FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 10

FOR THE CHILDREN.

ERIC AND HIS GREY GOOSE.

Early on© morning, when Eric Smaik* went out of the house to bring in th» cows for the milking, he had a ''great surprise. A grey wild goose was in the paddock looking drear and disconsolate.

Eric had a wonderfully winning way with dumb creatures, and was able to charm them to his side unafraid, when from others they would scurry away in the greatest dread. Straightway he began to lure the strange bird, and" finally coaxed it into tho barn, vrhere he gave it a substantial breakfast.

" Why have you been so long in bringing in the cows?" called his father, as Eric drove his charges into the byre:' "You have been dawdling!" Everything at High House Farm went on with almost clock-like regularity, and for Eric to be behind time was a most unusual occurrence. Although only fifteen, and but recently finished schooling, he was already his father's righthand man in carrying out the varied farm occupations. v . " No. father, I haven't been dawdling. I'll explain in a minute. I have a surprise for you." When the red-and-white milkgivers had all been fastened in their respective stalls, Eric told his story, hit father listening with wide-open eyes. "A wild goose is it? Why I never heard of such a thing. How did it get here?"

"That is what I should like to know. Dad," replied Eric. "Do you think it ha» been very tired and dropped down to refit while the remainder of the flock went on ahead and left it?" "Maybe," said Mr. Smailcs. " though 1 never knew such a thing occur before.' ■ That was how Erie got his grey goose, and the strange bird showed no haste to leave him. Quite the contrary indeed. I' l began to follow him an he went his daily round on the farm. While it would merely tolerate the presence of his youneei brothers and sisters, it stalked after Eric at even' possible opportunity.

" And everywhere that Eric went The goose was sure to go."

[ If he had an errand down to the village I it kept at bis heels, and the villagers carat to say: " There goes Erie and his grcj goose." So persistently did it follow in" l that if he wished to go out alone lie had to fasten tho bird up. A pretty- picture it. was in the ploughing season to see Iho grey bird walking sedately with a (inn Stop, head elevated and neck erect, a short distance in front of him, in the line ol furrows, frequently turning round and fixing its eyes intently upon him. N' : the length of the furrow was accomplished and the plough turned, the goose, without' losing its step, adroitly wheeled about, and thus continued its attendance till th« evening, when it followed its master heme/ As he sat by the fire after daw if permitted, the bird would mount upon his lap and nestle its head in his bosom. The oldest inmate in the household a* High House was Eric's grandmother. '!«• old lady could not sec well, and had to f«i her wav about by means of a stick. End endeavoured to induce the grey goose to go along with Grannie, who loved to wander across the fields, and by slow degrees the boy's efforts succeeded. The familv came to' have no anxiety respecting Grannie, if she tarried longer than wont, saying, " She is all right, the grey goose is with her." , , . II she was in any dancer of walking into pits or rut?, the ijoose would send out ■ series of sharp alarm sound?, which would put the old ladv on her guard. One dav when Eric was at work in *■» stackyard' lie heard the dangerous cries the goose " What is the matter. Dick! " called out. Dick was the bird's pet name. Instantly the goose flew to his sine.*"" began to tug at his trousers. lie divine that something had happened, and lollop tho bird as it now walked and now tie" over the ground in the direction of w» open moor. They he found Granny seated on the heather unable to rise. In? had been overcome bv a sudden a,n ! D and but for the timely arrival of Eric tw consequences might have been senoii.-. The grev goose was now more esteem?*' and petted than ever It seems M » l "° proverb: "As silly as a goose," should os altered. What do you think?