THE LEAF EXPRESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21380, 24 June 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE LEAF EXPRESS

It was finished! The fine big wooden engine that Len’s father had made for his birthday present and that hadn't been quite done in time for the great day. But now, with eyes as glistening ns the newgreen paint on his treasure, the boy was speeding it up and down in the garden, by the pedals. “You'll have to supply the steam yourself, old man.” Len had laughed, too. “Well, I’ll get Jill to do the noise part, anyhow,” he had replied, and he made his sister earn her rides in the tender by hissing and hooting her loudest. “We'll be the leaf express for a bit,” he told her. “Dad wants heaps of leaf mould for the garden, so we’ll keep getting the tender full of leaves from Corpse Lane; you can sit on top and keep them from blowing away,” he added. It was great fun shovelling up the leaves and making the heap grow at the bottom of the garden, and, as the children felt they were being useful as well, the leaf express was kept busy. Suddenly' there was a crashing noise and a shout. “Whatever was that?” cried Jill. She and Len stood staring at one another in the dusk. They left the engine and peered round the corner of the lane. There, a few yards away, was the postman sprawling on the ground beside his bicycle. “Those rotting leaves. They’re downright dangerous,” he groaned as the children reached him. “I’ve skidded on them and cut myself badly in the fall.” Len and Jill didn’t waste any time just looking. In a jiffy Len had the bicycle up. “I don’t think that is damaged,” he cried. “You wheel it, Jill.” And, racing back for his engine, he said to the postman: “Now if you can just squat on top of the leaves 11l have you at our home in a very few minutes. Mum will soon bandage up your cuts,” So the children’s mother saw a strange sight when she came to the door, a few minutes later, to tell them tea was ready. “Well,” she said presently, when the postman had been sent on his way after first aid and a cup of tea; “we’ve never had the postman arrive by train before. No wonder he says he won’t forget the leaf express in a hurry!” she declared, laughing.