JOHN’S AEROPLANE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20639, 30 January 1937, Page 13

JOHN’S AEROPLANE

John was trying to break records with his new aeroplane in the garden. It was a fine little model, a birthday present from Daddy, and John was delighted with it. He knew that he must not let it go over the hedge. On the other side of this was the greenhouse and garden belongings to the Colonel, who was a very fierce old gentleman. Sometimes John crept into a hole at the bottom of the hedge and looked through into the other garden, which seemed a much more exciting one than his own. He had no hope of ever playing in it, however, because he was terribly afraid of the old gentleman. On this bright spring morning he wanted to make his aeroplane fly from the summerhouse to the apple tree, which was a very long way. He twisted the elastic until he was red in the face, and then, before he could stop it, the aeroplane flew right out of his aching fingers. To his horror it went straight toward the Colonel’s greenhouse! There was a- crash, followed by an angry voice. John was frightened, but instead of running away he went to the hole iA the hedge, intending to explain how sorry he was. He wriggled through far enough to see that the Colonel was picking up his aeroplane and looking at it very carefully. After turning it round a few times he twisted the elastic and let go, making the aeroplane fly a little way. He seemed to like it, for he went after it, picked it up. and tried again and again. John was still in his hole, but now he was wriggling with excitement, for the Colonel was making the aeroplane go longer and longer flights, far longer than John had dreamt possible. At last, after one great flight, John was so excited that he forgot where he was, and shouted “Hurrah!” The Colonel looked up, surprised, and then came and pulled him out of the hedge. John was frightened, until he saw a merry twinkle in the Colonel’s eye and heard him laugh. “This yours?” he asked. “Well, well! Great fun isn’t it?” Five minutes later they were trying, in turns, to see if they would fly the aeroplane over the tallest tree in the garden. They did at last. And ever since I then they have been firm friends, and | John now plays in the Colonel’s garden whenever he likes. Surprising The new maid worked very well but she needed a lot of prompting. “I hope you give the goldfish plenty of water,” the mistress said one day. “But. mum,” was the reply, “they have not yet drunk all I gave them a fortnight ago.”