CHRISTMAS ON BOARD “THE PRESS SHIP”

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS ON BOARD “THE PRESS SHIP”

It was near Christmas time and Lady Gay and Mother Bunch were exceedingly busy. There were - so many letters and parcels to be opened. Peter the Pig and Ernest the Engine had their duties to perform, too. They had to carry the letters up the stairs to Lady Gay and Mother Bunch. Suddenly there was a whistle. "Hark, what is that?" said Lady Gay. "Why, it is the postboy!" Ernest started off with Peter close at his heels. When they arrived at the door, they welcomed the postboy with

merry smiles. But when the postboy loaded Ernest with parcels he did not smile any more. He tried to start, but could not. So he asked Peter to give him a push off. Peter gave him a push, and he started off up the stairs. When he was halfway up a parcel dropped on Peter's head. Ernest did not stop to pick it up, for if he had done so he could not have started again. He went puffing into Lady Gay, who nearly fell over in a faint when

she saw the letters. She started to read them, but when she came to a big fat parcel, she could hot find the scissors to cut the string. She said to Mother Bunch. "Have you seen the scissors?" Mother Bunch replied, "No, I have not." Peter began to hunt for them. When he ran under the table, Mother Bunch

gave a squeal, for Peter had tickled her toes. The scissors were at last found and when the big fat parcel was opened, there lay in a box, a pretty

little doll's dress. Next, came a big fat letter and Lady Gay said, "This is worth the Golden Ribbon." ' The next parcel contained a tea-set. The 5 o'clock whistle was then heard, but there were still so many things to be done. Lady Gay and Mother Bunch were still opening parcels and letters when there came a loud knock at the door. Lady Gay did not have time to answer the door. A big fat policeman walked in. "Don't you know that this is the 40-hour week, and you should knock off at 5 o'clock?" said the policeman. Mother Bunch did not know what to do. Lady Gay was very busy opening the parcels. The last par-

eel contained a box of chocolates. She said, "If I give you these will you let us off?" The policeman was greedy and said that he would let them off. So

Lady Gay gave him the box of chocolates. This is just one day. Lady Gay and Mother Bunch spend many like this before Christmas. —MADGE TAYLOR (aged 10), Te Pirita, Rakaia.

"WE EAT OUR GOOSE"

Christmas comes but once a year, The 25th of December, That's the day we cat our goose, As long as I remember. —HELEN RICHES (aged 8), Killinchy.