A GOOD-NIGHT STORY.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 16

A GOOD-NIGHT STORY.

■When Claude the Cuttlefish kissed his mother good-bye before he set off to school in. the morning, he knew that he would have to hurry, as he had half the English Channel to cross before he arrived at Hisg Priscilla Plaice's High School. The' Cuttlefishes were proud of the education that they had always given to their children, and. it was for that reason that Claude's father did not consider that any of the schools in the district (which were overrun with common herrings and shrimps') were good enough for his son. But, unfortunately, Claude was the most absent-minded cuttlefish'that it was possible to find,-and most mornings he arrived just when the school door was closing. If he didn't forget his Lesson books he forgot his breakfast. 11ns meant time wasted while he looked round for a fish or two, which he would gobble up. One unforgettable morning he did not arrive at all, for as he was bounding out of the house lie tripped oycr the seaweed mat, and I'slid for fifty miles across the bottom or the sea in the opposite direction. Papa Cuttlefish became'tired of his son's tricks. He talked the matter over with Claude's mother, and between them they decided that the journey was too much for him. In a few days they heard that a friend of theirs was getting rid of his tame whale, an animal ■lie kept for travelling. They thought that it was the very thing for Claude so papa set off to see tho owner. He bought it on the spot, and rodo- it ■ home. ■

Young Claude, who had been late at school every morning for r. week, was delighted. His mother went out and bought, Borne reins for him, and the family,, spent the evening giving, him riding lessons.

On the first day everything went off very well. Claude did uSt forget his lesson books, and Miss Plaice was only just finishing her breakfast when he tied his mount to the gate. But on the second day it was anything but pleasant. They left home in. good time. The whale was plunging through the water, when it suddenly stopped and performed the most uncomfortable antics. Claude, who had been repeating his lessons to himself, dropped his books and clung fast to the reins. It was too late. The whale had seen an old enemy. He flicked up mud with his tail; he jumped and dived, and then he flung himself at another whale'who was equally anxious for a fight. Claude, who had no idea as to whether he was. right side up or upside down, fell off, and, as he tumbled, the enemy whale poked her tail in his eye, nearly blinding him. This was too much for Claude, who scuttled as hard as he could go, until he banged his head on a rock, under which he curled up, shaking with fright. And it was there that Papa Cuttlefish came upon him on the following morning. "It's all your fault, papa," wailed Mrs. Cuttlefish to her husband, as she dabbed her son's bruised head. '^Well, I must say that I like Vaat. I didn't want a sou who knew nothing. I am sure that I can't be blamed because he was. so careless. He must take after you, my dear." • "My poor, poor darling, he shan't go again," whispered his mother.

"Since the whale has disappeared; and I can't afford another; I suppose that you're right." ■ ; And neither did Claude go again, although, of course, it nearly broke Papa Cuttlefish's-heart. When he recovered from his illness he went to tho Haddocks 's school just round the corner, and he was the first member of the family to,, mix with the small fry of the neighbourhood. In my opinion his true education began from that'moment.