PATSY'S HOLIDAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 103

PATSY'S HOLIDAY.

By Maniototo Maidek. Patsy was four years old, a dear litle girl, and everyone's favourite. She lived in a large town, but sometimes took a holiday in the country at her Uncle Henry's place, much to her delight. Wasn't it grand to get a ride on uncle's shoulder when he went for the sheep, or a ride at the front of uncle on the dear old quiet horse, or to chase the hens, ducks, and geese, or to watch the cows being milked and the calves and pigs being fed. Last year she went out as usual, and at 4 o'clock on the third evening of hei stay she was seated on the gate next to tho main road, watching for her uncle. In her hands she held some string, which was fastened en to the gatepost, and if anyone had passed bj they would have guessed from her ejacula. tions and style that she was going for a ride on the gate, which served for a horse. So absorbed was she in keeping her hcrss from bucking or kicking that it was not until auntie's voice rang out, "There's uncle coming, Patsy, dear. Run down the read and get a ride!" that she realised that she had missed the chance of having a long ride, for uncle was only about 200 yards down tho road. Nevertheless,• she scampered off, forgetting that her qwn horse might bolt in the meantime, and met him half-way. "Stop, uncle, and pull me up," she cried. "Come on, then. Why didn't you coma down the road to meet me and get a longer one?" " 'Cause I didn't see you coming." Her uncle had no children, and was very fond of his merry little niece. He set the horse at a canter for the house, and Patsy's little hand closed like a \-ice on his arm. for she was not used to being' whirled through the air in that fashion. She. enjoyed her ride all the same, even if her face was red when her uncle lifted her off. She accompanied her uncle to the cowyardl as usual that night, and mildly reminded him of his promise. "Very well," said uncle. "See that old blue one over there? Well, go and milk her where she is. She will not kick." Patsy marched up to her cow with hei bucket, with all the confidence of an expert, and, setting the bucket on the ground, commenced operations. First of ill she got the washing bucket, with tßie cloth, and water in it, to wash the cow's and after she had them clean (which, by tho ■way, took a long time), she commenoed to pull and squeeze at them, but -with no result. Not a drop could she draw. "She's tough, uncle," she cried out; "the milk will not come. Yoxi gave me an oldl tough one, that's what you did, for fun." "No foar, Patsy. Squeeze hard enough, ■and you'll* get the milk." So Patsy got both hands on to it and puled and squeezed with all her might, and a drop appeared iat last. ButJ at tJhii crowning moment the cow took it into her head to walk on a few paces, overturninsr the bucket and Pat3y, and spoiling everything. Patsv looked towards her uncle, but M he didn't notice she got up unhurt and followed the cow till she stopped Then she tried again, but she could not bring another drop into view, do all she could. Presently her countenance lighted up' a bit, and. rising lib, she went for some water, which she brought in her bucket and offered the cow. "What's that for. Patsy?" asked her uncle from the other side of the yard.

"To leak© her give me some milk," Patsy replied. "Perhaps if I srive her a drink she will give some milk." Delighted streaks of good humour appeared on her uncle's fare as he replied, "I am afraid. Patsy, that that will not make her milk. If you want water turned into milk so suddenly, you'll have to take the dairyman's p-Vin and tip it in the can amongst the other milk." So Patsy poured the water on to the ground, and tried to milk aspain. At the sf.me tirrj'9 her uncle rose from his cow. and, tipping the milk into a can near by, bailed) up another cow, and set to work again. Miss Patsy was struck with a novel idea,. Going over to the can quietlv, all the timm keeping her eye on her uncle, whose back was turned, and raising ur> the strainer, with the nint measure she dipped out two t>ints and poured them into her bucket, finally returning to her cow. "I'm getting a lot now, uncle," she called out presently. "Are you? Fire ahead, then," he cried back But he hadn't been so blind a 9 she expected, and when a few minutea later she showed it to him and said, "See the- lot I got," he smilingly reminded her of the fact, much to her surprise. But she burst, into a merry laugh as he threw her 1 above his head, and, kiesing her playfully, sat her down again, saying gaily, "So you didn't think I saw you, you cunning little minx," And Patsy—what of her? She had often heard stories of people having eyes in the back of their head, and the last time I sa.'W her she still firmly believed her uncle to hi one of them. ~~