QUARANTINE TOM AND JACK ASHORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 35

QUARANTINE TOM AND JACK ASHORE.

Dbab Dot, — Ifc is now some years since the ship Charles Worsley w*s in quarantine, smallpox having broken out on board when only a few days out from London. Several of the crew being laid up, and the chief officer having died during the passage, the ship's crew and six passengers were sent to the island, and when all their clothes were washed and fumigated, they had plenty of time to amuse themselves and have some fun with old Tom. The sailors were quite delighted to get on his back and ride all over the island, but when Tom thought it was time to give the cookhouse a visit, he would steer straight for it, despite all the exertions of his rider to the contrary; and there he would stand until he got a biscuit, and when it was eaten Tom was ready for another round turn, and he seemed to take as much delight in the sport as the people themselves. They were all to take him in their turns, and by the time they were done Tom' would have received about 20 biscuits for his days' work. One day the crew were all playing at ball in the playground, and, as a matter of course, Tom must be there too, and looking on with as much earnestness as if he knew all about it. At last the ball stopped close to where Tom was standing, and he, quick as thought, made a grab for it, picked it up, and commenced to chew it ; but when he found there was neither smell, taste, nor substance in it, there was no difficulty in gotting it from him, for the ball was composed of three or four cork bungs stitched together, as a makeshift. Tom, seeing no chance of earning a biscuit, very slyly took a roundabout way to the cookhouse. Now it so happened that the cook had stopped so long at the game that he had let the fire go nearly out, and to make up for lost time he had split up a pine box and piled it on the fire to get tea ready. While he was thus engaged he heard old Tom close to the door. The cook stepped into the scullery and hid behind the door just on purpose to see what the old horse would do. He could see all that was going on through a crevice of the door. Tom, seeing no one about, made up his mind to enter, and after a careful search, he found there was nothing to eat, the pantry door being closed. At last he made for the flour cask, which was standing in a corner close to the cook's table. The head of the cask being out, and only covered with a cloth, in went Tom's head, cloth and all. He appeared to be enjoying himself very much, when all at once he became very restless. The fire had burned up very briskly, and was crackling and spluttering out red hot embers, and it appears that some of them had lodged on Tom, and in trying to get clear of the same he made use of his hind legs pretty freely, and in one desperate kick sent oneof his hoofs clean through the side of the flour barrel. The cook got alarmed, and thought it was time to make his appearance, and in doing bo he was surprised to find that Tom could not withdraw his hoof, but h9 made for the door, and in going out the barrel caught the edge of the door, which closed with the barrel inside and Tom outside. Here was a fix, the old horse caught in a trap of his own making, the flour spilt all over the floor, and the cook too frightened to clear the horse for fear of breaking his leg. The cook got out of the window and gave the alarm. The sailors all came running down the hill, and when they reached the cookhouse the scene was very amu&ing, Tom was white up to the eyes in flour, and a good deal of merriment followed. They soon got him clear by breaking up the cask. His leg was found to be considerably damaged, and what flour remained was highly coloured. One of the men made the remark that he guessed their Sunday's duff would be considerably cooked. " Never mind," said the cook, " mix all together, cinders included, and christen them 'Old Tom's plums.'" However, they lost nothing by the accident, for it was more than made up to them, and poor Tom had more kindness shown to him than ever. A few days after they were all goue I came across a few lines of poetry written in pencil on one of the doors in the old lower building. Here is a copy of it : — The boys enjoy the freedom of the land ; None to dispute their actions, none to command. Just the place, if provisions were woll provided, Though the length of time is undecided. Ou sport and pleasure wo all are bent ; [tent. Wo havo a horse to ride— sure we ought to be conNo money have wo, but of it we have no need, For wo are the kings of the island, iadefd. Now another duty wo have to perform, Of fumigation ; 'tis like boating round Cape Horn. The procass. no dou^t, is right and proper, And ou alldiseases puts a stopper. Yours truly, Wille Dougai/l. My answer to Ida Thompson's riddle is — a three-foot rule. W. D. LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS, Dear Dot, — I go to school every day, and am in the Fourth Standard. I have got two cats, Dick and Muzza. My father bought me a roan pony, and I ride on her sometimes. Her name is Jessie. I have have got two brothers and one sister— William, Alexander, and Mary. Please would you give me a name for my sister's doll. I road the little letters in the Witness every week, and I like them very much. I like the story of "Queenie's Doll" very much, only I think it was too short. I hope there will be another pretty story again soon. — Yours truly, Christina Thomson (aged 10 years). Baton, Nelson, November 12. Dear Dot,— l can scarcely be called one of your little folks, as lam 16 years past. But although I am that age, I take a great interest in the Little Folks' column. My younger brothers and sisters are delighted with you ; and Friday is always welcomed, for that is the day we get our Witness. Dear Dot, lam writing this to let you know how we like your writings. The article entitled " Little Ladies and Gentlemen " pleased us all. It contained such sensible advice and was given in such a kindly manner that children could not help following it. Dear Dot, you seem to be a very kind little person. If ever I come to town, may I come and see you with my little sisters, please ? We all send our love to you, dear Dot. — Yours affectionately, Desieee Langford (aged 16 years). Dear Dot, — My brother has got a book called H Dot's Story Book." Please would you let me write a little story out of it to you ? If you will allow mo, I will write it next; time I write to you. — Yours truly, Bella (aged 9 years). Milton, November 18. [Yes, certainly.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — We had a bazaar in aid of the funds of the Church of England here a short time ago. My friend Katie (who was staying

