TRY TO DO THIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

TRY TO DO THIS.

Take a light chair and place it with its back to the wall. Stand in front of it, facing the wall, with the toes about a foot from the front feet of the chair, and, placing one hand on each side of the chair, lean forward until the top of your head touches the wall. The problem is to lift the chair from the floor, and, without moving the feet, to take the head away from the wall and stand upright. Simple as this appears, it is impossible ! Very few people, as you will find, would anticipate any difficulty in doing this. Get them to try and their opinion will be changed.

THE CLOCKWORK MOUSE. Patricia was feeling rather —not naughty bad, but ill bad. The doctor had just been and said it was a mild attack of influenza. -* "Mild, indeed, when I've got to stick in bed all over Christmas!" cried Patricia stormily. "Oh, it's too horrid!" And oertainly it was anything bat nice to have to go to bed with influenza on Christmas Eve, and to think of missing the Robinsons' party on Christmas Day made poor Patricia feel worse than ever. The Robinsons' ' was a party not to b«» missed; there was always something exciting about their parties. Last year it was a conjuror, and the year before a magio lantern. This year—well, no one knew what it would be, and the little Robinsons kept their secret most awfully well.

On Christmas morning Patricia's stocking bulged suspiciously, but she had never felt lees excited about Christmas in her life. Still, a stocking full of toys is rather nice, even if you have got a mild attack of influenza.

Patricia thrust in her hand and pulled out a small parcel. It was quite an excit-ing-looking packet, done up in white tissue

paper. She unwrapped the paper, and out fell a little clockwork mouse.

"Oh,-you horrid little thing! I hate mice!" she said, and flung it away from her.

Then she pulled out the next thing from the stocking. This pleased her much more. It was a dear little knitted coat and hat that would just fit her big doll. Patricia had longed for one like this for ages, and all the other things in the stocking were toys she partftularly wanted. Patricia was really feeling decidedly better, and she played with her toys all the morning. < In the afternoon nurse drew the blind and told her to go to sleep, but {his was too much for Patricia, specially as she was feeling better; She could do nothing but think of the Robinson's party and all she was missing. "If only you liked me,- all would be well!" piped a shrill little voice quite suddenly. Patricia sat up with a start. There at the end of the bed, where she had flung it, was the clockwork mouse. But it was sitting up on its hind-legs, and two big tears fell from its beady eyes. "What do you mean?" asked the amazed Patricia. j

_ " I can do anything if only a person likes me!" squeaked the mouse, pathetically. "But I've always hated mice!" said Patricia. " Besides, what could a teeny little thing like you do for me?" "I could take you to the Robinsons' party if you would promise to be kind to me," said the mouse. " But if I was allowed out of bed I could go myself," said Patricia. "You see, I've got 'flnenza, and it's very bad to go out with the 'fluenza on you." " Oh, that'll be all right! We'll leave the 'fiuenza here said the mouse, cheerfully. " But I can't take you unless you promise to be kind to me and like me afterwards."

" Oh, I'd love you, mousie, if only you really could take me!" cried Patricia. " Well, juet wind me up and jump on my back," said the mouse. "But, remember, when you're at the party you'll be quite invisible, so don't expect the other children to speak to you. They won't see you." "I don't mind that," said Patricia, "but I'd like to be there for tea. And, oh! I do want to see what the surprise is."

'Well, don't talk any more now. Just wind me up quick and eharp, or we'll be late 'for tea."

Patricia obediently wound up the mouse and jumped on its back. She must have suddenly become very small, because she fitted on quite nicely. Whir-r-r-r-r! went th e clockwork machinery inside the moose, and the next moment she was in the Robinsons' diningroom, with crowds of other children. She just hopped round the table and helped herself *o whatever cakes and 6weets she fancied, and listened to what everyone had to say. She tickled Daisy and made her giggle, and Daisy got quite indignant and thought it was the little girl' beside her. But Patricia only laughed and danced awayT . " Bobby's making a pig of himself 1" said Patricia. '

And she took a large piece of Christmas cake off his plate when he wasn't looking and ate it herself , When Bobby looked at his plat* again Patricia heard him murmur: "I did think I had a piece of cak e left, but I must have eaten it, after all." After tea the children filed into the big drawingroom. Patricia danced along m front of them, so, of course, she saw the surprise first. It was a great, big, beautiful Chrietmaa tree, reaching nearly to the ceiling, and it was hung with toys of every description and pretty shiny balls, and it was lit with tiny coloured candles. And beside tee tree stood a really most magnificent Father unristmas, with a long white beard and blue, twmkly eyes. He gave the children their presents and talked to them and made the funniest jokes. And presently he called for i-atricia, and someone- said that Patricia had influenza, and Father Christmas saidPoor childie, I am eorry 1 I think we must send her something extra nice— your Everyone said, " Yes." wJSL JW? hadn ' fc time to «* wfa a* Father Christmas was fishing out from behind the tree, for a tiny voice behind ner was saying urgently: " Quick-quick ! Wind me up and jump on! No time to waste!" H jJJS tUrned Bharply and »' the clockwork mouse. In • toort legß gJ than it takes to tell she had wound it m> &^f d °\! ts back ' and *" whirred to the night nursery. aacs.

sir s^"'!, s/sa s^f d - f\, H was - A great big narcel! STISd J^^wS. 61 *-? lovel y ecoofcer . bijcle belL * rabber ° n the wheek *»* » "Oh, how lovely!" cried Patricia. "I never expected anything half so nice!" wo i f^ ct they Sent you such a lonely present because you couldn't go to the party," said nurse. 8 And Patricia said: "Yes, that's it!" said Nannll """* had '" «f"+J eB, i N i anni V bnl Fm vei y» vei 7 of the clockwork mouse J"