HAPPY DAYS WITH A CARAVAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

HAPPY DAYS WITH A CARAVAN.

By LILIAN FLOYD, Tawa Street,

At the bottom of the old school garden in the shade of a large tree, lay three girls. " Well," said Patricia, " It's all settled. I think Ron's awfully decent to get us a caravan and horse for the holidays. He'll come with us of course to see that things get along alright." " Just think of it," said Cynthia, " three whole weeks of enjoyment. No grumpy teachers—nothing to do but roam the country-sido from one day's end until the next." She lay back and gamed at the blue sky, as if picturing this long-looked-for holiday. The other girl Bunty, seeing it was her turn to speak said: "We'll be like gypsies on the roads. What fun! I do think your brother is jolly good to arrange our holiday Pat." Along the white winding country road jogged a horse and caravan. On the front seat sat three girls, Pat, Cynthia and Bunty, all singing blithely. The hour was early and the keen morning air had sharpened their appetites. From the interior of the caravan came tempting aromas. Ron was preparing their breakfast, which consisted of cocoa, toast and freshly gathered mushrooms. After a while Ron's curly head was thrust through a slide in the front. " Breakfast Ahoy," he yelled lustily. There was a general scramble. The girls had sniffed the appetising odours long enough, and Paddy was soon unharnessed and put out in the green grass on the roadside. Then they made a dash for their meal. Inside the caravan all was neat and tidy. The two little windows were cur-

Te Kuiti. Age 14 years. (Original). tained with pretty cretonne. Four camp chairs and a folding table, on which was placed their breakfast, were the only pieces of furniture. A cupboard, stove and bench were also equipped there, while at one side of the 'van three folded camp beds and a small tent, which Ron pitched outside for his sleeping apartments, weie piled there. Breakfast being over, and the dishes washed and placed* neatlv in the cupboard, the girls suggested going to get some milk and butter from a nearby farmhouse. Pat found a billy and they started off, leaving Ron behind to collect some wood for the range. Soon the girls returned and they were soon on the road again. Just'before stopping at noon for dinner, thev came upon some very picturesque scenery, and Bunty at once wanted fo take a snapshot of it and fetched her camera. The scene was of a huge waterfall, among native trees with the sun playing upon the foaming water. BuHtv took the " snap " and Paddy jogged along once more. They stopped about a mile further on, under a group of pointed pines, on the roadside near a stream. After dinner they put on some old clot lies and set out for a ramble. Cynthia carried a basket, for she said, " You know not what we might discover." Ron noticed some trees away to the right so they decided to go over there. As they grew nearer they noticed fruit hanging from the branches of some of the trees. There was a walnut tree and several apple trees, while the others bore no fruit at all. The girls picked a lot of rosy-red, applai in their basket, and later on fourd some more mushrooms. Meanwhile Ron had gathered a pocketful of walnuts and Pat declared that she would make a cake when she returned. They left their basket under the tree and went paddling upstream, with the cool water swirling round their legs. Soon the banks of the stream widened out and lovely green water-cress grew in abundance. They gathered as much as they could and retraced their 'steps. The sun was sinking in the sky and Cynthia made them hurry for she said she wanted to sketch the sun above the pines. While Ron and Bunty proceeded to cook their tea of stewed apples and fresh crisp water-cress, Pat made her walnut cake, and Cynthia sketched the sun above the pines. The smoke was curling up into the night from the little chimney. Already Pat'fc cake was baked, the tea was cooked and Cynthia's sketch was finished. Overhead the stars began slowly to peep and jAvinkle, and the pine trees formed dark shadows. Paddy stood sleeping under one of the pines, while Ron pitched his little tent and soon all was peaceful anc) quiet, within and without, the little caravan. Thus the four young people spent each happy day of their three weeks in the excitement and jovfulness of the caravan and the country, and they were very sorry when they had to return at last to school, after their holiday of perfect happiness.