THE PRECIOUS POSSESSION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20930, 8 January 1938, Page 15

THE PRECIOUS POSSESSION

We were having breakfast when Aunt Jane telephoned. Mother went to answer it, but returned almost immediately, and to my utter surprise told me Aunt Jane wished to speak to me. In a small voice I said: “It’s Ursula speaking. Mother said you wanted to speak to me, aunt.” And Aunt Jane's voice answered. “Yes, Ursula. My friend, Mrs Blank, is leaving to-day to spend a few days with friends in the country, and she has asked me to look after her dearest possession. She said she would not worry if she knew it was in my keeping. So, as you pass her house on your way home from school, you could call I in this afternoon and get it for me. . Miss Blank will be gone, of course, but | she will leave it at the cottage on the left. I’ll give you the address—have | you got a pencil?” I hadn’t. And it was several minutes I before I found one.

By the time I had the address written down, Aunt had lost her pati- | ence entirely, and I heard her replace i the receiver none too gently. It was then I realised Aunt Jane had not told me what Miss Blink’s "dearest possession” was. Well, I needn’t worry about that. I thought. All I had to do was to call in at the next-door house that afternoon. My friend Ella and I had no difficulty in finding the house —a brick villa standing behind a neat sunny garden. After ringing many times at the front door and receiving no answer, we made our way to the back of the house, only to find it shut up. " Wuff—wuff—wuff! ” The bark of a dog was so unexpected that I clutched Ella’s arm, and gave a frightened glance around. Ella chuckled, "So that’s the dearest possession’,” she said. She hurried me across the lawn towards the garage. At sight of us the little fox-terrier puppy, tied to his kennel, wagged his stump of a tail delightedly. We slipped a note under the back door, to say we had taken the puppy,

and then strode off in the direction of Aunt Jane’s house, leading the puppy by his chain. I knew where the door key was kept, so we let ourselves into the house.

Leaving the puppy stretched out on one of Aunt Jane’s cushions, we made our way into the kitchen regions, hoping Mrs Jones, the housekeeper, had made some of her scrumptious jam tarts. She had.

Ella suggested we make a cup of tea, and we laughed and chatted as we put the kettle on the shiny stove, and set cups and saucers on the table.

We were washing up after afternoon tea, when we heard a key in the front door, and then steps in the hall. "It’s Aunt Jane,” I gasped. "I wonder where?”

Then we heard Aunt Jane's voice raised angrily. "You destructive little wretch! How did you get in here? Are you there. Mrs Jones?” Coming into the hall we were just in time to see the tip of the puppy’s tail as he scampered out of the front door with Aunt Jane flourishing her sunshade threateningly, close on his heels.

I glanced into the dining-room and was horrified to find the pup had reduced two of Aunt’s best cushions to rags!

It was unfortunate that the door mat should slip from under Aunt Jane’s feet, causing her to sit down suddenly. And it was unfortunatemost unfortunate, that Ella and I could not repress our giggles as we helped Aunt Jane to her feet. "Ursula, did you bring that —that mongrel here?” Aunt Jane turned on me angrily.

“Y-yes,” I stammered. "You know I detest dogs. I wouldn't have one in the house—” • But—but, you meant me to bring it here!” I gasped. "You said—you said you’d mind him for Miss Blank—” "Whatever are you talking about, j Ursula?” stormed Aunt Jane. “I promised Miss Blank I would look after an antique vase for her.” Ella and I gasped at one another in I dismay. i "A vase," I cried. “You meant us | to bring a vase—?” , Ella giggled. "And we brought somebody’s dog instead!” she gasped. LITTLE LAUGHS Little Betty was staying at a farm, and loved milk "straight from the cow.” "Can I have another glass of milk. Mummy?” she asked. "No, dear, you’ve had enough.” said her mother. Betty was indignant. "How mean of you. when you’ve got two whole cowfuls in the barn.” A boastful American was holdmg forth on the merits of his watch to a number of uninterested clubmen. At last one of the men decided he could stand it no longer. "That's nothing.” he interrupted. “I dropped my watch into the Thames a year ago. and it’s been running ever since ” The American looked taken aback. "What!” he exclaimed. "The same watch?” The other rose and slowly moved to the door. No,” he replied; "the Thames. ’