Another’s Awful Moment

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 180, 1 August 1931, Page 17 (Supplement)

Another’s Awful Moment

Dear Wendy,—Thanks so much for paving me in your already large and happy family. I was so thrilled and excited that I nearly wore out our path looking for Saturday s ‘‘Chronicle,” which to my disgust arrived over an hour later than it usually does. Nov-’, Wendy, dear, please don’t think that I am a "grouser.” but it certainly was annoying, wasn’t it? As regards the weather I At present it is snowing hard and has every appearance of keeping on for a few days at least. However, being a “real” Ite now, f am trying to “smile and look pleasant.” The task is anything but an easy one. being the victims of a nasty cold and horrible itching chilblains (the latter in great numbers). However. dear Wendy, having really finished nil my grumbles I shall try and carry on with a subject, I hope, which will be more interesting. “Have you ever run for a tram, Wendy?” Here is quiet an amusing incident that happened to me (.rather an old family joke, by the way). . When in Auckland I had the misfortune to be stopping at a house which was situated at the base of a fair-sized, steep hill. . I rather enjoyed the climb every day, providing, of course, 1 had plenty of time However, on this particular Saturday morning I was in a "tearing” hurry and could on no account miss the tram which I knew would pass the top of the road in a few minutes. Hearing the tram in the distance. I thought had better "get a move on,” and forthwith started to run. Puffing and blowing, I was three-quarters of the way up the hill when the tram passed at the top. The conductor waved encouragement at me and smiled rather pityingly, which made me determined that I would catch that tram or no other. Like a whirl-wind I rounded the top of the hill, my coat flying behind me, one hand clutching my hat (which was perched on the back of my head), the other squeezing an umbrella (which would persist in becoming entangled in my legs). Seeing the tram waiting (as I thought) for me, I put on a "final spurt.” At last I reached there, and hopping on thanked the motorman for waiting (?) (as well as my energetic exercise would permit,, and entering flopped down on one of the few vacant seats. Panting slightly (?) I beamed triumphantly at my fellow-passengers, who had witnessed my spectacular display of running. Noticing one or two amused smiles directed at me. and thinking that it was over my successful run. I beamed still more. However, my vanity suffered a severe shock when I heard behind me. “Hard luck after all that running. Poor girl, she does look hot.” Tn a flash I understood—the power was off! So Wendy dear, after ten minutes sitting in apparently stony indifference, and then having to go three lengthy sections after that, I shall leave it to your imagination, the state of poor, embarrassed "MYSTERY ME,” Raetihi. I am ever so pleased, dear, that you find so much happiness within the ranks of our merry band. Dear me, yes, the weather has been dreadful, indeed, but one must just “smile and look pleasant” meanwhile. The sun will shine again, never fear, even although dark clouds besiege us on every hand. I hope your cold is soon quite better, for they are wretched things indeed. Oh, yes, I have often ran for trams, but they have in nearly all cases out-distanced me. Oh, dear, y/»u do not mind if I indulge in good laugh at your effort and its cost, do you, for I think the episode most amusing indeed.—Wendy.