoured with eomeeahpetre ehe bought. This little jofc wae not «o eaay to do ae you might think, but we managed it ultimately, and the chocolates didn't show any signe of having been tampered with unless you looked very carefully at them, which we didn't think Muriel would do, being more anxious to see what they tasted than looked like. On Wednesday Stella made the presentation. "There are only a few left," she eaid, very truthfully, " and I thought you might like them." "Thanks very much,* , said Muriel, taking the chocolate* and putting tJtem inside her de.sk. Stella had hoped that she would have popped one into her mouth then and there, but to her bitter disappointment site did no such thing, and it rather looked as though the joke was going to fall flat, because there is no point in playing a practical joke if you don't see the" ro.-iilt. and we rather thought that it' Muriel found out that the chocolates liii<l been tampered with s-he would take jolly good care that we didn't find out tililt she knew. Two or three days went by. and those ••ho. .dates were never even mentioned, iind Stella, knowing what she knew aboin them, didn't like to mention them either, and Muriel being, afi I have .said, ihe type of girl who never hands sweets loiind, it. looked as though the whole ..Hair was going to be a wash-out, and Stella i an In get a bit fed up about ; i hecai|-e ,-lic had onlv meant it for a joke, and if Muriel 'wasn't going to i.ike i t in the spirit that it was meant il ■,■, as L'oing to In , awkward for Stella. be.au.-.-" I hey would both know that lliey knew, and neither would let the oil:' i- know tb.it. .-he knew. TiiU all sound- rather complicated, i it if you think it out, you will see i \act Iv « bat I mean. ' Ai!\'lniw. nearly a week went by. and <- : ( .!!/i na- iriiiM ' rest i\ e about the mat- j t i . and raiiic to me an<l asked what .■ ! e had be: |~r . do. ■Do? Why, nutiing, of course," I replied at once, "Weil, it \\a* only a joke, and I don t "nit lo hurt her feelings, or anything like ili.it. because nltluilizh she , "l* : "''

(.'icorly, there ;irp rprtain—what <!<> they "call them? — oh, 1 know, extenu

— Concluded

nting circumstances, and in a way she is to be excused for being mean." Well. I didn't exactly see the argument here, but 1 strongly advised Stella that the only thing to do vr:w to "wait and see," to quote a well-known politirian, as time showvtf aii things. Muriel was as pleasant as she could '><> (ll'.ing this period, playing a verv good tame at hockev. and "making hersHi ■Uγ nice all rjund, and I could see thnt Stella was s-.-eral times absolutely busting to her al.mit the •■ln I'i'pies, an.l sinrp'y seethinsr with curiosity to know whether she had tasted them or no. Muriel made no mention of them, until 1 was suddenly struck with the brainy idea that she must have forgotten all about them. "Of course," said Stella. "Why on earth didn't I think of that?" A few more days went by, and we had begun to give up hope of ever hearing the end of our joke, when one day Muriel came into the room looking bo pleased that we could tell at once 'that the had had good news. "What do you think, girls?" she said. "An aunt of mine tiiat 1 haven't seen for ages has actually sent me a tenshilling note." "Good for you," said Stella, really pleaeed. "What are you going to do with it?" To her utter amazement Muriel replied slowly, "Well, I think I ought to buy a treat for you girls, because you have all been very generous to me" in the past, when I've been hard up, and now I've got this money I really should like to get something to show mv er —" "Appreciation," prompted S,tella, laughing. So after a lot of palaver, Muriel bought a nve-ehilling box of chocolates and said she was going to share them out amongst the girls, which she did, and we all watched whilst eh° went "one-one," "two-two," on bits of paper, and gave each girl her separate packet. Xow, aa 1 have said, Stella is very fond of chocolates, and she decided to keep hers and eat them in class, becauee there is not only the joy of having a dull lesson helped through by munching a eweet, but also the thrill of knowing that you mustn't look as though you are eating anything, because if yon do, and the mi-stress sees you, there will be an order mark to your credit, and all these things Stella loved, particularly defying authority, and if ever a girl thrived on rows that one did. I ate one or two of mine, and very good they were, and Stella ate one of licrfi, and she said it was very good, too, and she carefully put the rest into her desk, and decided that they would make a nice little feast for French lesson during the translation. Stella had completely forgotten about the other chocolates, by this time, but I hadn't, aiid I really began to thi.ik that -Muriel must have forgotten that she had them. I never shall forget that Freneh less-on, not if I live to a hundred; which I doubt, although I might, because an o'd lady that lives near the school has jukt

