Jacko Spoils The Effect

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 287, 4 December 1941, Page 18

Jacko Spoils The Effect

Father Jacko was making himself unhappy because his bulbs were so backward. "What we want," he kept saying, "is rain and sun." But at last the rain came—quite a lot of it—and then the sun burst out; and one morning Father Jacko walked round his garden his face beaming with satisfaction. "Never had such a fine show!" he declared. "Look at the daffies! Magnificent!" "And so are the tulips!" said Mother Jacko, bending down to sniff their sweetness. "Make Daddy Orang jealous," chuckled Father Jacko, who wasn't too fond of his rich neighbour. And then, as the idea came into his head, "Ask him in," he said. "Ask his wife, too, and let 'em see what we can do." Mother smiled at him and said she certainly would. "I'll have a tea party," she declared, "and ask Mr. and Mrs. Chimp as well." And so she did. All the invitations were accepted, and the day,

: when it came, couldn't have been a • better one. When the visitors had been regaled , with mother's excellent tea and cakes Father Jacko escorted them « proudly round the garden. ; They were all very generous with , their praise. Everybody was talking at once, saying pleasant things 1 about the flowers, the garden, and the pretty little pond in the middle ; of it, when Jacko appeared on the ! scene. He had stayed behind to finish the cakes, and now came out I "to enjoy the fun." He was listening so eagerly to , what was being said that he didn't notice he was gradually edging ■ nearer to the water—for he had his 1 back to it. ; Suddenly, with a blood-curdling | veil, Jacko flung up his arms, ' swayed backwards—and disappeared in the pond. Splash! As Jacko fell in, the . water flew out, fairly deluging the > little party. Jacko thought it a joke, but for • the others it quite spoiled the after- , noon.