MacPherson and the Pram

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17947, 26 November 1932, Page 13

MacPherson and the Pram

“W?HO. for instance, save-the Gordons, would have had this encounter? It- is near Chepstow Castle ‘ One day, coming out of the town, having just crossed the narrow bridge, we espied at the foot of the hill, waiting for the red light to Hash off the signalpost, a small in an wearing a red tam-o’-shanter and pushing a bright blue perambulator, on tho top of which was perched a dove. ‘‘ ‘I must ask him what he is doing',’ said Jo.

“ ‘But wo can’t,’ I objected Englishly. ‘You don’t know anything about him.’ ‘ ‘Don’t bo an idiot !’ retorted Jo. ‘You don’t have to know a man who has a bright bluo perambulator. ’ r ‘ ‘Eh, leddy,’ he answered cheerily on being addressed, ‘Ah’m just walking through. Me name’s MacPherson, Ail'd have ye know-’

‘And what is the clove for?’ asked

“ ‘Why, it juist aims its leaving like any other Chreestian,’ said Mr. MaePherson. ‘All found it one day by the side of tho road in a fair deeing conjeetion. And All peeked it oop and nursed it, and Ah taught it to dance.’ “Among tho litter in the pram was a small model house, on which perched the dove, turning its head to one side and looking at us with a golden-rimm.ed eye. “ ‘What is the bouse for?’ asked Jo. “ ‘lt’s just a boose for a wee moose,’ answered Mr. MacPherson. “ ‘Does it dauce, too?’ ‘Na, na, mem; it’s no more than a rccroot. Ah’m geeving it lessons the noo, hut it takes slowly "to the- ediceetion.'

“ ‘And- do you wander far in this way?’ asked Jo. “ ‘Eh, mem, there’ll be few pairts of (ho Breetish Islands that A’n’vo not seen in my time. Ah’ve walkit through England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, too, with ma contraption. It’s a tint All have there, and a handy thing in the summer months. But this is a sail 1 summer for me, and Ah’ve been lying not over much in the dump, so All’ll be looking for a bed this' night and warm some of tin* .rheumatism oot of mubones. ’

“ ‘We're just off to Ireland ourselves, How did you get on there,’ I asked.

“ .‘Well, to be frank with ye, sir, I would say that the poor folk in Ireland have open hearts. ’Tis .little they have often enough, but what they have they’ll share with ye and no questions asked.’ “That passage will give the reader an idea of the flavor of the Gordons’ style. Here is a most companionable, book, made, more attractive by its charming pen-and-ink drawings : hero is a book to inspire the most house-bound, the most work-ridden to go on holiday.”—Mr. R. Ellis Roberts, in liis Guardian review ol “Three Lands on Three Wheels,” by Jan apd Cora Gordon.