How I Reached The Town Before

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

How I Reached The Town Before

The Shops Shut T SPRANG to my cycle with Betty and May, We pedalled and pedalled and pedalled away. “Good speed,” cried the girls, as we rode out the gate. “Now- hurry to town, and don’t be too late.” Behind us the sunset glittered and glowed, So faster and faster we down the lane rode. Not a word to each other, nor changing our place, We turned the wide corner, and kept the great pace. - ’Twas five to, when starting, but as we drew near The town clock struck five! and we tilled with great fear. We cycled on quickly, but again came the chime— When May broke the silence with, “Yet there is time.” Just fifteen minutes to get into town When May suddenly stopped and said with a frown: “My front tyre’s gone down, so go on alone.” And off again we sped with more than a groan. So we were left cycling, just Betty and I. And we’d just reached the city when she heaved a Sigh— A stone on the road had buckled her bike, So she turned back homewards, and started to hike. And so I was left to bear the whole weight, For gone was the girl I had had as a mate. I stumbled at length through the loily-pep shop And asked for some sweets, and a bottle of “pop.” And then on the counter my money rang As the clock struck half-past with a boom and a bang. And that is my tale in the shell of a nut, How I reached the town store just as the shops shut. This original parody of the well-known poem, "How We Took the Good News from Ghent to Aix,” is by Bettina (12), Blenheim.