FOR TINY TOTS

Northern Advocate, 31 March 1936, Page 4

FOR TINY TOTS

ROLAND’S TOBOGGAN

Roland stood by his gate watching the boys with their toboggans going down the snowy road to the common.

His own toboggan stood behind him. He wasn’t allowed to go on the common without either his mother or Maurice and his mother, because many of the boys who played there were big and rough. Today Mummy had a cold and Maurice’s mother couldn’t go, so Roland felt very disappointed. Old Mr Rogers, who lived next door in the big house standing between them and the common, passed and said, “Well. Roland, you look rather solemn. Whatever is the matter?”

“There’s nobody to go with Maurice and me to toboggan on the common,"

replied Roland. “Mummy won’t let us go alone.” “Quite right,” said the old gentleman; “the boys are very rough.” “But our garden’s flat,” complained Roland. “I do want to toboggan, and I can’t without a hill.” “Well, mine certainly isn’t.” laughed Mr Rogers; “as a matter of fact, I’m always grumbling about tne part that adjoins the common: it’s all hills and dales. I can do nothing with it and have to leave it wild.” “You could toboggan on it,” said Roland helpfully. Mr Rogers laughed again. “I’m a bit too stiff for that these days,” he said; “but, if your mother is willing, you and Maurice can come in and toboggan to your heart’s content. You’ll be quite safe and have the place to yourselves. And you’d better come and have tea with me afterwards —my cook makes

cakes that I think you’ll like,” he added.

“Oh, thank you!” cried Roland, beaming .with delight. “May we come in the minute Maurice comes?”

“Yes, whenever you like,” said kind old Mr Rogers, “but ask your mother’s permission.” When Maurice came he was delighted to hear Roland’s story, and the two little boys ran in next door, chattering excitedly.

What a time they had! Mr Rogers showed them a slope in his dell which was just right for a toboggan-run. They slid down on the toboggan and dragged it up 'the hill dozens of times before the bell rang for tea. “Oh, it’s much better than the common, Mr Rogers,” Roland, said breathlessly, “because there’s no one to get in the way and we get many more turns.”