turned a hundred and one, and the

congratulated her, although it eoems luck more than anything; to me, because perhaps lots of people would live to be that a»c and be eongiat iilut oil by the King, only they get killed in accidents, ami all tiiat sort of thins?. T could soo that Stella wns making a go.*! thin™ of her Rweets=. and thoroughlv enjoying thorn, nnd I couldn't help 1; >11 sr 11 in pc as I saw her pop a. chocolate into her mouth ami bite into it with a look of joy. But what a look of utter horror followed! Her eyre bulged, and she Rwallr.wed in a fashion that reminded me of a swan picking up something, whilst I saw a wild look come over her faee as she hastily felt in her pocket for her handkerr-hief. "Continue*, Stella, sfl rniu plait," at this moment en me the voice of Miss Quick, the Freneh mistress. There was a pause. Kverybody looked at Stella. What a sight met their eye-s! She looked too ghastly for words. As she told Tiie afterwards "I knew that I had pot to swallow that awful mouthful, and knowing what it was. the prospect waa too dreadful, and I didn't feel that 1 had tile courage, nnd if 1 didn't swallow it 1 shouldn't he able to speak." '•Arc you ill, Stella?" asked Mis* Quiek, in English this lime, for Stella really looked awful, and 1 felt frightfully sorry for her. I stole a look at Muriel, and rnnld have vouched for catching a fleeting look of merriment on her face, hut it was irone quicker than lightning. Stella nodded her head frantically, but au.-wpred not. a word. ''Perhaps you had better go up to the matron,'' said Mies Quick, genuinely sorry. Again Stella save a frantie nod. So I arose and assisted her from the room, and we didn't find it necessary to viriit the matron because Stella soon removed the offending sweet from her mouth, but still looked jolly green, so I made her go up to the rest room just to lend a little colour to her story. Xow there the thing might have ended, but alas! llise Quick is shrewd and well named, and she took it into her head to take a look into Stella's de.~k, and there, lo and behold, were the remaining chocolates! The construction that Miss Quick put upon the matter was not the right one; but let it fiuflice that Stella got into a m.w about eating sweets in class until <-he made herself bilious, and she had to pay both for having defied Miss Quick's authority and having tried to play a joke on Muriel, who afterwards told us that she had eaten one of the chocolates in much the same way that Stella had, and had been wondering how to get her own back, when the present came from her aunt and she was able to play a joke that was so utterly good that nobody was at all likely to see through it. The only thing that she hadn't counted on was the fact that Stella might save the sweets to eat in clase, and she had been going to tell her when she found that this was licr intention, and then she thought that .-:.e wouldn't, as it would spoil the joke, and she didn't want to do ihift, but .«he hadn't meant the consequences to be s-o serious. Stella is a perfect sport, so ehe only had a jolly good laugh; but the funny thing was this: Nobody ever knew the real rea-son for that joke, and everyone thought it was a case of the biter" bit, but Stella achieved her end. Muriel must have guessed the real motive of the joke, for from that day on, and always ever after, she was never mean again, and was one of the first to share out when she got anything to share, so she was quite cured of her grecdines?, which was reallv the only thing again.st her, for she turned .out to ba one of the nicest girls after she got over her greediness, which I citill think must have been due to thoughtlessness, and Stella and I are

