FOR DADDY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12465, 5 June 1926, Page 16

FOR DADDY

“Here’s a lolly for you, Pauline,” said Beryl. “Thank you,” said Pauline, as she put it in her mouth. “And here’s one for you, Fred,” she said to her brother. “Thank you very much,” he answered. Then Beryl seated herself in her seagrass chair, and gazed long and earnestly into the fire. “Would you like me to tell you a story?” she asked them. “Oh, yes,” both said together. Now, Beryl was the baby of the family, and a story from her was indeed a treat. “What’s it about, Berry?” asked Fred. “Well,” she said, “what can you see in the fire? I can see a little girl, sitting on a hill, and a naughty old vitch chasing her.”“I can’t see anything,” they both admitted. Then she began. . . . “Once upon a time there lived a little girl ...” “And she had a little curl,” quoted Fred. “No* she didn’t,” cried Berry. “She had a shingle!” “Go on with the story, Berry,” said Pauline. “There was a naughty old vitch”—(and Berry popped another lolly into her mouth) —“and she was awful bad. She didn’t like little Joyce one teeny-weeny bit, and then ” (looking into the bag on her lap), “No, I wouldn’t eat that. That’s Daddy's lolly. . . Well, one day the naughty old vitch said. . . I do wish I had another lolly!” “Go on,”- said Fred, “what did the witch do.”

“Look,” Berry said, pointing to the fire. “See that naughty old yitch chasing Joyce round the corner, and, look, there’s a big dog, no—l do believe it’s the Wolf, and there’s Red Riding Hood too!” ’ In the excitement, she put the last lolly into her mouth. . . “The vitch said ” Just then the key grated in the front door. “Here’s my Daddy!” Berry cried, jumping up, and she opened her mouth so wide that the lolly fell out. "Oh, my lolly, my lolly!” she cried, looking for it. The carpet was rather a gaudy one. And it was very difficult to distinguish a bright red lolly among the colours. “Hullo, what’s the matter?” asked Daddy, coming in. “I’ve lost my lolly!" Berry said. “Why, here it is,” and Daddy put it into her hand. She beamed at him. “It’s your lolly, Daddy,” she said "I saved it for you.” ’ Daddy looked at the sticky red lolly, and a twinkle came into his eye. ‘Well, well,” he said, “what a kind little woman.” I saw his band go to his pocket, b'ut I don’t like to tell you whether the lolly went in his pocket or his mouth. “Do you fink I’m the goodest little woman that ever was?” And Daddy piggy-backed Beryl to tea. T „ „ CLAUDIA BROWNE Lyall Bay. (Aged ioj.