A Midnight Tragedy

Southland Times, Issue 22351, 16 June 1934, Page 18

A Midnight Tragedy

It was a cold, frosty winter’s night and our cat was on the prowl as food had been fairly scarce lately. i A wee fat mouse was also roaming around. He thought it a nice quiet time for his daily exercise. Suddenly there was a scuffle, a squeak and there was the end of the mouse. —2/- and 4 marks to. Cousin Zoe Bates (9), Lilburn. A DolFs Tea Party What a lovely day for our dollies’ tea party! It will soon be time for tea, everything is waiting all ready. The dolls look pretty in their clean dresses and are feeling excited about it. Here comes Joy and Tay from next door, also Teddy Bear and Golliwog from along the road. Now the fun will begin. Hear them all laughing over Teddy’s new shoes! —-2/- and 4 marks to Cousin Margaret Bagley (8), South Riverton.

SALTBUSH BILL. —Highly Commended.— Saltbush Bill was down on his luck. He had been riding for two days under the burning Australian sun which beat down unmercifully on he and his horse. Bill was as hungry and thirsty as ever he had been, for he had not tasted food for several hours. Although there was an hotel within a few miles of him, the lad hadn’t a coin to taste of water or food with, for he had left his money in the remote town which he had been visiting. The sun was setting when Bill rode into Waglett Town which is situated on the Darling River. Although he had no money, he ordered a bed and meals to be kept for him. After a delicious meal of roast mutton and potatoes, he walked off happily to the stable where his horse was crunching joyfully at the contents of a bag of chaff. Following that, Bill strolled lazily into the Commercial Room, where he found a number of farmers discussing the general news of the town. When Bill looked in the doorway, he noticed the farmers look mirthfully at one another as if someone had told them that there was a stranger in the town. Referring to Bill. “He looks strong and well built,” said one of the local men, “but even he couldn’t do it.” “Do what?” said Bill sharply as he was a bit annoyed at the humorous curiosity his entrance had apparently provoked. “Throw a stone from one side of the Darling to the other,” said the Waglett man gleefully. As Bill had noticed the river as he entered the town, he judged that the distance across was not more than a schoolboy’s throw. “Why a girl could fling a stone further than that!” he exclaimed amidst a shout of joyful laughter. Some of these men were so amused that they offered to wager three pounds if Bill could go through the process within ten minutes. In high merriment the Waglett men, led their victim down to the river. Bill walked up and down the river bed kicking up dirt and sand, but never a stone could he find for there was not a stone within twenty miles of Waglett! For a few minutes Bill looked hopelessly about him, and suddenly, he put his left hand in his pocket and pulled out a beautifully rounded stone which he easily threw across the river. “Now gentlemen,” he said happily, “I’ll trouble you for my three pounds. The fact is that I stayed here a year ago, when I lost my last sovereign over you funny boys in a similar task, so I brought a stone this time to get my money back with interest!” —3 marks to Cousin Doreen Thomson (12), Limehills. THE NARCISSI CORNER. —Highly Commended.— The little Narcissi bulbs were in a corner of the big garden plot. When they were young they were fine, strong plants. The naughty weeds were growing quickly—far quicker than the bulbs. Soon the Narcissi bulbs were choked by them. All their hopes had completely vanished. They were now in the depths of despair. However, mother came by one day. She looked for her lovely Narcissi plants. They were nowhere to be seen. Down in the middle of the weeds were the little bulbs. The weeds chuckled to themselves as mother looked. Suddenly she saw a little Narcissi. Quickly, but carefully, she weeded the flowers of their horrid enemy. This happened at twilight. Early next morning, in that same garden comer, were bright, sturdy plants in place of the choked ones. Day followed day, and at last the Narcissi bulbs were covered with dear, little buds. The dew in the morning and the blazing sun later, caused the Narcissi buds to grow larger and larger, until they burst open. The beauty and splendour of their delicately coloured petals could not be imagined. Each time I passed I paused to smell their beautiful perfume. —3 marks to Cousin Joan Bell (10), Glenham. ROSE’S FANCY. —Highly Commended.— As Rosy was walking along the street, she saw a beautiful doll standing erect in a cardboard box. Its price was ten shillings. She was dressed so smartly in her elegant pink satin gown, and a satin hat to match. More wonderful, she had a real pair of kid gloves, and pair of laced up booties. Rosy, to her fancy, decided to buy the precious doll. It was her only chance to buy the doll because’it was her last day in town. —3 marks to Cousin Cathie McGillivray (12), Menzies Ferry.

