About the Fireworks.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 14 January 1905, Page 56

About the Fireworks.

••The sth of November will soon be here.’’ said Teddie. as he counted his pennies and got hopelessly mixed in the som total. ‘•iX>n’i you think we ought to have some fireworks. Edict’ -I think it would be lovely,” said »tic. “ontv do let’s ask •Taek. and Maudic. and Fred, and May and Nellie to come and see them. Do you think mother will let us set them off by ourselves this year? I am sure we are quite big enough by now.” "I don’t believe she will for one moment.” said Teddie. "Anyhow, if daddy insists upon setting them otf himself. I don’t see why we shouldn’t have a little performance all to ourselves in the garden one evening when daddy and mummie are out.’ ‘We are quite big enough. 1 am sure.” agreed Edie. ‘’How much money have yen got?” ‘•I have got ten pennies, and fifteen Lal.’ iieniiie.-,” *a:d Teddie. tt and I think that makes ju*t three ami six, so we shall lie able to hare quite a lovely -hor . .lock told me he saw same cracker- y.niw-l in the toy-shop which only cost four a penny. Don’t yon think we might have * >me of those?” s<> uceorlingly the fir-t opportunity these little people had. they went round to the toy soop. and invested in several pennyworth of crackers, of n. re or less fierce and fiery description. It w .* -ome little time before Teddie and Edie got an opportunity of indulging in a private performance for their own special benefit, but one afternoon T. fldie could itaud the suspense no longer.

“Til tell you what we wHI do,” lie said. ‘‘Don’t you think it would be a lark to set off a craekcr jnst behind old Diogenes? Wouldn’t it make him jump?” Diogenes. I must tell you, was a very staid, fat, drowsy old cat, who spent all the time when he was not eating curled up fast asleep iu front of the nursery fire. “I think it would bo lovely,” said Teddy. ‘’’Anyhow, I will go and get one aud see how Diogenes likes it.” So this very naughty boy went off to a certain hiding-place where the crackers were deposited and returned with a funny little cracker thing, which Edie inspected with much curiosity. "Don’t you think it would be better to tie it on to his tail,” she said, as though the idea was a most brilliant one. “Yon know those we had last year hopped about a bit, and if the cracker hopped about too much while it was near him. it might not do Diogenes as mneh good as we should like it to, but if we tie it on to his tail, he can’t get away from it, and then it would be sure to have a good effect.” I don’t know whether you little readers quite agree with this method of giving the poor cat a tonic, but we must give Edie credit, for having good intentions, whatever we may think of the matter. Diogenes shnnlicred peacefully, his fat sides heaving regularly as he drew each breath. So sound asleep was he that he did not feel Teddie carefully tving a wierd object- on to his long, sleek tail with one of Edie's blue hair ribbons. “Do you think he is ready now?” said Edie. “Y'es. I think so,” said Teddie. as lie reached up to the nursery mantelpiece for the box of matches. He struck one and set fire to the cracker, then he and Edie stood a little way off to see what effect this new kind of tonic wotild have upon poor Diogenes. There was a fearful fizzle anff whirr, then a wild yell from Diogenes as he rushed frantically round the room with the cracker buzzing and fizzing on his tail. How Teddie laughed, but little guessed how soon his laughter would be charged to fright. As Diogenes rushed heedlessly past him the cracker and the ribbon slipped off his smooth tail, and with more than, the usual alarming bangs shot right over iu Teddie s direction, where it fizzed and banged louder than ever. To sav Teddie was scared but feebly describes his feelings, while as for Edie she never was more frightened in her life, and, when Nurse appeared upon the scene and heard the true story of the case, she gave them both a tremendous lecture on being so cruel to the poor cat. and then put them to bed for the re*t of the day and did not allow them anv muffins with their tea. Even sadder to relate when Teddie’s mother heard of what had happened, she at once decided that for this year tisey should have no firework display at a.l on the sth of November. *o Teddie and Edie were very sorry indeed, but they made up their minds that they would never attempt to give Diogewes another tonic, but to let him sleep comfortably as long as ever he wished in front of the nursery fire. And let US hone next year these little folks will not do anything to make them lose the joys of a grand firework display on the sth ot November.