NANCY NAPKIN’S GAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19268, 3 January 1931, Page 18 (Supplement)

NANCY NAPKIN’S GAME.

‘‘Gracious! ’* snapped Teddy Tea Towel, jerking at his clothespin. “How bored I am hanging here on this o\d clotheslines! ” And he cracked his corners sharply in the wind.

“So am I,” shrilled Daisy Doily, bouncing her round self indignantly on the passing breeze. “And who wouldn't be with nothing more interesting to look at than a back yard?"

“And I, too,” grunted Sammy Sheet as he puffed out his big, white cliteeks. “It makes me fairly green with bn fy to have to see the flowers nodding and smiling in the sunshine with no pins to hold them fast.” “I think things could be much worse,” came a soft little voice from the end of the clothesline where Nancy Napkin dipped and swayed to the sweet little tune she always sang to the wind. “What?” shrilled Sally Spread. “What?” growled Kitty Curtain. “What?” wailed Wally Wash Cloth. And the whole line of them wriggled in their indignation at little Nancv Napkin who could dare to say that she was satisfied with her lot. “How can you be happv when you know you have to be scalded in hot water, frozen in cold, wrung until all the air is squeezed out of you, and then pinched to a line where Willy Wind can do anything he wants with you” Sammy Sheet spoke first. “Ah, but that all makes me sweet, fresh, and clean,” Nancy smiled. “And think how nice it is to have all the unpleasant things washed away and left in the tub ! ” “But look how tied down we are,” Daisy Doily wailed. “Never a chance to go anywhere; to see anything. . “Oh, but we do,” Nancy pirouetted on a passing breeze. “Just think of all the things we see the day, and how much good we do! You. yourself, Daisy, make the dining table beautiful when you are spread under the lovely flower bowl.” “Well,” Daisy laughed. “Well, maybe so. I never thought of that before.” ' “That’s very well for Daisy Doily,” grumbled Teddy Tea Towel. “But what about me, stuck out in the kitchen all day long?” “Why, if you didn’t go over all the best china and the shining silverware, how could they ever be used on the table?” Nancy replied. “And besides . . .” But here she suddenly stopped, held very still for a moment, and then fluttered her long skirts as if in glee. “I’ll tell you,” she cried mysteriously. “Let’s make it a game. All next week, let’s see just how much good we do, and how much fun we really have-” “It won’t hurt you to try,” admitted Daisy Doily. “I’ll do it if Teddy Towel says he will,” agreed Wally Wash Cloth. “If the rest want to. I’ll come along,” assented Sammy Sheet slowly.

“And I, and I,” echoed down the long clotheslines until they had all,

from the largest to the tiniest, agreed to play Nancy Napkin's game. “Are we all here?” cried Nancy Napkin a week later after the clothespins had been pinched, like r lender wooden ears, at the top corner of each bit of washing.

“Oh, what a wonderful week I’ve had!” broke in Tommy Tea Towel, not waiting for roll call, but beginning before anyone else could say a word. “Did you all know that I’m the fellow that keeps the pots and pans shining? And the one who polishes the silver? And brightens the best chinaware? I heard Mistress say out in the kitchen, that she didn’t know what she’d do without such a soft, fine washcloth as I am, to make the glasses shine! ” And Tommy Tea Towel fairly danced a jig in his glee. “And maybe you don’t realise how important I am to the Master,” exclaimed Sammy Sheet proudly, stretching his long, white self. “Only a few nights ago he slipped in between us and said, ‘lt’s a cool, smooth sheet like this that makes a man know leal comfort! ’ And do you know, he fell right asleep!” Kitty Curtain almost tugged herself away from her clothespins so eager was she to tell her tale. “Ah, but none of you know the joy of service as I do,” she said softly. “I hang at the nursery 'window. And when the baby is laid to rest in her crib, I shield her from the bright sun.” She fairly beamed at the whole clothesline. “And I make the house more beautiful with my lace skirts,, exclaimed Daisy Doilv. “And I keep Billy Big Boy’s face, neck and ears clean!” cried Wally Wash Cloth proudly. And on and on down the !i le, tales of deeds well done, came tumbling from those who had only grumbled the week before. “Now are you all so very unhappy?” bamed Nancy Napkin as the last eager tale had been told. “Unhappy? I wouldn’t exchange with anyone in the house or the gulden,” exclaimed Teddy Tea Towel “And I wouldn’t exchange with anyone in the house, the garden, the neighbourhood, or the town! ” finished Wally Wash Cloth firmly. “What do you suppose made all the difference?” asked Nancy Napkin, bobbing happily in her little corner. “I think I began to SEE what I never saw before.” “I think I began to FEEL that I was important in my own little job,” added Daisy Doily. “I think I began to KNOW we weren’t meant to be flowers, or butterflies, or birds,” finished Wally Wash Cloth. “Because if we were, who’d do OUR work?” “Yes, it’s true, and all our jobs added together, make life happier for everybody else,” sang Nancy Napkin.