MRS. SCRUBBING WASHING DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 109, 10 May 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

MRS. SCRUBBING WASHING DAY

— By Audrey Felts

QUARTS OF ALL SIZES. '

Mrs. Scrubbins Hear. senior, snorted in disgust as she lifted her hand out of the soapy water in the wash tub. for she hacl just seen seven chubby little figures appearing round the corner of the house-. The leader of the small band called out, "Oh. yoohoo, Mrs. Scrubbins! Can we come and help you do your washing?" "Oh. please, let us, Mrs. Scrubbins dear!" Mrs. Scrubbins. senior, flopped despairingly down on the grass and said, "Oh, my goodness, vou little pests!" "But Mrs. Scrubbins. dear!" pleaded seven little voices in unison. "Oh. I suppose so, though vou'll be more hindrance than help!"' "Oh, goody!" Seven little bears leant enthusiastically over the washtub, watching " Mrs. Scrubbins in admiration as she washed the clothes. Then a plaintive little voice asked. "Mrs. Scrubbins, may I hang out the clothes?" Immediately six indignant bears exclaimed, "No, 'deed not! Were all going to, so there! Take that!" And the biggest bear pushed the other's face in the soapy water. 00-oogly! Gug-gug!" and similar' strange noises were heard, and then a very wet and soapy bear's face appeared above the water. "I'm going to tell mummy on vou!" he sobbed, and made for the house, a very sorry and bedraggled looking bear. "Oh you naughty fellow. Peter." scolded Mrs. Scrubbins. "You should He ashamed of yourself, you imp!"

"I'm not!" said Peter, sotto voce Then, loudly. -Come here, fellows I want, to tell you something!" Six little heads huddled together and miifiled whispers were heard. Suddenly Peter, followed by hi, five brothers, dashed at Mrs. Scrub bins and bowled her over like ; ninepin. While the others strugßlee with her on the ground. Peter" wai busily engaged in letting down th< clothes line. "Whoo-oop!" he cried at last. "Help! Moider! Save me! Help Help!! Help!!! cried Mrs. Scrubbint

loudly, struggling to sit up. but being unsuccessful, as she was bound up with stiff wire. "Goody! - ' yelled the six, dancing round her triumphantly. "Now. 'Mrs. Serubbins. we have you at our mercy!" squawked Peter "Will you give me your promise to let us play wUh our tops outside your kitchen?" t . ves - anything!" said Mrs. Serubbins in desperation. "Goody!" yelled the six. "And will you promise—" "To let us help vou cook—" " "To let us have lollipops when we want them—" "To let us help you wash and help to— "And let us blow bubbles—" Suddenly a grip of steel seized Peter. "So! At your old tricks again!" a terse voice said. Five pairs of eyes nearly popped out of their heads as thev turned to see their stern father "confronting them with the razor strop. "0-oh!" gurgled Peter, squirming desperatelv, "h-how d-did you get here?" "Vou seem to forget, young man. that Tommy came bark to the house.' Besides. I am not quite deaf!" And threateningly he lifted the strop.

Above a shop-door in Devizes A tinman his wares advertises In language that's queer: "Take notice—sold here. Quart measuees ef Braes?"