FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16267, 28 June 1916, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

'"If TEEY'D ONLY KNOWS!" "Now, children, I "want yon to get*home from school this afternoon aS" soon as you, can," said mother. "Just hurry yourselves for once." — * - " Oh, but we promised to stay and play rounders I" objected Podge, as ha hitched ~ on his satchel. .. •.-;;-!;-„• "Yea, with % Bobby, and the two little Smiths," put, in. Pqdo., eagerly. "And if—" '._-....'..._.' "You can stop and play rounders witS } them £; another '3 teraftXtf^'?( interrupted mother.* "I particularly*want*you' noma early to-day. Now, don't argue. Hurry .-'.J off. or you'll be late for school. Ana don't forget what I've said!'* " Whatfs she want us to hurry home; -' for, anyway?" muttered Podge crossly. .'-".'>: " A silly old visitor, I suppose. ' j " Bother visitors, then said Dodo, :" with a pout. "Spoiling our fun like thafrl"''- • m&tjm . < -;- ...'.'Bet you it's Aunt Sustfa.!" exclaimed ;i " Podge sullenly. "I saw sv_ letter on the >-; ' table' 'for mother this moaning, and I'm ' ■ certain- it was Aunt Suean's squiggley v> ; writing.'-' it , .-, ~,s.> %fe: , ,"■■■ 7*s t "To say she, was cotoing .to-day!" ?M groaned Dodo, stepping" heavily into a big / / puddle. "''■! "-'''• "-/'•' S"-3<%-.,r, ■*■;,:■• ;-/ " What rot, having to .back out of a ,; promise . just for , her!"., went on > Podge indignantly. "Look here. Dodo; s'posing /:•- —Apposing we—get kept in?" — • The little girl's eyes danced with glee. J; "On purpose, you mean? And not get .. ; home till after five? Oh, Podge, ( what a -"/ ! lark! She'd be certain to have gone by ■%> then!" ' ;' '"■"•"' ";' -' - ••/■ .r----"It" might he' even later than/that,"/murmured ' her 'brother, \ -with a chuckle, "'specially ias the school,,bell's gone al- 0. ready." , . <%i ~.1 ; .,/ i ~,,"... ""*'• : ' : £ But they didn't hurry' themselves, for ;£ all-that. - i-r-ir; : , - •.; v ; ' :' - ";..-" Now, Aunt Susan happened to be no : s great favourite* with Podge and Dodo. She f| was the kind of aunt who insists on asking you awful history questions at tea, and wants to know how often'yon' been top of the class this term;' likewise expects you to stand up in cold blood and. recite the last bit of poetry you've learned, or play your new piece—with three sharps and a B natural —whilst she stands beside you and beats time. 1 'As: Podge had; mevep yet; succeeded in • being* even near We- fop of %is - class or knowing anything about history beyond "William the First, 1066." and Dodo generally broke down badly after the first verse in any recitation,/ and ■ always played her pieces "with the loud pedal full on to drown the wrong notes, you can guess, they didn't look forward very much to visits from Aunt Susan. So when Miss Mullins loosed over her spectacles at them and said, in awe-inspir-ing tones, "Podge and Dodo, do you know you are disgracefully late? You will stay in after school and writ© out 50 times 'I must be punctual,' " it is to be . feared that neither of the'culprits looked as crestfallen as they ought to nave done. And, in addition to : being kept in, they finished the afternoon with a bad-coni duct mark apiece for talking in school. " I don't care !" muttered Podge recklessly, as they made their way slowly homewards about half-past five. "We shall have missed Aunt Susan, anyway," added Dodo, with a toss of her head. "Well worth it, too!" said her brother, in defiant tones. ' " Mnther'll be awfully cross, I expect," wottud up Dodo, with "a sigh. " Still, it can't be helped." As it happened, mother-wasn't in when they got home. " Gone out?" echoed the children in surprise, as Eliza closed the door after them. "Yes," said Eliza, "'.with' your Uncle George. He waited until five o'clock for you. and then he went off with your mother to the King's Picture House. Said he couldn't wait any loneer, or they'd miss the best of the show. Pity you were late, considering he came on purpose to give you a treat." Pity ! As. if that expressed the culprits' feelings! Dodo and Podge looked at each other in frozen silence. So that, was why mother had told them to hurry home! It wasn't Aunt Susan, but Uncle George all the time, and mother wanted it to be a surprise for them. The film, too (they'd seen pictures of it on the hoardings), was frightfully thrilling. All about tigers avd lions and prairie fires and Red Indians riding for dear life,'pursued by cowboys. € To think they'd missed that! J "So this is what we got a -conduct -: J mark and had t« write out- 50 lines for!" ? burst out Dodo at last. - r; - ; :■£-,.] "If we'd only knownP sighed Podge heavily. - : , :- _ . They'd brought the punishment on them- - selves, too; that was the bitterest part of all. • • -•' .■ '-,_'.---:■ tN-£-' ' -/?/ Poor children ! I don't think, - some- . how, they'll play such, a prank again. - Aunt Susan or no,