FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15625, 3 June 1914, Page 10

FOR THE CHILDREN.

WELOOME HOME ! " Children', children, such sxciting news!" If cried mother, waving a flimsy pink telegram. " Uncle Dick is coming home today." "Oh, mother, how ripping! Hooray* 'ft shouted Derek and Patricia together, for , . they both liked cheery Uncle Did'. " His ship arrived in tho docks this - ■ morning, mother went on, "and he's Vcoming down by the 12.15. flood Vigracious, it's twelve now! 1 mujj& simply run and dress,., I sha'n't bain • time to meet tie train. . Mind you're « good, children, while I'm gone. Wash l°" r nt3s ' S Crok ' and put on a frisk - hair-ribbon, Pat, and don't get into a' mess the moment you've made yourselves tidy, will you ?" No, other,' said tho dutiful pair, ■ and ran r,[f. r,. " I say, Pat," burst out Derek, ib ■ moment they were alone, "wo must do •' something to 'celebrate' this. Uncle f»icK lias done all sorts of splendid things i, - m India. He's a V.C. and aU tbfev.s! We ought to hang out flags and things ii to welcome him." : '.,p y® B ' 2? e J" panted Pat. "There are "?$ the two union Jacks mother bought for ■ tho bazaar, -and-—— " ' l;d "The pap«r chains we had at Christinas 7-5 -and tho Chinese lanterns. We'll put , W | them all up in the hall, sad give him IJ/| a really rousing welcome!" The pair of pickles completely forgot .:$! all about such trifles as clean hands and l3s l m ™'*'hboiis. From the dusty top vS T of, the toy-cupboard thoy unearthed ~3| the Union Jacks, the paper chains—very much tho worse for wear—&nd two "cry viil dirty and dilapidated Chinese lanterjs. v " I tell you what -we'll do," spluttered • Derek eagerly. " We'll hang the Union Jfl Jacks up in a ball tied with a slip knot. •'.s! llien when I pull the string they'll open ■"'£& out and fall in graceful folds. Mean- '$0 while, you'll run into tho drawingroom and play ' See the Conquering Hero ifff Comes' for all you're worth." 'fM$ . They rolled the flags up in a ball, and tied them with what Dbrek asserted wad ''jpl'' tho correct slip knot. Then they hung ; them from the hall lamp, with the loose ' tyf' string tied to the banisters. The paper •<||| chains were gracefully festooned from tho ;|- top of tho lamp, and the Chinese lanterns •$; dangled precariously from them. "Wo ought really to crown him with a..;'J| wreath of laurel." observed Pat poetically. :%■ " Haven't got time to make a wreath,". ,* v answered the practical Derek, " but—l'vo got it!" . Ho darted into tho garden and returned ' . with a handful of not very clean leaves torn ruthlessly from the laurel bush. "I'll chuck these down on to his head' from the stairs," announced Derek. "Golly, here ho is at tlie door already! Hustle, Pat!" Patricia shot down the stairs like a flash, darted into tho drawingroom, flpd rushing to the piano bejjan to thump out "the opening ijars of *' See the Conquering Hero Comes," with the loud pedal down and tho bass all wrong. The front door open™, and into the hall camo Uncle Dick, with mother behind him. " Three cheers for Uncle Dick!" yelled Derek, and hurled the laurel loaves in a shower over the visitor's head. At tho same moment he pulled the string attached to the flags. But, alas, instead of opening out and falling in graceful folds, they remained jammed in a ball. Derek gavo a frantic pull, and down came tho whole scheme or decorationpaper chains, flags,, an £ Chineso lanternson to the visitors heau and twined lovingly round him. " Derek began mother. "What does this mean?" The little boy gasped. Then he turned on his heels and tore upstairs and into the nursery as fast a? he could. , , • What would Uncle Dick think of such a reception! , Pat, half in and half out of the drawingroom door, saw Uncle Dick trying to disentangle himself and scampered past MB and after Derek. . . In tho nursery poor Derek was almosl in tears. , TTnMrt •'! " All our lovely plan spoiled. y DCJO Dick'll be furious. I know he will "Oh, no he wont!" Pat assured Mm. j "Uncle Dick's such a iollv good sort. j "Ho was," murmured the boy, J"". ne ._/£ might have changed. You know J*® « „ ' g,. years since we saw him last. B • ho added, "wo meant togw> him such a lovelv surprise, and—" . " Well, you have given ma a surprise, I must sav," said a cheery voice, and <> •Jncle Dick and mother came into the nursery, " though I don't know about »» Being a 'lovely' one." )msk "Oh. I'm so sorry, began Derek. "Well. wall," said Uncle Dick cheerily, " never mind. I'm sure you meant wen. But Bert time a fellow cooes home ("Wm India, for goodness sate don t welcome . < , him quite «o exuberantly." 'MimM '■ .