THE GREAT ADVENTURE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20587, 28 November 1936, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE GREAT ADVENTURE

Meg, Viva, and Fred had a nice little sulky, and a fat little pony to drive to school, and every day they went off as merry and as happy looking as three rosy apples tucked in a case.

But one day Meg had a cold, so Fred and Viva had to go without her, and Fred had to drive. His mother told him to be very careful, and to look where he was driving, as Hector was in rather a sulky mood that morning. Off they started. Viva carrying a beautiful bunch of sweet peas for her teacher. They were chattering away like two little magpies. All went well until they came to the township. Then Fred began thinking of a wonderful boat which lived in a shop window, and he began wishing it belonged to him. Then he pretended he had bought it, and was taking it down to where his auntie lived. Just as he imagined he was down at Nedlands sailing the boat and having a perfectly glorious time — Honk! Honk! went a motor horn behind them. Hector, the pony, was also dreaming of beautiful green fields. When Fred suddenly jerked his mouth to get out of the motor-car’s way, he became annoyed. He swerved across the road and went bang into a post. That frightened him and he began to kick and jump. The second big jump threw Fred right out of the sulky, leaving Viva all alone; but she wasn't a bit afraid. What do you think she did? She carefully threw her bunch of sweet peas out so that they wouldn’t be spoiled. Then Hector gave an awful kick and reared right up in the air. That tipped up the sulky and out went Viva. But she wasn’t hurt, receiving only a bruised arm. She picked herself up, then her flowers, and stood watching Fred, who was trying in vain to catch Hector. The poor old sulky by this time only had one wheel left. But the owner of the motor-car was a kind man and was terribly sorry about the accident. He ran after Fred, who was only nine years old, and said: “Never mind, old chap, about the pony. Hop up Into my car and I will drive you and your sister home. I think you had quite forgotten you were driving and the pony was having a sleep, eh? and didn't like being awakened."

So into the big motor-car Fred and Viva stepped, and very soon they were back at the farm. Their mother was most surprised to see them, as you may imagine. The kind man told her all about the adventure, and said how brave the children were, but he told Fred he certainly must not dream about boats while he was driving a pony. Presently there was a great clattering outside. They all ran to see. There was Hector, looking most absurd with all that was left of the sulky hanging on behind him. But they couldn’t be very cross with him, because he really was a dear old fat pony and a faithful friend, and he was only doing the same as his little

master, after all, dreaming of lovely things. Freda and Viva didn’t go to school that day. They played lovely games of Red Indians in the big barn, and Fred was a brave man, with a bow and arrow, riding a wonderful horse (which was Hector), and rescuing a beautiful lady (really Viva) from wild Red Indians, who were nothing more alarming, really, than black boys growing in the paddock. So Fred and Viva were none the worse for their great adventure. JENNY AND JOHNNY Jenny gay and Johnny grim, In your house so green, so trim, Tell me truly, tell me, pray, What’s the weather for to-day? Jenny’s standing at her door, So dull days are surely o’er; Ah, but John’s popped out again Just to say, “It’s going to rain!” (Sent by Alan Sullivan, Ma Waro).