FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 11

FOR THE CHILDREN.

MR. VINEGAR.

Mr. axi) Mas. Vixkgar lived in a ; vinegar bottle. Now, one day, when Mr. Vinegar was from home, Mrs. Vinegar, who was a . very good housewife, was busily... sweeping .her house, when '.an unlucky thump of the broom brought the whole house : clitterclatter, clHter-clatter, about her ears.' In a burst' of grief she rushed forth to meet her husband. : On seeing him she' exclaimed "Oh, Mr. Vinegar, Mr. Vinegar,. we are ruined,; we are ruined; I have knocked tha house down, and it is all to pieces Mr. Vinegar then 1 : said : ;": My r deai v , let us see what can be done. Here : is: the door; I will take it on my back, and we will go forth to seek our fortune," They walked ail that day, and at nightfall entered a thick . forest.; They, were both very tired A and Mr. , Viwegar said : "My. love, I . will climb up into a tree; drag up the door, and you shall follow." He accordingly did so, and they :.; both, stretched their weary limbs on the door, and fell fast asleep.. In the middle of \ the night Mr. Vinegar was; disturbed by = the sound of voices beneath and to bis terror saw that a party of thieves were met to divide their booty. :!" Here, Jack,'' said one, /"here's, five pounds for you; here,, Bill, here's ten pounds for-you ; here, Bob,- i -here's tlr/t-e. pounds for you," " - - ' " '■■■; Mr. Vinegar could listen no longer; his terror was so intense that he trembled most; violently, and shook down door::; on their heads. Away>S scampered the ; thieves, but Mr. Vinegar ! dared not 7 quit _ his retreat till: broad daylights v Ha then scrambled out of the tree, and went to lift up the door. What did he behold but a umber of golden guineas- :';". "Come : down, Mrs. Vinegar," he cried; "comedown, I say; our fortune's<: iKide,: oar. fortune's made! Come down; I say." Mrs. Vinegar got down as fast.as she could; arid ; saw the money with equal delight. v ;" Now, my dear," 1 said she, "I'll tell you what you shall do. There is a fair at the neigh- '. bouring town you shall. take these 40 guineas and buy a cow. , I can make nutter and cheese, i which you shall sell at > market, and wo shall then, be able to live very comfortably.". Mr. Vinegar/ yfully. / agreed, took the. money, and weLyoff-to % the fair. : ■"■ v -" " , " "■ ' ' " When he arrived, 'he •walked-; up and down, and at length saw a.beautiful." red' 7 .cow. It was an excellent milker, and per"feet in every respect. " Oh," thought Mr. Vinegar, " if 1 had but that cow, 1 (should be the happiest ri^an.alive." 1 So feoffors K the 40. guiaeas for the cowhand the owner 7 declaring ttat, as he was :a : friend;', he'd oblige him, the bargain was made. ' Proud • of his purchase, '-;; he drove the coy Back- > wards and forwards to show. it. By-and-bj; he saw ai manftplaying v the 'i bagpipes-—lL'weedle-dum, tweedle-dee. The . children icllowed : him about, /audihe ap-■ peared to be pocketing money on all Bides. Well," thought Mr. /Vinegar,';''. if I had■ but that beautiful instrument, I should be;;? the happiest man. alive—my fortune would! be' made So he went- up to the "man.: "Friend/' says he, "what a beautiful instrument that is; and what a deal of money' you. must make!" "Why, yes," ' said man, " I make a great deal of money, to be* sure, arid it is a wonderful instrument!'' "Oh!" cried Mr. Vinegar, "howl should like to possess it!" " Well," said the man, "as you are a friend, I don't much- mind parting with it; you. shall have it for.that red cow." "Done!" ;. said the delighted Mr. Vinegar. So the;. beautiful red cow ; was given for the bagpipes. ,He walked j up and down with his purchase; but in ;- vain he attempted to play a tune,-and, instead of pocketing peace" the' boys followed him hooting-, laugliing, and pelting. Poor Mr. Vinegar, his,fingers grew very v cold, and- heartily ashamed and mortified, he. was leaving the town, when he met a man with a fine thick pair 'of gloves. "Oh, my fingers are so very cold!" said Mr. Vinegar to himself. "If I had but those beautiful gloves I should be the happiest man alive." He went up to th» man, and said to him : " Friend, you seem to have a capital pair of. gloves there." . "Yes, truly," cried -the man; "and my hands are as warm as possible this cold November day." "Wei),'"' said Mr. Vinegar, " I should like to have them,"' " What* will you give?" said the man; "as yon are a friend, I don't ini'eh mind; letting . you have " them for those-- bagpipes." ,; " Pone cried Mr. Vinegar. He put on'■'■*• the gloves, and felt perfectly .happy as : he trudged homewards. __ *_ . At last he grew very tired, when he saw - a man coming towards him with a good stout stick in Ms hand.. -

"Oh," said Mr. Vinegar, "that ; I had but that stick ! I should then ; be the "hop- : piest man alive." He accosted the man : - "Friend, what a rare good stick you ■havegot!" "Yes," said the man; "I have/ used it for- many a long mile, and a good: friend it has been; but if you have a fancy ■ for it, as you are a friend,-I /don't mini ui giving it to you for that:pair of $ gloves." Mr.. Vinegar's hands were so warm, and his legs so tired, that he gladly exchanged. Ashe drew near to the wood where he hadV left his wife, he heard a, parrot oh a tree calling out his name. : " Mr. Vinegar, foolish man, you blockhead.' you simpleton,- you went to the ? fair, and- laid outi § all your, money ■in -buying a cow.- Not content with that, you changed jit for.bag-' pipes, on which you could not play v anc£ which were not worth one-tenth; of the' money. You fool, you—you. had : no sooner got the bagpipes ; than yon changed them fo;r the gloves, which were not worth ' onequarter of the money; and.when you had got .the gloves, : ; you changed thein for : a.: poor miserable stick.; and 5 now- for your 40 gurnet, cow, bagpipes, and gloves,"yoia have nothing to show but that : poor, raiserable stick, which you might" have (cut inc. any hedge." On - this the bird laughed' I immoderately, and Mr/ ; Vinegar, falling into a violent iage, threw the stick at litj head. The stick "lodged in the tree, and he returned to his wife without- money,-, cow, bagpipes, gloves, or suck, and fin*, instantly gave him such sound,?"«£§; that shi-.almost broke every bono -u «*> I