S.P.C.A. JUNIOR LEAGUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 11

S.P.C.A. JUNIOR LEAGUE

TOBY’S STORY Come with me to the deep woods early this afternoon, if , you want* a big surprise. Down into the heart of the deep woods and instead of the soft whisper of feathery branches in the breeze, and the twitter of a sleepy bird, there is a breath of excitement through the trees—the quick pat, pat of little feet and the shrill squeak of a hundred little voices. Under the elm-wood tree, the Woodland School is having its concert. No wonder the wee folk are excited. Let us lie in the long grass and watch them go by. Here comes Tom Thrush. Doesn’t he look smart, the 52 black buttons on his grey waistcoat all polished and shining like coals. This is Mrs, Hedgehog with her little Ben. Ben looks nervous. "Don’l forget to hold your head up when you recite,” says his mother. Gregory Grassnopper and Miss Mantis go past, with their fiddles under their arms. And Roddy Rat. He will be late il I he doesn’t hurry. What is the bad | boy doing with that puff balir We will be late too, if we don’t tiptoe to the elm tree now. What a crowd of woodland folk, all in their gayest clothes, tne scholars on benches in front, the mothers further back on cushiony toadstools. See, in the very front row. That's Miss Fluffy Tail s special class of cottontails. Ail tne wee bunny girls nave on their best pale silk and tneir long ears are neatiy tied back with pinK ribbons. There in the fur corner Little Lost Kitten has crept in to waten tne fun. She looks so lonely. Tne field mice, the birds, and even the raboils are not fond oi fittie lost kittens. Old Mr. Owl, the schoolmaster, ; opens the concert, but tne weest ones lion l listen very naru to Ins speech. They whisper a bit and smooth down their silk ciotnes. Tiie insect orchestra with Gregory Grassnopper as leader, and Bertie Bee as soloist, plays the “I lignt of tne Bumblebee,” out tne end is completely spoilt by a commotion at the back, j which turns out to the Ready Kat, arriving very late and falling over j everyone’s feet. There is a flying display by the (blackbirds and inrushes, and a chorus |of frogs who forget the end and go on ana on and on. | Now Little Ben Hedgehog recites, j He really is very nervous. His pncKies rattle together with fright. “Hold your (head up, whispers his mother loudly, i Miss Fanny Fieldmouse claps an (her little nieces and nephews wno [sang “Three Mice in a Harn,” ana I look nervously across at Litcle Lost IKitten. i The Cottontail class are looking very isweet in their pinks and blues a* they •dance a minuet, when suddenly a dreadful bang! The poor wee bunnies burst into (tears and scurry off the stage. The* ,audience jumps up but it is only Roddy I Rat again. He nas dropped nis puli ball. 'He did it on purpose, the bad boy,” scolds Miss Fanny Fieldmouse. |“1 am ashamed of you. Cousin Roddy.”

Old Mr. Owl takes Roddy's collar in his beak and marches him (Off. I At last everyone troops outside j watch the races and have tea. "You will win easily, Cousin Bob,” ■says Lobelia Lopears. | "There are lovely slug sandwiches j for tea, Mother. 1 saw them," says (Little Ben Hedgehog. “Hurrah, hurrah, no more school till autumn," sang the field mice. "We (can play all summer through." NEW MEMBER I Arthur Enderdy,” Wanganui East School.