JACKO FETCHES THE DOCTOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 12

JACKO FETCHES THE DOCTOR.

The cold weather didn’t agree with Mother Jacko. She said she hated it. It not only made her feel uncomfortable. but it gave her a cold in the head and, what was worse, a very bad cough. Father Jacko declared that the cold was healthy and never did anybody any harm. “It’s all very well for those who can stand i<t,” began Mother Jacko; and then she had such a fit of coughing that she couldn’t say another word. “Well, well!” said her husband, “you’ve certainly had that cough long enoupli. Better send Jacko for the doctor.’’ And Jacko went. But on the way to met a man leading a mule. “That’s a nice-looking beast,” observed Jacko pleasantly. “He’s got a frightful temper,” said the man. •‘Most mules have.” “That depends on how you handle them,” Jacko said. “I reckon he’d let me ride him.” “Y'ou’d better not try,” cried the man. “He’d have you off before you were on.” Not he!” said Jacko. And he. ran up to the animal and swung himself on to its back. The mule, as soon as it had got over its surprise, flung up its head and started away at a gallop. “StSeady, old boy! You're all right, you know,” coaxed Jacko soothingly. The mule’s reply to these kind words was to fling up its hind legs and shoot the over its head. Jacko landed on the hard road with a thud that made his teeth rattle. That was bad enough; but the hardhearted wretch, going from bad to worse, lifted a hoof and followed up the blow with a kick. Jacko’s yells brought quite a crowd to his rescue. And so frightened were they that one of them ran off for the doctor, while rhe others insisted on carrying him home. “Whatever is the matter?” cried his mother, running out to meet them. “You wanted a doctor, Mater.” Jacko said faintly. “Well, I’ve brought him!” NOTICE BOARD. “The Garden King” asks for a boy pen-friend about ten years of age. “Kate Kelly” would like a pen-pal about 14 or 1G years of age. Who will please correspond? “ Miss Greatford.’ ’--Will you please read “Rainbow Fairy’s” letter? “Rainbow Fairy” asks for a boy pen-pal about J 7 years of age. Who will correspond? “NOW, IF YOU WANT A REAL FROST COME TO ’KUNE,” SAYS “RAINBOW FAIRY.” Dear Wendy,—Now, have your smelling salts within reach, dear leader, and prepare for a big shock. Here’s another truant returning to the ranks. My leave has been mighty long—in fact, I’ve grown from a kiddie to a young lady! (Maybe.) Indeed, a good many years have elapsed since 1 joined the Merry Band. Those were the times when 1 took untold delight, in “funnycuts” and every week the Rainbow was my joy. Now, perhaps, you may have a slight inkling who dis chile am. I be “Rainbow Fairy,” and with two other Ites of that time had the honour of putting H.D. after my name. Do you remember that competition, Wendy? H.D. stands for Hut’s Detective. Can I still put this after my pen-name? “Maid of Taihape” and “Silvery Lake” talk of frosts. Br-r-r! Now, if you want a real frost come to ’Kune. I’ll willingly send them to anyone, postage paid. Any offers? It's very generous of me now, but they are just dynamite. I’m sure 01’ Man Weather at times mistakes Ohakunc for a freezing chamber and imagines he has a. large order for chilled humanity. Will somebody be so good as to put him wise to the fact that he has made one big mistake? This afternoon a pU and I went over to the courts to try our hand at tennis once again. It is a couple of months now since we’J played, so you can just imagine how brilliant we were—three whole games with me serving two of a kind before I got into 'the knack again. We had five sets and thoroughly enjoyed them. Despite getting to five-all with deuces.

I'm dashed if I could win a set even then. Some player! We’re busy with hockey and basketball just now but in future we mean to squeeze in a bit of tennis —weather permitting, of course. This is my first season at hockey and I like it tremendously, and for all my devotion to stick and ball I’ve already been bestowed with many mementos. A neat (?) purple budge for a knee, a nice knob added to an ankle, skin unceremoniously knocked from my hands and so on and so on. I expect if you’ve ever been a hockey player you know how it is, Wendy. But “for a’ that and a’ that” it’s a grand game. Ahy Ites disagree? We have no field to practise basketball on, but every Tuesday wc (Old Girls’ team) play the High School team at the school. So far we’ve had three matches and things have gone well with us. We won two of them and the other was a draw, which is not so bad at all, do you think? We play again this afternoon and I’ll tell you the results in my next letter. I read on the Notice Board that “Miss Greatford” would like a pen-pal in South Africa. Well, it all depends upon your age, fellow-Ite. 1 have several addresses and if you w’ill tell me the

age I will see if I have an address. Also any other readers wanting friends in South Africa, just state your age and probably I’ll have one for you. Do you know of any boy of 17 or thereabouts who would write to me, Wendy? I must fly, so good-bye for the present. Ix)vc.—From “RAINBOW FAIRY,” C.W.K., Ohakunc Junction. Quick. Sir Ernest, the smelling salts! That’s better. Goodness me, but 1 was almost startled out of my life to see you pop in, dear. 1 had quite given you up for lost. Y’es. you not only have H.D., but C.W.K. as well. We have some very fine frosts here, too, that I would like to sec in packets with postage paid. Jack Frost ds a rascal of the first order, isn’t he? Tennis is a splendid game and so is hockey (my old favourite). I shall be (pleased to hear the result of the game. [l’ll draw “Miss Greatford’s” notice to your letter. J’ll sec if 1 can find a I pen-pal for you, too.—Wendy.