AUNTIE GRUMBLE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 7 (Supplement)

AUNTIE GRUMBLE

From all directions the little people of Vilville came running' !© the Round Square. There stood the town notice board, as usual, but what was most unusual, there was a notice on it! Stich a thing had not happened since dear knows when—at any rate not since the Wizard of Vilville had packed up his magic one day and journeyed away to do a little, free-lance wi?zing in near-by towns. But here was a notice, and this is what it .said: —

GOOD PEOPLE, TAKE NOTE . I shall return to VilyiUe on Thursday noon. I have disguised thyself as a rabbit so that none of you shall know me. I shaU be VERY HUNGRY. The first person who feeds me shall be granted A PECULIAR POWER . From noon until six o’clock. (signed] THE WIZARD OF VILVILLE.'

Such hurrying and bustling about, as the Vilvillians and the little Vilvillianesses began to collect food for the Wizard-rabbit, for the. very

next day would be Thursday! No one was quite sure what the Peculiar Power might be, but they were certain it would be quite magic and nice. Their Wizard, you see, always brought them "a surprise when he came back from a long journey. And long before noon on Thursday the road that led into Vilville was lined with eager people with arms full of wizard food and food that no rabbit or wizard could ever, ever eat. About a quarter to 12 a little boy with sharp eyes began to jump up and down and screamj “There he comes! I see him." All the people looked, and • sure enough, down the road,. came scampering a brown bunny. Now it just happened that morning that a little real rabbit who lived in the woods had grown very hungry, and had decided to venture into the village to look for a scrap of something to

nibble. Of course, the people did not know that. They were sure that this was their Wizard, and they began shouting and rushing toward him with things to eat in their hands. • The rabbit’s ears stood right up on end with fright. “For goodness sake!” he thoughts “Is evendxwly in this place‘crazy? If I don’t get out of here Til certainly die of oyer-feeding.’ ’ So he hopped wildly from one spot to another, dodged this way and that, avoided a chicken sandwich, a pot of coffee, and two bowls of soup, and finally, as he found himself completely surrounded, he gave one leap over the head of a puffing old woman who was thrusting a rice-pudding at him. Jump, jump, and away! After him streamed the entire crowd of Vilvillians, calling and shouting and dropping.their, food gifts along

the way as they ran. Not a souli was left in the village. Oh, well, .there was no one left, unless you’d count old Auntie Grumble, who lived in the last street. The most unpleasant person! To begin with,"she did not care a bit for magic, and did not believe in the Wizard at all, though she had seen him in half-a-dozen disguises, and had recognised him every time. And then she was so cross and disagreeable that no one paid much attention to her, and no one even thought of her to-day. ~ s She therefore was left alone in her crooked old house, complaining to herself as usual in her . jerky, grumpy way. “All that commotion,” she grumbled, "People racing* through the town! Wizard—humph! As if there were wizards! Best food, too —all this racket and bother—” Mumbling and muttering Auntie Grumble hobbled out to her front

gate, a wrinkly frown making her face look very sour. “And just see that!” she complained, stooping to pick something, off the ground. “Here’s a carrot some careless person dropped—makes my house look as bad as the rest—trash!" And very crossly Auntie • Grumble threw the carrot as far out into the road as she could. But while the people were chasing a scared little wood-bunny out of the other side of town, and while Auntie Grumble was hobbling ; back angrily' into her house where was the Wizard?, Why, he was loping back-slowly into the village, disguised as a rabbit wondering what on earth had happened to his old friends, ■ the Vilvillians. He looked about him, I amazed, for the houses and streets were empty; It actually seemed as if nobody .cared whether he came to town- or not, and he was very hungry. WHOP! The Wizard leaped into; the stir as a great big luscious carrot hit him right between the ears. And who do you suppose had thrown it? You’re right! Auntie Grumble! Hungrily the rabbit fell upon that lovely carrot, and began to nibble it. As the last sweet bit slid down his little red lane he wiped his whiskers, twitched his nose, and went- hop-hopping up to auntie Grumble’s house. There he found old auntie seated on a stool, scowling and grumbling to herself. The .Wizard bowed low, till his ears, touched the floor. Auntie Grumble looked up and squinted her eyes at him. "And who are - you?!* she demanded. - - ' ?‘What do I look like?" asked the Wizard, surprised. look like a rabbit, .of course.” saii the Wizard, with satisfaction. *1 -disguised myselfae a

rabbit purposely to IpoV I’m glad it works!” . . ~ ; 4 “Oh, then you must be—”;Aa Grumble could not say “the wßi because she thought she - did believe in wizards.' ■ 1 “Why* madam, I am the Wizar Vilvillel” announced the -J* proudly. He bowed again. “Now I must grant you; Peculiar Power, as advertised od town notice board. ‘ Gizzicjd * zock!Gizzook! There, my I lady; you. have it.” ■■ "k “Have whit?” said the'”woman. Z&i r The Peculiar Power. Front-: until 0 o'clock, if you say ir it is! Just remember, that, and it wisely, please. Now I mug hopping along. Good day!” • “Now what on earth did.; rabbit mean?” said Auntie Grur when the Wizard had gone tar ka-hopping out of sight. - “Well, if I have any Pea Power it isn’t hurting me anyvd If I say it is, it is!’ The idea! 5 talk! Well, I must go and-gj broom—can’t tell what gets trac PH have to wash, my handssimply black!” l Ugh! Ugh! What a funny fee creeping, over her hands!; looked at them quickly, and.* even more quickly, she hid £ under her apron and looked m the ceiling, pretending she tad seen anything unusual at aU.; J just the same, she was tep startled, for her hands certagl were—blhck! j*(To be continued)

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