THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS

Granny Settles , For in v.-rv cb-vdo tonne • are so Invcnpled with the love of their countrey, that nothing can seeme pleasant unto thoni, nnlessc they breath in the same aire where they were bred. WILT JAM DE MAEMESBUIUE. Elspeth saw that Jicr father had made up his mind to go to South Africa. She ■watched his face as lie sat listening to Mr. IVnvgle. He viw slow to speak, but at last out it came: "That'll be for us, lassie," he cried, and thumped his fist down on the table. "Och ay," said Elspeth, for she had nothing else to say, and Mr. Pringlc turned to her with that friendly sniile of his. "Eppioll make a grand settler. And Jock, too. We'll need the bairne." Jock was eight, two years younger than Etepeth; he twisted his 'hare tons round tho legs of his stool and grinned all over. "It's nae use tac stay here starving wi' cold and hunger," * went on their father. "I'd a mind to 'be awa' to one o' they weavin' toons, but we'd be coopcd up there like hens in a back yard. We'd fair dee." "Ay," said Pringlc. "Ve'll never see a bairn in the street in one of them. They're all -working in tho hoose like wee slaves. Yo'll do better out of doors. Xot but what ye won't need to work in South Africa ..." He tried to turn a fierce face on Jock, but only managed a wink and a twinkle.

"That leg o' yourn, will it let ye go?" "It's just my hip. I walk well with crutches. Eh, it'll be grand." Epjpio hugged herself. . When Mr. Pringle said a tilling would be grand it would be. He was to be there himself, and no one could bo dull with Mr. l'ringle about. Jock and Eppic had known him ever since tliey wcro born. His father had a farm, his grandfather and greatgrandfather had it before him; but now times wcro bad; it was a poor old place, and the Pringlcs wero very nearlv as poor as they wero themselves. Mr. Pringle, as they always called this one, had gone away to Edinburgh to try his fortuno in tho literary world; he'd made sOmo money, but not enough, and here ho was back, burning with his idea of emigration for them all. Eppio was all ears. "It's a Government scheme ye're fcllin' me, Mr. Pringle." "Ay. 'They need the settlers and they've put up fiftv thousand pounds to get I hem." "I'll hue ma bit o' land." "You will that, and good hind too. I was ami' to Loudon to a line office they havo there, and it's all arranged." Eppio looked at Mr. l'ringle with increased nftve. All tho way to London, five days each way in the coach, and that, bad leg couldn't boar jolting. "We'll be twenty-four of us with you and Jock and Eppio. There'll be the McXabs with tho threo laddies. Kirstio MoXaib's turned seventeen, and she's lino at the dairying. There'll be the laird's young brother, and Oic's bringing three farm hands, and there's Sandy and his granny " "Sandy's granny?" Eppio couldn't help slipping that in. "Awed, he coultlna' leave his granny behind, she's nae kith no kin but him, and be was wild to come." "She's an auld body," said Epi>ie's father doubtfully. "My father's old and lie's coming. She'll do fine. And She's a. grand henwife. We'll have the bairns to keep 11m old ones company." Ho gavo the children another of his infectious smiles and drew his chair closer to the table.. "Xmv to business, Yo.'ll need to bring yet' tools. There'll he plenty carpentering. I'm thinkinir wheels for carts and knemk up the boilv there ..." Eppio caught ' .Jock's eye. They slipped off their stools and out at the open door, where Wallace, the collie, sat waiting for them, his amber eyes fixed on (be doorway. "Will wo go and see Sandy?" "Och, ay," said Jock. "Gome awa', Wallace.''

In South Africa. After Mr. Pringle, Eppic loved Santlv more than anyone else. He had always let her trail along after when he was working at haymaking or threshing or anything near home, and when her legs got tired he was ready with a lift. He ; could still perch her "on his shoulders, for the bigger she got' the bigger ho ' *eemed to get too.

"Will yo ne'er istop yer growin', yo great jimcklo loon, bashin' ma woe ■hoosio tao pieces/' his grandmother said, when lie grew so t.ill he hit his head against tho rafters. "Yc'll need tho laird'* castle the way ye're goin' on." And .Sandy, a clumsy great giant of nineteen, sandy-haired as his name, nibbed his head mid said, "Och, ny,

Granny." Ho seldom had time to say more than that, for Granny, often stricken to her chair with rheumatism, took her exercise •with her tongue. TAiey- heard her voice 36 they ca.iue along. THE SCARECROW. A cold wind crossed the field in which I stood, and the old hat on my head strained to get away and play with it. Tho old red hanky around my neck fluttered with the rhythm of the loose, hanging clothes around my body. The old. hat on my head again strove Tor freedom, and the stick that fastened me in my place threatened to break if the wind grow worse—and it did grow worse. It rose suddenly and the hat was granted its freedom and my coat went too. It grew worse. The stick on which I was leaning broke, and I was carried several feet before I lauded in a crumpled heap on the ground. It rained all that night, ami (he strawinside of nic grew wet and sodden. -My head fell oh", for the strings that held it to the body broke. Another night passed and another day, and then came night time once again. A huge, yellow moon shone clown on me, and then an amazing thing happened. The grass around me grew alive with elves and goblins and fairies; they sot to work and my head was replaced again. Their busy fingers stuffed the straw back into place and a new stick was given to mo to hold me up. A now coat was then put on me, and a new hat. And in the morning, there I stood— with the sun shining on me, and on the fields. I was quite happy again until an old crow sat on my head and laughed and laughed and laughed! (Will the writer of this original tale kindly supply his—or her name and address?—B.l\) DANCE OF THE FAIRIES. . (By Teresa Ployed. Tolara Avenue, New Lynn, s.W.-l.) In moonlit glades, in dia-kv shades, The fairies dance by night, Xo stars peer through—no me, nor you, Upon this sceno so bright. A minuet, a dance so gay, Was tripped by one and all, The elves so gay in their own way, Flocked all about tho hall. '

"Eli. but silo's cnil>l.it." said Jock nervously. "Will we awa'?" Bppio shook her head. '".See at Sandy diggin' in (lie garden. We'll no need tae *ce her." Tliey leant over the Utile fence and beckoned. _ "Sandy, is it you that's coniin' to .South AfTicy?" •Sandy gavo an enormous, satisfied grin. "Och ay"; ln,t before he had time to Bay more there came a shrill: "Sandy! Sandy!" "Oh ay, Granny." "Yo think yoracV pov rlevcr wi' all yor ongoings, hut I ken line, ye're just t f' ft i"; , AVJm " r ' s '» !1 Mrtl 'Ma klst I hrocht frno Kdinluirry 1" "Cranny's packiu'," r-'aid Sandv, over the fence. J'Snndy, ink' shame on yewcl' " "Bi<lo a wee. Oanny. and I'll hrinyn yer kist." he shouted hack, then whispered, "Mr. Pringlti lias it settled. Kirstic's comin' wi' nil the McXabs Kirstie says she'll " "Sandy!" Thw time Graiuiv's voice was piercing. "Stop ycr elatterin' and duo as yer tollt. I'll , 10 stir a foot tae Sooth Afncy wi'ont ma kist." Ho was gone in a flash. It was wonderful how fast Sandy could move that lug body of his. thong-lit Eppie They had found out, all thev wanted however. It was true: Sandv and Sandy s granny were going on this wonderful expedition; tliey were packin" already. Quite dazed tp think of it

they turned up the track to their favourito place. Loch mi Larich, the little loch up in the hills, splashing through the bit of bog and jumping from stone to stone on their bare feet, as silent as Wallace besido them. (To be continued nr.rl week.)