OUR GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

OUR GIRLS.

THE COMPANY MASCOT.

A GIRL GUIDE STORY. "I wish I could really save someone from drowning," thought Joan, as she strolled along the sands. " What is the use of learning life-saving if you never get a chance of saving anybody?" Joan was on her way to a Girl Guide meeting, that was easily seen; for she was wearing her uniform, while in her hand she carried a Morse-code (lag. Suddenly the piteous yelps of a dog, as if in trouble, rent the air. Glancing up in the direction of tlio sea, from which the barking came, Joan saw a poor, forlorn-looking little puppy standing on a rock about three hundred yards horn the shore. The poor creature was setting up a terrible noise by this time with his appeals for help. Dropping her flag, Joan set off at a run toward the water's edge, casting aside her hat as she went. On she went until she was up to her waist in the water; then she took to a good, strong, swilt stroke, striking out 111 her most determined manner. Gradually she drew nearer and nearer to the pup, who seemed to realise that she was coming to his rescue, and barked encouragingly to her. On the beach quite a little knot of people had gathered to watch, with bated breath. "Will she be able to reach him V was the question which presented itself in the minds of nearly everyone present At last she reached the rock, and, turning on to her back, she stood the puppy on her chest. She could hardly have turned him on his back or used any of (he methods of rescue of the Royal Lifesaving Society, as she would have done had her patient been a human being. But coming back to the beach was the hardest part. The tide was against her. She could feel the water trying to drag her out—awav out into the vast ocean Having only her legs to swim with made the struggle still harder But Joan was determined not to bo beaten; besides, she was a Gill Guide. Slowly, very slowly, but surely, she drew nearer to the land. At hist—a long, weary last—they reached the shore. Joan lav still on the sand for a minute, or two—worn out. In her arms she clasped the puppy. As she rose to her feet someone in the gathering crowd railed: " Three cheers for the rescuer." This was answered by such hearty cheers that the people in the street on the cliffs above paused and inquired of their friends the reason of those cheers. A well-dressed gentleman, who had just arrived on the outskirts of the crowd Cave an exclamation of surnrise. " Why it's Tun—one of my pups!" lie took Tim to get his leg put in splints directly after ho had seen Joan home. Next week, when Joan arrived at (be Guide meeting, she found the genlleman of the previous week's occur rence teMine the Guides how she had rescued Tim Tim. perfectly aware that be was an obieet of much interest. w;i< sitting at his master's feet, looking the proudest dorrgv in all the wide world Later 111 the evening Tim found he no longer had a master, hut a mistress, flu belonged to Joan. He also joined the Girl Guides—as the mascot!

—By Lilecn tuff, Walnut Ave., Ash burton.