DID YOU GO GATHERING?

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 16

DID YOU GO GATHERING?

EM 11 Hits ALL,— Mailbug is steadily growing lumpier and bumpier. Kiwi likes to see him looking so plump and jolly, but I‘ostie (tcho has to carry him round lots of windy passages) has other opinions. Inside there are dozens of thick envelopes who keep petting very impatient. They jostle and elbow each other toward the top, twitering and rustling like so many birds on a branch. And well they might—for they arc the bearers of exciting news. Last week's messengers have been brimming with chatter about our carnival procession and even mailbag himself can talk of nothing else—-unless it be blackberry gathering or mushrooming. scrambling into old clothes, grabbing at boots and baskets and • setting off across the hills in guest of those frail title umbrellas seems to hare been the favourite early-morning pastime of most country—and even town —Leaguers. There is something curiously exciting about being up and about when the sun is just beginning to rub his eyes and stretch a sleep!/ beam or two between the interstices of trees and hedges. At that magical hour of the morning the sky is almost colourless and somehow seems to be of the same texture as the air that laves the hilltops. Through rickety gates you go, skirting woods and clambering over fences —for those tiny mushroom dises spread their creamy tops

in the most unexpected places. All this is sheer delight to three Eketahuna members who dance barefoot across the hills seeking them in the lush grass and popping their "finds" into ready baskets. These are

I ft t if llft’f ILlt’lff l/iron.<,i<’. * • j blackberry days, too, and 1 can sec n pile of letters waiting to trit me about stained fingers and. tattered clothing.' May you all return with brimming

baskets