OUT OF A CHRISTMAS STOCKING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 33 (Supplement)

OUT OF A CHRISTMAS STOCKING

JT was under the Pohutukawas that the Golliwog spoke to me. A cool wind blew, a little soft salt wind that fiew from the sea, and flew by the branches of the Pohutukawa trees, sending the blossoms falling in showers of red upon the sand The' Golliwog said they looked like strands of crimson cotton. “When night steals down, what a brilliant carpet the moonbeams will find to dance upon.” he said. I visualised silver darting against a pool of red. and answered him with my eyes half closed. “Do you often come here?” 1 said. He turned his betid and looked towards the sea, as though a little wave had asked him the question. “This is file first time,” he answered, “It's like turning the leaves of a hook, all the printed pages a maze and a mystery, and suddenly coming upon a lovely coloured picture. “I am a Christmas present to Virginia,” he pointed to a little girl play-

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A Story for Children

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ing in the sand. "I was at the very bottom of her stocking, not that 1 minded being at the bottom; it was the fear of being trampled by the Velvet Elephant that troubled me, and the dread of being poked in the eye by the lloral sunshade of the little Wax Doll. The Wax Doll could no more help prodding me with her umbrella, than the Elephant could help stamping me with his feet, we were all so tightly packed together. “I think 1 dozed, for suddenly it was dawn, and little eager hands stretched out to reach us, and a little voice so full of joy, that listening I forgot all danger of the Elephant, and the pointed sunshade of the Wax Doll. The little voice cried ‘Oh’ and there were stars in the eyes, and in the voice the first glad bird note of the morning. The little hands that looked like shells, and felt like satin, clung lovingly, rhe cherry lips pressed, that felt like silk.”

LAURETTA MAUD WILLOUGHBY

lie paused. “Go on.” I said. I loved the sound of his voice, and the wide way he had of opening his eyes, while he talked. 1 hoped he would often came by the Pohutukawas and talk with me. He said : “The .Mother came, there were stars in her eyes, and violets too, she called the little child her precious treasure and kissed the little cherry lips, and rosy cheeks. “She lifted me upon the Elephant's back, and we rode over the satin quilt, and over the frilled pillow, then back again over the satin quilt. When hands touch you, you know if they are loving hands, I am going to be ever so happy.” Just then Virginia grew weary of building castles in the sand, and lifted him upon her arms and carried him away. I was left with the whispering shadows and a longing in my heart to follow them.

shown in diagram 2.

A Tiny Magic Square. If you fall into the error of writing the first 1,2. 3. in the top row, as some of the company did. it is quite impossible. You must write the 1,2, 3, in the middle row. You can then place the 3, 1. 2. and the 2,3, 1, in the remaining vacant rows and form g magic square.

“Please come to our party on Christmas Day. Crackers, dancing, games and the usual surprise.” “It must be a real good one this year,” said Jacky, sittin: up in bed. “Got any ideas, Moll?” “No, but I’ll think hard,” said Molly, gazing dreamily at her pet Golliwog, ■who was sleeping peacefully at her side. “Wasn’t that band funny at that place we had tea with Uncle Jim this afternoon?” The black men you mean!” said Jacky; “by Jeremy, that gives me an idea! The very thing!” “What are you talking about?” said Molly. “What’s the very thing?” “I’ve got it,” said Jacky, jumping up and down on his pillow, “we’ll have a Nigger Band.” “Ten little Niggers,” said Molly. “That’s it.... line, eh?” “Nanna wouldn’t let us black our faces,” said Molly. “Nanna wouldn’t be asked,” said Jacky, “it’s to be done. Hurrah! Hurrah !” “What’s that noise up there”—it was Nanna’s voice—“aren’t you two asleep yet?” Under the sheets went the two little heads. “I think it’s just a very fine idea,” whispered Molly, poking her nose over the counterpane a minute later. “Fine! Why it’s great!! Five of my chaps, five of your silly gigglers “Don’t be rude,” interrupted Molly. “Heaps of brunt cork, some dress-ing-up things, one man to announce us,” continued Jacky, counting up the items on his fingers, “and not a word to anyone.” It didn”t take Jacky and Molly long to get a willing troupe, and there were great and secret meetings in the outhouse about the make-up of soot and burnt cork. After much discussion it was decided to have a programme, and it was made up by Jacky as follows :— Song and dance by Timothy, the famous Ballet Dancer otherwise Sooty Sal.

“Ukelele” duet, by Bertie and Bobs, otherwise The Brothers Black. Banjo songs by Two Tiny Smuts — Madge and Molly. Sand dance all over the place by Three Golliwogs—Anonymous. Recitation—“AU Ends in Smoke,” byCoal and Coke, Anonymous also. Bill Bustle, the Whirlwind Sweeper was to arrange the guests, and tell the rest of the troupe when the audience was ready, and Jacky was Master of the Ceremonies.

We nearly gave the show away at rehearsals by the shrieks of laughter which came from the outhouse as we went through the various items on the programme. “We shall pinch our sisters’ Pierrot dresses,” said Bertie and Bobs, “they won’t mind; they never wear them.”

“Well, I’d look sweet in a ballet dress,” said Timothy. “There’s one in the wardrobe at home. I’ve tried it on and I look a peach.” “We shall make great big paper collars,” said the three Golliwogs, “and we’ve three old Eton suits we can wear. Hurrah!” “Hurrah! Hurrah!” went up a chorus. “Those childri . are up to some sort of mischief,” said Nursie to cook, as she ironed out Molly’s party frock in the kitchen. “I must keep my eyes and ears open.” Christmas morning arrived. Santa Claus had been. You should have seen the stockings !!! Crammed to the top!

