A STORY FOR CHILDREN. By Canning Williams, in the Strand Magazine.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 51

A STORY FOR CHILDREN. By Canning Williams, in the Strand Magazine.

" This is some big gun amongst them," I thought ; " I will address his lordship. Good evening," I said, in my politest way ; " I imagine you are the chicken " "Excuse me, sir," the little creature said, with a lordly ah*, "I am not a chicken — 1 am a fraction."

' " I beg your pardon, Sir Fraction," I said. " I imagine, Sir Fraction, that you are the — person — no — -the — the " " "The commander -in- chief," ' said the Fraction, coming to my assistance. "Thank you," I said. .''Will you be so good as to command these chickens to right-about-turn quick-march out of this room? I have had as much of their company as I desire."

• " Sir," replied the Fraction, haughtily, " I do not take my instructions from you ! " ' The contempt with which he said "you" was most amusing. "From whom,

then, do you take your instructions?'' 1 asked. "Do not question me, sir ; it is not for "you to. address your betters." So saying, ho jumped on to my knee, antl stared me dufiantly 'in the face. • * s • With ( ohe movement of my hand I could have, swept the commander-in-chief into the fire, but- 1 merely, smiled. The commander was not so polite, but puckered his eyebrow with a frown, and glared at me with his one eye in a most angry ,way. Turning round, and facing the main body of his- troops, he cried, " Fall in ! " " He is going to drill them," I _said to myself; "this w3l be interesting." At the word of command, " Fall in ! " the chickens on the floor ranged themselves in lines of two deep. "Attention! Form fours!" The movemeno was not done to the satisfaction of the Fraction.

"As you were ! " he shouted, at the top of his, voice. "Form fours! Right turn! By the right, quick march ! " The chickens marched across the room, keeping step in the grandest style, which was the more surprising because there was , no band to keep them right. "Right about turn!" roared the commander. The chickens turned round without breaking the line a hair's breadth.

"Halt ! " cried the commander. Instantly the moving ranks came to a dead halt. Not a single chick in the whole battalion moved a muscle an instant after that halt. The Fraction was pleased. " Front I " he said. '" Stand at ease ! "

" Now," said 1 the commander-in-chief, proudly facing me, " what do you think of 1 that?" ' ' "I think," 1 said I, "that it was A sight that would do the heart of any soldier good. I am sorry our- commander-in-chief has not ' had the opportunity of seeing to what a state of- perfection you have brought yoar . troops. I shall not fail toxtell him the next * time I smoke a cigar with him." The Fraction bowed, and, turning to his army, cried, " Attention ! Number ! " Clearly and rapidly did the chickens respond to the order. One, two, three, four, five, -six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred, six hundred, seven hundred, eight hundred, nine hxmdred, one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, five thousand, six thousand." '..

At six thousand the numbering ceased, much to my relief. • Our main body," said the Fraction, addressing me in a quiet, gentlemanly tone, " consists of six thousand chickens. Our re serve force numbers a little over a thousand." «. Here he turned towards the chickens cm the table, the mantelpiece, and the bookshelves, and called, in a powerful voice, " Reserve 1 Number ! "

Equally smart the reserve numbered themselves, the last number being one thousand one hundred and fifteen.

" One thousand one hundred and fifteen," the commander said to himself, like one enfaged in a mental calculation j " that cannot c right. Chickens of the. reserve," he spoke "aloud, "a mistake has been made in v the . numbering. Unless the two chickens who have not numbered do so at once, you shall all, have half an hour's punishment drill." " One thousand one hundred and sixteen,"' • squeaked the chick on' Philo's head. " One thousand one hundred and seventeen," piped the youngster who had ct>u- „ pealed himself at the back of my neck. "* Six ihoußaud Q t jjh&jmairi hady^' ssMJibs

Fraction, bowing politely to me, " and one thousand one hundred and seventeen of the reserve ; a total of seven thousand one hundred and seventeen. Adding to this your 'humble servant, who is reckoned as a half, you have the grand total of seven thousand one hundred and seventeen and a-half."

It was the number of eggs I had eaten ! " Are you familiar with the number? Ever met with it before? " said the commander - in - chief, looking knowingly at me out of his one eye, "Eh?" " Exceedingly probable," I replied, carelessly. ' "Well?" said the Fraction. " Well," I replied, " proceed." " Impudent monster .' " said he. " Apologise." "What! to a Fraction? Never! I defy thee, and thy troops as well ! " The Commander-in-chief was nettled: Turning quickly round, he cried, in a loud voice, " Present arms ! "" To my utter astonishment (for I had not the least'idea the chickens were armed), each chick presented a tiny rifle of the latest and most deadly pattern. i The Fraction faced me again and repeated his former question: "Well?" " Bucket," I replied. The Fraction's eye glittered with rags " Ready ! " he cried. In less time than it takes to tell, six thousand cartridges were placed in position. " Present ! " Six thousand rifle carrels "were directed at my head. The Commander, as though to give me a last chance to apologise, addressed me as before -."Well?" ' '"Yes," I said, "I have seen the well at Carisbrooke Castle, and the donkey in the wheel. It is a big donkey to work that wheel- all the day long, but it is not such a ; big donkey as you are, Sir Fraction, if you I think I am afraid of you or your fledgelings." "Well? " repeated. the Fraction, angrily " Exactly," I replied ; " the wheel is Attached to a rope, and the rope to a bucket, and as the wheel goes round the bucket comes up." " Well? "

" I think a photograph will show you more clearly what I mean." T was in the act of reaching for my photograph album, when 1 felt a sharp prick in the cheek. It was from the point of the Fraction's sword, which needle-like weapon he was now flourishing in a threatening way around his head. "Man," hissed the Fraction, in a frenzy, "do you a wish to die? " " Well, really," I replied, " that is rather an important question to settle off-hand. I will consider the matter, and let you nave an answer in due course, as we say in frusi-

" Man," said the Commander, quite furiously for half a chicken, "six thousand loaded rifles are at this instant directed ax, you. I have but to give the Avord and yo'.i are riddled, through and through with six thousand bullets."

"Well," I said, \ising the Fraction's word.

*' Shall I give that word? " " Please yourself, my dear sir — do not consider me' in the least ; besides, you do not take your instructions from me." The Fraction, muttering " Vengeance ! "

turned sharply round on his one leg, and 1 saw plainly enough that he was about to give the word that would end my fate. " Britons never shall be slaves ! " I shouted. " England expects that every man and dog this day shall do his duty! Three cheers for the roast beef of Old England ! On, Stanley, on! Charge, Chester, charge! Philo for ever! God save the Queen! Hurrah I " The Fraction waited until I had finished.

" Fire ! "

A noise like the pealing of thunder followed close upon the word. I started— gasped — awoke ! The fire was out, but Philo's QoHe head still lay upon my knee.