The Surprise:

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23839, 14 December 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Surprise:

by Lucie Winn

CCT* WONDER what Frankio can I be bringing me," said little Prunella Mouse for the twentieth time. "I'm sure I don't know," answered Mummy Mouse patiently for the twentieth time, as she popped the last of the cheese tartlets in the oven. "Wo. must just wait quietly and see." But you know how difficult it is to wait quietly for a surprise, and Prunella could not keep still. She ran to the door of the mouse hole at least ten times} in the next ten minutes. It was Christmas time and hrankie was coming to spend his holidays with his cousin Prunella. He had written to say he had a surprise for her — something she had never had before. Oh, what could It be? Would Krankie never come? He lived down in the tool shed and Daddy Mouse had gone as far as the rose hedge to'meet him. That was a long time ago. or at least it seemed so to Prunella because she was so excited. But at last there was a squeaking and a scufiiing at the door and in came Daddy Mouse and Frankie. Prunella Clapped her tiny paws and danced about while Frankie unpacked his little bag. He gave a small parcel to his cousin. "Your surprise," he said with a grin. Prunella was in such a hurry she could not untie the knot. "Please cut it," sho begged Daddy Mouse. So Daddy Mouse took out his tiny pocket knife and cut the string. Prunella pulled off the brown paper as fast as she could and held up a wee cardboard box. It felt-,very light and when she shook it, it did not make a sound.

She lifted the lid and peeped in. There was nothing there. "Why it is empty," she cried. "That's the surprise," said Frankie. He laughed and laughed till he had to roll on the floor. But poor Prunella could not oven smile. She was so disappointed that tears gathered in her bright black eyes. "Krankie meant, it for a joke," said Mummy Mouse, comfortingly. Then Daddy Mouse bent down and whispered something. Presently Prunella dried her eves and began to smile. X*

'— l £)./? She put her lit:'e naw in Daddy Mouse's big one and together they tiptoed i>lll into the garden. When they came hack they hid sometiling in the cardboard box and put it behind the clock. K\erytime Prunella looked at the clock she bega.i to giggle. She was still giggling when she and Frankie hung up their stockings by the fireplace and went to bed. And what excitement next morning when she took down her stocking and found it full to the brim. "Look at my toys,'' she called to Frankie.

But Frankie did not answer. He was staring at his stocking and, would you believe it, a big fat caterpillar was staring back at him. Yes, all Santa Clans had left him was a horrid, fat, green, hairy caterpillar. Poor Frankie! He burst into tears. "That's your surprise," giggled Prunella. But she couldn't bear to see Frankie crying. She ran up and whispered to him and together they looked in the cupboard by the fireplace and there was Frankie's other stocking full to the brim. Can you guess what had happened? When Daddy Mouse and Prunella had tip-toed outside, they had caught the caterpillar and hidden it behind the clock. And then very early on Christmas morning they had crept down, taken away the stocking Santa had filled, and hung up another with a caterpillar in it. "But it was a surprise, wasn't it?" giggled Prunella. Frankie hung his head, for now he knew how disappointed Prunella must have felt when she opened her wee box and found it empty. "But 1 really have got a surprise for you," he said, jumping up. And he brought from iiis bag the dearest little skipping rope with bright red handles and six little tinkling bells. Then Prunella brought from her own special drawer a little cheese mouse with currant eyes and a sugary tail. "And this is my surprise for you," she said shyly. "Merry Christmas," said Daddy Mouse, poking his head round the door. "it is a merry Christmas,'' cried Prunella, skipping as fast as she could with such jolly jingling of bells. Frankie could not speak because his mouth was full; but his eyes were laughing and he nodded happily as he waved the sugary tail of the cheese mouse.