Daddy's Evening Fairy Tale

Matamata Record, Volume XI, Issue 933, 2 July 1928, Page 3

Daddy's Evening Fairy Tale

by MARY GRAHAM BONNER.

SERVAL AND CAT

“There are people who brag about their family trees,” said the Wild Cat, and I don’t understand how a family of people have a family of trees.” “Oh,” said the Wild Cat’s neighbor, “they don’t mean they have a tree made of the family.

“What they - mean is that they all belong to grandmothers and" grandfathers of great importance and who are very high-up people.” “I suppose they’re called family trees because they’re high up,” said the Wild Cat, “though lots of trees aren’t very high, come to think of it.” “No,” said the neighbor, “that has nothing to do with it.

“A family tree all depends on whether a creature has grandmothers and grandfathers and great-grand-mothers and great-grandfathers. Don’t you see?” “But then every one would have a family tree,” said the Wild Cat, “and I didn’t think .every one had.” “My dear Wild Cat,” said the neighbor, “there are grandmothers and grandmothers.” | “I suppose so,” agreed the Wild Cat.

“But I mean,” explained the neighbor, “that some grandmothers are' high up and some aren’t.”

“Some are snobs and others aren’t, eh?” asked the Wild Cat.

“Yes, that’s about it,” said his neighbor.

“So that is what they mean by a family tree?” said the Wild Oat. “Yes, that’s about it,” said his neighbor.

“It’s all very well to have one, but unless- a creature amounts to something himself I don’t see how he can think he is fine simply because his grandfather was.” Just then another neighbor of the Wild Cat’s looked about him. “I wish to boast,” he said. “To hear my name, my fine and dignified name, my name which means nothing and yet which means everything, one would never believe I was a cat, eh?” asked the Serv'al. “Why does your name mean everything and nothing?” asked the Wild Cat.

“That sounds rather queer to me. In fact it sounds quite impossible.”

"Ah, but it Jsn't,” said the Serval. “Then pray explain it to me," said the Wild Cat.

“The name of Serval sounds very dignified," said the Serval. "Well, I suppose so if you want to think It does,” said the Wild Cat. “And it means nothing in one way' because it doesn’t tell any secrets. It doesn’t tell folks that I’m everything 1” “Well, well, well,” said the Wild Cat, "that is bragging a little bit too much.”

“Not at all,” said the Serval. “I am from Africa. That is a long way from the zoo. ■

"It’s interpstiing to think that my home is so far off.”

“Well, it depends on what one thinks is interesting,” said the Wild Cat “Of course,” continued the Serval, "and I think that that is interesting. "When one thinks of the Serval,. one thinks of a beautiful little spotted cat, a rare cat, a cat with thin and handsome long legs, a tiny head, a delicately shaped body and beautiful round spots.” \ • ' "That’s all very true,” said the Wild Cat, “but of course if no one were to think of Serval, one wouldn’t think of all those things." “Ah,” said the Serval, "very true, but I feel there are enough sensible people in the world who do sometimes think of the rare Serval family or spotted cats.” .......

© W -■ »VT The Game of Seven Any number of players can take part in this game. First of all one of the players is chosen as “Captain,” and he stands In the center of the others, who form a circle.

The captain must call a number. Now, if it is divisible by seven, then all the players must run to him, but if it isn’t, then they must stand still. This needs a little bit of quick thinking, doesn’t it? And some players are sure to make a dash without thinking when he says “12” or some such number. And any player who runs when he should not do so must stand out of the game. If you are a bad counter you will quickly have to fall out, won’t you? The game continues until all the players but one are out, and then h£/ as the winner, takes his turn as .cap-