with me from Wendon) and I went together. We had a beautiful Cnristmas tree and branpies. I got a bride doll. Will you please tell me a pretty name for it? Katie got three strings of beads off the tree. Our cat had three kittens. We had to drown two, and kept a little white one. I think Dob would be a pretty name fur it, if you would not mind it having the same name as you. We have 10 chickens ; one hen set herself in the hedge and brought out eight chickens.— Yours truly, Mary H. Macaffer (aged 8 years). Gore, November 18. [You are perfectly welcome to call the kitten after me.— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — Our fruit garden is looking very nice, and so is our flower garden. We have some nice young geese and ducks. Theyare pretty little things. I have got a pretty little pup. Dear Dot, please give me a nice name for her, and I will give you a nice little riddle_ to guess : — M struck R, and W came out. I think the riddle you want us little folks to answer must be a stool, as I have a little stool myself with three feet and a lot of nails; it never walks, and has not one toe. — Yours truly, Isabella G. Gbant. Lower Shotovcr, August 18. [The answer to the riddle was ayard measure. Call the pup Kelpie. — Dot.]

Dear Dot,— l read the Witness every week, and I read about the litble folks. I have got a big grey cat, and it catches mice and birds ; and I have a dog named Nora. Please can you tell me a name for our white cat ? I suppose you read about the two children that were drowned here. We got the likeness of our school taken a while ago. I go to school every day, and am in the Fifth Standard. My brother works at the meat-freezing works up here. Everything looks nice and green just now. There are a lot of rats about our house. Our neighbour caught six on Thursday night.— Yours truly, William Dandie (aged 12 years and 11 months). Washdyke, near Timaru, Nov. 19. Dear Dot, — I have no pets to tell you about ; but I have two big cats. Their names are Tommy and Whitey. There were two children drowned «t the beach here on Saturday week. I passed the examination, and am in the Fourth Standard. I have two brothers. Their names are Peter and William. I have two dolls. Please, Dot, will you name them for me ? — Yours truly, Annie (aged 11 years and 4 months). Washdyke, November 19. [Call one Phyllis and the other Mollie. — Dot.]

Dear Dot,— l go to school, and am in the Third Standard. We have three teachers in our school. Our teacher gives us lollies, and we bring her flowers. She gives us the cane sometimes. We are going to have a school concert on the night before Christmas Eve. I have no pets.— Yours truly, Annie Lesion (aged 7£ years). Orepuki, November 19. Dear Dot,— l read the little folks' letters every week. I think they are very nice. My mother was in Invercargill and bought a doll for my sister Maggie and one for me. Some of the little girls are jealous of us because we have such nice dolls. I have also a pet cat, which I call Seraphic— Yours truly, Lilly Forbes (aged 12 years). Orepuki, November 20.

Dear Dot, — I have no pets to tell you about except a cockatoo. Whenever we go near him he says "Pretty Johnny"; that is my big brother's name. I have no sisters. A friend of mine has a pet lamb, and she wants a name for it. Could you tell her one ? — Yours truly, Pollt (aged 12£ years).

Orepuki, November 20. [Call the lamb Daisy.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — We have got four kittens, two of which are grey and one yellow ; another being black. The yellow one is mine and the black one is my brother's, and one grey one is my sister's, and the other is our baby's. — Yours truly, Henry Horrell (aged 11 years).

Dear Dot,— Our examination was held on the 11th of November, and I passed the Fourth Standard. The holidays are coming near, and I am nob sorry. The Clyde races will soon be on. I think a dramatic performance will be held on the same night. A concert was held in the hall here some nights back, at which I enjoyed myself very much. There is always some fun about Christmas. lam afraid there will not be any sports here on New Year's Day this summer. — Yours truly, ' Eugenic. Clyde, November 20, Dear Dot, — I go to school with my brothers. I am in the First Standard. I have one pefc lamb named Tom. I had a pet duck last year, and it has 11 young ducks this year ; they look so lively among the grass. — Yours truly, Annie Townshend. Waimumu, November 22. Dear Dot, — We have a lot of pink rosebushes growing up the front and sides of the house, aud they look very pretty. I would send you a bunch, but I don't kuow how to send them ; but if you will come and see me I will give you a bunch. I have a little lamb named Maggie. I have got a calf, too, but it has no name yet. lam sending you a crape fern.— Yours truly, O. M'Phail (aged 11 years). Wyndham. [Thank you very much.— Dot.] Here is a letter from a very funny little boy. I feel inclined to ask my little friends to subscribe for the purpose of presenting him with a leather medal for being so very, very funny : — Dear Dot, — I have got a very nice piece of poetry, which I am going to say at the Lyceum Hall when I grow bigger. This is the first verse : — Mary had a little lamb, I guess it was a poodle ; It used to sing " God save the Queen," And whistle " Yankee Doodle." Is that not a very nice piece of poetry ?— -Yours truly, The Piper's Son. Break Bun Hill, November 16, A STORY FOR LITTLE FOLK. Here's a tale for little folk ! The mouse was in the trap ; •The cook was in the pantry, And heard the trap-door snap. The cat was in the kitchen, And said, " How very nice. For there is nothing in the world I like so much as mice." Here's a tale for little folk ! The monkey watched the mouse, And Baid, " How do you like to be Shut up in that small house ? '' The mouse looked up, " Oh, not all— Do let me out, do, please ; 1 shouldn't have been here, but I Was tempted by the cheese." Here's a tale for little folk ! The monkey raised the door, • The mouse then darted out, and gained Her hole beneath the floor. The angry cook said, " Master Pug, Now why did you do that ? " The monkey slipped away and said, " Because I hate th.c cat."