The Pohutukawa Family:

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23861, 11 January 1941, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Pohutukawa Family:

By Ivy Gibbs

CC UOD gracious!'' exclaimed ! f -t Mrs. I'oliutukawa, "I have not made my ( hristnias pudding yet and it I s only thiee days to Christmas Day. I must j send Blossom to store. She fluttered to her bright door and called in her soft voice: "Blossom, j please come at once, you must j bring me some things from Cockle- | shell Store.'' Her lovely little j daughter danced across the leafy yard and into the tiny kitchen. •• Here I am, mummy. ' she said think I'd better make a list in j case you forget anything, you are such j a leather-brained darling. Blossom laughed, and danced across the floor in her wee red slippers with their sunbeam buckles twinkling merrily. For goodness snko, fluid, bo still a moment." said her mother, rather cross!v. "Now let me see what 1 really want.' iMi'st of all: two thimbles Hour. one each of raisins, sultanas, currants, and half a thimble of mixed peel, and walnuts. Then go along to Buttercup Dairy and get two thimbles of milk and one of clover honey. Now let me sec is that all r Yes- I think that will tJo. I've got some thistledown baking powder. \ on had better bring a basket. Now run along and he sure and don't lose the change." Blossom danced happily away and her mother smilingly watched her from her cool little leai'y door. Then she hustled Up her shady stairs, beds and tidied the wee bedrooms. Then she came downstairs again, shook the bright little mats, polished the green doorstop and gave Flippy Kitty Cat three thimbles ot cockle soup. By this time Blossom was hack with the Christmas pudding ingredients. "[ danced all the way back _ and didn't lose the change." she said. "That's a* good darling. Now run off | and pi a v with the young Poluitukawas

next door, and ho sure to he home by lunch-time." Yes, mummy," replied her wee daughter. "Please keen Huta and ine the sera pi ngs ot' the basin." she added. .Mrs. Pohutukawa tied a pretty apron round her woe waist, got out her mixing howl and beloro you eould say "( >no-two-throe, busy a- a bee." she had the pudding mixed, tied up lightly and merrily boiling. Then she lieard a cheery voice crying: "'Here 1 am. little lady, is my pippi omelette ready:"

—Sketch by tlosalepn Ballapii ()■_'). ! The cheerful voice belonged to Mr. j Pohutukawa. back front work. He was I the vi'lage cobbler and was kept very husv repairing, on account oi pohutukawa shoes getting so knocked about on the high, rough, cliff roads. He only worked in the morning, as ho liked to wander about the beaches after lunch when the tide was out, collecting shells. With them lie made the most exquisite little articles. Time slipped by and Christmas Day arrived at last. The children were up at dawn examining the contents of their gossamer stockings. In Blossom < stocking were three darling pairs oi rod petal-silk dancing slippers, a sunbeam scarf and a pair of raindrop bracelets.

i Togo i her t hoy examined Huta's ' stocking. They found a beautiful little book oi poems entitled "Ixvaty Lyrics, printed on thistledown silk and enclosed between shell covers. Ihe shells were so tiny and so bright that at first the children thought they were wee tiowei's. 'I Men came a cricket set and a quaint little alr.rm clock with a little china rooster perched on the top i of n which crowed loudly as soon as | the first siHibeam peeped in the wini dows. I "Santa Clans must have guessed I ' wanted tt new cricket set. said Huta. j "Yes." replied Blossom, laughingly. ! "and he must have guessed also what ' a sleepyhead you are.'' ' "But wasn't it clever of him know- _ tug I liked poetry - answered Huta. i ""Yes." agreed his sister —"Let's go land see what he has brought mummy and daddy." Their parents were sitting up in Lied examining their presents. "Merry Christmas," they cried, as the children entered their tiny bedroom. "Merrv Christinas.'' replied Huta and Blossom,* kissing their parents. Then they excitedly showed them all their lovely presents. Then the children looked at the • lovely presents Santa Claus had | I brought their parents. _ j [ There was a leafy apron embroidered . with dewdrops and a wee. clover-pink s ; teapot with a lid ot golden bees tor v Mrs. Pohutukawa. Then there was a - new set of cobbler's tools and a t, bracken-brow 11 easy chair tor Mr. Pohuv:tuka wa. o It was rather late when they had h their Christmas dinner. Of course, Mrs. Pohutukawa put on her gay apron e; in honour of the occasion. Ihe pudding was a great success and looked so jolly y j with a little red flame dancing on its p i fat brown head. if ! Some neighbouring trees were 111- « ; vited to dinner as they were rather if j old and very lonely, having no dear i-i litile children. It was a jolly C.liristp i mas dinner, and they toasted each i other's health in dewdrop champagne.