COG STORIES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6900, 4 May 1929, Page 14

COG STORIES

SAMBO PIG’S UNCLE GUNNEB. One morning Mrs. Augusta Pigg got up particularly early and scrubbed her four children, Amelia, Alice, Arthur, and Arnold, extra hard, afterwards putting a special curl in each of their tails. , Then she said, “Your cousin Sambo is coming to see you to-day, and I want you to be most exceedingly good children.” Amelia, Alice, Arthur and Arnold promised that they would be, and started. right away so that they shouldn’t forget. When they had been exceedingly good for about an hour and ahalf, Sambo arrived. As soon as they saw him they got a big surprise, for he was black from the tips of his ears to the curl of his tail; blacker than anything they had ever seen before, and immediately they all thought how convenient it must be for him not to need to wash!

Then they got a still greater surprise, for, with Shmbo was a huge dog that looked terribly fierce and seemed to bristle all over.' The little Piggs were rather alarmed, and they said, ‘‘Yes, sir,” and “No, sir,” to him most politely, and wondered how Sambo dared to call him “Uncle Gunner.” Presently, when he left Sambo with them, and went to talk to Mr and Mrs Albert Pigg, they were so relieved that they all said, “Oh!*' just like that, aDd Sambo looked at them. “You seem a little scared of my Uncle Gunner,” he said laughing. Amelia, Alice, Arthur and Arnold lookod at one another. “Well he looks most awful fierce like, they admitted. How did he come to be your uncle? ”

“That,” said Sambo, “is a very interesting story, and with your permission I will unfold it.” “Yes, do,” said the little Piggs, thinking what grand languago ho used. “In the days of my extreme youth,” began Sambo Pigg (he was exactly six months old then!), “I lived in the grounds of some works. Uncle Gunner lived there, too, and like you, everyone thought him a most ’straordinary fierce dog. I used to hear the workmen say that when he jumped on the back of one of the lorries they daren’t tell him. to get off. So you won’t be surprised to hear that I was scared of him myself.” “Indeed we’re not,” saim Amelia, Alice, Arthur and Arnold, with much feeling. “Well, one day my mother had gone away, and it was so very cold that I was taken indoors. They put me on a shelf in a warm room, in a box that smelled beautifully of scented soap. I was feeling most comfortable when someone said, ‘l’d better put this brick on thq, lid, so that Gunner can’t get at him.’ It was rather a pity I heard that remark, because it took all my pleasure away to be reminded of Gunner, and presently feeling lonely, I began to cry for my mother—not real hard, but just now and then, you ku ow. ’ ’

“Yes, we know,’ ’answered Amelia, Alice, Arthur and Arnold, nodding their heads. “I hadn’t been crying very long, however, when I heard a little ‘wtiff’ from the floor beneath, and peering through the peep-hole left for me, I saw Gunner looking at my box. And, do you know, I wasn’t at all frightened, because his voice was so kind, and his tail was wagging so hard!” “Really!” exclaimed the little l’iggs. “Yes,” went on Sambo. ‘Don’t cry, little pig,” said Gunner, “I will bo a mother and a father and a sister and a brother, all rolled into one to you, if you’ll let me.’ “ ‘That’s most kind of you,’ I said, ‘But how will you get to me V

GOLDEN BUTTER. IV! like to keep a dairy With brimming dairy-pans, And cream in brown-and-yellow crocks, And milk in shining cans; And butter pats in dishes Upon the dairy shelves. Of every shape and every size, That folks could choose themselves. I’d like to have a garden Where I might stand and turn The cream, until the yellow curds Were rolling in the churn; And when the curds were beaten Till all the whey was gone, I’d make it up in golden pounds With patterns printed on. And put it in my dairy, And folks would come and buy My lovely wholesome butter-pats And take them home to try. How fine to think that people Who gather in for tea Are spreading every slice of bread With butter made by me! —Elizaboth Fleming.

“WHY NOT” AND “WHAT POE” START SOMETHING You sec, it was this way: Poor Mother Robin could never tell those babies to do a single thing, but one would pipe up, “What for 1” and then a chirp exactly like an echo, “Why not?” Their names certainly fitted them.

