THE TRUNK

Evening Star, Issue 21316, 21 January 1933, Page 5

THE TRUNK

A GOOD-NIGHT TALE Jack and Jill had had colds. They were both quite well again, but they could not go out as it was such a wet day. So after tea they begged to bo allowed to play in the attic. “You mav’go if you promise not to got into mischief,” said their mother. “Can we play with Great-aunt Mary’s trunk?” asked Jill. “Yes; there’s nothing in that that you can hurt,” said Mummy; “it’s chiefly old rubbish, I think.” nut Jack and Jill didn’t think it rubbish; they loved dipping to the bottom of the trunk and lidding old treasures. There were some funny dresses, a broken violin, two pairs of spectacles, a lot of beads, and several books. This evening they dressed up in the old clothes, and Jill danced while Jack protended to play the fiddle. Then they sniffed at the musty old books, and Jack suggested they should play at professors. The game consisted in walking about with an old book under the arm, with their heads bent and eyes on the ground, and sometimes bumping into each other!

Just as they were laughing over a big bump Mummy called to them that it was bedtime, and they were to coins down and say good-night to Untidy. “ Let’s show Daddy how to play professors,” cried Jack; and they burst into the dining room with their books still under their arms. They stopped short when they saw a gentleman talking to Daddy, and shook hands with him. “Well,” said the gentleman, “you look studious young people with your books! May I look? ” and he took Jack's book and put on his glasses. “ We’re playing professors,” Jack explained, but he was stopped by an astonished exclamation from the gentleman. . . “ D’you know what this book is? he asked Daddy. “No,” said Daddy; “the children found it with some things ray wife’s great-aunt loft here.” . “Well,” said Daddy’s friend, “its an extremely old and valuable book, and if only you have the other volume it’s doubly so.” Jill held out her book. “And h.cre it is! ” he went on. “ They’re worth at least a hundred pounds.” Daddy laughed in surprise. “Well, let’s tell Mummy, children,” ho said. “ I’m sure she’ll bo very grateful to the professors!”