Jacky and Molly spent the whole morning riding round and round the nursery on their new scooters, till Nanna warned them “the drawingroom ceiling might fall and then 'no party’ would there be!” “By jove!” said Jacky, “1 must burn some more corks I’ve got a lot stored away in the Noah’s Ark. Let’s take them out to the shed and get them ready,” and feeling in his pocket for his smuggled candle-ends, he and Molly were soon very busy; and a fine store they had. At four o’clock, two neat and smart little figures stead at the door to re-

ceive their guests. They were so polite that Nanna remarked on it. “They must be going to be ill!” said she.

“One little, two little,” hummed Jacky. “Three little, four little,” crooned Molly; "we're always . olite, aren’t we, Nanny?” and she trilled with laughter. “Not always—but mind you keep it up all the evening.” “Five little, six little,” again hummed Jacky. “Seven little, eight little,” again crooned Molly, with a wink. “Nine little, ten little,” said Bill Bustle, as he tripped in over the doormat, “here we are again.” Just before supper, a select little crowd collected under the clock in the hall and proceeded with stealthy and cautious step to the attic.

“All serene,” said Jacky. “Everything is ready,” and opening an old chest by the wall he turned out the ballet-dress, two Pierrot costumes, three huge collars of paper, which had ail been smuggled up there. “And.” said Moll “I’ve got two of mother’s hats —they’re old ones, I think. I’ve never seen them before.”

It was great fun—Bertie and Bobs blacking one another’s noses; Madge and Molly taking up all the glass trying on the hats: the Three Golliwogs fixing their Eton suits with paper collars; Coal and Coke smearing their faces with the soot out of the chimney ; but when it came to Timothy in in (lie Ballet dress, everybody laughed so much that they had to hide behind a door, as they heard a footstep on he stairs.

It was only Billy, come to tell them all was ready, and they must hurry down as the audience would soon get impatient, as they were very excited to see what was going to happen. “Did you tell them?” said Jacky. “No fear! I said it was a wild beast show. Hurry up!” There was a scamper down the stairs, and the Ten Little Niggers solemnly entered the room. Timothy, with one leg in the air, started—“ Way down upon the Swanee “You naughty boy; it is Timothy! How dare you wear my ballet dress! You’ve spoilt it —you’ve—” Timothy fled. “And then there were nine." !! I! Bertie and Bobs tinkled the ukelele. “It is our dresses,” came a voice from the audience. Bertie and Bobs r ave one look towards the corner from

whence the voice came, and they fled. “And then there were seven.” !!!!! The Two Tiny Smuts came forward, somewhat nervously after that. “Well I never!” came another voice from the audience, “the Mistress’s new hats. Whatever will she say? .. It is you, Miss Molly !!” Madge and Molly fled before they had even opened their mouths. “And then there were five.” !!!!! Jacky got nervous—was it going to be a frost? “Buck up,” he whispered as the three Golliwogs stepped forward, holding oue another’s hands. But it was not to be—the sand was slipping, or there was a nail in the floor—something rThe first Golliwog tripped and fell right on to old Mrs. Poole, who was

sitting in front, because she was deaf, and he smeared her grey satin party frock with soot. Oh dear! it was a dreadful moment. Away the three ran! “And then there were two.” !! Jacky was nearly crying now—when Hullo! Hullo!! came from the door. Hullo! Hullo! What’s the hurry?” It was Uncle Jim; he stood in the doorway, holding the three retreating Golliwogs by their hair. “Why, where are you off to in such a scamper? Ten little niggers! Splendid, I call it! Only two left. Well—here’s three come back. Where are the others? Bring them in Oh, ‘spoilt their dresses’ —never mind, we’ll get new ones Spoilt someone else’s dress. Oh, well we’U get her a new one. “Now then, come along. ‘The more we are together,’ now all sing—- “ There were ten little nigger boys standing in a line One danced in a ballet dress, and then there were nine. Nine little nigger boys going up to heaven Two played the ukelele and then there were seven.” “That’s right, isn’t it?” said he. “Well, come along again. “Seven little nigger boys or girls made a banjo dive Two ran away and then there were five. Five little nigger boys didn’t know what to do Three Golliwogs fell over and then there were two. Two little nigger boys nearly lost their vim Brought back to life again by good old Uncle Jim.” Hip! Hip! Hurrah!!! Everybody laughed and joined in singing “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” "Off you go, children, to the bathroom, and make yourselves clean. The supper-bell’s about to ring.” “Nice job for me,” said Nanna smiling. as she saw all their backs leaning over the bath scrubbing away the soot from their hands . nd faces. “I feel like a neeled orange,” said Molly, “but hungry.” “Have another jelly,” said Jackv. “I’ve had six.” “Timothy, have another mince-pie” —and just at that moment who should come into the supper-room but Uncle Jim. with a face r..s black as coal, bearing on his back a huge bag of toys, and in his hand a banjo. “Ha! ha!” he said, “This was to have been my surprise, but you youngsters forestalled me, so I’m the big blade- Sambo with the bag of toys. Come along, children, one by one. r ’d pick what you like, and a Merry Christmas to you all.” A week after the Ten Little Niggers received a large box with one Ballet dress, two Pierrot costumes and—two new hats for mother. She’s upstairs now, trying them on!