Of course, Mother Robin knew best; mothers always do. She knew that her children must beware of the cats in their neighbourhood. She knew also that there were a few boys in the world, who were unkind enough to wander around, watching for a chance to use their air rifles on young birds, that were just learning to fly. Blackie, the cat next door, was a good sort, as cats go. But Mrs. Robin didn’t feel happy when he looked up at her nest. Their Hittlc home was nestled high among the branches of a sweet apple tree in that same back yard. The morning, of which I am speaking, Mother Robin started out to look for some breakfast for her youngsters. There had been a "hard shower during the night, and Mrs Robin knew that she was sure to find plenty of nice fat worms in the garden. Just as she was starting out, she said, “Now, children, remember you arc not to leavo the nest while I am gone. You must not forget that you can only fly a few feet at a time, and besides, I have seen Blackic prowling around all the morning.’’ “What for?” and “Why not?” came in a chorus.

“O, my dears.” replied the mother impatiently, “w r ill you never lcaru that taothers know best ? ” With this, away she flew. What For and Why Not looked at each other soberly, then their black eyes twinkled merrily, as each uttered a chirp, which meant, “Let’s show Mother that we are not afraid of any okl cat.”

They spread their tiny wings and found themselves sailing along through the air. First they landed on a cur rant bush. “O, wasn’t that fun?” said Why Not. “Who’s afraid ol' cats ?” chirped What For. Just as he said this, ho lost his balance and plop! down ho went to the ground. That boggled the bush so much, that thump! clown Why Not went. They were both a wee bit frightened, when they realised how very far away that home nest looked. It must bo a mile away, at least, they thought. Just at that moment, they heard their mother crying excitedly, from the top of the fencet, “Children, children, spread your wiiVgs quickly and fly up—up—up. One —two —three —ready !” For a wonder, Why Not obeyed without a word and landed safely by his mother’s side. But alas for his poor brother! He started to say “What for?” but only had toino to sav “What” when Blackic’s teeth closed about his littlo body. But at that instant Richard clashed down the back steps, shouting at the top of his voice. “Drop that bird this minute, Blackic. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” Blackic didn’t say that he was, but, he was an obedient cat and so lie let go of little What For and began rubbing his head against his master’s leg, purring as loudly as he could. Richard picked up little What lor, and after making sure that Blackie s teeth had not done any damage, he put him carefully up on the fence beside his mother, who was crying so pitifully, that a little lump camo up in Richard’s throat, only, of course, he didn’t cry—he was a boy. That night, as the soft south wind was singing these two babies to sleep, What • For murmured sleepily, I am going to mind vou, Mother clear, tomorrow, the first time you speak.” Then Whv Not added in his sweet little voice,‘“Yes, and maybe all suminer.” Mother Robin spread her wings a bit wider, so that her little ones would be snug and warm, tucked her head under one corner of one, and warm, and happy the little family slept until Mr. Sun called them the next morning.

THE BALL AND THE ELEPHANT. ' Once- there lived a"big, red rubber ball. He lived in the bottom of a toy box. He got very tired of staying inside. , ..m. Sometimes he would bounce a little and have fun by himself. Why can’t you lie still the way I do? asked the wooden elephant. _ I don t keep bouncing. I wait until the boj comes to get me.” . “Don’t you get tired of bouncing! asked the elephant. “Yes,” said tho rubber ball, but I get rested afterwards. I like bouncing, I do. I like it better than lying still.” Just then the boy camo and opened the toy box. He tok out the rubber ball. He started bouncing him on the floor. The elephant peeked w r ith one eye over the top of tho toy box. ‘‘lt does look as if it were fun to go,” thought tho elephant. Tho boy caught tho ball and put it in a chair. Then he took tho elephant out of the toy box. “You have a go'' in you, too,” said the boy. He turned a key in the elephant’s side and put him on the floor. The elephant felt his legs moving. He could run. “Why, you have a go in you, too!” said the ball, when he saw the elephant running. “Yes,” said the elephant. “And it is moro fun that I thought.”

PRINCESS ELIZABETH. '"A very warm friendship exists between the Prince of Wales «nd Princess Elizabeth, and his Royal Highness's latest name for his little niece is “Queen Bess,” says an English writer. The Princess was in her bath the other night when her uncle arrived in her nursery, and she could hardly wait to be dried before seeing him. Her excitement grew when she saw he had a parcel under his arm. This was addressed to “Queen Elizabeth,” and proved to be a wonderful doll bedecked in blue ribbons. Princess Elizabeth has something of a reputation for breaking her dolls, and recently she was given a very delectable but guaranteed unbreakable one. As is the way with butter dolls, however, it had no clothes. The Princess embraced it; thou a shadow fell across nor small face. Off she ran with it to her nurse and said, “Please make some new clothes for her quickly. Jt is such a cold day.”