NORMAN’S PRESENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

NORMAN’S PRESENT

Stephen was looking worried. “I wish I knew what to give Norman for his birthday,” he said. “He seems to have everything he wants.” “He must be a lucky fellow,” said Cousin Philip. “I didn’t have all I wanted, by a very long chalk, when I was at school.” “But you had lots of fun," said Stephen, who liked hearing stories of his cousin’s boyhood. “Yes, we made our own,” said Cousin Philip. “We had no expensive toys, but we always found something to do. It wasn’t often we were bored, I can tell you. Roller skates had hardly become common, but we got lots of pleasure out of stilts.” “Stilts?” eachoed Stephen. “Yes, don’t you know what they are like? Here, come along to the woodshed, and I’ll see if I can fix you up with a pair. You can give them to Norman if you like,” he added. Stephen watched eagerly while

his grown-up cousin selected two strong poles, and proceeded to fix blocks of wood to each, about four inches from the end.

“That ought to do,” said Cousin Philip. “I wonder if I have the trick of walking with them. I think I’d better mount with my back to the wall!”

He mounted cautiously, but was soon walking confidently round the yard. “It looks easy,” said Stephen, who longed to try to do the same. ■>

“Come on, then, let’s see you do it,” said Cousin Philip with a laugh, as he jumped off the stilts, and handed them over.

Stephen found it anything but easy! He wobbled badly at first, but he was so keen to be able to show Norman how to use the stilts that he kept on practising as along as it was light.

The next day he astonished his brother by walking up to him on the stilts, and saying: “Here’s a present from Cousin Philip and me! Ido hope you’ll be pleased.”

Norman lost no time in trying out the new present, which proved so

popular that Cousin Philip was soon called on to make a second pair, so that the boys could race each other with them.

There were more expensive things among Norman’s present, but the boys both voted that the stilts were by far the jolliest of them all.