Cousin Ned Natterjack

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 8 (Supplement)

Cousin Ned Natterjack

(By Tut Thomas)

Jake and Freddie Frogge go to Kbool now; they don’t do very well tt their lessons yet, but they are quite the best juniors at bouncer, the leading game at Mr Gilray Gall's school for frogs. The story I’m going to tell happened at the beginning of this term. Now, Jake and Freddie weren’t happy; without doubt their palmy toys at school were ended, for what you think, their cousin, Ned Natterjack, was coming to stay with them; and, worse sti'l, he had to ga to school with them. Jake and raddle didn’t mind having Ned to dhy, but he was a bore, and a slowcoach. and he would bo a nuisance •hwys following them round at Idwel and wanting to join in their •dventures.

“He’s such a stcdge," said Jake. “And so beastly slow, and not a lit chatty." added Freddie. To h’m I frof was not worth notice if ho not "chatty" or "keen on a •pot of adventure." “Besides." Jake said, “the school pool think we are snappy chaps

toy more if that poor fl.-'h is always tilh ui." , “Vca, and we simply can’t neglect I®,’* ;«.id Freddie, proud of his lev word. "Look here, have you been read»y dictionary again?” asked •Wtt, feeling rather ruffled. .“No, I haven’t." answered Fred"Mr Gull said it about me fed ay homework, and I though * ww a good word to use. .Jake went out of the room for a mlmii.es to see what the die* jifcary raid about the word neg<et. “I have it: we’ll baste him:” ex®aimed Freddie, when Jake went feck. “You don’t mean ‘boost him bj fey Chance, do you?" asked Jake, fete puzzled. "Well, it sound'; much the same said Freddie. ~ T i" *ou’d know the difference u fegted you and basted you, Jaxc Jfaw wculd I?" asked Freddie, fegfetairdy. , you might well ask. H jgWtted you. I’d pour hot fat oyei JP'while you slowly baked in the If I basted you. I’d merely P inG chaps at school bow clevei BfeAfe," answered Jake. When he iPfeed tossing his head about it, ■pwabsod to his horror that he muddled the words himself. J the ether way round,” was ah say. . .. . litw.’’ said Freddie, and smilea ■gfeself. "Well, anyhow. I vote the chaps at school Ned is

an awfully good sort, really. We could say he’s brilliant at lessons when he puts his mind on his work, and that he’s a champion sport when he bothers to exert himself. “That is a really good idea.” said Jake earnestly. "Ned won t ever play bouncer, so the fellows won t ever find cut he’s as slow as a wet week, and they'd think he’s just lazv and not dull when he comes bottom in the class." “Yes," said Freddie, "that’s much better than lotting thorn think our cousin is a dud. V. cvc gel to think of th ■ family name, you know." “And of our own reputations. added Jake. , N°xt day at school. Jake and Freddie delighted their friends with stories of their wonderful cous p who was coming to school with them. „ , “It’s a pity he s so lazy, sue JaUc. “He's not much to look at. cither when ycu consider the other members of the family." remarked Froadie.

When Jake and Freddie went to I .ichool the next week with cuiism ' Ned trudging behind tnem. th | whole school came out to meet | th »just as they said." remarked i Ton-v Toad and Freddie fc*t tiei menclously ’proud of hjs P 1^ 1 cover up his cousins little shot I C °But Engine the horror of Jake qnd Freddie when tney Neel agree to have a game ot bouncer udt.’i some of the best players. “We’ll just see what he can do. sJ Tc’-ry in Freddie’s hearing. Jake and Freddie oou’n’t do any- : thing but watch poor old Ned. ! “Blow »ne tight.’’ exclaimed Jake, ! “just •vrtch him bounce. He s ba- ; t«r even than I." , I "“I bc CT in to think we £P oke i truth. Freddie giggled. , They had indeed for Ned was quite the best 1 bouncer the school had seen. I in school. Ned Natterjack was top ' of hi? class. For him. no lessons 'were too hard. and. as for sums, he could do all the puzzlers at the Lack of the book and get them right I admit he was very slow, but ho was sure, and that was much better’ than be-n S Quick and gettos wrong answers, as did two other »'£S£si.. k S3- helped Jake end Freddie with their homcv/oik. and they did very well in the half-term exams In fact, if you ask Mi Gilray Gull to tell you the order of , V innior form, he’ll most likely 115 J> qrirst Ned Natterjack; second, cay. First. ' ft Tob« Frogge. arid —a ion„ Ithird, Freddie Frogge.

Jack end Freddie are still amazed that their cousin Ned is really just as clever and as good at sport as they boosted him to be. They’ll be quite sorry when he goes home again and back to his own school in Grubberburgh.