OUR DAD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20105, 11 May 1935, Page 13

OUR DAD

We hear so much about “mother love,” But seldom do we see A verse in praise of dear old dad, Yet so very kind is he. He works so hard from morn till nisjht To give us all the joy Each father always likes to give His little girl and boy. He buys us clothes and shoes and food, Nor does he e’er complain, If work compels him to go out In wind or snow or rain. When war broke out it was our dads Who willingly did go To fight for King and Country, And save us from the foe. Our mother loves us dearly, But I'm sure she would be sad If she thought that we’d forgotten The love wo owe our Dad. So let us all remember On each cold winter’s night, To put his chair and slippers Beside the fire bright. Give him a smile of Welcome When he comes home tired or sad, To show hbw glad we are to see Our very dear old Dad. (5 Marks and a Merit Card awarded to Olive Hopkinson, Temuka. AMY’S DREAM Amy was wandering restlessly around the tidily kept garden, pretending she did not hear her Mother’s voice calling from the kitchen. When she heard Mrs Jones' footsteps hurrying along the passage, she darted hurriedly to the summer-house and lay on the sofa, She knew she was wanted to do a task, but she informed herself that her Mother was quite capable of doing it. After a few minutes she fell asleep, and while she was sleeping Mr Jones brought the paper in and, seeing Amy, awoke her and told her Mrs Jones wanted her. Amy sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked at Mr Jones bewilderedly. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Oh,” she replied, “I have had an awful dream, ahd I am going to tell you all about it! I was ih the garden and Mother called me arid I did not want to go, so I came here, and fell asleep, I dreamt that I had no mdther or father and I Was in an Orphanage. I was treated cruelly and at last I was sent to Work for an illtempered old lady, who expected me to do everything just right. If things were not up to expectations I would receive no payment. I had to prepare dainty meals each day, and visitors came very often, and the old lady was very delicate. She could only eat certain kinds of food. After many weeks of tiresome, thankless Working, I Was being shifted to another house when you woke me. Now I must go and help Mother and tell her of my bad behaviour.”

After Amy had related her tale to her Mother, Mrs Jones told her in a laughing manner that she must do her task. Willingly Amy inquired what the task might be, and, after being told to dust the sitting-room, she hurried off. When she opened the door what did she see but an enormous Easter egg, and on a slip of paper in her Mother’s neat writing was, “From Mother and Father.”

“Well,” she exclaimed excitedly, “fancy Mother letting me have it after I was so mean, and did not come when I was called!” She rushed down to her mother and, flinging her arms around her neck, she cried, “Thankyou, Mother, but) I don’t deserve it. You have taught hie a lesson.”

(B Marks and a Merit Card awarded to Gertrude Robirison, Te Moana).