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Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 73

“ Well, we’re going, anyway,” announced the Jolly Golly Boys. “We don’t mind cold water.” And they raced in, splashing and spluttering, laughing and shouting, until Peter and Patty were almost sorry they had not joined them. “Goodness! What’s the matter now?” exclaimed Peter, suddenly. “Do look at the Jolly Golly Boys, Patty. What has happened to them ? ” The Jolly Golly Boys were standing in the pond, gazing in amazement into each other’s faces. “Oh! Oh! Oh!” screamed one, “your colour’s running.” “ Oh! Oh! Oh! ” echoed the other, “ your colour’s r unning, too! ” And then they stood and stared some more! “ Peter,” whispered Patty, “ something awful has ha ppened to the Jolly Golly Boys. I think we had better see if we can help them.” “ Ahoy, there!«” yelled Peter, “ what’s wrong ? Any help wanted ? ”

But the Jolly Golly Boys did not reply. Turning round, they started slowly to make for the bank. Then, with their funny faces carefully held the other way, they rushed past Peter, Patty, Mr Pip, and Kitty, and shot over the field as though fired from a gun. “ How strange they looked,” mused Patty. “ I’ve never seen them look so pale. Perhaps they feel ill, Peter! Hadn’t we better follow? ” “Leave them alone,” advised Peter. “You see, it hurts their pride to think anyone should see them like that. Their colour has come off, and that’s an awful disgrace for Jolly Golly Boys.” “ Shall we ever see them again, I wonder,” sighed P atty. “ Such nice boys they were.” Meanwhile the Jolly Golly Boys were making for home as fast as their legs would carry them. “Mother! Mother!” they shouted when they arrived. “Please bring the paint box and colour us up! We’ve gone white in the pond! ”

But Mrs Jolly Golly would have nothing to do with them. “Go away,” she screamed, “you’re not my children! I never saw such dreadful sights. Go away at once! ” Poor Jolly Golly Boys! When their mother refused to own-them what could they do? Luckily, Peter, Patty, Mr Pip, and Kitty came along just then. “It’s quite true, Mrs Jolly Golly,” they assured the angry lady. “ They’re your boys right enough, but they went into the pond and their colour came off. Bring the paint pot and we’ll soon put them right! ” Mrs Jolly Golly brought the paint pot, though she wouldn’t own her boys until they were black again. But when Peter and Patty had done their work and the Jolly Golly Boys were once more jet black and cheerful, their mother kissed them and gave them tea, and everything was merry as a marriage bell.