Fairy, fairy, Cas-t a s|>elL Fivi'v. fairy, Ti'H in.- »-pfl. On ii you n1 so Spoil a r-nst Jiwt as fa^t As j-ou ran cast a Rppll? - Shai|..w Sajinp?. When Mi j, F"lor, Iliinid, Yam and i Knnrf- ilic slhklows with the tunwd- ! alioui names—hoard that 1 wanted to j piny Rnliinson Crusoe in the show, they all utti'icd an exrlatnufion of dismay. "Oh, nn- wo want to play Koliinson Criioip.' , ■'lint y<ui r-nn't all he Holiinson Crusoe at the same tinii , ."' I i-xplainod lo them, j '"«nil yiiii r-iin't .iltw ynur(«plvo* whit'li line of you i> frohi" to plnv him. I'll settle the d'i-|iii!<- i.y lipiii" Mr. Crusoe niysi-lf." They didn't' foi>in to },r at all snti-l'cd with my cxvla nat i.. n , nml I was at a |»«« what to say when In.-kily at lliis mninont there was a <r..0,l of noisp outride the tiny Sha<l<iw!and theatre (it was so tiny that 1 couldn't pet more than inv head inside, alllinutrh the shiidowe. by pulling iheiiKolves together m.TTinjjN to lit in very ea~ilvi aiirl the ne.\t irtsiant a whole rrmvil of shadows from all over the world came floi-kini: in. "Start in. start in!" tliev slumted. Mij. Klnr, Iliinid. Vam and Kliarf frightened phinei-s at each other. There was nothini: to do hut lo ilet om a play. for there they were standing on the ftape. and everyhody thought they were aetors and net re<se«. "Stop olfippinir." Knnrf said, holding up his hand. "The play is al.out to liojfin," "\\'l]nfs tlie name of it?" tmniclirwlr oried. Xow Knarf didn't, know the name of it because— well, it didn't have any name, you see. Hanid was quirk-wit ted. She stepped forward and announeod in a lou-1 voice: "It hadn't pot any name as yet. You're to pnicss it. We'll spell out what we mean." At this everybody bejran olappinpr asrain and several voiees 'exclaimed: "Hooray, it's a charade." "What's a charade?" Yam wanted to knovr. As none of tli* others -paid anv attention to her—they wen- too busy deciding whnt to do—l drew her over to me and whispered: "A charade is a frame in which you spell out a name hy art in? each syllable." Yam was delighted. She had never heard of charades 1,0f.,re. The nnlv way ! i»he knew how to spell out a name was with letters—and that was not so easv \ either. She hurried over to join the ! others. By now the r-lappinjr had become so j loud that I bepui to prow a little • worried. Why were they Ukinjr so hmp. ! J. wondered. Didn't they realise that I everyone was waiting for them? They really mipht to hurry. "Hurry—hurry— i hurry!" all the shadows cried. .1 saw Mij. Flor. ITnnrd. Yam and Knarf sud-] denly turn toward the front of the stnjre. I They seemed all ready to speak when all ! at once—l didn't beiieve my own eyes ' at first, but it happened—they -rew fainter and fainter, and finally failed away. And all the others did the same. Do you know what happened? The sun came out from behind a el,m<l and all the shadows had to return to their masters and mistresses—yours, too!

JANUARY 23. Itpynnlrls, Shirley I'nil.ort, r.nrline Himt.v, Trevor .Sinininiiils, \', rn Hisln.p, Si-lwyn I.iiitmi, K-mikili Hr.nvn, I'rttrink Unll.ii-.-, llriiliiini Ciilplirimk. Ki'vin Ki-.i.li-li. Nuinnn rr.uvr.ir.l. H.-r.vl Turn, r, lima Iliiniiiili. Miiri.iil Trcv« Imi M-'iYy.-inl. Anrif L.-iliis. .liwk l.i-i-piinl. Wliuiin Wjirno Al.i-inir Siiii|.s..n. 15.11 Wnir. W'llliun iTiirnnmiMl. .Inrk I. i 111 •> n. li.malm liiiMiii>, Miirsart-t Itir-liaril? .lin'k Himhl. IVitr SiilliiTJi. l>;i|.!,ne .Icfsiin. l.indsny Milli.-irli |)..ris I.civi'll, Mil.lrpfl Si-Mini 11.-l-n l.yni-li, l.i.llii! K.!irn-<. Jim Fiilu-.v. .loan V:uiu'li:in, liarli.ira .M;irlii-ck. Alfrod Kiillit Wiiiifroil .Milwnnl. l.'ii 111111f->-. Mnvl* I'uUrs, S\ca JANUARY 2i. Oir, P.Mdon I'atcinnn. H:illina Uoyli-, Kihvnri] I'a.vin' Kiit.v IlTiii tli wii ttf. Toby Sμ-. I. ii S'lfrli'y I'liimv-Kii, ISftiy ' Si.'|.!i.■„-„.,. Mavis <'ii->li'tr, Kill Hi '( ..|.p. Tnln Miiviil, Mnrsarot Mi.nr-. I>:mvii ISM ■ In-. Mar l.nrisriin. i:.-iir r.illiii.-iii. N'.rron .liTiUii." l> v KiTuii-l.v. |..l,ii ISriiinl-y. Alalia Iliiiiliiii. Kniiire Kin.- .'li-un 11.. .li.nlan, Ni-n Am..hi, l-aLrl Mi-Nnnslii..ii. Ksma K.-.-.-li, P.-ii-i.-ia K'llv. ltniiiit.il Ci.i.k. \u.ir.y I'alciiski. Alan Harniii. Kγ :h

