VANITY FAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 177, 29 July 1932, Page 2

VANITY FAIR

SUNRISE. On the morning after his visit to t/ie Nightcrow Inn, Maddison lav on his bracken bed in the upper room of the cottage, listening to a of happiness falling in the dim room. I n>o swallows were talking to one another in the mud nest just outside the casement, under the thatch. Other birds were singing in the coombe. He lap drowsy and al rest, his mind dim as the dawnlight, for an hour, when various noises began to arise outside the cottage. There was the noise of scolding, as a linen torn; immediately afterwards a grey and plum-coloured bird with blue eyes and black cheeks, flew to the windowwhile Maddison watched with relaxed contentment, other birds alighted on the window-sill—a young carrion-crow, and a big brown hawk tvilh a hooked bill and large yellow legs and feet. ‘ came a jackdaw, which alighted on the sack °f sun-dried grass which was the pillow, and squabbled with (he jay on Maddison’s head. The /ft (tens stretched luxuriously, disturbed by play of pup and cub, and curled to sleep again. . , "Well, I suppose it’s time to get up,” said Maddison aloud; and hearing . s voice, the young buds opened their beaks and screeched, fluttering their wings for food. With supple swiftness the otter cub unrolled from his play and ran to Maddison’s head, staring at him With dark eyes; while the two pups stretched themselves, yawned and yowled, and with Wagging tail-slumps thrust themselves to his face and licked his chin until "hurled away. Only the kittens did not care. They settled more comfortably into the warm communal sleep-hole in the bracken. , t ,1 ‘‘Up we all gel!’’ Maddison shouted suddenly, for a yellow glow, like the Wan spectre of a moth, had lit on the wall opposite. The sun was rising. , He seized the two brown blankets, and dragging the scampering and upset animals, went down the stairs. In the lower room he was greeted by the seagull, making raucous noises. . . Ihe cub moved swiftly around the room on its low legs, turning nervously with a sweep of its long tapered tail. 1 hen like a brown ripple it Was gone through the round cat-hole in the lower part of the door, followed by the pups. Maddison lit some sticks in the hearth, filled the iron kettle from a pitcher, set it on the crook, and opening the door, was in the cold air of morning.—H enry Williamson, m The Dream of Fan Women.