When I Was Young.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21036, 21 November 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

When I Was Young.

>' BOOGSIE " SILVER.

A chatter of childish voices outside attracted my attention ono Saturday morning. Several rniniaturo housewives, baskets in hand, were skipping gaily along the roadway, " going messages" for mother. An impatient motorist, speeding along, senfc them scampering for safety to the sides of the bitumen. As I watched, my thoughts flashed back to tlie days when I, too, with a small brother of four years, went a regular Saturday errand to the fruitshop. Wo wended our way quite happily this particular day, till we reached a house wherein dwelt one " Boogsie " Silver by name. He seemed quite grown up to our youthful eyes, being about thirteen years of age. This hot summer day ho was seated in the shade of his gateway, eating a thick slice of bread and grape jam, portions of which ho conveyed with great dexterity to his mouth, on tho blacio of a huge pocket-knife. Fascinated, wo paused to watch; I mentally resolving to eat my next slice likewise. Our scrutiny must havo annoyed Boogsie, for in a voieo hoarse with jam and annoyance, lie exclaimed : " Here ! you kids! Watcha looking at mo for ? Be off, or" waving his horrid-looking knife, near Roy's startled eyes, " I'll cut your heads off! " With one terrified wail Roy fled, his fat little legs flashing across the sun-baked paddock with a surprising turn of speed. Not for many months could I coax him that way again. Boogsie and his knife were terrors as great to his young mind as aro tho speeding motorists to the little messengers of to-day. When messages were finished, a happy time was spent gathering billy-buttons. They grew thickly in swampy places, little golden, velvet heads, supported on a short stem, with bronze-green foliage. We gathered till our tins were full, then, seeking a shady spot, we sat down and threaded them, making long, golden necklaces. Even the small boys helped. Tiring of this fun we went hunting lizards and seeking trap-door spiders. The twoheaded lizards, a foot in length, were our favourites. They were not really two-headed, but, seen a few feet away, they appeared so, Jheir bodies almost cigar shaped. Half way out of a tussock, the little reptile would rear its head menacingly, its wide-open jaws disclosing a red cavern. The open mouth and the billy-buttons suggested only one thing to us: he must be fed. Quickly we popped button after button into the mouth so obligingly held open, till* snap, went the little jaws, and the annoyed lizard withdrew, to finish his sleep elsewhere. Tho trap-door spiders made their homes in the higher and drier part of the plains. The uninitiated might search in vain, so cunningly were the little houses constructed. The lid was level with the ground and like it in appearance, being about the size of a shilling. It was hinged at one side, and a smooth, satiny tunnel, about eight inches in length, drove downwards. We lifted the lid very carefully and inserted a piece of grass. Within a few seconds up popped Mrs. Spider, hooked her forelegs into the lid, and slammed it down. We were rather thoughtless in those days and we must have annoyed her very much, for we would wait a few minutes till she had settled down, then again we would open the lid. Finally we left, no doubt much to her peace of mind. Such merry times we had, with plenty of games and many dear friends to share them. May all the " Girls and Boys " find, to-day, pleasures as true and lasting, and memories as tender, as I enjoyed in my Australian home, when I was young. By Mrs. J. T. WARING, Great South Eoad, Manurewa.