A BAD HALF-HOUR

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 6

A BAD HALF-HOUR

If there is one tiling more than another guaranteed to disturb the calm of a country district, it is the liou-deliverv of the evening paper. As the time advances and each and every one begins to realise that the paper has not arrived heads appear over tlie top of garden gates, eyes are strained, looking along the road, and a general air of agitation pervades. A frown spreads across the face of the "boss" until it becomes a discontented scowl. If one dares to offer some suggestion.,there is a bark, a grunt, and the "boss"' for the umpteenth time goes to the gate to eee where that infernal boy is. And why he hasn't delivered the paper. Times goes on. The district reaches a state of exasperation and desperation. As if by mutual agreement, all hands start for the point from which the paper is dispatched. Soon cars are honking along the road. Small boys a l'c hurriedly sent by their mothers to try and get a paper for dad. Even a couple of dogs wander around looking lost and miserable; theirs is the important job to carry home the paper, and now some blighter has not turned up with it. These dogs, in thc-ir anxiety to investigate the matter, run into a couple of boys on bicycles: the result can be imagined. In the mid.-t of all thin medley the '"paperman" (as lie is termed by the indignant populace. although at other times he is known as "Old Tom") tries to explain it is no fault of his. Just as tilings appear at their worst a car pulls up and out jumps a member of the office staff. He has made a special trip with the papers and explain* that the bundle was held up by a flood, apologies are offered, but 110 one listens. Kager lingers tear the bundle apart, hands are outstretched to grasp the "farmer's friend.'' Smiles beam across the recently cross faces. Boys whizz along home 011 their bikes. Dogs victoriously wag their tails and trot off with the paper firmly held between their jaws. Cars buzz away, flood-nights are called from various• windows. Harsh words are forgotten, and goodwill prevails, and "Old Tom'" goes to bed. —CKOCOUS.