IN PEACE AND WAR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 38, 20 September 1890, Page 19

IN PEACE AND WAR.

11l THIE and Ray went out ami crept under the willow trees to eat the sweet, fresh gingernuts which mamma had given them. How very nice ami cool it was there, and how"good those cakes tasted ! ‘ Let’s eat out here forever!’ sighed Ruthie, contentedly, taking a mouthful from a gingerrut in each hand. ‘Yes, let's!' answered Ray. ‘But forever is a lorntime. ’ Just then a Hock of geese came around the house. ‘ (,>uack ! quack! quack !' they screamed, as they espied the children. There was the white goose with the gray wings, and the gray goose, and the white one with the gray topknot, ami lots of yellow baby geese waddling after them. (hi they came, straight toward the willow trees. The old gander was ahead, with his long neck stretched out, and his red bill wide open. ‘ 1 guess they want the gingernuts,' said Rav, putting his behind him. ‘I- I—guess 111 come nearer you,’ said Ruthie, scrambling for a place beside him. ‘Quaek! quack! quack !' and the geese stopped before the children, and stretched their necks towards them. The old gander hissed, reached a little further, ami snatched the gingernut from Ruthie’s left hand. The old goose, with the great, gray wings, wanted one, too, and so she snatched the other. .And the gray goose, and the white one with the gray topknot, waddled around behind Ray and seized both of Ids at once. Then Ruthie and Ray began to cry, the geese began to quack, and together they made such a noise that mamma came running in haste to see what the matter could be. She drove the geese away, she gave the children more cakes, and so the war was over, ami peace came again under the willow’ trees.