JACKO HAS A PRESENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

JACKO HAS A PRESENT

Jacko always looked forward to his birthday. He generally began talking abuut it a guud month beforehand in the hope of getting a lut of presents. “1 shouldn't mind an air-gun,’’ ho said one day. “It would irighten Hie birds away.’’ “The birds certainly do eat the fruit,” said Mrs Jacko; “but I’ni nut keen on air guns. In fact, 1 very much dislike them.” Jaeko’s face fell. But he wag never disheartened for very long, and he soon cheered up and ran round te see Aunt Jane. “It’s my birthday next week." he began, almost as soon as be got inside the door. “Why, so it is!” exclaimed Aunt Jane, beaming. “What a little man you’re getting! I expect you feel much too old for pre.-ents, my dear.’ 1 “Oh. no, I don't,” said Jacko in alarm. “I was thinking this morning how very much I’d like an airgun.” “An air-gun!” exclaimed his aunt, “I can’t say I like the souiul of that at all. A very noisy and destructive weapon. ’ ’ Jacko beat a hasty retreat. The air-gun eviriently wasn’t coining from Aunt Jane. And Grandpa Jacko, whom he visited next, was even encouraging. “Most dangerous!” he said emphatically 'when Jacko began about thd airgun. “Make a scarecrow if volt want to frighten away the birds.” But the day befuie his birthday Jacko had,' rather a surprise. Mrs Jacko had been out to tin- shops and she came back carrying a long parceL What was more, she evidently didn’t want to be seen, for she slipper! upstairs to her room at once, taking the parcel with her. Uf course Jacko had seen the parcel: nothing much escaped his sharp eyes. He worked himself up into a great state of excitement for, to judge from the shape of the parcel, Mrs Jacko had actually brought him an air-gun after all. “Coo! The mater is a brick!” he said to himself. But as time went by and his mother didn’t come downstairs Jacko grew rather He simply had to see that gun, and he tiptoed upstairs and had a look through the keyhole. There was nothing to be seen through the keyhole. Jacko thought a moment, then he rushed downstairs ami out into the garden. TheK' was a big tree outside Mrs Jaeko’s window, and, by climbing up into the branches he hoped to have a good view of what was going on inside. A good deal was going on Mrs Jacko really had bought a gun, although it wasn’t, the kind, of gun Jacko had asked for. It was a sort of water-pistol, which Airs Jacko fett certain could do no harm; but all tho same she was trying it first to make quite sure. “I mustn’t try it in here.” she said; and she flung open the window and fired* the thing off inside. It got Jacko fair and square. He did look silly!