DICK AND THE SNAILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20508, 8 March 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

DICK AND THE SNAILS.

By A.M,

Dick was a very little fellow, but all the same he knew the value of pennies, and often earned one by helping mother in the garden. There was an old hedge in this garden, and one day mother was horrified to find 6uch a number of shell backs, so off she and Dick went to daddy, and mother explained what they nad found ami said that the hedge must be cut down at onco, for she would never be able to grow any flowers with all those snails in the garden. Daddy, hummed and hawed but it didn't look as if the hedge was coming down, and when mother looked so disappointed, Dick's little voice broke in with, " Please, daddy, will you give me a penny if I catch them ?" And so it was arranged that Dick should collect them in his bucket and that daddy would pay him a penny for every dozen. That night Dick- had his twelve all waiting for daddy. It had kept Dick quite busy all the afternoon getting them ready, because he wanted them all in a line so that daddy could count them easily, and they would keep stepping out of line. Nurse called; it was bedtime Oh, couldn't Dick wait until daddy came, but it was nurse's night off, and no, Dick must go at once for his bath. She was surprised at his mother, anyhow, allowing him to play with dirty slugs. So poor Dick after giving a final warning to the shellbacks not to move off went with his nurse. .

Next morning Dick was up early to take daddy to count tho snails, but, oh. such a tragedy, only one poor bruised shellback, which someone had carelessly trampled on, remained. Dick pointed out the marks where the snails had been, and mother whispered, " Oh, give him a penny," but daddy said, " No, we want the little man to learn, don't we 1" That day there was no time for snail hunting, because mother was going to Grannie's, and taking Dick with her. When they got to Grannie's house, Dick was very excited for the gardener nad cut down a big hedge there. Oh, the shellbacks If only they were at home, thought Dick. For the next hour Dick was very busy in the garden, and really (though we will only whisper this) he was very sluggy when Mary found him, and needed a lot of washing and tidying beforo going in to tea. Then mother and Dick said " Good-bye" to Grannie and started homo. Dick was carrying very carefully a big paper bag full of something, but mother didn't worry about that, because you see, he had been to Grannie's, and there are always bags or parcels to bring home when little boys go to the Grannie's. It was getting late now, and they hurried to the tram, and the conductor lifted Dick, bag and all, into the_ tram. Everything would have been alright if * lady who jumped in afterwards hadn't knocked Dick's bag out of his hand, but she did, and out fell dozens and dozens of shellbacks. People stared, and all glared at mother, who looked horrified. There were snails on the seats, snails on the floor, and even some in a lady's lap. Then mother saw Dick's face and there were tears running down it, so she just understood at once. Dick, as well as his sobs would allow him. told the conductor all about it, and then everybody smiled and heloed him to pick them up!' Even the ladies didn't seem to mind a stray shellback on their dresses but just joined in the hunt, and it was the jolliest tram fide you ever knew after that. Dick arrived home with nine pennies worth of shellbacks just as daddy got in to dinner, and now there are nine real pennies safe in Dick's box, but Dick is still won'derinij what daddy means when he says that there is to be a tax on imported goods in the future.