Over the Hill

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23025, 30 April 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

Over the Hill

THK rain was running across a hill in its small silver slippers when it met two bunnies sitting outside their tussock doors. "Good morning, friend rain," they said. "You seem to be '.n a great hurry this morning. Wherever are you off to ?" "I'm running across the hill and away into vonder town." replied the rain. "Oh! please, may we come with you, cried both bunnies together. "Most certainly," the rain answered politely. So the bunnies hopped gaily along with the rain. . By and by they passed a thrush sitting on a tree trying over a new song. "Good morning, friend rain; good morning, brother bunnies, it piped,

"and pray whore are you all running i to?" "We're running across the hill and away into yonder town. You may join us if you care to." "1 shall he delighted," the thrush piped in reply. So they all journeyed on together and presently they came to a black cat sitting on a fence. "Good morning," purred the cat, "you all appear to he in a great hurry this morning. May 1 inquire where you're off to?" "Well, yes, certainly," said the rain, "we're running across the hill and away into yonder town." "I should love to come with you," the cat purred softly. "You're very welcome I'm sure; the more the merrier," said the friendly rain. So the black cat joined the rain, the bunnies and the thrush and they all ran along together. Presently they passed a gipsy caravan and a small boy named Marco was playing outside. Ho watched them running by and suddenly went helter skelter after thein.

'•Oh! please let me come with you," he pleaded breathlessly. "We shall be glad to have your company," the rain said kindly, So the small gipsy hoy ril " a 'ong with the rain, the bunnies, the thrush and the black cat. He chatted as he ran along and told them about his jolly father and mother and his. ga.v sisters aim brothers. . "I hope I'll see them again.' he said to the rain. He suddenly became a «>•<? bit frightened and it'll inclined to run home again. The ram looked at him and then said sharply, "(.'nine, come, don't be Mich a baby. You always uanted to see what was over the hill, didn't you?" "Yes," Marco said in a small voice. "Well, -oine along then and you shall see." So the gipsy boy ran along with thf> rain and all the others and soon forgot that he had wanted to run home again. When he thought of the wonderful thinps ho ini-zlit s<>e over the hill he became quite excited. He skipped along merrily humming « little son-; "You seem to be very pleased about something," said a soft little voice at

his feet. Marco looked down ar<d saw the black cat. )( "Good gracious, can you really talk, he said in great surprise "Ot course 1 can." said the cat proudly. "Well then you must be an enchanted cat." "That's exactly what I am," purred the cat in a prouder voice than ever. "Ob! how wonderful; this is a marvellous adventure, everyone's enchanted," cried Marco excitedly. "Who's a marvellous adventure? 1 hope you're not referring to inc. I object to being called names." the cat purred in a huffy manner. "Oh. please don't think I would be so rude. I would not dream of calling a cat names, and especially a magic cat." Marco swept his red feathered cap oft his curly head and bowed low. "If you listen I'll explain what marvellous adventure means." "Very well," agreed the cat a little less huffily. So Marco carefully explained and the cat thanked him politely. "f really thought you were calling me names. I'm sorrv I was so huffy. "Oh! that's all right," and Marco looked at the cat and grinned in a

—By Ivy Gibbs

friendly wav, and tne cat gruui'-w ■>"' ~ at him! After that they were the best of friends and made up little jokes about each other as they went along. 1 liov were a verv merry party as they all ran along together. The thrush sang the funniest little songs and sometimes they all joined in the chorus. This ua» their favourite song: — Over the hill and Tar away, That is where we are going. And »hat we'll see and what well near. There isn't any knowing. It may be this. It may he that. But bonnd to be exciting. We feel as bold. As krmrht* of old, Th.i*i?h we will do no fighting. Bv and by they saw in the distance a few churches with high steeples, and they heard Hells sweetly chiming together. They counted the strokes of the loudest bell. "Twelve o'clock." said the rain. "That is fine. We have certainly been verv quick coming over the hill. Now, all "keep close to me and we'll run into town in no time." In less than two minutes they were in the middle of the busy little town 'J hey stared hard at all the people and strained their necks looking up at the tall steeples. -It's very noisy," purred the cat, "and I don't see any mice." "There isn't any grass," the bunnies said. "[ think it's all just wonderful, Marco said, looking all about. Ihe thrush said nothing, for he had flown high above the steeples and they all couLd hear his song drifting down. "Now just potter around and thoroughly enjoy yourselves. I'm going to leave you now," the rain said. "I'll be back at five o'clock. Be sure that you all meet me here in front cf this baker's shop." "Oh! please don't leave us," they all cried together. "I must." replied the rain, "for you know the sun must shine for a v hile." With these last words the rain vanished and the sun came out. The little bunnies ran away together down a quiet lane. They were terrified of the traffic and the big feet of the passers-by. They spied a greengrocer's shop at the corner of the lane. "I think I see some lettuces." they both said together. They hopped along quickly and stopped in front of the shop. Sure enough there were boxes of lettuces in front of the shop. There were also carrots and cabbages. "This is strange," they said, "I'm dure they are Farmer Smith's lettuces and cabbages. However did they get here?" They commenced at once to nibble the young lettuces. Suddenly the greengrocer came to the door and spied them. He could hardly believe his eyes. "Rabbits!" he yelled, "and they're nibbling my lettuces." He grabbed up a broom and rushed at them, Before you could say Humpty-dumpty they had scuttled around the corner and into a drain pipe. They were trembling all over. "Oh dear, oh dear, I got such a terrible fright," they both said together. It was warm and dry inside the pipe, and the poor little bunnies fell fast asleep. (To be continued) ——... .ftgaftEss ifltaog