WHEN DAD WAS A LAD.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 14 (Supplement)

WHEN DAD WAS A LAD.

HIS TRICKS AND PRANKS. HOW DAD GOT THE EGGS. (By “Doubtful David.”) This is the last of my series. It docs not treat of Dad as a lad, but of Dad as a man, and of an exploit which upset the risible faculties of the whole family, though wc all had to be moderate in our mirth out of respect to Dad’s dignity. Near our house we had a large waterhole, through which ran a race. It was a fairly large body of water Bnd it was deep. Mum kept a lot of ducks, a number of which laid on a small island. llow to get the eggs was a conundrum which Dad essayed to solve. He procured a small round tub which he thought, as he had some aquatic training as a iad, he could safely navigate. He got a batten to serve as a paddle, and then set out gaily for the island. He was watched by several members of the family who admired his spirit of resource, and he was accorded great plaudits. Ilis crazy’ craft, however, would go any way but the direction in which Dad sought to propel it. It would go round and round, and tip first one way and then another. Dad strove heroically and at last got desperate. He put great power into a stroke of the paddle, the tub turned a somersault, and Dad was precipitated into the depths. Mum did not deem it discreet or necessary to stop to effect a rescue. With great presence of mind she realised that the best thing she could do to ease a tense situation, and also her feelings, was to hurry into the house to get a change ready for Dad. Incidentally’ she told the other members of the family to be prepared for the appearance of an unusual appariiion and to be ready with their condolences. Those who had aided and abetted Dad in bis venturesome journey discreetly kept out of the way, while Dad came up out of the. pit drenched frorrfhead to foot and thickly coated with adhesive clay. It did not apparently occur to him that as he was in such a mess lie might as well have waded to the island and retrieved those eggs. Certainly lie did not display that initiative be is always urging us to exercise. . Duck eggs were a tabooed subject in our home lor a long time.