Daddys Evening Fary Tale

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 231, 5 April 1928, Page 3

Daddys Evening Fary Tale

MARY GRAHAM BONNER

LAZY DORMOUSE “Haven’t you been written about in a famous book?" asked the caterpillar of the dormouse. “I’m sure I don’t know,” said the dormouse, “for I’m too lazy to find out. “If others like to hear of me, all well and good, but I hate to be disturbed. “1 don’t want to be bothered. “1 don’t bother others and so there is no reason why others should bother me. “Dear me, 1 don’t understand how people can want to bother each other.

“I should think they would all do as I do.” “How do you do?” asked the caterpillar. “Verr well, thank you,” said the dormouse. “I see, you have to be urged to! speak,” said the caterpillar. “Perhaps I shall tell you about myself and then you’ll feel less shy.” “I don’t feel shy,” said the dormouse. “Shyness isn’t my strongest point, though, of course, it might be thought shyness. “One of my leading points, or characteristics, or habits, or whatever you want to say, is something that could quite easily be mistaken for shyness.” “I’m very fond of dress,” said the caterpillar. “I like to look very gayly dressed and very much fussed up, as though I were going to an afternoon tea.” ' “Oh, do you go to such things?” asked the dormouse, somewhat interested this time. “Now and again,” replied the caterpillar. “I like dinners better. They have more to eat at dinners. “I think it is nicer to be invited out to a big meal so one won’t have

to do so much fussing and/marketing oneself.” “Are you asked to eat often?” asked the dormouse. “Very seldom,” said the caterpillar. “But they all seem to come and dine with me. “It’s not that I am inhospitable—that is, it doesn’t mean I don’t like company—but I do think it would be nice if other creatures went to some bother sometimes.” “Well,” said the dormouse, “it’s a difficult matter to go to any trouble or bother for a creature. “You see I am kept well occupied all the time. “In the winter I sleep all the time. I don’t do anything but sleep. “That is all I care about doing then. Just sleep, sleep, sleep. “Oh, I love the word. “I can sleep the whole, whole winter through, and I don’t even bother to dream. “I just sleep so deliciously, cosily, happily. “Then in the summer I eat all the time. Yes, all the time. “I eat and I eat and I eat. “How I enjoy it. I don’t do first one tiling and then another, but I do one tiling thoroughly for a good long time before I start doing something else.

“There is an old saying about doing one thing at a time and doing it well. “I live up to that old saying. “I do one thing tit a time and I do it well, only I never do more than two things all told! “It’s when 1 am sleepy that creatures think I’m so shy. “No, 1 don’t bother about being anything or doing anything but the sleeping in the winter and the eating in the summer.”

PUZZLES What did Tennessee? It saw Idaho. How can you make a Maltese cross? Pull its tail. * * * Why is a minister and a milk strainer alike? Because they are both holy (holey). Four down hangers, four stiff standers, two hookers, two lookers and a switcher. A cow. * * * Who attended church oftener, Lincoln or Washington? They put Lincoln on a penny, so Lincoln attended church oftener. ' j * * • What is the difference between a cat and a document? One has claws at the end of his paws and the other hj&s clauses at the end of its pauses.