Chums Pay Visit to Fairyland

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 19, 23 January 1932, Page 17 (Supplement)

Chums Pay Visit to Fairyland

Ted and Richard followed Dick Whittington and his cat Kaffamufiin to CheapnidO. Now it happened that the merchant who wanted a hoy had risen very early that morning and was standing on the step taking the air. He was surprised to see Dick answering his advertisement so early. “Well! well!” he said, "if you can come as early as this to get a situation, 1 think you’ll suit me. Come inside at once.”

The merchant took Dick into his office and sat him on a tall stool. "I like boys who get up early.” he said. "Now where is Africa’’* Poor Dick had never heard of Africa. “Never mind,” said the merchant, “I’ve decided to take you because you tame early. But you will have to start at the bottom, nd get on gradually. That is how I started to make my fortune. You had better begin in the kitchen, and help the cook.”

Dick and Ragamuffin went into the kitchen, but the cook wm not at all pleased to see ein, as she had intended to get the situation for the son of a friend. “Ho! so you’re the new boy, are you'.’” she cried angrily. “And a cat as well. I m’t like cats. You had better take this broom and sweep the passage. The cook was horrid, you see, because she had determined to drive poor Dick id his cat away.

Dick busied himself w-ith the broom, only too pleased to get away from the cook. "I wonder why they said the streets of London were paved with gold,” he aigheJ Ragamuffin. "I can’t imagine,” Ragamuffin answered. “Never mind,” said Dick, “perhaps I shall be a rich merchant some day.” "I shall always he your cat, shan’t J?” asked Ragamuffin, "Of course,” Dick assured hirr.

When Dick had finished sweeping the passage, the cook set him to scrub the tiles kitchen. All the time she grumbled at him, until poor Dick began to wish he had er heard that the streets of Ixmdon were paved with gold. But there was quite a isant surprise in store for him. "Hey!” cried the cook, "put that bucket down, go into the garden and fetch me abbage.”

Feeling terribly unhappy and believing that he had no a friend In the world. Diet went into the garden to get the cabbage. Wasn’t he surprised to »ee a girl seated under a tree. Now, the girl was Alice, the merchant’s daughter, and it happened that the merchant had told her all about Dick, so she was not at all surprised. She wished him good morning in such a kind fashion that Dick felt at least he had found a friend, and, as you w-ill discover, he was quite correct.