I A TRIP IN THE TRAIN. —Highly Commended.— I was greatly excited one morning when Dad got the car out to drive my cousins and I to meet the bus at Browns. It was to take us to Invercargill, for that was the start of my holiday to be spent at Dunedin. About half past one we got in the train at Invercargill. Every now and then we seemed to be stopping at stations and more people were getting on, and some getting off. Houses and houses we passed. I also noticed that people were standing at their doors waving to people in carriages. We arrived at Dunedin, after six o’clock, when we soon were in a taxi and away up to Mornington to aunty’s and uncle’s place. —3 marks to Cousin Dorothy Stevens (9), Lora Gorge. THE FARM. —Highly Commended.— Once upon a time a little girl called Nancy lived with her mother and father near a big farm. Nancy had a little playmate called Jimmy who lived over the road in a big house. One day Nancy took Jimmy to see the great farm. There was such a big pig which had fifteen little tiny baby pigs at one end of the sty. Nancy showed Jimmy the big stables where the big strong horses were. In one stable a big hunter was and in the one next to it a big strong ploughing horse was there. It was now milking time and Nancy and Jimmy went to see the cows being milked. The farmer gave them a lovely drink of hot boiling milk for their tea. After their tea they went home to tell their mother about the lovely day at the farm. —3 marks to Cousin Eileen Deaker (7), Bowmont street. A FROSTY MORNING. —Highly Commended.— One very frosty Saturday morning in the middle of winter, I woke up and the bed clothes were on the floor. Feeling that it was very cold, I jumped out of bed and climbed in beside my big sister whc was still asleep. I cuddled up, and very soon I was fast asleep. When I woke up after some hours, my sister was up and the sun was shining in through the window. I jumped out of bed and' looked through the window. I saw that Jack Frost bad been at work, so I hopped into bed again. Shortly I heard mother coming down the passage. As she entered the bedroom I saw she had my breakfast in her hands. When she told me it was still early I finished my breakfast and cuddled down once more. I could hear my father and brothers going down the passage rubbing their hands and saying, “Oh isn’t it cold, I think it is the coldest morning we have had for many a long day.” I thought to myself—“l shall stay here all day.” I went to sleep with the intention of getting up about dinnertime. I was in an interesting dream about “The Little Southlanders Bazaar” when I heard, mother say, “Esme! Esme! get up quickly you’ve got to be at music at 11 o’clock, and it is now a quarter to!” I quickly jumped out of bed and dressed, thinking I was a silly girl to forget my music. I was soon running down the road to catch the tram. When I arrived there, to my disappointment it had just gone, so I thought I had better walk on. I was feeling very cold so I thought I would run to get warm. I had just begun to run when I suddenly discovered I had forgotten my music case! I was on the way home when I met my brother coming along the road with my music case. He said that he would double me to the terminus. I just got into the tram when it started up. Everybody was complaining of the cold, but I was like a furnace. When I arrived at the Post Office it was nearly a quarter past eleven, so I thought I had better go home as I was too late for my music lesson. I was hurrying off the tram home when I slipped and cut the knee out of my stocking, so I was in trouble all day. I never forgave Jack Frost for being so biter that morning. —3 marks to Cousin Esme Narbey (9), West Plains Road, Waikiwi. A HARD FROST. —Highly Commended.— One morning when I woke up I felt very cold. I thought it must be snowing or a hard frost. It was too cold to have a look out of the window so I snuggled down again. Presently my sister, who was sleeping near the window, rubbed it with her hand and looked out. The ground was white with frost. When mother called me to get up I did not feel like it. At last I slowly put out one leg and then the other. When I went down to breakfast there was a bright fire glowing in the grate. When it was time for school I put on my gloves and Warm hat. At first I ran to keep myself warm but after a while a man in a waggon gave me a ride. It was very cold so I asked the man could I walk. He said yes and I gladly did so. When I reached school the teacher gave us drill and it made us warm. At last the sun came out and the frost went away. —3 marks to Cousin Daphne McLeay (11), Otahu. A DISAPPOINTMENT. —Highly Commended.— On a certain Wednesday afternoon, Tommy Jones was to be seen with his nose pressed against the window of the local store. He was reading a notice to the effect that a football match was to be held on the following Saturday. Tommy was a keen football enthusiast. He spent the rest of the week looking forward to seeing the match. On the following Saturday, Tommy was to be seen again in the same position dismally gazing at the similar notice “No match on account of weather.” —3 marks to Cousin Betty Mawdsley (11) Brunswick, Kennington. WINTER. —Highly Commended.— Winter is here. Autumn has gone. Jack Frost comes. Winter brings snow. Autumn brings rain, Summer brings sunshine. Spring brings flowers, and wee frolicking lambs. —3 marks to Cousin Gordon Todd (12) Toa P.O>i Rimu;