JANI'AKY 25, IMnmmT, .loyr*(> Vnrov, JoTin Ki-a-lcv. Wynynrd oWIi-'nra, Mary Bijrw I. Arthur lienntn. Vilnia Clinic. Mnr.-;irct Si-hr>nlf>r. P. Ilnilihli'. l-'ri-ilr-rlrk Sprins. Kllpph KilwiinN /..Ma Suifi. 11.-ny .1...1^.>n. Mary Tlimiii.-i". i;.-ru> Kay. lliiiichio William--. I'.n.ilil .Mc'liniialil Henry i.ii.-..n MarL-in-t SnililiT. llcMllif-r" 'I 1 m<. ll.ili.rl Mclllri.y, .li.lin I: ■! 1i t , L-11 ■i r i. N.ilii M.-K.n/i.-. ! r.-i.-.-v M..imm!i A Mia Mi-Kiiiin-y, Marii- Aγ.-. 'I Iμ.mas Mi-Miiliiin, \\ if r.., |. ~,.|-. 11.-a Mill.-r, Kmiie uliuT. Amlri-y JANIAHV 2<5. Wnnllf. Jnycp L.-wor-. MnHnrl* r.nlhuil. Kil.-.-n Shi-arwu.ul. Mi-lty n.-is-s. .I.iycilvn r.r.mks. \.mn I'.uwlinc Tlirlmn Martin. I'liylM* llrulni". Nnnc-y M.tj-N. N..r:i n r.nt.k.r. .In.i; riiilliiis, Kay Cnrii-r. I'alrirln K.'S-mm, Naalr* • -iin :•■•*. N..rninn Ta\l..r. .lunn Si-nr \■i.lr •■ \- \Vi.niii..ii, M\ ra i;,,,.,|.-,ro. I inline Tl,...mm.|i. Mary llarv.-y, [;,,;!, l.py.li.n. l.im Hi.;,.■■;■. l>i->iiinn(l K-i'l. .1.-nii IliiElifM. Ann :<• l;.iii..iil. Lorraine .lnliii!>tiin. linliert WiNiin, 1 > •»r. • 111 y Johnston, Klnnchft JANTAKV 27. \pplohy Ttnhrrt K.-llv. PntrW-la r..rir.|ui-r. It. liawlinzs, Owen Cli.Try Shirl.-y 11..i>1; hi-.mi. l.i'i China, n.mclna Mar-hnll, Citll V. I'.cr K''X McCarthy. FrM Firili. Arrs M.-iJnoi-n. F'lhH Ki.lpy. Wiiiirrnfi ll..liin-i.n. Tl"l»«rt (inninnr Pnvld Mn-tiT*. Ni.rma lii-aiwy. Vi-ni lliinii-r. !'• t. r C In'ian. June .\.lili-<. Martarpt Harris Olive TnnnT. Mnrli* liiiiii , . (irotn \\liiic.ini..'. l'hyllla '.Vi.-hr .Inyre Wliiti". .Innot Ciirwr Nmpl Wliiip. Mnvl« limit.M\ Iliiiirty Williams. Prml .Irsiiiliics Alfrrvd 11: in w .11. ,Ioyr(« C. i>llll. IViri-f-n Nmvp, Mnrenret JANTAKT r vim Vorn l>. naM. Max Si..iii>x Hornlre limhulsi*. Karl t■ 11 in•_- I.oslny <;la--. Krr.la Wi-iilit-r. liwpn Hall. .Iny w.ili.ril. Arilinr Pr««wn. ' 'live Wliisknr. ci.iilyK lir—'-lfvUi linnakl I'.arc... Au.lrxv 11..W.11. Inn M.i.rr'iio p.i riir'fp i.nt.ivan. .i.>hn Can-p'.oll r.-lilifnl Iliis.-h'iK, Ivy Surifli Aiiihr.nv .1 nri. ~..i,. ltnwna Sp.-icrr. r.urrin .|..li»—n. M:irv Cliirk. Harry K..v . IMward C.t Sv'.il Sin'lli r.'finla Day, Mnnpl Hill. I'-.-'. JANTAP.T 20. Hf-nnPtt niailye MrShniiP. H^ryl l.niip. Sliflld l'l.-'i' '<■■- N-rm.i Itartriitn I'.vron Mi-Ki-mvui. Marry llprrr. '"'in I'm", -l'"'|i..|iprty lJnth How.-. KaMilpPii c..nM..li> . Kvplyn Sviii"!!--. I '■ " 'tliy c>...k. Hilpcn IV it'll i. TliylliKnrtiiHCP oißa Willis. Rnyinnml K.M1... .ioy-i. li.-ra-l-iity. M-..-.-1 Kirkiiian. Arthur Wriirhr. Kim .-c Si-l'irl! Rlflmnl V.'nt. Mnri.-' (.lii.-inn. Vli'liir Ailain--. ii«pn 1.-.ilir" Ken YiMiiiL-. K.rir 1,. \,,ri MPtfy r.r.M'l;. Clailya Smith Poiinlil llmi.-ly. Mary