“GINGER FOR PLUCK.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 15, 13 October 1909, Page 60

“GINGER FOR PLUCK.”

.(Written Specially for the Cousins, by Cousin Kate.) “Who’s going to help mother cut up melon?” “I am,” answered Tom and Peter, Nellie and Ginger, in -a breath. “All wash hands then,” said their mother. There was a scramble for the scullery,

a sound of running water, then of a roHer towel being pulled, and the four came back. Ginger sat next his mother, armed with a huge knife. “What’s that for!” asked Tom and Peter and Nellie. “So I can do a lot,” answered Ginger. But his mother exchanged her smaller knife for Ginger’s dangerous one, and they all began. “I love melon jam,” said Tom. “So do I,” said Peter. “So do I,” said Nellie. “I love Mother,” said Ginger, sidling up elose to her, and looking into her face with that fat, dimpled smile which made everyone love him. “Ginger thrashed Norm Smith to-day,” said Nellie. “Ginger!” exclaimed his mother. “Coz he was thrashing .Tacky Wilson,” explained Ginger, modestly. Ginger was eight, and Norm and Jacky were both nine and a-half. “I broke my glasses,” said Ginger, feeling that the time had come to make the confession. “That’s with wearing them when you don’t need,” said his mother, reprovingly. “I was just going to ask you why you didn’t put them on now.” They cut up for half an hour and more.

“Pm said Nellie, and went back to her story-book. “I’m tired,” said Tom. “So am 1,” said Peter. “Mother’ll excuse you, then,” said then mother. They went back to their garnet of dominoes. “Isn’t Ginger getting tired!” asked hifl mother. “I e’pose Pm not tireder than you," answered Ginger, and he went on cutting till it was done. Two hours later, the mother went! round tucking up the children for the! night. She stood over Ginger, the youngest, longer than she had stood over any one of the others. His smiling mouth was parted, and his red, straight hair shone bright in the candle-light, though; she took care to keep the light off hia face. “I s’pose I’m not tireder than you,” she heard him saying. “Ginger for pluck,” she thought, stooping to kiss him softly, and stealing out of the room on tip-toe.