THE IRON BOX

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21404, 22 July 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE IRON BOX

The Brents' lived in a large country manor. There were two children, whose names were Molly and Dick, their Mother and Father, and one servant. It was one morning when they were having breakfast, that Mr Brent broke the news. “We will have to sell the house, to pay the mortgage, unless we find some money by Friday,” he said sadly. Nothing much was said, because they all knew that affairs had been pretty bad lately. “Oh well,” sighed Dick, “let’s spend our last day skating on the pond.” “Alright, but don’t fall in,” warned Mrs Brent. As soon as Molly and Dick had finished breakfast, they got ready to go skating. “We will be home for lunch,” called Molly as she closed the kitchen door. Soon they were on the pond and skating happily as if nothing worried them, though all the time they were wishing they could get some money, for they loved the old house immensely. “I’ll give you a race to the other end, Molly,” shouted Dick. “No,” replied Molly. “The ice might break.” “Alright. I’ll go myself,” he said. So off he went. “Come back,” cried Molly, but it was too late. Crash! The ice had broken and Dick had fallen in. But to Molly’s surprise the water was only up to his knees, and yet it was supposed to be the deepest place in the pond. “Come here,” shouted Dick. “I have found an old iron box.” “Oh no,” answered Molly. “It might go through.” “Alright then, I’ll pull it out myself if you’re too scared.” So, after tugging and pulling, Dick managed to get the iron box out. “It feels very heavy,” said Dick. “Let’s carry it home and open it.” “Alright,” replied Molly. “But you drag it over here first.” So Dick dragged the box to where

Molly was standing. They took off their skates and between them they managed to carry the iron box home.

“Will we take it over to the shed and open it?” asked Molly. “Yes,” said Dick. When they had forced the lock, they found it was full of bright shining coins.

“What a. lot,” w'hispered Dick. “Go and tell Father to come out, Molly.” Molly bought her father out to see the wonderful treasure.

“Oh,” exclaimed Mr Brent. “It’s my father’s treasure. He must have hidden it in the pond when it was dry. Now we will be able to pay the mortgage.”

“And we won’t have to move after all,” said Molly and Dick together.

(5 Marks to Mona Ivey, Kingsdown.)